14 Best Dining Spots in Meguro and Jiyugaoka

Dining Scene in Meguro and Jiyugaoka

Meguro: Easy Access and Upscale Dining

Meguro is conveniently located near vibrant neighborhoods such as Shibuya and Ebisu and close to Shinagawa Station, a major bullet train hub, making it easily accessible by public transport. Known for its tranquil, residential ambiance interspersed with office buildings, Meguro is celebrated for its high-end dining options, including a range of top-notch sushi and yakiniku barbecue restaurants.

Jiyugaoka: Trendy and Stylish

Jiyugaoka is famed for its fashionable atmosphere, characterized by boutiques, charming European-style streets, and cobblestone alleys perfect for strolls. Popular spots include a local department store and the Kuhonbutsu River Greenway, which attract both locals and visitors alike. The area also boasts a variety of trendy cafes, making it ideal for a relaxed cafe-hopping experience. With its diverse dining options, Jiyugaoka offers something for everyone, ensuring a delightful culinary adventure.

11 Best Restaurants in Meguro

1. Udatsu Sushi (宇田津 鮨) / Sushi

Tucked away in a residential neighborhood in Nakameguro, Udatsu Sushi is a Michelin-starred gem that’s been making waves. Since opening in 2019, it has gained acclaim for its innovative sushi and sake, where artistry meets presentation. The omakase menu offers a selection of hand-rolled and traditional sushi, appetizers, miso soup, and rolled omelets—all crafted to perfection. English is spoken, making it accessible for tourists.

2. T (ティ) / Steakhouse

This prestigious restaurant has earned a spot among the world's top 101 steak destinations and proudly represents Japan as the first to participate in a global steak showcase. Specializing in Omi beef, with the T-bone steak as its signature dish, the restaurant has spent two years perfecting its unique offerings, including world-first dishes made from female Omi beef.

The restaurant's interior evokes the Prohibition era, featuring private rooms adorned with antique furniture. The dinner T Course offers highlights such as Omi beef with caviar-infused tartar sauce, T-bone steak, seasonal desserts, and even a takeaway gift.

The menu is available in English. For families with children, private rooms are recommended, and kids up to 10 years old enjoy a complimentary Japanese Wagyu hamburger plate, making it an excellent choice for traveling families.

3. Ten-Masa (天雅) / Tempura

This yakitori restaurant is ranked among Japan's top 100 gourmet spots. Their motto, "A Skewer That Moves You," highlights their dedication to expertly grilled chicken skewers, simple vegetable skewers, and delicious snacks. The omakase course lets you tell the chef when to stop serving once you're full. They use premium Kishu Binchotan charcoal to grill Daisen chicken to perfection.

The restaurant features a sleek, black-themed design with a cozy, hidden gem atmosphere and offers only counter seating. The dress code is smart casual. Children aged 12 and over, who can enjoy the same course as adults, are welcome. English is spok

4. Torisawa Nakameguro (とり澤 中目黒) / Yakitori

1. Japan Restaurant Award,Best 100 (2022,2023)

This yakitori restaurant is ranked among Japan's top 100 gourmet spots. Their motto, "A Skewer That Moves You," highlights their dedication to expertly grilled chicken skewers, simple vegetable skewers, and delicious snacks. The omakase course lets you tell the chef when to stop serving once you're full. They use premium Kishu Binchotan charcoal to grill Daisen chicken to perfection.

The restaurant features a sleek, black-themed design with a cozy, hidden gem atmosphere and offers only counter seating. The dress code is smart casual. Children aged 12 and over, who can enjoy the same course as adults, are welcome. English is spoken.

5. Nerisa (ネリザ) / Italian

This Michelin Guide-listed Italian restaurant specializes in showcasing the natural flavors of its ingredients, paired with a selection of natural wines. The menu features classic Piedmontese dishes, such as veal with tuna tonnato sauce, homemade tagliatelle pasta, and agnolotti. The restaurant aims to be more than just a dining destination; it strives to be a place you’ll want to return to, offering a warm and peaceful ambiance. For dinner, they offer an omakase course.

Infants and toddlers are not permitted, but children who can enjoy the same menu as adults are welcome. There is no formal dress code, but guests are asked to avoid excessive perfume or strong fabric softener scents. An English-language drink menu is available for international travelers.

6. Yakiniku Shimizu (焼肉 しみず) / Yakiniku

Japan Restaurant Award,Best 100 (2019 - 2023)

Japan Restaurant Award,Bronze (2018)

This yakiniku barbecue restaurant is ranked among the top 100 on a major Japanese gourmet review site. They serve A5-grade Kuroge wagyu beef, renowned for its delicate and refined sweetness, particularly in the marbled cuts of female beef. Their signature dish, thick-sliced beef tongue, is a rare cut with only five pieces available per cow. Despite the high price of several thousand yen per slice, it remains a popular choice.

The restaurant features a casual atmosphere, high-quality food, and reasonable prices, offering excellent value for money. They also provide a variety of side dishes, including a compulsory appetizer, kimchi, and grilled rice balls.

7. Tempura Miyashiro (天婦羅 みやしろ) / Tempura

A celebrated tempura restaurant with a Michelin star for five consecutive years, Tempura Miyashiro is renowned for its exceptional dishes crafted from seasonal ingredients. They use state-of-the-art equipment and the expertise of their Japanese chefs to create outstanding tempura. The course menus feature not only tempura but also seasonal items such as soups made with bonito broth, thin-sliced raw fish, and various à la carte options. To complement the meals, they offer a selection of wines and sake paired with each month's menu, ensuring a perfect match with the dishes.

