Best Izakaya in Tokyo: Where to Drink and Eat (2026)
Tokyo izakaya worth going to: Andy’s Shin-Hinomoto under the Yurakucho tracks, Uoshin for fish, Ebisu Yokocho and Omoide Yokocho for hopping, Torikizoku when you just want cheap yakitori.
An izakaya is a pub that takes its food seriously: order a drink, then small plates as you go. These are the ones worth crossing town for, plus two alleys for hopping. For how ordering and the table charge work, see izakaya culture.
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Shin-Hinomoto, "Andy's" (Yurakucho)
Under the brick railway arches at Yurakucho since 1946; the trains run overhead. The fish changes daily and is written up on the wall. The current owner, Andy, is English; he married the founder's granddaughter and runs it as the third generation, which makes it one of the easiest serious seafood izakaya to walk into without Japanese.
- Address: 2-4-4 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku
- Hours: 17:00–23:30 (last orders 23:00); closed Sundays
- Book: shin-hinomoto.jp or 03-3214-8021
- Pay: cash only
Uoshin (Ebisu, Nogizaka and others)
A small chain of about ten fish-focused izakaya. The Ebisu branch is in a basement three minutes from the west exit, open 17:00–23:00.
Ebisu Yokocho (Ebisu)
A covered alley of small stalls near the station. Move between two or three over an evening.
Omoide Yokocho (Shinjuku)
The yakitori alley by the tracks on the west side of Shinjuku Station. Busy with visitors early, better later in the evening. Golden Gai is a walk away on the other side.
Torikizoku (all over)
The chain where everything costs the same: ¥410 an item since October 1, 2026. Not the best yakitori in Tokyo, but cheap, easy and everywhere, which makes it a good first night or a big-group option.
When you want to spend: Kagurazaka Ishikawa
Not an izakaya: a three-Michelin-star kaiseki restaurant in Kagurazaka. The chef's tasting course is ¥52,800. Book well ahead.
Ordering
Start with a beer or a highball, then order a few plates at a time rather than everything at once. An otoshi, a small dish you didn't order, comes with a table charge; that's normal. There's no tipping.
FAQ
Do I need to book? For Shin-Hinomoto, yes. Most neighbourhood izakaya take walk-ins.
Can I go alone? Yes. Counter seats are made for it.
What about after? Jazz bars or standing bars. For daytime food, ramen or sushi.
Food Desk
The Standard Japan
Where and how to eat in Japan, from konbini and kissaten to izakaya, ramen and department-store food halls.
Facts are taken from primary sources (operators, venues, official tourism and government pages) and dates and prices are checked on the day of writing. Pages are revised when those sources change.
Expertise
Restaurants, izakaya, ramen, food halls, ordering and etiquette
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