[Ebisu Lunch] 10 Picks You’ll Want to Visit Again and Again! For Solo Dining, Dates, and More

Ebisu is a trendy and highly desirable area known for its charm as a place to live and visit.

This stylish neighborhood boasts numerous offices and commercial facilities, bustling daily with activity and home to a dense concentration of dining establishments. From delicious restaurants to chic eateries and nostalgic diners, Ebisu offers a vast selection.

In this edition of TOKYO LOCAL, we’ve handpicked 10 recommended spots you’ll want to visit repeatedly. The list is divided into two categories: five spots perfect for dates and five suited for solo dining. Covering all ten places will ensure you never struggle to choose a lunch spot in Ebisu again.

Be sure to read until the end!

5 Recommended Spots for Dates

Masa’s Kitchen

Savor an exquisite lunch course at this Michelin one-star Chinese restaurant

This highly popular venue has maintained its Michelin star for nine consecutive years.

Masaz Kitchen is a rare Chinese restaurant with a stylish and romantic ambiance, making it an ideal choice for dates.

Here, the cuisine transcends traditional Chinese by incorporating seasonal ingredients and Western influences.

Starting at ¥3,900, the lunch course features individual portions instead of the typical large platters found in Chinese dining.

Additionally, the restaurant offers reasonably priced lunch sets and weekday-only special lunch menus.

The recommended dish is “Tandan Noodles,” available in both soupy and dry styles—choose whichever you prefer!

Weekday lunch specials include a two-item appetizer assortment and xiao long bao, adding extra value.

The “Cold Tandan Noodles,” available even in winter, is another popular choice.

This dish features a sesame-based sauce with a mild initial flavor that develops into a spicy depth.

For a casual lunch with a pleasant atmosphere, Masaz Kitchen is a perfect spot to try on a relaxed date.

Shunju Yurari Ebisu Store

Creative restaurant with an artful, dappled light motif reminiscent of sunlight filtering through trees

This creative restaurant offers a stylish, serene setting with an artful, dappled light motif reminiscent of sunlight filtering through trees.

Though dinner prices are relatively high, lunch options are more affordable.

The lunch menu includes lighter options as well as hearty courses, catering to various budgets and appetites.

The recommended “Weekly Selectable Lunch Set” allows you to choose one main dish from five weekly options.

This well-portioned meal offers great value and a satisfying experience.

The restaurant also features semi-private seating, making it ideal for relaxed dates.

While it boasts a stylish ambiance, Shunju Yurari retains an approachable charm, perfect for couples at the early stages of dating.

Sososo

Rare somen noodles kneaded with sesame oil. The standout dish is “Mentaiko Cream Somen”!

Sososo is a highly unique somen noodle specialty restaurant in Tokyo.

The somen used here is “Shima no Hikari,” a hand-pulled noodle from Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture.

The interior blends a casual café vibe with a ramen shop aesthetic, featuring counter seating on the first floor and table seating on the second.

“Shima no Hikari” somen is the only noodle in Japan made with sesame oil, offering a distinctive flavor.

It is crafted with selected wheat flour, Setouchi sea salt, and sesame oil, resulting in noodles that are not only easy to eat but also firm and smooth.

The recommended dish is “Mentaiko Cream Somen.”

This creamy dish with noodles coated in a rich sauce is particularly popular among women.

With various somen noodle dishes to choose from, a visit to Sososo is a must for a unique dining experience.

Lion no iru Circus/The Lion Bar

A reading room-style café for book-loving couples. Enjoy the local Shizuoka delicacy, “Tsuke Napolitan”

This dining bar features a nostalgic and antique atmosphere reminiscent of a study.

Despite its stylish and atmospheric interior, the highlight of the menu is an unexpected local specialty from Fujishi, Shizuoka Prefecture, considered a “B-grade gourmet.”

The local dish, “Tsuke Napolitan,” is a unique menu item where pasta is dipped into a broth-like dipping sauce, similar to how tsukemen is eaten.

Although it’s pasta, its texture is much like ramen.

Thick noodles with a firm bite are paired with a rich soup simmered with beef tendon, making it a hearty dish aimed at male customers.

Adding rice to the remaining sauce to create risotto is also a popular option.

In addition to Tsuke Napolitan, they offer dishes like taco rice and spiced curry. On weekends and holidays, the lunch menu becomes even more budget-friendly.

HAINAN JEEFAN Restaurant 2Ebisu Store

Savor authentic Singaporean flavors in Ebisu! For couples who can’t forget the taste of chicken rice from food stalls

This Asian and ethnic restaurant serves authentic Singaporean dishes.

