Top 5s in Tokyo: Khaled Iwamura explores the hidden gem neighbourhoods for food in Tokyo
Published December 29, 2023 at 6:00 am
Khaled Iwamura is hitting 3 hidden gem neighbourhoods for food in Tokyo and trying out the top 5 dishes in each area.
These hidden streets and neighbourhoods in Tokyo are a bit quieter than the busier and more popular areas you might already know about in Tokyo.
Khaled Iwamura returns with Season 3 of TOP 5s in TOKYO.
This new 4-part digital series explores Tokyo’s hidden gem neighbourhoods for food to share the Top 5 dishes in each area.
Asagaya, Tokyo
In episode 1, the adventure starts in the hidden streets of an area in Tokyo called Asagaya.
About a 30-minute train ride from Shibuya is a neighbourhood – that is more laid back where you won’t find as many tourists and crowds.
Asagaya feels like the working person’s neighbourhood …and what do most people like to do after work…eat!
It seems like you can walk forever in one of the longest shopping streets in Tokyo and small alleys to find a restaurant or a place to drink.
Here are the top 5 most popular dishes in Asagaya Tokyo:
Here are the restaurants that Khaled Iwamura visited in Asagaya:
1 – Sato Briand
2 – Mendokoro Issho
3 – Osakana Shokudo *Japanese only
4 – Nomi kui dokoro Aozuki
5 – Tomoe-an *Japanese only
Tsukishima, Tokyo
Next up in my adventures in the Hidden Gem Neighborhoods for Food in Tokyo…I am in a neighbourhood called Tsukishima.
Tsukishima is a man-made island in Tokyo Bay that was created over 100 years ago.
Now the island is redeveloped; however, you can still find the old-school charm in certain areas if you stick your head into alleys and small streets.
Tsukishima is known for this one food in particular that has its own district named after it, which we will get to…..but there are other delicious dishes that I will try out first.
Here are the top 5 dishes in Tsukishima:
Here are the restaurants that Khaled Iwamura visited in Tsukishima:
1 – Yoshimiya
2 – Kakiire doki by Shellman *Japanese only
3 – Vegi & Fish *Japanese only
4 – Hakkaku *Japanese only
5 – Tsukishima Yakiniku Rokunobu
Yanesen, Tokyo
Next up we have 3 neighbourhoods that are known together as Yanesen.
The 3 neighbourhoods are Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi.
These neighbourhoods have maintained the charm of how the Tokyo streets would have looked like 100 years ago!
Yanesen also has some of the best food choices in Tokyo from street food in Yanaka Ginza Street – one of the oldest shopping streets in Tokyo – to the best vegan, udon and fried minced meat.
Yanesen is about a 20-minute train ride from Shibuya.
Here are the top 5 dishes in Yanesen:
Here are the restaurants that Khaled Iwamura visited in Yanesen:
1 – Niku no Sato *Japanese only
2 – Nezunoya *Japanese only
3 – Hantei
4 – Nezu Kamachiku *Japanese only
5 – Nezu Curry Lucky
Top 5 Surprisingly Good Dishes in Tokyo
Tokyo is home to some of the most unique and flavourful dishes around.
Some dishes you might have had before and some you have never even thought of trying.
Even if you had it before, it just tastes better in Tokyo!
In this Top 5 I try some of the most surprisingly good dishes that I had on this trip to Tokyo.
#1 might surprise you.
1 – Tsukitokurumi*Japanese only
2 – Tsukinoya
3 – Chineya
4 – Waitako Ichiban-ten *Japanese only
5 – Imojin *Japanese only
- Please note that this information is at the time of the interview in September 2023.
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- This is paid content produced on behalf of Tokyo Metropolitan Government.