Since you’ve come all the way to Japan, you’ll definitely want to enjoy some great food, right?
However, in big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, there are simply too many restaurants to choose from, and it can be hard to decide where to go.
That’s where Tabelog comes in handy.
Tabelog is one of Japan’s most popular restaurant reservation and review services, widely used by locals to find and book restaurants. Its ratings are highly trusted, making it a reliable choice when you’re unsure where to eat 💡
Some of you visiting from overseas may have already heard of it—but if not, it’s definitely worth checking out!
Tabelog also has a dedicated Japanese app, but unfortunately it does not support language switching.
If you’d like to search in English, we recommend using the web browser version, which offers multilingual support.
By entering the following details, Tabelog will show you a list of suitable restaurants:
- Date and time
- Number of people
- Area
- Food category
You can also use the filter function to narrow down your options even further, such as:
- Budget (separate settings for lunch or dinner)
- All-you-can-drink options
- Seating preferences (private rooms, counter seats, sofas, tatami seating, etc.)
- payment methods
- Parking availability
- Whether the restaurant is child- or pet-friendly
- Takeaway options
- Smoking or non-smoking
Using these filters often helps you discover hidden local gems that are hard to find through social media platforms like YouTube or Instagram!
On each restaurant’s page on Tabelog, you can find information divided into five main sections:
- Overview
- Seating
- Menu
- Photos
- Reviews
From the Overview section, you can easily check the restaurant’s location, reservation options, and availability.
Important details such as the average budget, business hours, and payment methods are also listed here, making it a great starting point when choosing a restaurant.
By scrolling further, you can find more detailed information, including:
- Whether private rooms are available
- Total number of seats (restaurant size)
- Time limits for seating
- Whether the restaurant is family-friendly
These details are helpful when planning your visit.
On the Menu page, you can see detailed information about the restaurant’s courses and dishes.
This is also where you can check whether the restaurant offers all-you-can-drink plans, which are very common in Japan.
If you plan to enjoy drinks, these plans are often much more cost-effective than ordering beverages individually, so they’re definitely worth considering.
Some restaurants also offer special discounted courses available only on certain days or at specific times. Even if you already have a restaurant in mind, it’s a good idea to check the menu page—you might find a great deal!
Tabelog ratings are based on much stricter criteria compared to other platforms such as Google Reviews. The system is carefully managed so that restaurants cannot easily manipulate their scores.
In general, Japanese users tend to be quite critical when leaving anonymous reviews, and this tendency is reflected in Tabelog’s rating system 💡
When I use Tabelog to search for restaurants, I usually look for places with a rating of 3.3 or higher.
From my experience, restaurants with this score rarely disappoint.
According to Tabelog, restaurants with a 3.5 rating or above make up only about 3% of all listings, and these places are often very popular. However, when you actually search on Tabelog, you’ll notice that restaurants rated 3.5 or higher are quite limited and often fall into a higher price range.
Restaurants with a 4.0 rating or above are said to account for just 0.07% of all listings.
From what I’ve seen, these are usually high-end restaurants that are extremely difficult to book and can cost tens of thousands of JPY per person—so there’s no need to aim that high unless you’re looking for a luxury dining experience.
Rather than focusing only on the score, try to avoid restaurants with extremely low ratings (such as those in the 2-point range) and look for places that match your preferences and budget.
When it comes to iconic Japanese food in Asakusa, tempura is often at the top of the list.
With several restaurants boasting over 100 years of history, Asakusa is known as one of Tokyo’s most competitive areas for tempura.
Among these long-established restaurants, I found one place that has achieved a rare 3.5 rating on Tabelog, so I decided to visit and see what makes it special.
■ Tempura Ichikawa -天ぷら いちかわ-
The restaurant is called “Tempura Ichikawa”.
It’s located slightly away from the main tourist area of Asakusa and is a small, cosy restaurant with six counter seats and one table at the back.
Asakusa is home to famous long-established tempura restaurants such as Sansada, Daikokuya, and Owariya. Despite this strong competition, “Tempura Ichikawa” has earned one of the highest ratings on Tabelog, which has also made it popular among international visitors.
It truly feels like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
■ Check out the lunch courses!
←First serve
shrimps
Shiso leaf
Second serve →
Smelts
Asparagus
The lunch menu offers five different course options, with prices ranging from approximately ¥3,000 to ¥7,000, depending on the selection.
This time, I chose the standard Tempura Set Meal.
The freshly fried tempura was served in three rounds, allowing each item to be enjoyed at its best.
Menu details of “Tempura Set Meal”
-
Shrimp (2 pieces)
Shiso leaf -
Smelt (2 pieces) ※A small, mild-flavored freshwater fish commonly enjoyed in Japan.
Asparagus -
Small shrimp kakiage rice bowl
Clear soup (Osuimono)
At the beginning of the meal, tempura dipping sauce, salt, and pickles were provided, so you can enjoy each piece the way you like—either lightly salted or dipped in sauce.
Sitting at the counter, you can enjoy freshly fried tempura prepared right in front of you by the chef.
The tempura, fried in white sesame oil, has a remarkably light texture. The batter is crisp, while the seafood remains soft and fluffy inside—an excellent balance.
The thick asparagus was especially impressive, offering a juicy freshness and a satisfying natural crunch. It was simple, yet incredibly delicious.
For the kakiage, you can choose to have it served on its own or as a tendon (tempura rice bowl).
In either case, rice is included, and you can choose the portion size: regular, small, or large.
I chose the tendon option. The kakiage, made generously with small shrimp, was light and easy to eat, without feeling greasy or heavy. The slightly sweet soy-based sauce paired perfectly with the rice, making it very enjoyable.
For dinner, the courses start at around ¥8,000, as more items are included, making it a bit of a splurge. If you’d like to enjoy high-quality tempura at a more reasonable price, visiting at lunchtime is highly recommended.
The restaurant is also very popular with international visitors, and on some days, almost all of the guests are from overseas.
This is exactly the kind of hidden gem you can discover by using Tabelog—so we highly encourage you to give it a try! And if you find a restaurant you love, why not leave a review yourself and help future visitors discover it too?
■Feel free to ask our staff how to use Tabelog!
We live in an age where information is overflowing on social media, but by using local Japanese tools like Tabelog, you might discover an unexpected hidden gem. It’s sure to become a memorable part of your Japan experience.
If you ever need help using Tabelog or choosing a restaurant, feel free to ask the staff at K’s House anytime!
Wishing everyone a wonderful and happy 2026 🎉✨
