Top 10 Kamameshi Dishes in Tokyo That Beckon All Rice Fans (2023 Edition)
Kamameshi is a classic Japanese rice dish steamed in a traditional pot together with a variety of delicious ingredients and seasonings. Kamameshi is filling, healthy, and often reasonably priced, making it great for those with big appetites. Thankfully, there are many different kamameshi restaurants in Tokyo to choose from, each serving their own unique take on the dish. In this article, we’ll introduce 10 restaurants in Tokyo that serve the best kamameshi dishes sure to satisfy all lovers of Japanese rice.
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If you are wondering what Kamameshi is, it is a rice dish, where seasoning like soy sauce is added to the rice grains and then steamed with other ingredients that have been laid on top of the grains. Even if you don’t take rice regularly, we definitely recommend you to head to any one of the restaurants in this list in Tokyo for some delicious kamameshi.
1. Onuki
「Onuki」is a famous restaurant that might be a little hard to find. The exterior of this restaurant looks like a traditional Japanese bar but don’t be intimidated by it because just like the other first-time diners you will be pleasantly surprised when you step in for a meal. The chicken meat used in their kamameshi dish and other dishes is so good that even the pickiest eaters will love it.
2-18-20 Fujimidai, Nerima Ward, Tokyo
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2. Kamameshi Mutsumi
For the most famous kamameshi restaurant in Asakusa, you’ll have to head to「Kamameshi Mutsumi」. The kamameshis here are made to order, so it will take a bit of time till you get to taste the piping hot fluffy rice but it is worth the wait. They also offer other dishes besides kamameshi, so while you wait for your kamameshi to get ready, you can order other dishes to enjoy.
3-32-4 Asakusa, Taito Ward, Tokyo
3. Torigin Ginza Main Store
「Torigin Ginza Main Store」has been around for 60 years and it is said that this is the first kamameshi restaurant in Ginza and it still serves the same flavors to their diners to this very day. The chicken is grilled with a lot of care and love over charcoal and is undeniably popular among their diners.
B1 Floor, New Ginza Building 6, 5-5-7 Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
4. Toridoki Kachidoki
「Toridoki Kachidoki」 was just open 2 years ago but there is always a steady stream of diners coming in and out to dine here. Their chicken dishes here are famous but for their kamameshi, we would recommend you to try their 「Ika Kamameshi」. The squid served in their Ika Kamameshi is tender and will only whet your appetite even more once you have a taste of it with the flavorful rice.
3-4-1 Kachidoki, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
5. Toricho Kasuga
「Toricho Kasuga」is a popular restaurant because of its quality and reasonable prices. Here, we would recommend their「Anago Kamameshi」. The delicious-looking conger eel is steamed and the fragrant and full-of-flavor juices will then seep into the rice to create a mouth-watering rice dish. Of course, you could also try the conventional chicken kamameshi that is also just as popular.
2-1-1 Koishikawa, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo
6. Uwokama Nihonbashi Yokoyamacho
「Uwokama Nihonbashi Yokoyamacho」is located at Nihonbashi and its exterior and interior gives out a modern and chic Japanese feel. This restaurant mainly showcases fresh and delicious seafood, so we would recommend their fragrant kamameshi that uses unagi, which we are sure, will satisfy you.
1-4 Nihonbashi Yokoyamacho, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
7. Nirenoki Honmonjidori
If you are looking for kamameshi restaurant with an old town feel, then we would suggest you to head directly to「Nirenoki Honmonjidori」. One of the popular dishes would be their「Goshiki Kamameshi」that uses crab meat, prawns and premium Matsutake mushrooms generously. You shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to try this kamameshi when you are in town.
4-32-6 Ikegami, Ota Ward, Tokyo
8. Seijo
Although「Seijo」is located in a high-end neighborhood, the prices here are actually very reasonable. Their Yakitori Don and Oyako Don are really popular and only at this restaurant can you have their famous 「Kaki Kamameshi」that uses really fresh oysters that is steamed together with the rice to create this exquisite rice dish!
3rd Floor Seijo Fleur, 6-4-13 Seijo, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo
9. Seigetsudo Keio Shinjuku Store
Located in Shinjuku’s Keio Department Store,「Seigetsudo Keio Shinjuku」 is popular and many diners come here for a comfortable meal. When you step in here, you should directly order their 「Kaisen Kamameshi」 that offers fresh scallops, crab meat and prawns in generous portions that go really well with their steamed fluffy rice.
8th Floor Keio Department Store Shinjuku, 1-1-4 Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo
10. Kamameshi Haru
「Kamameshi Haru」is the one kamameshi restaurant in Asakusa that offers diners with a really wide variety of kamameshis. Their menu will also include seasonal dishes like「Asari Kamameshi」 that uses fresh clams or their「Matsutake Kamameshi」that showcases premium Matsutake mushrooms. Our favorite at this place would have to be the「Tai Kamameshi」that features delicious fresh sea bream, because when you remove the lid of the pot, you can’t help but notice how fragrant the aroma is.
1-14-9 Asakusa, Taito Ward, Tokyo
So for those who only got to know about Kamameshi from this list, we hope that this list has gotten you to start planning when to head to the nearest kamameshi restaurant to you. When you are in Japan, besides satisfying your taste buds with the usual sushi and tempura, don’t forget to try out some really good kamameshi.
Top image: Banzai Hiroaki/Flickr
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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