13 Best Restaurants in Shinjuku

Shinjuku: A Vibrant Hub for Young People

Shinjuku is a vibrant district known for attracting young people, but it’s much more than just a hotspot for youth. It’s a lively entertainment area where people of all ages, from both Japan and abroad, come and go at all hours of the day. Shinjuku Station, famous for being the busiest train station in the world by passenger count, serves as a gateway to this dynamic part of Tokyo. Among its many attractions, Kabukicho stands out, drawing visitors from around the world. This entertainment district transforms completely from day to night, with neon lights that warp your sense of time. Additionally, the narrow, retro alleyways of Golden Gai offer a unique, otherworldly atmosphere that captivates anyone who steps inside.

Dining in Shinjuku

Shinjuku is a vibrant district that attracts visitors from all over the world, not just Japan. One of the standout features of its dining scene is the abundance of reasonably priced restaurants, particularly those serving sushi, izakayas (Japanese pubs), ramen, udon (wheat flour noodles), and yakiniku (Japanese BBQ). You'll find a wide variety of dining options covering nearly every cuisine. The area is also known for its large number of international visitors, which is reflected in the many non-Japanese restaurants, including Italian, French, Spanish, Korean, Indian, Thai, and other ethnic cuisines. In the first part of this article, we’ll explore fine dining options near Shinjuku Station, including Michelin-rated and well-known spots. In the second part, we’ll focus on more affordable options, including those recognized with a Bib Gourmand.

7 Fine Dining Spots in Shinjuku

1. Sushi Sagane (鮨 さがね) / Sushi

Sushi Sagane is an authentic Edo-style sushi restaurant known for its fresh ingredients, sourced directly from the market and a strong focus on seasonal flavors. Tucked away in a hidden alley in the backstreets of Nishi-Shinjuku, this intimate sushi spot draws a steady stream of both local and international guests. The chef honors traditional techniques while adding a creative twist to the sushi and side dishes.

The restaurant places a special emphasis on its tableware, with carefully chosen pieces that enhance the presentation of both the food and drinks. With just six seats at the counter, inspired by cherry blossoms, the calm and refined setting offers guests the chance to experience the chef’s craftsmanship up close.

2. Yakiniku Onuki (焼肉 大貫) / Yakiniku

Yakiniku Onuki is a renowned yakiniku restaurant that was ranked among the top 100 restaurants on Japan's leading gourmet review site from 2018 to 2023. Located in Shinjuku, it’s the Tokyo branch of the long-established Onuki, which has been serving up premium yakiniku in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka for 50 years. The restaurant is known for its melt-in-your-mouth Japanese Kuroge Wagyu beef, which pairs perfectly with its signature sweet sauce, a recipe passed down through generations. The thick-cut beef tongue, combined with the secret sauce, is sure to satisfy your cravings. In addition, the restaurant offers a carefully curated selection of wines that beautifully complement the rich flavors of the meat.

3. Sushi Bando (鮨 ばんど) / Sushi

Sushi Bando was established as an extension of the renowned Takumi Tatsuhiro, continuing its traditional legacy. The name "Bando" comes from a sushi term meaning "eight," symbolizing good fortune, as the number eight represents growth and prosperity. The restaurant is known for its expertly crafted sushi, made with carefully selected ingredients, all offered at reasonable prices. Lunch is especially popular among local office workers, while dinner attracts guests looking to enjoy both sushi and sake. The restaurant features an 8-seat counter made of plain wood and four 4-seat tables, making it ideal for solo diners or casual business meetings.

4. Shinjuku Gyoen Sushi Nishi (新宿御苑すし 西) / Sushi

Located near the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden in Tokyo, this Edo-style sushi restaurant is extremely popular with foreign visitors. The owners of Takumi Tatsuhiro and Sushi Bando have developed a unique concept centered around "natural wines, hot sake, and sushi," with an emphasis on lunch service. The seafood is carefully sourced from places like Tsukiji, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Ishikawa, offering a well-balanced selection that pairs perfectly with the sushi rice. The interior, reminiscent of a traditional tea room, provides a refined and peaceful atmosphere, making it the perfect place to enjoy Edo-style sushi at a relaxed pace.

5. Takumi Makoto (匠 誠) / Sushi

Takumi Makoto is a sushi restaurant recognized as one of the Top 100 Best Restaurants by Japan's leading gourmet review site in both 2021 and 2022. The chef, trained at the prestigious Sushi Sho, has mastered a lively and elegant style of serving, alternating between bite-sized sushi and small side dishes. This approach has become a favorite for its balance of flavor and ease of enjoyment. The restaurant’s signature dish, “Vinegared Oboro-Cured Young Sea Bream Sushi,” showcases tender fish paired with lightly seasoned rice that effortlessly melts in your mouth. Guests can enjoy authentic sushi in a tranquil, inviting space, featuring warm wooden interiors and a calm atmosphere far removed from the city's noise.

6. Sushi Iwase (すし岩瀬) / Sushi

Sushi Iwase is a celebrated sushi restaurant that earned a spot among the Top 100 Best Restaurants on Japan's premier gourmet review site in 2022. Helmed by a chef trained in the prestigious Sushi Sho tradition, the restaurant showcases the signature style of alternating between delicate sushi and flavorful small dishes. One of its standout features is the use of fresh seafood sourced directly from Hakata’s Yanagibashi Rengo Market, with a strong emphasis on carefully chosen, top-quality ingredients. Premium selections, such as the richly flavored nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), are expertly grilled over an open flame, resulting in crispy, aromatic skin and a tender, juicy interior—a perfect complement to fine alcoholic beverages. With an intimate, 9-seat plain wood counter, Sushi Iwase offers diners the chance to savor exquisite cuisine while observing the chef's artistry up close.

