[Updated for 2024] Asakusa gourmet map for eating around. 16 highly recommended restaurants, from long-established establishments to hidden gems

In this article, we've picked out 16 noteworthy restaurants among the Asakusa gourmet spots. We'll introduce them by category: "Salty," "Sweet," and "Drinks." We've also included a map, so be sure to use it when you're eating your way around Asakusa!

*Eating while walking is prohibited in Asakusa. Please use the eating and drinking spaces in the stores or nearby areas where you can sit and eat.
*Prices include tax.

Asakusa Food Walking Map

First, fill your stomach with some salty food

From rice dishes that can be enjoyed as a full meal, to filling fried foods, to snacks that go well with alcohol, there is a wide variety of salty dishes. First, why not fill your stomach with some of these foods and then head out for a walk around Asakusa?

[Takosen] Best before 3 minutes! A piping hot, melt-in-your-mouth delicacy: "Asakusa Tako x Koromo Brothers"

Asakusa Tako Tako x Koromo Kyodai has been gaining popularity since its opening in October 2022. The restaurant, which has been a hot topic in the media and on social media, is located along Kannon-dori, one block east of Nakamise-dori. When the author visited, it was around 3 p.m. on a weekday, but there were about 30 people lined up and it took about 10 minutes to order.

The shop is a collaboration between takoyaki, sweets, and fried foods, but the specialty is "Takosen" (500 yen). This is a B-class gourmet dish born in Osaka, where fluffy and creamy takoyaki are sandwiched between crispy shrimp crackers. There were two takoyaki in the package.

The slogan is "Best before 3 minutes". The best time to eat them is "3 minutes after serving" when you can enjoy the crispy and soft texture of the takoyaki and shrimp crackers. However, be careful as the takoyaki are very hot when they are freshly made.

The taste is delicious with a variety of flavors such as sauce, pickled ginger, mayonnaise, and green laver, and the accent of tempura flakes is irresistible. In addition to the regular "Takoyaki" (700 yen), there are also "Fried Manju" (from 400 yen) with a chewy dough filled with sweet bean paste, and "Ring Croquette" (350 yen) made with Japanese black beef and rice koji, so please try them all. The restaurant is spacious enough to accommodate over 100 people, so it is recommended to sit down and enjoy your meal at your leisure.

Asakusa Tako x Koromo Brothers

[Tempura Chips] Crispy new texture tempura from "Asakusa Seisakusho"

Among the Asakusa gourmet spots, one restaurant that stands out is "Asakusa Seisakusho." Located in the "Asakusa Nishisando Shopping Arcade," they serve the thinnest tempura chips in Japan. They use a custom-made press to make tempura into crispy chips.

Another feature is that it is an experience-based service, with customers operating the button that presses the tempura. It works when you press the switch, and the chips are ready in just a few minutes. There are several types on the menu, such as "Shrimp Tempura Chips" (600 yen), "Kakiage Tempura Chips" (500 yen), and "Pumpkin Tempura Chips" (300 yen), with the most popular being the "Shrimp Tempura Chips." Another appealing point is that in addition to salt, you can freely change the flavor to matcha salt, wasabi salt, or super spicy.

In addition, the "Mini Kakiage Tempura Chips 4-piece Set" (850 yen) is bite-sized and comes in a 5-inch square. There is also a unique Japanese sweet called the "Daifuku Chips" (600 yen), which is big and not too sweet.

This gourmet dish is shocking in both taste and appearance, and is a must-try if you visit Asakusa.

Asakusa Factory

[Eel rice balls] Luxurious taste at an affordable price "Asakusa Unana"

Asakusa Unana is a popular restaurant that opened in September 2020 and where it is not uncommon to see long lines. The restaurant serves takeout dishes made with domestically raised eel. It is located in Hatsunekoji Restaurant Street, an alleyway often used as a filming location for movies, close to Asakusa Hanayashiki.

The menu includes kabayaki (grilled eel) and unaju (grilled eel on rice), but the specialty is the reasonably priced and well-formed "eel onigiri" (600 yen). The onigiri is made with eel and is big enough to fit in one hand, so you can eat it at a reasonable price.

