Non-Japanese Food
This is what surprises most visitors. Japan takes non-Japanese cuisine and applies the same obsessive craft and precision. Some people say Tokyo has the best pizza outside of Italy, and as a New Yorker I'll admit the Neapolitan-style pies are legitimately great. Savoy and Pizza Strada are both located a stone's throw from each other in Azabu-Juban. Pizza Bar on 38th is another standout.
Japanese curry is its own category entirely. You'll find both Indian-style curry and Japan's own twist, which is richer, sweeter, and usually served over rice. Sumatra Curry Kyōeidō and Spicy Curry Roka are two I'd recommend.
The burger scene is just as obsessive, but with a twist. Many of the best spots skip the bun entirely and let the meat speak for itself, served with rice on the side. Atami and Hikiniku to Come are two to check out.
Savoy Tomato & Cheese
Savoy Tomato & Cheese is the Azabu-Juban pizzeria for blistered Neapolitan pies with a rotating menu beyond the classics. Counter-only room, wood-fired oven, small enough that the line cook clocks every pie in flight. The margherita is the baseline. The seasonal specials are why you go back. Reservations are the move. Walk-ins get in, but the wait can be long.
Must order: The traditional margherita, The bluefin tuna pizza if it's on, Whatever the seasonal special is
The Pizza Bar On 38th
The Pizza Bar on 38th is the Mandarin Oriental's eight-seat pizza counter, the only one of its kind in Tokyo. The format is omakase: chef Daniele Cason talks with each guest, then builds pies around what the room is in the mood for. Reservation-only, several weeks out. The view through the windows is part of the meal. Smart-casual dress. Not an everyday spot, but a memorable one.
Must order: The seasonal omakase pie selection, Whatever Daniele suggests after the first round, A drink from the pairing program
Sumatra Curry Kyōeidō
Kyōeidō is the Nihonbashi curry shop doing a long-running Sumatran-style menu, plus the seasonal grilled apple that regulars know to ask about. Small room, brown furniture, the kind of place that has been doing one thing for decades. Lunch is the main service. Show up before the noon rush.
Must order: The signature Sumatran curry, The grilled apple if the season fits, Extra rice if you want to soak up the sauce
Pizza Strada
Pizza Strada is the Azabu Neapolitan pizzeria that quietly does the classics well. Counter and small tables, wood-fired oven, blistered crusts in the right shape. Lunch is the easier seat. Walk-ins possible off-peak. Weekends fill. A reliable pick when the bigger-name pizzerias are full.
Must order: The margherita, The marinara, Whatever daily special pie is on
Spicy Curry Roka
Roka is the Shinjuku hole-in-the-wall doing one of Tokyo's most ambitious curry programs. Short menu, mostly chicken and lamb, served over a base of minced pork rice. The Tabelog rating tells you what the queue looks like at lunch. Counter-only, small enough that you watch your meal come together. Show up early or accept the wait. Worth it for one of the more thoughtful curries in the city.
Must order: The chicken curry, The lamb curry, The minced pork rice base
atami
atami is the Akasaka izakaya for fresh seafood and a generous sake list in a lively room. Counter and tables. The menu shifts with what came in that day. Reservations smart on busy nights. The kind of place to land for two hours and let the food and pours decide the pacing.
Must order: The sashimi platter of the day, Whatever grilled fish is featured, A few pours from the sake list
Hikiniku to Come Kichijoji
Hikiniku to Come is the Kichijoji spot for hamburg steak served the modern way: thick patty, charcoal grill, rice underneath, an industrial-chic open kitchen as the room. Counter seating. Lunch is the main service. The line is real at peak; show up off-peak or be ready to wait.
Must order: The signature hamburg steak on rice, An egg topping if you want it richer, Extra rice if you have the appetite
More from the Tokyo guide
This is one slice. The full guide covers food across every category, plus bars, coffee, museums, shopping, and where to stay.
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