Housed in a renovated 100-year-old row house, the restaurant provides a tranquil Japanese ambiance with a soothing wooden aroma. The dress code is smart casual, and English menus are available.

8. Bistro Tatsumi (ビストロ タツミ) / French

Featured in the Michelin Guide, this French bistro is helmed by a chef with two and a half years of training in France, specializing in offal dishes, particularly abats. The restaurant offers a wide range of meats from around the world, with various cuts and preparations. Their specialties include abats en gelée and an array of other meat dishes.

The wine list boasts over 150 selections, primarily focusing on Burgundy and other French wines, with additional options from Italy and Spain. The ambiance is casual, creating a relaxed dining experience. The dress code is smart casual, and a children's menu is available for those aged 6 and up. English menus are also provided.

9. Bistro Caniche (ビストロカニッシュ) / French

This restaurant, recognized by the Bib Gourmand, offers an authentic taste of French cuisine. Its signature dish, bouillabaisse, was perfected by the chef under the guidance of Mr. Pierre Préjan in his youth, and it showcases the rich, intricate flavors of fresh seafood. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared with seasonal catches and complemented by a house-made rouille sauce, adding depth and smoothness for an unforgettable dining experience.

Conveniently located near Meguro Station, the restaurant provides a relaxed ambiance where comfort and a sense of special occasion come together seamlessly.

10. Meguro Sushi Taichi (目黒 すし太一) / Sushi

Meguro Sushi Taichi is a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant where you can enjoy top-quality sushi in a cozy and welcoming setting. Open exclusively for dinner, the restaurant offers an omakase course, where the chef’s selection alternates between small appetizers and sushi. The sushi rice is seasoned with rice vinegar, perfectly complementing the natural sweetness of the seafood.

The interior exudes a warm, traditional Japanese ambiance, featuring both counter seating and tatami-style floor seating. Two-course options are available, priced at ¥19,800 and ¥24,200, which include grilled and simmered dishes. The experience is further elevated by a curated selection of premium Japanese sake and shochu.

11. Yakiniku Horumon Inada (焼肉ホルモン 稲田) / Yakiniku

1. Japan Restaurant Award,Best 100 (2019-2023)

This barbecue restaurant has been ranked among Japan's top 100 on a renowned gourmet review site for five consecutive years. Operated by Yazawa Meat, a leading meat wholesaler specializing in offal, it offers expertly selected Kuroge Wagyu beef and offal sourced through exclusive channels. The offal undergoes a meticulous three-stage process: washing, polishing, and drying. Popular dishes such as Mille-feuille Yaki and Genuine Yukhoe are favorites among both food enthusiasts and celebrities.

The restaurant boasts a chic and cozy interior with private rooms for a relaxed dining experience. With strict quality control, even the beer is of high standard. The menu is available in English, and Wi-Fi is provided.

3 Best Restaurants in Jiyugaoka

12. Yakitori Abe (やきとり 阿部) / Yakitori

This acclaimed yakitori restaurant earned the Bib Gourmand award from the Michelin Guide in 2023 and 2024 and was also ranked among the top 100 on a prominent Japanese gourmet review site in 2021. Emphasizing the concept of "yakitori and wine," it serves exceptional skewers made with carefully selected Date chicken and seasonal vegetables. The skewers are expertly grilled over Kishu Binchotan charcoal and offered in an omakase-style, where the chef's choice allows diners to enjoy a continuous stream of skewers until they choose to stop. The menu also includes a range of appetizers, such as thin-sliced raw chicken and potato salad, along with finishing dishes like grilled rice balls and Inaniwa udon noodles.

Conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from Jiyugaoka Station, the restaurant provides a relaxed atmosphere for dining. The wine selection, curated by a sommelier, is offered at reasonable prices.

13. Le Monde Gourmand (ル モンド グルマン) / French

This French bistro, recognized by Bib Gourmand, offers a delightful dining experience with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and techniques learned in Southern France and Paris. Their menu features classic dishes such as pâté en croûte, fish en papillote, and roast lamb. A standout is the Japanese Wagyu beef cheek stewed in red wine, renowned for its rich umami and succulent meat juices.

The restaurant boasts a warm and inviting atmosphere, with attentive staff ensuring a comfortable dining experience. Their omakase course, which includes six dishes along with a welcome drink and a personalized message plate, is perfect for special occasions. Children aged 10 and older are welcome to enjoy the same menu as adults.

14. D'êtraison (デトレゾン) / French

D'êtraison is a French restaurant that has earned Michelin's Bib Gourmand designation for six consecutive years. It serves authentic French cuisine, and its name is a play on "Raison d'être," meaning "reason for being" or "purpose." Every element, from the dishes to the presentation and decor, carries deep meaning. One standout item on the menu is the Wagyu Beef Cheek Braised in Red Wine, celebrated for its rich flavor. Guests can savor carefully crafted dishes for both lunch and dinner, featuring the chef's choice of ingredients.

With its serene ambiance, the restaurant is ideal for romantic dates and special celebrations. It also offers non-alcoholic beverages and pairing options for a truly memorable dining experience.