Try dipping noodles at Tokyo Station, mackerel sushi in Kyoto or a bowl of pork broth ramen in Osaka. These places fit stops on a first trip, so you can choose by neighborhood as well as by dish.
Order tsukemen for thick noodles with a separate bowl of rich dipping broth. Dip a few noodles at a time. The shop is on B1 at Tokyo Ramen Street on the Yaesu side of the station, outside the ticket gates. Leave extra time for the line and pick another stall if you have a train to catch.
Pick this for casual sushi near Shibuya Station. Start with a few plates, such as tuna, salmon and a cooked option you like, then order more at the table. The branch lists plates from ¥150 including tax. The branch page has its current menu and a LINE link to join the queue or reserve.
Try the standard Kyoto ramen at the original Takabashi shop near Kyoto Station. The main shop lists the standard bowl at ¥980 including tax. If there’s a line and you have a train to catch, leave enough time or eat after your transfer.
Try saba sugata-zushi, Kyoto-style sushi made with mackerel and wrapped in kelp. Choose it when you want a local style of sushi during a Gion walk. The main shop lists dine-in hours and a weekly Tuesday closure with exceptions. Check the branch and hours before you go.
Choose the Dotonbori South Building for tonkotsu, a pork bone broth ramen. The branch lists the classic bowl at ¥1,180 and has individual booths as well as table seats. Buy your meal ticket at the machine. Check table hours separately if you want to sit together. Ichiran lists the old Dotonbori Main Building as closed.
Try the Dotonbori branch for a casual plate-by-plate meal near the canal. Start with a few nigiri plates and check the price for each before ordering more. The shop lists credit cards and transit IC cards among its payment options.
Try the shop’s Honten Shiromaru for Hakata-style tonkotsu, or ask about the Honten Akamaru for a more seasoned bowl. The branch lists both as location-specific ramen and accepts cash, major cards and transit IC cards. Check the store’s last order before going late.
At ramen shops, look for instructions about joining the queue and buying a meal ticket. Keep some yen in case the machine takes cash only. At casual sushi shops, check in at the entrance or through the shop’s queue system, then follow the table’s ordering instructions. If you want a fixed-price chef’s course, check the restaurant’s booking and cancellation policy in advance.
Tonkotsu is pork broth. Soy sauce and salt describe a ramen’s seasoning, so ask what the stock contains. If you avoid fish, check sushi rice, sauces and toppings as well. AFURI lists a Rainbow Vegan Ramen with vegetable broth and egg-free wheat noodles. Confirm the branch has it that day.
For allergies, show staff the exact ingredient you need to avoid and ask about shared equipment. Check the restaurant’s own information and confirm what the kitchen can handle before ordering.
Official branch and menu information checked . Check the latest menu and hours before you go.