The best quality eel is procured from all over Japan that day, and on this day it was from Miyazaki. Both the rice balls and the eel are grilled by craftsmen over high-heat binchotan charcoal, and the eel is grilled, steamed, and grilled again, which is a very elaborate process. In addition, two types of sauce are used, one for grilling and one for finishing, with the latter using a stronger type of dashi, and so on, showing the attention to detail that is evident everywhere.

The freshly made dish is fragrant, fluffy and delicious. The sansho pepper, which is essential to eel, is highly fragrant Wakayama-grown budo sansho pepper, which adds a refreshing and elegant flavor.

The shop also offers eel skewers as one-handed gourmet dishes, so for those who think that onigiri is too much, we recommend the "Kurikara Yaki (Skewer)" (550 yen) or "Unagimo Skewer" (500 yen). Enjoy a special time eating traditional Japanese eel in Asakusa, a place filled with Japanese atmosphere.

Asakusa Unana

[Yakitori] A long-established specialty loved by celebrities: "Asakusa Hanakawado Funachu"

When it comes to yakitori in Asakusa, the first name that comes to mind is "Funachu." After previously operating as a river fish shop, the company opened "Funachu" in Senzoku, Asakusa in 1946 (Showa 21). After that, the company invented "yakitori," which is skewered and grilled chicken, which was still a luxury item at the time, and it became a huge hit. The founder is also known as the "father of yakitori."

After the war, Asakusa flourished as Tokyo's leading entertainment district, and as the area recovered, the popularity of this restaurant grew as well. Currently, the restaurant operates over 30 stores, mainly in Tokyo, with its flagship store, "Asakusa Hanakawado Funachu," located along Umamichi-dori Street, about a two-minute walk from Asakusa Station.

The specialty is of course yakitori. In addition to being a filming location for movies, this long-established restaurant is loved by celebrities from various fields such as entertainment and sports, so you can enjoy the taste while walking around. The ingredients are Nichinan chicken from Miyazaki and domestic chicken, and each part is made with the appropriate breed. The most popular are the Nichinan chicken thigh (274 yen) and the domestic chicken meatballs (220 yen), and you can also try a variety of other parts from 220 yen per skewer. You can also choose between sauce or salt to your preference, or leave it to the chef.

If you want to enjoy it without waiting, we recommend ordering by phone in advance. We can also provide it during idle times on weekdays (between lunch and dinner hours) depending on the situation, so please call us. The large skewers of yakitori, prepared by a skilled craftsman, are in a class of their own.

Asakusa Hanakawado Funachu

[Monjakorokke] Asakusa Monjakorokke: Enjoy the local specialties while walking around

Monjayaki is a typical B-class gourmet food from downtown Tokyo. The croquette that contains this dish was created by Asakusa Monjayaki Croquette. It was founded on New Year's Eve in 2004 on Namiki-dori in Asakusa, and later moved to its current location on Tanuki-dori.

The most popular is the standard "Plain Monja" (400 yen). Other options include "Cheese Monja" (450 yen) and "Mochi Mentaiko Cheese Monja" (500 yen). I ordered the "Plain Monja". It is served freshly fried in just a few minutes.

First bite. The crispy batter and the creamy dough are irresistible. The soft flavor of the dashi and the rich sauce are definitely monjayaki. The toppings, such as fried noodles, cabbage, and pickled ginger, add a nice accent. It's delicious even without adding any extra sauce.

Apparently it was difficult to make the soft, gooey Monjayaki into a croquette, and after much trial and error they discovered the stickiness of the mannan found in konjac. This simple yet delicious treat has hidden ingenuity. The size is just right for eating on the go, and it's reasonably priced. Asakusa Monjayaki Croquette is also a place you can't miss.

