12 Must-Visit Restaurants in Asakusa

If you're craving traditional Japanese cuisine, Tokyo's Asakusa neighborhood is your safest bet. It's home to a thriving food scene, with eateries ranging from street food stalls along Nakamise-dori to Michelin-starred restaurants in the backstreets. 

Whether it's your first time in Asakusa or well acquainted with the area, you might be looking for delicious fare. Let us introduce some incredible establishments that will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

Not sure what to do in Asakusa? Check out our Asakusa area guide.

For over five decades, Kato Suisan has built a reputation as the "King of Crab" in Japan, supplying the finest Hokkaido crab to the nation. Their passion for exceptional seafood extends beyond distribution, with critically acclaimed sushi restaurants in Niseko. Now, their journey reaches the heart of Tokyo with Kani Kato Asakusa.

This new venture celebrates the bounty of the sea, featuring meticulously chosen live crabs sourced from Hokkaido, Fukui, and Ishikawa. Maintained in on-site tanks for peak freshness, these crustaceans are the stars of the show. But the commitment to quality extends beyond the main course.

Kani Kato Asakusa showcases the rich agricultural heritage of Edo Tokyo, incorporating rare local vegetables grown using traditional methods. To helm this culinary experience, Chef Okada Jun brings his impressive experience, having led a renowned Shibuya restaurant at a young age and representing Japanese cuisine on the international stage.

Hommage offers nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. The two-Michelin-star restaurant specializes in fusion cuisine, where French haute cuisine techniques and seasonal Japanese ingredients come together beautifully on every plate.

Depending on your schedule, you can book a lunch or dinner course menu, but we recommend the omakase dinner course to see talented chef Noboru Arai at his best. It's a bit of a splurge for sure, but it's worth every yen. 

Not convinced? Read our full review of Hommage.

A companion shop to Hommage, at Noura, Chef Arai and Chef Matsumoto Yoshio present diners with a more casual and affordable experience that still speaks to the chefs' skills. The lunch and dinner courses are omakase-style, promising only the freshest ingredients.

Noura made the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand list, so you know it's worthy of a stop even if you can't afford to break the bank. 

At Tempura Asakusa SAKURA, there's a year-round spring atmosphere with cherry blossoms adorning the ceiling, setting the scene for exquisite gluten-free tempura and even halal-friendly wagyu sirloin tempura.

English-speaking staff and menus ensure that international visitors feel at ease, while still creating an intimate atmosphere that allows for flowing conversation, no matter who's sitting at the 10-seat counter.

Tempura Asakusa SAKURA offers a unique and memorable dining experience, where exceptional tempura is paired with warm hospitality beneath the stunning blossoms.

Tsukiji Sushi Sen, originally from the renowned Tsukiji Inner Market, is a beloved institution offering exceptional sushi. Striking a balance between affordable conveyor belt kaitenzushi and high-end omakase, they're known for fresh, high-quality seafood.

The Asakusa Kaminarimon branch, just three minutes from Asakusa Station, may not be near the original market, but it boasts the same freshness, with seafood shipped directly from Tsukiji Market.

Open as late as 5 am, you'll have plenty of time to try top-notch bluefin tuna, scallop, anago eel and chawanmushi. So, how about a sushi breakfast next to Senso-ji Temple?

Discover Asakusa's rich history at Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street before enjoying the legendary flavors of Yakiniku Heijoen. Located near Asakusa Station, this flagship restaurant has served top-quality wagyu for over 50 years.

Since 1970, Heijoen has specialized in A5-grade wagyu, purchasing entire cattle to ensure consistency and exceptional quality. The elegant atmosphere enhances the dining experience, with an extensive menu featuring premium cuts like Kobe beef and kuroge black wagyu.

Seafood lovers can also enjoy premium selections like scallops, snow crab and kuruma-ebi prawns, making it the perfect spot for an unforgettable meal — no matter your tastes.

Basashiya Masashi’s Asakusa branch offers an authentic taste of Kyushu, located near Tokyo’s iconic Azuma-bashi Bridge. Specializing in basashi (raw horse meat), a popular dish from Kumamoto, the restaurant serves this lean, flavorful delicacy in various preparations, including deep-fried and in sukiyaki or shabu-shabu.

