8 hidden morning spots in Tokyo. Recharge your energy at restaurants that are open from early in the morning

*The menu information is from the time of initial publication. Business hours may change depending on the situation.

[Cafe] The concept is breakfast from around the world. Enjoy comparing different breakfasts at "TASTE THE WORLD (formerly World Breakfast All-Day)"

"TASTE THE WORLD" (formerly World Breakfast All-Day) serves breakfast from countries all over the world. Even native speakers would be amazed at how well the dishes are recreated to taste like the local cuisine. This is because the menu is developed with the cooperation of embassies, government tourist offices, airlines, and local people living in Tokyo.

In addition to the regular menu, they also offer international cuisine that changes every two months. They also hold irregular limited events, such as a special menu in 2019 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and Japan, so there's plenty to keep visitors entertained. Tokyo is home to delicious food from all over the world, so if you want to learn about that culture through breakfast, this is the place to go.

TASTE THE WORLD (formerly World Breakfast All-Day) Gaienmae store (also has Shinjuku, Kichijoji, and Ginza stores)

[Soba] Enjoy a unique bowl of soba at Chosei-an, a restaurant frequented by market artisans

Chosei-an is a long-established soba restaurant located in the Tsukiji Outer Market, a 5-minute walk from Tsukiji Station. Even though the central market has relocated, Tsukiji's gourmet food is still alive and well. Chosei-an in particular exudes a sense of history and a hideaway atmosphere that exudes a certain nostalgia. Another attraction is that you can enjoy fresh seafood unique to Tsukiji, including wild bluefin tuna, at reasonable prices.

The most popular menu item at Chosei-an is the "Kimchi Curry Soba." This Japanese-style dipping sauce combines the deep flavor of the broth with the spices of curry. The ingredients are pork belly stewed in a secret recipe soba broth, green onions, egg yolk, and kimchi. The seafood bowl set menu is also recommended, and the "Small Whitebait Bowl and Curry Soba Set" and the daily seafood multicolor bowl soba set are also popular.

There are many sights to see around the restaurant, such as the Tsukiji Outer Market and Tsukiji Honganji Temple. Before heading out for a proper sightseeing tour, enjoy a gourmet breakfast of traditional soba noodles and freshly caught seafood.

Chosei-an

[Ramen] Eating quickly is the best! Early morning ramen at Toyosu's long-established "Yajiman"

After the famous Tsukiji restaurant, we'll be looking at a long-established restaurant in Toyosu, where the Central Market is relocating. Founded in 1948, Yajiman was originally a popular restaurant in Tsukiji, but moved to Toyosu when the market moved. The menu, plastered on the walls of the restaurant, is so crowded that it's hard to choose.

All of the noodles are delicious, but the specialty is the winter-only "Oyster Ramen." Other dishes that can be enjoyed all year round include the "Niratamamen" topped with soft and fluffy eggs, the "Nira Soba" with the crunchy texture of chives, and the jumbo-sized handmade "Shumai."

There is a sign at the entrance of the store that reads, "Eat quickly, leave quickly." You can sense the refined spirit that has filled the stomachs of those who work hard at the market. It opens at 5:00am, so it's perfect for early risers who don't want to waste a day.

Yajiman

[Western food] Beyond the level of a coffee shop. A beloved local restaurant, "Lodge Akaishi"

At first glance, it looks like a traditional coffee shop with a Showa-era retro atmosphere. But what makes Lodge Akaishi so great is the authenticity of the food. The owner, who trained at a hotel, prepares a variety of exquisite Western dishes.

The first thing you should order at this shop is their morning service, available only from 9:00am to 11:00am. It's a great value set that includes a choice of daily main dish, salad, and drink. The classic "toast" is made from thick slices of bread, toasted to perfection, crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. Another popular dish among regulars is the specialty "shrimp sandwich," a large fried shrimp sandwich seasoned with tartar sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Don't miss the coffee shop classic, the ketchup-flavored "Napolitan," which is simple but best.

The cozy atmosphere is a big attraction and is loved by a wide range of people, from Asakusa entertainers to local families. You'll feel a sense of nostalgia.