Asakusa Monja Korokke

[Okaki] Asakusa Nakamise Kineya: Enjoy freshly made fried okaki

If you smell the delicious aroma of fried rice cakes on Nakamise-dori, one of the famous shopping streets in Asakusa, you're probably coming from Asakusa Nakamise Kineya. This is a fried rice cracker and cracker shop that was founded in 1987 (Showa 62). On Saturdays and Sundays only, craftsmen demonstrate how to make rice crackers and sell them.

The freshly made "fried rice crackers" (300 yen) are served in a cup. The rice used is the highest quality Miyakoganemochi rice grown in Miyagi prefecture, fried in rice oil with safflower oil, and seasoned with roasted salt from the Seto Inland Sea. The flavor is strong with the umami of the rice, and the inside is light and fluffy. The perfect balance of saltiness makes it so delicious you won't be able to stop eating.

The fried rice crackers are on sale from 10:30 to 15:30 on Saturdays and Sundays, but you can also purchase the "fried rice crackers" (350 yen) in bags at other times. There are four different flavors available: salt, soy sauce, deep-fried salt, and deep-fried soy sauce.

In addition, "age mochi" (from 330 yen each) are slightly smaller than "age okaki" and have a stronger flavor, and are available in black pepper, salted wasabi, and Camembert cheese flavors, as well as Asakusa's specialty "Kaminari okoshi" (from 300 yen) and the bargain "age okaki Kyusuke" (broken sweets) at 1,000 yen for three bags. You can also try samples of the "age okaki" at the storefront, so be sure to give it a try.

Asakusa Nakamise Kineya

[French fries] The Belgian taste is special: "Fritz Brugge"

French fries are a familiar sight, but if you try Belgian-style fries, your perception of fries may change. Frites Bruges offers this local-style taste. This Belgian fries specialty store uses carefully selected, seasonal raw potatoes from all over Japan, prepared in-store and deep-fried twice using the traditional Belgian method. It is scheduled to open in May 2021.

It's a 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza and Asakusa lines. Tawaramachi Station is closer, about a 3-minute walk away, and is a little farther from the center of Asakusa, but it's extremely popular. It's so popular that they hand out numbered tickets for takeout on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

The basic food menu only consists of fries, which you can choose from small, medium and large sizes: "petit" (440 yen), "tall" (540 yen), and "grande" (640 yen).

What you should also try is the "dipping sauce" (+50 yen and up). There are 17 different kinds of dipping sauces, with the most popular being "Belgian mayo (Andalusian sauce)" (+50 yen) and "Black truffle & mushroom" (+150 yen).

The ingredient for the day was new potatoes from Nagasaki. Frites are required to be 10-14mm thick, and this shop uses 13mm. The crispy, fluffy, and moderately sticky texture and rich potato flavor are combined with the mellow saltiness of Himalayan pink salt to create an exquisite dish. The "Belgian mayo" also has a slightly spicy taste that matches perfectly. It is said that it is relatively less crowded after the evening, so it is a good time to visit.

Frites Bruges

When eating out, sweets and other sweet treats are a must.

Even if you're a little full, sweets are a great option. Sweets are an essential part of any food tour. Here we introduce six Japanese sweet shops with a taste of Asakusa.

[Crepes] Tabane Noshi's dignified Japanese crepes are a hot topic

Asakusa Chaya Tabanenoushi, which opened in May 2022, is a shop famous for its Japanese-style crepes that are characteristic of the historic city of Asakusa. It is located in the area west of Sensoji Temple, about a 7-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line.

The store's name, "Tabanenoshi," comes from the kimono pattern "Tabane Noshi." The interior of the store is an inorganic space with a gray base and plain wood, creating an atmosphere that is both stylish and warm.

Particularly popular menu items are crepes made with high-quality tea leaves from Kakegawa, Shizuoka, a tea-producing region, one of which is the "Kakegawa Matcha Tiramisu" (990 yen).

"Kakegawa Matcha Tiramisu" is characterized by its sophisticated sweetness, using Kakegawa-produced matcha in both the dough, which is made from Hokkaido-produced "Yumechikara" wheat, and the cream.

