Top Local Dishes & Where to Try Them in Itabashi, Tōkyō, Japan
1. Kushikatsu Tanaka
Crispy skewered and deep-fried dishes at a legendary eatery dating back to the 1920s. Try their signature pork and vegetables.
- Authenticity: One of the oldest kushikatsu shops in Japan
- Variety: Over 50 different ingredients to choose from for your skewers
- Popularity: Kushikatsu Tanaka has been featured in multiple travel shows and magazines
2. Oyaki no Taira
Delicious grilled mountain dumplings filled with sweet red beans or savory vegetables at a cozy family-run shop.
- Tradition: Oyaki no Taira has been making oyaki for over 60 years
- Authenticity: Hand-made oyaki using traditional techniques and recipes
- Variety: Try unique flavors like pumpkin, sweet potato, and chestnut
3. Yakiniku Jumbo Hanare
Savor juicy grilled meats at a popular yakiniku restaurant known for its quality and generous portions.
- Quality: Yakiniku Jumbo Hanare sources premium Japanese beef
- Experience: Enjoy the fun of grilling your own food with friends and family
- Variety: Choose from a wide selection of meats, seafood, and vegetables
4. Okonomiyaki Mizuno
Taste the classic Japanese savory pancake filled with cabbage, meat, and seafood at a long-established okonomiyaki restaurant.
- Authenticity: Okonomiyaki Mizuno has been serving delicious okonomiyaki since 1958
- Variety: Try their specialty pancakes like the yakisoba and teppan
- Popularity: Okonomiyaki Mizuno is famous among locals and visitors alike
5. Tonkatsu Maisen Akasaka
Sink your teeth into crispy breaded pork cutlets at a renowned tonkatsu restaurant in Itabashi.
- Quality: Tonkatsu Maisen Akasaka uses premium pork for their breaded pork cutlets
- Experience: Enjoy the classic atmosphere of a tonkatsu restaurant
- Taste: Try their signature tonkatsu sauce for an unforgettable taste experience
6. Soba Sobakiri Miyuki
Relish the delicate buckwheat noodles at a charming soba shop offering fresh and hand-made soba.
- Quality: Soba Sobakiri Miyuki makes their soba fresh daily using high-quality buckwheat flour
- Experience: Enjoy the traditional ambiance of a traditional soba shop
- Taste: Try their cold zaru soba during summer or hot kake soba in winter
7. Unagiya Hirokawa
Savor the rich flavors of eel at a traditional unagi (eel) restaurant known for its delicious and authentic cuisine.
- Quality: Unagiya Hirokawa uses fresh, wild-caught eels
- Experience: Enjoy the classic atmosphere of a traditional unagi restaurant
- Taste: Try their signature unagi don (eel bowl) with freshly steamed rice
8. Ichiran Itabashi Main Store
Experience the famous ramen at Ichiran, a ramen chain originating from Fukuoka, known for its secret-recipe tonkotsu broth.
- Quality: Ichiran uses premium pork bones to create their rich tonkotsu broth
- Experience: Enjoy a personalized ramen experience with the booth seating and customizable orders
- Taste: Try their signature pork chop or ajitama (seasoned boiled egg)
9. Kaiten Zushi Sushiro Itabashi
Enjoy a revolving sushi belt meal at Kaiten Zushi Sushiro, one of Japan's largest conveyor-belt sushi chains.
- Variety: Try over 80 different types of sushi and small dishes
- Quality: Sushiro uses premium, fresh ingredients for their sushi
- Experience: Enjoy the fun and convenience of a revolving sushi belt meal
10. Curry House CoCo ICHIBANYA Itabashi Branch
Taste the flavors of Japan's most popular curry chain at Curry House CoCo ICHIBANYA in Itabashi.
- Quality: Curry House CoCo ICHIBANYA uses premium, fresh ingredients for their curries
- Variety: Try over 100 different types of curry dishes on the menu
- Experience: Enjoy a customizable curry experience with various rice, noodle, and topping options
11. Yakitori Yakiton Itabashi
Grill up skewers of juicy chicken at Yakitori Yakiton, a popular yakitori restaurant known for its high-quality and flavorful meats.
- Quality: Yakitori Yakiton uses premium chicken for their skewers
- Experience: Enjoy the fun and interactive experience of grilling your own yakitori
- Variety: Try their variety of skewered chicken parts, including heart, gizzard, and liver
12. Sushi Saito Itabashi
Indulge in the finest sushi at Sushi Saito, a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant known for its exceptional quality and freshness.
- Quality: Sushi Saito uses premium, fresh seafood flown in daily
- Experience: Enjoy an intimate and traditional sushi experience at the counter seating
- Taste: Try their signature omakase (chef's choice) menu for a taste of their best dishes
13. Dobutsu no Mori Itabashi
Try the unique and tasty animal-shaped rice cakes at Dobutsu no Mori (Animal Forest), a popular souvenir shop in Itabashi.
- Variety: Choose from over 50 different animal-shaped rice cakes
- Quality: Dobutsu no Mori uses high-quality glutinous rice and natural colors for their rice cakes
- Experience: Take home a unique souvenir of Itabashi to share with friends and family
14. Tofuya Ukai Itabashi Main Store
Experience the delicious tofu cuisine at Tofuya Ukai, a traditional tofu restaurant with a history dating back over 150 years.
- Tradition: Tofuya Ukai has been serving tofu dishes since 1867
- Quality: Tofuya Ukai uses fresh, high-quality soybeans for their tofu
- Variety: Try their signature tofu dishes like the yudofu (hot tofu) and age dashi dofu (deep-fried tofu)
15. Yuba Honten Itabashi Main Store
Savor the delicate taste of yuba (tofu skin) at Yuba Honten, a long-established restaurant known for its delicious and traditional yuba dishes.
- Tradition: Yuba Honten has been serving yuba dishes since 1906
- Quality: Yuba Honten uses fresh, high-quality soybeans for their tofu and yuba
- Variety: Try their signature yuba dishes like the yudofu (hot tofu) and age dashi dofu (deep-fried tofu)