The world largest travel information site, Tripadvisor recently announced the list of TOP30 popular restaurants in Japan. The rank on the list is according to year-round average evaluation score, number of user reviews BY non-Japanese language users.
As it is only in Japanese, here we introduce the top 20+1 list with our past blog posts related when available.
To check its website, CLICK each restaurant name.
No.1 Ostuka (Arashiyama, Kyoto)
Japanese beef steak served in small cozy space with 30seats including some counter seats as well as Japanese folk craft decoration.
No.2 Tapas Molecular Bar (Nihonbashi, Tokyo)
With 8 seats, it is located on the 38th floor in Mandarin Oriental Hotel, one of the most luxury hotels in Tokyo.
The innovative dining experience is offered in 2 time slots on evening (+1 lunch time on weekend) with advance reservation.
No.3 Hafuu Main branch (central Kyoto)
Near Kyoto Gosho, serving high quality beef dishes.
No.4 Heianraku (Takayama, Gifu)
Chinese restaurant accommodated in a building with Japanese traditional decoration in city center of Takayama.
No.5 Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M Hozenji-Yokocho (Dotonbori, Osaka)
Matsusakagyu, the beef brand "Matsusaka" from Mie is one of the highest quality beef along with Kobe beef.
The restaurant offers various parts of Matsusaka beef for Japanese style BBQ in the local dining area of Osaka.
No.6 SUSHI BAR YASUDA (Aoyama, Tokyo)
Chef Yoshida has had long excellent career at sushi restaurants in New York.
Since December 2011, he has his own Sushi restaurant in Tokyo, coming back to his home country.
Of course, feel free to speak in English with the chef!
No.7 Kyubei Ginza (Tokyo)
Luxury sushi restaurant in Ginza with high reputation for years among locals.
No.8 Kobe Beef Kaiseki 511 (Akasaka, Tokyo)
Report from our blog,
"Kobe Beef Kaiseki 511, Akasaka (赤坂)"
Kobe beef is available in Tokyo at reasonable price especially on lunch time.
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2013/03/kobe-beef-kaiseki-511-akasaka.html
No.9 Kiji SKY Building (Umeda, Osaka)
Okonomiyaki (local style pancake) restaurant on the underground floor of iconic "SKY building" in central Osaka.
As a typical serving style, your Okonomiyaki will be cooked on an iron plate in front of you. Be ready to make a queue!
Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g298566-d1700891-Reviews-Kiji_Sky-Osaka_Osaka_Prefecture_Kinki.html#REVIEWS
No.10 Ichiran Shibuya (Tokyo)
One of the most famous Ramen restaurant chains in Tokyo as well as other major cities in/out of Japan.
Check it on our blog.
"Ichiran (一蘭) - unusual but best environment to enjoy tonkotsu ramen"
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2012/11/ichiran-tonkotsu-ramen-unusual-but-best-environment.html
No.11 Center4 Hamburgers (Takayama, Gifu)
As our past blog post mentioning some OTHER burgers restaurants in Tokyo, even if it is the menu you can find in your own country, it is worth trying a good quality hamburger in Japan.
"Why not try gourmet burgers in Tokyo? - Brozers', Ningyocho (人形町)"
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2012/08/why-not-try-gourmet-burgers-in-tokyo.html
"Why not try gourmet burgers in Tokyo? Part2 - J.S. Burgers Cafe"
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2012/08/why-not-try-gourmet-burgers-in-tokyo-part2-js-burgers-cafe.html
No.12 Sushi Dai(Tsukiji, Tokyo)
Food lovers cannot miss to visit Tsukiji market and also to try sushi menu there.
Find what and how it is served here on our blog.
"Sushi Dai in Tsukiji Market (寿司大 築地市場)"
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/05/sushi-dai-in-tsukiji-market.html
No.13 Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai (Tokyo)
Just at the feet of Tokyo Tower, the luxury Japanese restaurant provides serveral course menu with its specialty TOFU.
No.14 Nagata-ya (central Hiroshima)
Local, Hiroshima style okonomiyaki (with noodle) is served.
No.15 Sushi Midori Shibuya store (Shibuya, Tokyo)
Situated just above Shibuya station on Keio line, accommodated in a shopping complex Tokyo Mark City We find a long long queue in front of the sushi restaurant ALWAYS!
No.16 NARISAWA (Aoyama, Tokyo)
The modern and unique cuisine is fantastic with imagination.
Check our report.
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2009/08/french---les-cr.html
No.17 Kaikaya (Shibuya, Tokyo)
I like this restaurant but to be honest, we did not imagine that this restaurant is so popular among foreign tourists.
Because it is hidden location much far from major stations! Apart from the location, it is highly recommendable! We will write more on our blog some days.
No.18 Harajuku Gyoza-rou (Harajuku, Shibuya)
For Japanese, "Gyoza" is categorized as "Chinese dish". The resaonable but good gyoza is popular among young people in the area.
No.19 Sushizanmai Higashi-Shinjuku (Shinjuku, Tokyo)
Once we wrote about the amazing but casual sushi restaurant chain Sushizanmai as below. "Affordable dining choice No.1 Sushi - Sushizanmai"
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2013/10/affordable-dining-choice-no1-sushi-sushizanmai.html
Higashi-Shinjuku branch is not far from Tokyo's largest night entertainment district Kabukicho.
Open everyday and 24hours.
No.20 CHOJIRO Shijo Kiyamachi (central Kyoto)
No.21 NINJA AKASAKA (Tokyo)
What you imagine from the restaurant name will be available here.
Truly enjoyable dining experience. That is the reason we wanted to keep this restaurant on this list.
"Ninja Akasaka, Tokyo"
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2015/03/ninja-akasaka-tokyo.html
Which one and how many of them have you ever tried?
Which one would you like to try next?! For me, well we will introduce some of them on our blog!
Information source: Tripadvisor Japanese news page
http://tg.tripadvisor.jp/news/ranking/inboundrestaurant_2015/