An Exceptional Lunch Experience in Ginza

Ginza is not only Tokyo's premier luxury shopping destination but also one of Japan's foremost gourmet areas. From renowned establishments featured in the Michelin Guide to time-honored traditional restaurants, you can enjoy uncompromising, high-quality cuisine even at lunchtime. Whether it's for a special occasion or a well-deserved treat for yourself, let us introduce you to some truly exceptional lunch spots unique to Ginza.

Ginza's Premier Sushi Restaurants

Sushi Ishiyama Ginza

★ 4.8(214 reviews)

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"Ginza Sushi Ishiyama It was a long-awaited lunch meeting with business colleagues. It's been 5 months since I last had sushi in Ginza! Ishiyama is a Tabelog Sushi 100 Top Restaurant. Their 14-piece lunch course is 13,200 yen. The chef is young, but his movements are beautiful and his service is meticulous. The waiter was quick to ask if I wanted another drink even when I had a little left (laughs). I ended up having 5 refills. The ingredients were meticulously prepared and full of unique touches, leaving me completely satisfied. The mackerel sushi roll and the conger eel were exceptional and I ordered seconds. Delicious, delicious 😋. As expected, there were still many inbound tourists. (≧∀≦) We added two pieces each and had four drinks each, totaling 45,300 yen."

sushi

Discover a highly acclaimed sushi restaurant in Ginza. The Edomae-zushi, meticulously crafted by skilled artisans, is exceptional not only for the freshness of its ingredients but also for the perfect balance with the sushi rice and the exquisite attention to detail. The lunch omakase course is thoughtfully composed to reflect the season, focusing on the day's recommended selections. You can enjoy a supreme sushi experience, watching the chef's artistry up close from behind the counter. Reflecting Ginza's sophisticated atmosphere, the service is equally refined, ensuring a truly blissful time perfect for a special occasion lunch.

Michelin-Starred French Cuisine

Restaurant La Refinage

★ 4.7(148 reviews)

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"The sauce is exquisite, and the food is impeccable. A Michelin-starred restaurant in Ginza run by a famous chef, it might seem intimidating, but the atmosphere isn't strict. It's not exactly warm and friendly either, but rather a bit offbeat. The sauce is simply delicious, truly embodying the essence of French cuisine. The classic pairing of venison with poivrade sauce or fish with sauce marinière is something I've enjoyed at other restaurants, but the sauce here is unparalleled in its richness and depth. Compared to trendy modern French restaurants, the fish was cooked a bit more thoroughly. However, it still retained its juiciness and was delicious, so it's a matter of preference. The venison, on the other hand, had a unique, rare texture. It was refined yet brought out the richness of the game, making it delicious. However, the texture reminded me of beef tataki. It was cooked through but had a texture like tataki or sashimi, unlike any rare venison roast I've had before. As the main meat dish, I craved a more meaty texture, but again, it's probably a matter of preference. The service, however, was not what I'd expect for the price. A young man served us with such awkward movements that I was worried for him. He mumbled the dish names, and his descriptions of the food and drinks didn't make them sound appealing at all. I wondered if he was a temp hired through a staffing agency. He even placed the dish and left, calling the accompanying lentils chickpeas. I was stunned and stared at my companion for a moment. Chickpeas are typically used in Middle Eastern cuisine and are associated with simple French dishes, quite different from lentils. The paired wines also seemed to clash with the dishes. If the service staff is going to offer pairings, they should at least explain what the wine is and why they chose it to accompany the dish, rather than just placing it down and leaving. Finally, I greeted the chef at the counter as we were leaving, but he just glanced up and didn't say anything, probably because he was busy. I remember he did the same thing the last time I came. I don't expect him to see us out, but I would have appreciated a word or two in response to my 'thank you' and 'it was delicious.'"

french

Experience a Michelin-starred French restaurant in Ginza. Its sophisticated cuisine, while honoring French traditions, also shines with brilliant, original ideas. The lunch courses are extensive, offering the same high quality as dinner, but at a more accessible price point. The stunning presentation and delicate flavors are truly a work of art. With first-class service, it's ideal for a special occasion lunch or a meal with a loved one. This is a highly recommended spot for anyone looking to savor authentic French cuisine in Ginza.

Renowned Traditional Tempura Restaurants

てんぷら 近藤

★ 4.4(772 reviews)

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"I made a reservation for 12:00 PM on a weekday and visited. There are two frying stations, and luckily, I was seated at the one manned by the owner, Mr. Kondo. The tempura included the head of a shrimp, two kuruma prawns, thick Australian asparagus, crunchy lotus root from Ibaraki Prefecture, bell peppers from a contracted farm that can be eaten whole, including the seeds, thick squid, kisu (Japanese whiting), sweet baby onions, conger eel, a small tempura donburi with shiba shrimp and small clams, red miso soup with clams, pickles, orange, and Shine Muscat grapes. Two draft beers and one cup of warmed sake came to about 20,000 yen. I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious tempura. The sake was reasonably priced for a high-end restaurant. The only disappointment was that the famous sweet potato tempura wasn't available until November."

tempura

Discover a renowned tempura restaurant in Ginza, cherished for generations. Watching the chef skillfully fry tempura right before your eyes at the counter is a highlight. Each piece, a testament to masterful craftsmanship, features a perfectly crisp batter that exquisitely locks in the natural flavors of the ingredients. Utilizing fresh seasonal produce that changes throughout the year, every meticulously fried tempura item is simply divine. Even at lunchtime, the uncompromising dedication ensures a truly refined experience, characteristic of Ginza. With its tranquil ambiance, typical of a long-established eatery, and the chance to witness expert techniques, this is a quintessential tempura destination in Ginza.

A Blissful Lunchtime in Ginza

From Ginza's premier sushi restaurants and Michelin-starred French establishments to renowned traditional tempura eateries, Ginza boasts an array of lunch spots where you can savor the pinnacle of cuisine in each respective field. Whether it's for a momentous occasion or a personal indulgence, why not treat yourself to an unparalleled lunchtime experience, unique to Ginza?