Their signature dish is “Chicken Rice,” but this isn’t the ketchup-based red rice commonly imagined—it’s Singaporean-style Hainanese chicken rice.

It pairs wonderfully with cilantro, so if you enjoy it, consider ordering extra.

The “Chicken Kurma Set,” exclusive to the Ebisu branch, is also a popular option.

Chicken Kurma is a South Indian curry made with cashew nuts and coconut milk, characterized by its mild flavor without spicy heat.

Weekdays often see lines forming, so plan your visit with ample time to spare.

For Solo Diners: 5 Recommended Restaurants

Udon Yamacho

Authentic dashi udon from a long-standing establishment founded in the Ansei Era

This udon restaurant is operated by Yamacho Shoten, a traditional katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) shop based in Osaka’s Kuromon Market.

The history of Yamacho Shoten dates back to 1854, during the Edo period, making it a shop with over 100 years of tradition.

Their lunch sets are exceptionally luxurious and great value.

The popular “Yamacho Set” includes delicious udon accompanied by a variety of side dishes.

The udon and small side dishes are incredibly tasty!

From rolled omelets to beef tendon stew, every small dish is a meticulously prepared delight.

With reasonable prices and a welcoming atmosphere, this is a perfect spot for a casual solo lunch in Ebisu.

Good Luck Curry

A must-visit for curry lovers! Enjoy authentic spice curry blending Indian and French techniques

This restaurant, blending Indian curry with French culinary techniques, has earned a spot on Tabelog’s 2023 Tokyo Curry 100 Best Restaurants list.

Located away from the station in a quiet residential area, it offers a calm atmosphere.

Nestled on the second floor of a multi-tenant building, the cozy space has an unpretentious vibe, making it easy for solo diners to visit.

The curry menu changes frequently, but daily updates are shared on social media, so check before visiting.

For curry enthusiasts, this is a must-visit spot.

No matter your preference, all their curries are delicious. Once you’ve tried them, you might find yourself wanting to return frequently.

Loger Cafe

A cool, antique-style space. Enjoy delicious lunch plates at hidden gem of a café

This café dining spot has a cozy and hidden atmosphere, offering French-based dishes.

The café is located on the second floor of a multi-tenant building.

Ordering is done by scanning a QR code, making it a stress-free experience even for shy patrons.

It’s also designed to make solo diners feel comfortable, which is a major plus.

For lunch, the “Daily Lunch Plate” and “Weekly Hamburg Steak Plate” come highly recommended.

The portions are generous, so even those with a hearty appetite will be satisfied.

A café lunch that’s both delicious and filling is rare to come by, so it’s worth keeping this spot in mind.

Being a café, it’s also a great place to relax for a while.

Wi-Fi is available as well.

It’s a great spot for solo visits, as well as for couples.

Shokusai Kadota

For a “Grilled Fish Set Meal,” this is the place! The most popular menu item is the “Salt-Grilled Mackerel.”

Located near Ebisu Station, this Japanese restaurant specializes in fresh seafood.

The lunch menu is very reasonably priced.

For under ¥1,500, you can choose from various salt-grilled or miso-simmered fish dishes.

There’s also a set that combines sashimi and grilled fish.

The standout item is the “Salt-Grilled Mackerel.”

It’s filling yet gentle on the stomach, which is always a plus.

Of course, all the other menu items are equally delicious.

If you’re in the mood for fish and rice, this is the perfect spot.

Kodzuchi

For solo lunches, this is the ultimate destination. Also enjoy daytime drinks

Founded in 1953, this long-established shop has been serving customers in Ebisu for over 70 years.

Many people using Ebisu Station recommend this well-loved eatery.

The vibe is that of a retro-style dining spot.
It’s not designed for dates but is perfect for solo diners dropping by for a meal.

The recommended dish is “Niku Dofu” (meat and tofu).

This is the must-try dish if you visit this restaurant.

For in addition to lunch, “Daily Specials,” “Ginger Pork Set Meals,” and “Hamburg Steak Set Meals” are popular choices.

All of them are hearty and satisfying dishes.

You can also enjoy drinks in the morning or afternoon, and many customers opt for a drink alongside their solo lunch.

Summary

We’ve introduced ten restaurants in Ebisu perfect for solo diners or couples to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Did you find a place that piqued your interest?

All of these spots are truly worth recommending, so make sure to visit them when you’re in Ebisu!