Cafe Gitane @ Ebisu

Avocado toast with smoked salmon, sour cream and salmon roe

Smoked salmon Eggs Benedict on wholemeal muffins with salad

Beef pastrami Eggs Benedict with truffle sauce and salad

Beef pastrami Eggs Benedict with truffle sauce and salad

Assorted charcuterie board

Assorted cheese board

Fresh truffle carbonara fettuccine

Grilled New Zealand lamb chops with couscous

New York cheesecake with vanilla ice cream

Hailing from New York City’s Nolita district, since its 2017 opening the Tokyo branch of Cafe Gitane has been popular with diners who enjoy a touch of American urban-chic, classic cafe-bar cuisine, natural wines and creative cocktails.

In recent years the menu has expanded beyond its Moroccan-French origins to provide a wider range of brunch, lunch and dinner offerings, while maintaining a focus on classics such as avocado toast, Eggs Benedict, seasonal oysters, pastas and charcoal-grilled dishes.

The New York cheesecake and ricotta pancakes come highly recommended, too.

Cafe Gitane

03 5734 1306

 

Umbilical @ Sangenjaya

Foie gras and strawberry macaron

Prosciutto and salami

Iwata salmon in yoghurt sauce

Pâté de campagne

Assorted homestyle pickles

Kale, cheese and walnut salad

Firefly squid in onion mousse

Asparagus, mushroom and aubergine sauté

Anago and shiso tempura

Squid tempura with seasonal vegetables

Bouillabaisse

Roast duck with seasonal vegetables

Hokkaido venison with seasonal vegetables

Arguably the classiest act in Sangenjaya’s “san-kaku” neighbourhood, Umbilical is a cosy bistro specialising in Franco-Japanese fusion dishes, with a leaning towards seafood and seasonal produce from Iwate, paired with some excellent natural wines.

A la carte and course options, including a chef’s omakase, are available, with favourites being the delightful strawberry and foie gras macarons, flavoursome bouillabaisse, and tender Hokkaido venison.

Umbilical

03 3413 3478

 

Tiger & Dragon @ Meguro

Tataki kyūri

Pītan tōfu

Pītan tōfu

Hiyashi wantan

Mārāmen

Shiru nashi dandan men

A relatively recent addition to Meguro’s flourishing dining scene, Tiger & Dragon opened in May 2024 to serve up deliciously spicy Chinese Dandan noodles, “tapas” dishes and organic wines, enabling diners to “savour a range of flavours” in a relaxed, contemporary setting.

This svelte restaurant is a cut above surrounding machi-chūka establishments, offering a limited menu of carefully prepared, and often tongue-numbingly spicy, dishes such as the mārāmen and shiru nashi dandan men. Chilled wanton dumplings and pītan tōfu help bring the temperature down.

Tiger & Dragon

03 6420 0114

 

Somtum Der @ Yoyogi

Tōfu, spring onion and pork mince soup

Crispy deep-fried pork belly with Chinese broccoli (Kana Moo Krob)

Lunch set soup

Deep-fried spicy pork spring roll (Por Pia Larb Tod)

House special grilled marinated pork (Moo Rong Hai Der)

Chicken with fried Holy Basil and fried egg over steamed rice (Khao Pad Kraprao Kai)

Thai style rice noodles with shrimps in special Pad Thai sauce (Pad Thai Goong)

Chicken fried rice with green curry (Khao Pad Gaeng Kiew Wan Gai)

Chicken with fried Holy Basil and fried egg over steamed rice (Khao Pad Kraprao Kai)

Deep-fried sun-dried pork (Moo Dad Diao)

Minced pork with fried Holy Basil and fried egg over steamed rice (Khao Pad Kraprao Moo)

 

Originally from Bangkok, Somtum Der also boasts a Michelin Starred New York branch, and two Tokyo branches in Yoyogi and Toranomon Hills. The Yoyogi iteration is our go-to Thai restaurant.

The delicious northeastern Isan recipes are consistently excellent, with ingredients, flavours and aromas that are authentic, subtle, and combine to create a truly memorable taste experience. Diners can select the level of spiciness of most dishes, but be warned that level 4 can be literally mind-blowing. Favourites are the Khao Pad Kraprao Kai (chicken with fried Holy Basil and fried egg over steamed rice), and Khao Pad Gaeng Kiew Wan Gai (chicken fried rice with green curry).

The Yoyogi store is particularly popular so reservations are advised, although takeout and delivery options are available at a pinch.

Somtum Der

03 3379 5379

Nisokuhokō Coffee Roasters @ Sangenjaya

Turnip potage

Salmon and bacon brunch plate

Fresh bread and butter selection

Coffee of the day

Ham brunch plate

Craft beer

Bacon brunch plate

Fresh baked bread and butter

Nisokuhokō is a pleasant, sunlit cafe-diner and coffee roasters situated above Sangenjaya’s delicious Junibun Bakery (from which, on weekdays, purchases can be consumed on the 2F cafe).

Besides a mouth watering array of breads, cakes, pastries and quiches, a small selection of burgers and customisable brunch plates are available, all accompanied by a selection of fresh baked breads and side dishes; usually three small portions from among ratatouille, pickled beetroot, grated carrot, sautéed mushrooms or rice salad, with green leaf salad.

The house coffee is also excellent - brunch plates come with hot or iced Americano or latte - and a variety of beans can purchased (and ground if required) for enjoying at home.

Nisokuhokō Coffee Roasters

03 6450 9737