Matcha custard cream, mascarpone cheese cream, matcha ice cream and more are wrapped in chewy crepe dough, with espresso-soaked cookies peeking out from the middle, and finally, raspberry sauce tickles the aftertaste with its sweet and sour taste, creating a stunning layered feel that is full of surprises.

The wrapping paper is made of mizuhiki paper by Tsuda Rokusuke, a fifth-generation Kaga Mizuhiki craftsman from Ishikawa Prefecture, adding a touch of color to the photogenic treat. Other popular items on the menu include the bittersweet "Kakegawa Matcha Brulee" (990 yen), so be sure to try that too.

Asakusa Teahouse Tabanenoshi

[Warabimochi] "Motoko" - Warabimochi served on a boat-shaped tray with a choice of flavors

Warabimochi Motoko Asakusa, which opened in December 2021, is a branch of a popular store in Sugamo. It is located in the Nishi-sando Festival Shopping Street adjacent to Sensoji Temple.

The two main specialties of this shop are the traditional warabimochi and the recently popular warabimochi milk tea. There is also an eat-in space, making it perfect for a short break. There are several flavors on the menu, and the warabimochi lineup includes brown sugar, brown sugar, matcha, purple sweet potato, and five seasonal varieties (450 yen for 4 pieces, 750 yen for 10 pieces).

The four "warabimochi" are served on a boat-shaped plate, perfect for eating right away, while the ten are packed as souvenirs. On this day, I ordered brown sugar and brown sugar served on a boat-shaped plate. The brown sugar has a refreshing sweetness, while the brown sugar has a rich, mature sweetness. If you like less sweetness, I recommend the brown sugar.

Both have a unique chewy texture and a refreshing taste that melts in your mouth. The gentle aroma of kinako adds a nice accent and warms your heart. If you buy them as souvenirs in bulk, you can get a discount if you buy 3 or 5 packs, so please take advantage of this.

Warabimochi Motoko Asakusa store

[Matcha Ice Cream] "Kaminari Issa" makes a big impact with its extra rich gelato made with 3.5% tea leaves

Strong matcha is also called "Okoicha" and the specialty sweets shop is "Okoicha Sweets Specialty Shop Kaminari Issa". There are four stores in Asakusa: the main store in Asakusa, the matcha experience store, the Denpoin Street store, and the Nakamise Street store. I went to the Denpoin Street store. This is the closest of the four stores to Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line, and can be reached in about 3 minutes on foot.

As the name of the shop suggests, the menu has many dishes that use thick tea. I ordered the particularly popular "Thick Tea Ice Cream" (750 yen). I could choose between a cup or a cone, so I went for the cone.

The tea used is stone-ground No. 1 tea leaves from Kyoto, which make up 3.5% of the tea's strength. No. 1 tea leaves are the first leaves to grow that year, and it is precisely because they use No. 1 tea leaves that the tea leaves are made with that the tea can be enjoyed without any bitterness, allowing the tea to have its original flavor.

There is also a "Koicha Warabi" (950 yen) that uses the same gelato, and this one is made like a parfait. You can enjoy the contrast of flavors and textures by tasting the koicha gelato with the chewy jelly, the crispy puffs, and the soft crushed warabi mochi.

They also have ice cream made with roasted green tea (500 yen) and ice cream with 2.5% matcha (600 yen), so we recommend trying them all to compare the flavors.

Koicha Sweets Specialty Shop Kaminari Issa Denpoin Street Store

[Dumplings] Asakusa Soratsuki: Evolution of strawberry dumplings

You can try evolved strawberry-filled dango at Asakusa Soratsuki, located in a back alley of Nakamise-dori. Since opening in 2018, it has gained popularity for its unexpectedness and photogenic appearance.

This is a sister store of Tsukiji Soratsuki, a strawberry sweets specialty store that opened in 2015, and its greatest attraction is the strawberries that are available, making use of the group's purchasing power. A variety of strawberry sweets are available throughout the year, and the most popular items at Asakusa Soratsuki are the dango.