Sourced from the renowned Senko Farm, the horse meat is of exceptional quality, best paired with an extensive selection of Kyushu shochu (including an all-you-can-drink course option!).

Asakusa, already a vibrant hub, will soon become even livelier with the arrival of Monja Maguroya’s new branch. A favorite on Tsukushima’s Monjayaki Street, Maguroya draws A-listers like Shohei Ohtani and Naoya Inoue.

Known for its monjayaki, a Tokyo-style street food, the restaurant also highlights tuna, serving prized bluefin kamatoro sashimi. The course menu features signature monjayaki, okonomiyaki, seafood teppanyaki and A5-rank sirloin steak.

At Maguroya Asakusa, diners enjoy top-tier ingredients, lively energy and a touch of star power in a true Tokyo experience.

A historic restaurant in Asakusa that opened for business in 1866, Bentayama Miyako Sushi specializes in Edomae sushi. It's a must-visit if you want to expand your appreciation for traditional Japanese cuisine and craftsmanship. Ingredients and unique preparation characterize Edomae sushi: the fish must be from Tokyo Bay and cooked or cured before being served. 

Bentenyama Miyako Sushi is managed by a septuagenarian owner, who keeps traditions that have been passed down for more than 200 years! Dining here is a non-negotiable for sushi purists. 

Welcome to one of the leaders of hot cuisine, not to be confused with haute cuisine. Sink your teeth into tender strips of the best Japanese beef in the country at Imahan. Take your pick from shabu-shabu or sukiyaki and slow-simmer your beef strips to perfect in flavorful stock. Either choice is a guaranteed win. 

Tokyo-styled tempura in a traditional teahouse. Say that five times fast. Tongue twisters aside, Kaminarimon Sansada also serves up authentic tempura using a traditional sesame oil blend to fry vegetables and seafood. Course and a la carte menus are available here, along with seasonal specials and dishes throughout the year. There is a take-out counter for those on the go, but if time allows, dine in and enjoy the ambience and architecture.

Just north of Senso-ji and Asakusa Shrine lies grill GRAND. Founded in 1941, the instantly recognizable yellow brick facade and frequent queues hint at its enduring popularity. Here, home-style yoshoku reigns supreme. Over eight decades, the menu of beloved classics like katsu sandwiches, gratin, and beef stew has only expanded — nothing gets removed!

While all dishes are crowd-pleasers, a clear champion emerges for longtime patrons: the omu-hayashi rice. Fluffy eggs envelop steaming rice, bathed in a homemade demi-glace — a dark, rich concoction simmered for over two weeks. Earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024, grill GRAND proves that quality endures, better late than never.

Most of Tokyo is modern, with some areas even edging on futuristic, but Asakusa has an undying retro atmosphere. You could — and you should — spend a whole day in Asakusa to soak in the history and culture. Food tours and cooking classes are a great way to dive deeper. Here are a few recommended experiences in the neighborhood!

Join this candy sculpting workshop in Asakusa and create your own candy rabbit! Using mizuame (soft candy), you'll sculpt with scissors and tweezers, practicing twice before crafting your final piece.

A skilled artisan will guide you throughout, allowing you to create a candy decoration you're proud to take home as a souvenir — a sweet reminder of this traditional Japanese craft.

Asakusa, home to Tokyo’s oldest temple Senso-ji, is also the location of a unique dining experience: Asakusa Sumo Beya. Enjoy a traditional Japanese dance performance while savoring a sumo wrestler’s meal prepared by a former rikishi wrestler.

The chanko nabe stew, packed with protein, fuels the upcoming sumo bout. Watch as two former wrestlers perform and then, if you're brave, challenge them to a fun wrestling match. Dress in a sumo suit or mawashi, and finish with a group photo and a memorable souvenir!

Visit the observation deck of Asakusa's Tourist Center for panoramic views, and explore this district's must-see sights, from Senso-ji Temple and Kaminarimon Gate to Nakamise street.

Then, enjoy a delicious dinner at a charming local restaurant, complete with live traditional music. Savor izakaya dishes with a welcome drink, while the beautiful sounds of Japanese instruments enhance your Asakusa trip.

Wondering what else you can do? Check out the best food tours and cooking classes, hop between Asakusa's cafes, try Asakusa's best street foods, hunt down halal food and tick off some of the best things to do in Asakusa with our 1-day itinerary.