Luxury isn’t just about clothes, watches, or travel. Dining is also a luxurious experience that many people love to have, which is where Michelin-star restaurants come in. Along with delicious food, factors like immaculately detailed plating, prestige recognition, chef personality, and ambiance contribute to the experience.
Tokyo is a great metropolis and the city with the most Michelin-starred restaurants, with over 200 restaurants in the Michelin Guide. Here are some that you must check out during your trip!
Contents
1. Quintessence
2. L’Effervescence
3. Sazenka
4. Prisma
5. Kohaku
6. Kutan
7. Tempura Miyashiro
8. Den
1. Quintessence
| Address: 6 Chome-7-29 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 140-0001, Japan (Google Maps)
| Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 17:00-23:30 (Sun Off)
| Recommended Menu: One-course choice (12 dishes including 4 desserts)
| Michelin Guide Distinction: Three Stars (Exceptional Cuisine)
Quintessence is a luxurious three-Michelin-starred restaurant specializing in Japanese-French fusion cuisine. Led by Chef Shuzo Kishida, he incorporates three key elements into his food: ingredients, flame, and seasoning. A special aspect of the restaurant is in the “cuisson”, or the art of fire used in their cooking process, which Kishida acquired in the 3-star Michelin restaurant “L’Astrance” in Paris. For example, they roast meat at a low temperature for a short time to extract the delicate flavor from the top-quality meat. Every step, from choosing the right ingredients to cooking to serving, is done with intricate detail.
2. L’Effervescence
| Address: 2 Chome-26-4 Nishiazabu, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0031, Japan (Google Maps)
| Opening Hours: Tues-Wed 17:30-23:30, Thurs-Sat 11:30-15:30, 17:30-23:30 (Sun, Mon Off)
| Recommended Menu: Chef’s Omakase Menu
| Michelin Guide Distinction: Three Stars (Exceptional Cuisine), Michelin Green Star
L’Effervescence is a dining experience that’s a hermitage in the city, providing an escape from bustling city life. Serving French contemporary food and led by Chef Shinobu Namae, all ingredients are sourced by engaging with producers, exploring marine environments, and transversing forests. He is dedicated to environmental sustainability, which is reflected in the restaurant’s Michelin Green Star. The cuisine is a combination of French culinary techniques with Japanese sensibilities, inspired by Japanese tea kaiseki. You’ll be able to enjoy your food in an open kitchen with a wood-fired oven.
3. Sazenka
| Address: 4 Chome-7-5 Minamiazabu, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0047, Japan (Google Maps)
| Opening Hours: Tues-Sat 16:00-23:00 (Sun, Mon Off)
| Recommended Menu: Simmered Dried Abalone, Buddha Jumping Soup, Shanghai Hairy Crab
| Michelin Guide Distinction: Three Stars (Exceptional Cuisine)
Conveying Japanese spirit through Chinese technique, Sazenka is a three-Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by chef Tomoya Kawada. Located in a quiet residential area in a former embassy, they serve 11 courses and 3 desserts, with traditional menus that have a fun twist. For example, fish is presented on a hot stone, char siu is served on a small barbeque grill, and Szechuan chicken wings are presented on a huge bowl of chilis and spices. If you’re looking for high-end Chinese cuisine, this is the place to go!
4. Prisma
| Address: 6 Chome-4-6 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan (Google Maps)
| Opening Hours: Thurs-Tues 18:30-21:90 (Wed Off)
| Recommended Menu: Tagliolini with caviar and red wine sauce, Blue cheese ice cream
| Michelin Guide Distinction: Two Stars (Excellent Cooking)
If you love Italian food, Prisma is the place to be. With 16 seats in a calm atmosphere and delicious food that pairs perfectly with a great variety of wine, all elements from the food to wine to tableware to interior design are impeccable. It is recommended to visit especially if you love wine, as there is a decent selection that will pair exquisitely with your food. It’s a one-of-a-kind restaurant where you can enjoy wonderful food!
5. Kohaku
| Address: 3 Chome-5-5 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0825, Japan (Google Maps)
| Opening Hours: Tues-Fri 17:00-00:00, Sat 12:00-15:00, 17:00-00:00 (Sun, Mon Off)
| Recommended Menu: Lunch/ dinner course meal
| Michelin Guide Distinction: Three Stars (Exceptional Cuisine)
Kohaku offers a true Michelin-star experience, serving Japanese cuisine that bubbles with creativity and refuses to be bound by genre. Headed by chef Koji Koizumi, who became the youngest Michelin-star chef at the age of 36, the restaurant has a beautiful garden with counters and private rooms. Each dish is infused with creativity and presentation with a modern avant-garde twist. There are no fixed menus, with courses changing based on seasonal ingredients, but expect delicious soups, soft and flavorful meat, fresh seafood, and more!
6. Kutan
| Address: Japan, 〒104-0041 Tokyo, Chuo City, Shintomi, 2 Chome−5−5 MSビル 1F (Google Maps)
| Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 18:00-22:00 (Sun Off)
| Recommended Menu: Char-frilled honmoroko, Snap pea tempura
| Michelin Guide Distinction: Two Stars (Excellent Cooking)
Kutan is a highly acclaimed Japanese restaurant that serves up exceptional kaiseki cuisine. Chef Kotaru Nakajima works with top-notch seasonal ingredients and produce, serving up generous portions of various seafood and meat. The open kitchen layout means the food is prepared right in front of you, serving up 11 dishes that are beautifully decorated for each course. Kutan is known for its crab dishes and matsutake mushroom dishes. Pair your food with some delicious sake for the perfect meal! It’s sure to provide a memorable dining experience.
7. Tempura Miyashiro
| Address: 2 Chome-18-11 Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0051, Japan (Google Maps)
| Opening Hours: Tues-Sun 12:00-14:00, 18:00-23:00 (Mon Off)
| Recommended Menu: Abalone mini hotpot, seaweed tempura, tomato rice with tempura
| Michelin Guide Distinction: One Star (High Quality Cooking)
Serving up artful and elevated tempura, Tempura Miyashiro is a spot with dishes bursting with surprises and joy. Chef Naoaki Miyashiro’s delicious and luxurious tempura is cooked to perfection with just the right amount of crispiness, with methods suggested for enjoying each piece, such as dipping into radish salt and homemade salt. Your food is served to you in an open kitchen, so you can see your batter fried right in front of you, adding to the dining experience. The quaint and cozy atmosphere also makes for a quiet and peaceful dining experience.
8. Den
| Address: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 2 Chome−3−18 建築家会館JIA館 (Google Maps)
| Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 18:00-20:00 (Sun Off)
| Recommended Menu: Pickled vegetables, sticky rice, fried chicken
| Michelin Guide Distinction: Two Stars (Excellent Cooking), Michelin Green Star
If you’re lucky enough to get a spot at Den, prepare for a truly unique experience. This spot provides a homey dining experience with attentive and considerate service. You’ll feel relaxed as the staff talks to you like you are long-lost friends with their natural and fluid conversation. Japanese cuisine is homey with delicious taste and various flavors, textures, and chemistry. All ingredients are sourced from local farmers with no pesticides or chemicals and the menu changes every time, with the most in-season products used to capture your taste buds.