5 Best Restaurants in Nakameguro and Daikanyama, Tokyo

This specialty roaster now has several branches in Tokyo, including this small stand (with limited seating) near Naka-Meguro Station. The baristas here are extremely knowledgeable and brew up great espressos, hand-drip coffees, and lattes. As for the name, it's not a misspelling of omnibus, but a playfully unusual mix of oni (devil) and bus.

This microbrewery produces a core lineup of six ales and lagers in Daikanyama, which explains the large brew tanks you can see as you eat and drink. But this is not just a place to drink; the menu also features a good range of burgers, pizzas, and grilled meats. Helpfully, the food menu comes with beer pairing suggestions. They also brew seasonal and limited releases, such as an 8% Belgian “gran cru” and a 6.5% hop-heavy IPA. 

While you may or may not typically seek out Starbucks while traveling, this super-fancy Starbucks Reserve Roastery is especially inviting during sakura (cherry blossom) season. You'll be able to get sakura-flavored drinks like cream soda sakura (only available seasonally), and the second-floor terrace is a wonderful spot to view the blossoms.

A family joint, Tonki is a success that never went conglomerate or added frills to what it does best: deep-fried pork cutlets, soup, raw-cabbage salad, rice, pickles, and tea. That's the standard course, and almost everybody orders it, with good reason—it's utterly delicious. Just listen to customers in line as they put in their usual orders while a server comes around to take it. Then go ahead and join in; the wait is only about 10 minutes, but the line continues every night until the place closes at 10:45.

This intimate counter-only sushi restaurant in Naka-Meguro’s backstreets serves omakase courses based on what the owner-chef sources each day from Toyosu Market, so you never know exactly what you will be served; just that it will be incredible. While fish takes center-stage, herbs and vegetables are also incorporated into Udatsu’s often modern take on sushi. Taking that a step further, there’s also a vegetarian sushi course (that needs to be reserved at least two days in advance). Like many sushi restaurants, opting for lunch rather than dinner will make Udatsu a far more affordable experience; though if you are going to splurge at night, this is one place well worth it.