Screen to Table: 6 Restaurants for Netflix Fans in Japan

Restaurants on Screen

From depictions of late-night tachinomi and endearingly grimy countertops to Michelin-starred restaurants with starched kimono hostesses, Japan has no shortage of movies featuring its unforgettable eateries. This short selection of eight starter venues are must-hit destinations for film fans visiting the country to step fork-first into their favorite scenes.

Restaurants Featured on Screen

1. Sukiyabashi Jiro (Jiro Dreams of Sushi)

In the documentary, viewers see firsthand that dedication to a craft isn't all smiling elders guiding their apprentices in the ways of the sushi knife. Chef Jiro Ono isn't shy about admitting that of all his protegees, he's been most harsh on his son Takashi. While the Ginza location made famous by Jiro Dreams of Sushi is still shrouded by its exclusive, strict regiment of dining and custom, Chef Takashi's Roppongi counter is open to the public and the proud owner of 2 Michelin Stars. Son of Chef Jiro, Takashi reserves the strict standards of his father. The counter serves only sushi, one brand of beer, and one brand of sake. The goal is to eat and appreciate and nothing more. But for fans of the family and brand, there is no higher honor than a seat at the table.

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2. Izakaya Toyo (Street Food: Asia)

Thanks to its reputation for cleanliness and general avoidance of eating while walking, Japan's street food scene doesn't quite live up to the rollicking hawker stalls of other Asian countries. What it lacks in virility however, its makes up for with the classic features of Japanese cooking: precision and quality. Izakaya Toyo serves sashimi as street food. The shop, led by chef Toyo, went viral after the chain-smoking, flame-thrower-happy chef's eyecatching tuna cheek prep was featured on Netflix. The outdoor tachinomi has some foldable tables and a simple menu featuring surprisingly luxurious ingredients -- crab, ikura and fatty tuna are fan favorites. It's a no-reservation restaurant, but an unforgettable meal with theatrics that bring out flavor, not just crowds.

3. Maison Paul Bocuse (La Grande Maison Tokyo)

La Grande Maison Tokyo was produced in collaboration with Japan's TBS, Netflix, and with real oversight from the Michelin Guide. A breakout hit domestically, the series used real restaurants as the sets for its in-show restaurants. One of these is Maison Paul Bocuse in Tokyo, which became the restaurant Gaku, Chef Natsuki Obana's rival eatery in the show. Maison Paul Bocuse is located in Daikanyama and offers a menu that takes inspiration from the original in Lyon, France. Sculptural elements and artistic plating elevate the classical French cuisine that makes this a real Grande Maison. The truffle scented soup topped with a pastry crust is a signature dish any diner should try.

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4. Kanmidokoro Hatsune (Kantaro the Sweet Toothed Salaryman)

In Japan, "Saboriman Kantaro" follows the story of an office worker who will do anything to get off work and enjoy some sweet snacks. The show hit USA Netflix as Kantaro the Sweet Toothed Salaryman in the late 2010's and introduced several real-life shops that visitors can enjoy in Tokyo. One of these is Hatsune, located in Ningyocho. Hatsune was established in 1837, before its signature dish, anmitsu, was formally recognized. The rustic combination of kanten produced from domestic agar, Okinawan black sugar syrup, sweet adzuki beans, fruit, and chewy white shiratama is an age-old Japanese dessert. For those who have never tried anmitsu, adding ice cream is a popular way to add modern sweetness to an old-fashioned dessert.

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5. Muromachi Wakuden (Makanai)

Episode 8 of Netflix's Makanai series, which follows the cozy and sometimes dramatic adventures of maiko in training and their house cooks, characters pay a visit to Michelin One Star and Green Star restaurant Muromachi Wakuden. The restaurant earned its green star by participating in regenerative agriculture, planting its own organic and rice and enriching the soil with cast-off crab shells. Although the food here is notably more refined than diners might enjoy for makanai ("staff meal"), the heart of rustic, close-to-the-Earth Kyoto cooking is upheld in its Kappo-style counter course meals. Vegetarian Shojin ryori courses are also available with advance booking of at least three days, giving diners an even more impressive peek into Kyoto's culinary culture.

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Movie Ambiance

While these restaurants haven't yet made it on screen, dining here transports visitors into the world of film, capturing the ambiance and menu of our favorite series and movies. Eat like you're a part of the show at these venues.

6. Kikunoi (Shogun)

As diners walk up the stone steps to Asakusa's 2-Michelin star Kikunoi, they may find themselves feeling like the hero in their own Shogun story. The streaming hit follows the journey of a brave foreigner who becomes embroiled in the clan wars of regional Daimyo. Kikunoi invites foreign guests to try Japan's traditional cuisine in much the same way, treating them as guests of honor while introducing ancient cooking methods and ingredients across the wooden countertop. The meal follows kaiseki rules - a main ingredient for each dish, a flow following the major cooking techniques and attention to servingware. Diners enjoy their meal while overlooking a Japanese garden, not unlike the view from the Anjin's quarters.

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7. Sekitori Ramen Ryuken (Tampopo)

Tampopo, the first ramen Western, leans on hijinks and tittilating characters to create what has become a ramen-lovers primer and hallmark film. While the ramen shop that once stood where Tampopo is thought to have been filmed, age-old ramen shops around Tokyo still have that Showa-era ambiance. Take Ryuken, in Akihabara, which has been slinging noodles since 1965. Even now, a basic bowl of shoyu ramen starts at just 380 yen, up to 680 for the largest size. The ramen itself is a basic Yokohama home-style (ie-kei), but interesting toppings like the eye-catching bone-in rib ramen make this old fashioned shop special. Practice the slurping techniques learned from Tampopo here, and you'll be golden.

8. Yoyo (Mightnight Diner)

Yoyo's owner, affectionately called Ta-chan, opened his bar in 2019 at just 30 years old. A fan of the Midnight Diner manga, he intentionally designed Yoyo to become a real life version of the "Meshiya." Like the Netflix hit and manga, Yoyo doesn't have a menu. There are just 10 seats, and the owner-chef will make what he can on request from the ingredients at hand. Even with its non-traditional style, the bar turns numbers from local fans of the series and casual passers by. Although the store in Midnight Diner is fictional, a trip to Yoyo recreates some of the ambiance. However, real-life Yoyo is notably more modern, cleaner and arguably more welcoming to non-locals concerned about a language barrier.