There are several kinds of dango, including "Strawberry", "Smooth Bean Paste", "Mango", "Matcha", and "Milk", and the most popular is the assorted "Strawberry Four-Color Dango" (350 yen each). This allows you to enjoy mango, strawberry, matcha, and smooth bean paste in one stick.

They also have a wide variety of other items, such as the "Strawberry Dorayaki" (450 yen) and "Strawberry Kushi" (600 yen), which are filled with fresh strawberries and strawberry paste. If you love strawberries, this is a place you definitely want to visit.

Asakusa Soratsuki Uranaka store

[Potato chips] A rare, crunchy treat even in Tokyo: "Imoyasu, a baked sweet potato specialty store"

Sweet potato sweets shops such as Mont Blanc and baked sweet potatoes are not uncommon, but there are not many places where you can try thinly sliced sweet potato chips. The place to try this delicacy is the baked sweet potato specialty shop Imayasu Asakusa, located right next to Asakusa Hanayashiki.

The store started out as a mobile sales outlet in 2005 in Ibaraki, the second largest producer of sweet potatoes after Kagoshima. It then established its flagship store in Tsuchiura in 2019, and opened its Asakusa store in May 2021. The baked sweet potatoes are mainly made with the sweet Beni Haruka variety, but also include Beni Azuma, Beni Haruka, Hime Ayaka, Suzuhokkuri, and Silk Sweet depending on the season. And for their "Sweet Potato Chips" (518 yen), they only use Beni Haruka, which is best suited for chips.

It's delicious as is, but you can also add three different sauces to your liking: salted butter, chocolate sauce, and caramel sauce. The most impressive thing about the taste is the crispy texture. It's surprisingly crispy, which is a world apart from the sweet potato snacks sold by confectionery manufacturers. The fluffy texture and sweetness of the sweet potato that spreads as you chew it is also exquisite.

The texture, sweetness, and flavor remain even when cooled, making it a perfect souvenir. In addition to "yakiimo" and "sweet potato," there are also menu items unique to specialty shops such as "yakiimo sandwich," "oni manju," "yamomitsu nama caramel," and "hisiomu shake," so if you like potatoes, be sure to try them.

Baked sweet potato specialty store Imoyasu Asakusa store

[Melon Bread] Enjoy the fluffy and crispy texture at Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Store

Asakusa Kagetsudo's Jumbo Melon Bread has long been a famous gourmet food to eat while walking around Asakusa. In addition to its main store in the Asakusa Nishisando Shopping Arcade, the store also has a branch near Asakusa Kaminarimon. Originally founded as a Japanese sweets store in Hachijojima in 1945 (Showa 20), the second generation owner moved to Asakusa in 2004. The store owner, who majored in fermentation science at Tokyo University of Agriculture, developed and released melon bread. Its deliciousness and uniqueness have earned it popularity, mainly through word of mouth.

The "Jumbo Melon Bread" is priced at 280 yen per piece. Its large size and photogenic appearance are its defining features, but its greatest appeal is its taste. In particular, the crispy outside and fluffy inside texture create a deliciousness like no other. The secret lies in the fermentation process; while regular bread is fermented for 40 to 60 minutes, this "Jumbo Melon Bread" is fermented for about three times that. The fermentation mixture is changed according to the temperature, humidity, and condition of the wheat on that day, so the bread remains consistently delicious from day to day.

You can get a good deal by buying them as a set, and there are seasonal limited editions available, such as melon bread with ice cream in spring and summer, and melon bread with whipped cream in autumn and winter. Try comparing the taste with the regular type.

Asakusa Kagetsudo Main Store

Drinks recommended for breaks and palate cleansers

Finally, we will introduce three stores that offer unique drinks. They are perfect for a break from your food tour or as a way to cleanse your palate.

[Matcha Latte] The richest in the universe!? "Kagurachaka Petit"

"Kagurachaka Petit" serves a very impressive cup of coffee with the words "The strongest matcha latte in the universe" that catches your eye. The shop is located along Asakusa Kokusai-dori. It is close to Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express and a 3-4 minute walk from Tawaramachi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.