7. USHIGORO S. SHINJUKU (ウシゴロ エス) / Yakiniku

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022, 23, 24)

USHIGORO S. SHINJUKU is a premium yakiniku restaurant, recognized as one of Japan's Top 100 Best Restaurants by a leading gourmet review site in both 2022 and 2023. Each private dining room offers an exclusive experience, with a skilled grill master expertly preparing premium Kuroge Wagyu beef sourced from select farms right before your eyes. This creates an unforgettable, immersive dining moment featuring some of the finest Kuroge Wagyu beef in the world.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Shinjuku’s glittering night skyline, the fully private ambiance makes it a perfect choice for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. Paired with a curated selection of world-class wines and spirits, USHIGORO S. delivers a refined, intimate experience designed for those who appreciate the highest standards of luxury and hospitality.

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Six Award-Winning and Budget-Friendly Restaurants in Shinjuku

8. SOBAHOUSE KONJIKI HOTOTOGISU (SOBAHOUSE 金色不如帰) / Ramen

1. Michelin (2016 - 2018, 2024): Bib Gourmand, Michelin (2019 - 2023): One Star

SOBAHOUSE KONJIKI HOTOTOGISU is a Michelin-starred ramen restaurant that has also earned a Bib Gourmand distinction. Since its opening in 2006 in Hatagaya, it has been at the forefront of Japan's ramen scene and is the third restaurant from the acclaimed HOTOTOGISU group. Each bowl is carefully crafted to achieve the perfect balance of noodles and ingredients, featuring over 60 different elements that come together to create a deep, rich flavor that has made it a favorite. The phrase written on the noren (fabric curtain) — "If the bird does not sing, make it sing" — is a poetic reference to Toyotomi Hideyoshi's personality, which the restaurant uses as a metaphor for its own commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new flavors.

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9. Torishige (鳥茂) / Kushiyaki

1. Michelin (2024): Bib Gourmand

Torishige is a pork kushiyaki (grilled skewered dishes) restaurant that earned a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide 2024. Established in 1949, it began as a humble food stall and has been cherished by locals for decades. The restaurant sources fresh ingredients daily, offering a menu that features a variety of rare and specialty skewers, as well as an impressive selection of sashimi (thinly sliced raw meat). One highlight is their signature sauce, a recipe passed down since the restaurant’s founding. Made with just soy sauce, sugar, and sake, it delivers a rich and complex flavor. Meat lovers will delight in the offerings, including their exceptional “tsukune” (meatballs), crafted from a mix of pork, chicken, beef, innards, and cartilage—completely free of binders. For an indulgent treat, the menu also boasts a luxurious sirloin steak topped with sea urchin and caviar.

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10. Kirimugiya Jinroku (切麦や 甚六) / Udon

1. Michelin (2022 - 2023): Bib Gourmand

Kirimugiya Jinroku is an udon restaurant that earned the Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide for both 2022 and 2023. Known for its freshly made udon, which is always cut and kneaded to order (never pre-made), it offers an exceptional dining experience at reasonable prices. The restaurant is so popular that lines often form during lunchtime. They use carefully selected, additive-free ingredients for their dashi broth and homemade udon. Popular menu items include kamaage (udon served in hot water, enhancing the rich flavor of Shodoshima soy sauce) and kamatama (udon mixed with a rich egg). In the evening, guests can enjoy a variety of small dishes and drinks, finishing off their meal with a satisfying bowl of udon.

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11. Udon Shin (うどん 慎) / Udon

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2017 - 2020, 2022, 2024)

Udon Shin is a specialty udon restaurant that has been ranked among the top 100 on Japan's leading gourmet review site for several years. They serve freshly made udon, hand-kneaded, cut, and boiled to order for each bowl. The restaurant is popular with a wide variety of customers. The udon stands out with its glossy, translucent white noodles, a perfectly chewy texture, and a smooth, satisfying glide down the throat. The noodles have a distinctive chewy yet slippery feel. The presentation is exceptional, making it visually appealing as well. You can also customize your dish with toppings like grated white radish, adding to the experience.

12. Hamburg Will (ハンバーグ ウィル) / Yoshoku

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2020, 2022, 2023)

Hamburg Will is a renowned hamburger restaurant that has been ranked among the top 100 restaurants on Japan's leading gourmet review site in 2020, 2022, and 2023. The restaurant uses 100% Iwanaka Pork from Iwate, which is lighter than beef and boasts a tender texture and juicy flavor that's simply exquisite. One of the restaurant's key draws is its concept of providing a comfortable space where women can dine alone with ease. You can customize your hamburger steak with toppings like avocado, foie gras, and bacon, and choose from three different sauces to suit your preferences. The restaurant also offers a carefully curated selection of wines, making it an especially great choice for those who enjoy pork and red wine.

13. Nara Seimen (楢製麺) / Ramen

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022, 2024)

Nara Seimen is a ramen shop that was recognized as one of Japan's Top 100 Restaurants by a major gourmet review site in both 2022 and 2024. It is a sister restaurant of Udon Shin in Shinjuku and one of its standout features is that it serves noodles made without alkaline water, just like udon. The noodles are thin yet have the chewy texture of udon, while the chicken-based broth and presentation give it a ramen-like feel, offering a unique and unforgettable flavor that has garnered attention. A large bamboo shoot is placed in the center as a topping, adding a visually striking element to the dish.