Lodge Akaishi

[Curry] Healthy and packed with vegetables! Authentic and energizing "Ethiopia Curry Kitchen"

Ethiopia Curry Kitchen is a place where you can casually enjoy the flavors of Ethiopia, one of the most famous restaurants in Jimbocho, known as the city of curry. The Akihabara and Ochanomizu branches are open early in the morning, so you can eat authentic Indian curry even in the early hours.

We recommend the highly cost-effective "Sambar Curry" that is only available in the morning. Sambar is a typical curry from South India, made by simmering beans and vegetables with spices. It is healthy and filling, with plenty of fresh vegetables such as juicy radish and eggplant. Although it has a slight spice kick, the overall flavor is mild, so it is easier to eat than it looks.

This curry is perfect for getting active in the morning. The exotic flavor that has captivated so many fans may become addictive.

Ethiopia Curry Kitchen Atre Akihabara 1 store (also operates Ochanomizu Sola City store and Takadanobaba store)

[Western food] Enjoy the famous omelette from the popular Western restaurant "Taimeken Sandaime" located in the station

Taimeken, a long-established Western restaurant founded in 1931 with its main store in Nihonbashi, has opened a new store inside the ticket gates of Ueno Station called Western Food Shop Sandaime Taimeken. Here you can casually enjoy Western food loved by people of all ages and genders, including their signature dishes omelet rice and borsch.

If you're planning on getting up early, try the Taimeken Breakfast Set, available from 7:00 to 10:00. It's a rich breakfast consisting of an omelette or scrambled eggs, borsch, and stone oven bread. There are also other reasonably priced menu items available during the morning hours, such as the Western Food Shop's Morning Curry.

By the way, the "third generation" in the restaurant's name is, of course, a reference to Hiroshi Modegi, who is well known on TV. He has a strong image as a variety show host, but you can really tell that he is also a first-class chef.

Western food shop Sandaime Taimeken Ecute Ueno store

[Ramen] Comes with coffee!? Kitakata Shokudo: Light ramen with the concentrated flavor of grilled flying fish

Inaricho, located near Ueno and Asakusa, is known as the birthplace of vaudeville theaters. In this town filled with old-fashioned charm, there is a ramen shop called Kitakata Shokudo that is open from 7:00am. The sign in the shop clearly states "morning ramen."

The soup is available in soy sauce and miso, but we recommend the Kitakata ramen classic "Kuradashi Soy Sauce Ramen." "Ago Dashi Soy Sauce" is made by combining dashi extracted from fragrantly grilled flying fish flakes with brewed soy sauce from the authentic Kitakata region, and has a clear taste with concentrated umami. Another nice point is that you can choose between high-hydration noodles and extra-thick flat noodles.

The light soup with a clean aftertaste is perfect for breakfast. What's more, coffee is also included in the morning, so even though it's a ramen shop, you can still get the feeling that you're having breakfast.

Kitakata Restaurant Asakusa Main Branch

[Chinese] Lao Jiu Pu is an all-day dining restaurant where you can enjoy a Beijing-style breakfast in a popular bar atmosphere.

Located just under the JR line overpass, right next to Okachimachi Station, Lao Shuho is a unique restaurant. This restaurant is part of the "Ajibo" group, which operates unique Chinese restaurants, including Northeastern Chinese cuisine. This restaurant is characterized by its style of a public bar where you can enjoy authentic snacks. What's more, you can even enjoy breakfast there.

The menu, peppered with Chinese characters, is filled with unfamiliar yet intriguing dishes. The same goes for the breakfast menu, which has a list titled "Beijing Breakfast" with a wide variety of reasonably priced dishes.

The standard dishes are the "fried bread and soy milk set" and the "meat bun and white rice porridge set," but each can also be ordered separately. It must be extremely rare to find a restaurant where you can eat an authentic Chinese breakfast in an atmosphere that is just like the real thing. Be sure to check it out as a real Chinese all-day dining experience.

Old wine shop

Tokyo is a strange city where cutting-edge trends and retro atmospheres coexist. There are still many hidden gems in Tokyo that only locals know about (or maybe even the locals don't know about). A hotel breakfast buffet is nice, but sometimes you can recharge your energy with a new and innovative early morning gourmet meal or a unique breakfast. This sense of diversity may be what makes Tokyo so Tokyo-like.

*First posted on November 8, 2019 (some content was updated on December 27, 2022)

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