The tea used is matcha from Nishio, Aichi, a famous tea producing area. The specialty "Matcha Latte" is available in eight different strengths, from "1 Weak" (500 yen) to "8 Other Dimension" (1,100 yen), both hot and iced. Only those who have tried "7 Universe's Best" (950 yen) can drink 8 (you will receive a card to order 8), and this is my first time visiting, so I ordered a hot 7 with a monaka topping called "Kuma-chan" (50 yen).

The bear is a popular topping because of its adorable appearance, like a bath in matcha latte. If you order the "6 World's Strongest" (900 yen) or stronger, it will be served in a cup with a sticker saying "I'm drinking the strongest matcha latte in the universe."

You can adjust the sweetness to your liking with sugar and syrup available at the store. First, try it as is, and you'll be impressed by the rich, bitter matcha flavor and thick texture. Perhaps because the matcha is so strong, you'll need to add a fair amount of sugar to make it sweet enough. If you adjust it to a slightly sweeter level, it has a strong flavor like a rich, bittersweet matcha dessert, which is also delicious.

Besides the bear toppings, there are also other toppings such as "Homemade Matcha Gelato" (250 yen, single items start from 460 yen), "Marshmallows" (100 yen), and "Camel Butter Churros" (330 yen), so be sure to try a variety of them when you visit.

Kagura Chaka Petit

[Smoothie] Asakusa Ichigoza: A pure smoothie made without using any water or ice

Asakusa Ichigoza, located on Dempoin Street, has the slogan "Let's amaze the world with strawberries!!" It is a strawberry sweets specialty store that opened in 2019. Its specialty products are daifuku and smoothies, with the smoothies being especially popular in the summer.

The main strawberries used are Tochiotome strawberries from Yamamoto Town, Miyagi Prefecture, where the company's own farm is located. The "Strawberry Smoothie" comes in two flavors, Japanese black tea and milk (858 yen for eat-in, 842 yen for take-out), and both use the equivalent of 16 ripe strawberries per cup. The smoothie is made without any water, ice, colorings, additives, condensed milk, or fresh cream, resulting in a rich, refreshing taste that brings out the sweet and sour taste of the strawberries. Apparently, the secret ingredient is the strawberry sauce, which uses basil and balsamic vinegar.

During the summer, when strawberries are not in season, they are replaced with the small "Hitokuchi Daifuku Ichigo." Of the four varieties, I tried the "Original Koshian." The mochi is not too soft, and the bean paste is light and low in sugar. The sweetness brings out the sourness of the strawberries, creating an elegant taste.

Asakusa Ichigoza is a place where you can enjoy the surprising deliciousness of strawberries. The shop also has an eat-in space and a photo corner, so why not stop by for a short break?

Asakusa Ichigoza

[100% juice] "Orange" has a striking look and taste

Orange is set to open in June 2022 on Asakusa's Orange Street, and is a popular juice store that is worthy of the name of the shopping street and makes a big impact. The exterior is decorated in bright orange, so you'll be able to find the store easily when you go down the street.

Of course, the signature dish is the "Orange Juice" (700 yen). It is made from a whole fresh orange and the juice is drunk directly through a straw, which is very innovative and sure to look great on social media.

The varieties change depending on the season, and on the day of the visit they were using Australian navel oranges. They have an energetic aroma and sweetness, and are truly juicy. They also use Valencia oranges from California, USA.

They also offer "Grapefruit Juice" (700 yen), which is also made with care, using grapefruit from South Africa, which has a low bitterness. They also plan to offer seasonal menu items, such as small watermelon in the summer. Please come and experience the deliciousness of this juice, which is not only photogenic but also memorable in taste.

Orange

Asakusa is dotted with famous sightseeing spots such as Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Hanayashiki, Tokyo Skytree, Kappabashi Kitchen Town, and more. You will often see tourists in kimonos and rickshaws, and you will also find it appealing as a place to enjoy experiences. In between your walks around the city, why not use this article as a reference and enjoy some food while you're walking around?

Originally posted: August 26, 2022
*Some content was updated on May 2, 2024.

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