[Sangenjaya Lunch] 10 Must-Visit Restaurants for Different Occasions: Solo Dining, Dates, and More

Sangenjaya is a popular neighborhood that ranks high every year in terms of livability. Its access to Shibuya is excellent, being just one station away via express train, making it easy to reach central Tokyo.

With over 1,000 restaurants in the area, Sangenjaya boasts many popular and well-known eateries.

At TOKYO LOCAL, we’ve selected 10 lunch spots in Sangenjaya that are worth visiting.

If you want to avoid making a mistake with your lunch spot in Sangenjaya, be sure to read this article until the end. You’re sure to find a wonderful place!

Pancake Mama Cafe Voivoi

This popular Sangenjaya cafe serves freshly made pancakes made from domestic flour and buttermilk.

The pancakes here are made fresh to order.

The shop’s exterior has a cute vibe with brick and red tones. Inside, the atmosphere is warm and soft, creating a welcoming space.

The classic buttermilk pancakes are a must-try.

Served with whipped butter and 100% pure maple syrup from Quebec, Canada, this is the cafe’s signature dish.

The cafe also offers side dishes like soup, salads, and non-sweet pancakes, allowing you to enjoy both sweetness and saltiness in your meal.

The non-sweet pancakes are perfect for a more savory option.

This is a great spot for a girls’ day out or a date.

Rai Rai Rai

This restaurant serves delicious champon, a noodle dish famous in Japan.

While chain restaurants like Ringer Hut dominate the champon scene, Sangenjaya has a truly amazing champon restaurant.

Sangenjaya is a hot spot for champon, but this particular shop, Rai Rai Rai, is so popular it often has lines outside.

The signature champon is a must-try. The soup, packed with seafood flavor, is hearty and full of ingredients.

Another popular dish is the “sara udon (fried noodles with toppings”.

You can choose between crispy thin noodles or soft thick noodles.

Both the champon and sara udon are delicious, making this a must-visit spot.

Azumino

A long-established soba restaurant opened in 1986.

It’s beloved by locals for its hand-cut soba noodles made from 100% Hokkaido buckwheat flour.

The atmosphere of the shop is traditional, resembling the feel of an old-school soba restaurant. Its proximity to the station is another plus.

The restaurant offers both hot and cold soba, with the cold soba being a personal recommendation. It offers a great balance of flavor and texture, with a satisfying chewiness.

The tempura here is also outstanding, with thin batter providing a crispy crunch that pairs wonderfully with the soba.

After the meal, enjoy the comforting soba-yu (soba water) to end your meal on a warm note.

This is a great place for a date.

Sanja Curry ZAZA

A popular curry shop in Sangenjaya.

The shop has a stylish, bar-like atmosphere and is a favorite among locals.

The “dry curry” is a must-try. The curry sauce, made from vegetables and simmered for 3 days, has a rich flavor and is simmered without the use of water.

The pork curry is also a popular choice, offering hearty satisfaction, especially loved by men.

The restaurant offers a variety of toppings, with cheese being a popular choice.

For something spicier, the personal recommendation is jalapeño, which adds a fiery kick that’s addictive.

Pairing the curry with jalapeño is an excellent way to enjoy a spicy contrast, much like pairing pickled vegetables with curry.

European Shokudo (Dining)

An organic restaurant near Sangenjaya Station that doesn’t use any additives or chemical seasonings.

The vegetables used at the restaurant are “pesticide-free organic vegetables,” and the focus is on providing a safe and reliable dining experience.

A popular lunch menu item is pasta, especially the signature “crab with tomato cream pasta.”

The dish has a light seasoning, allowing the natural sweetness of the tomato to shine through.

The pork cutlet sandwich is also popular, offering a generous serving that satisfies even the heartiest appetites.

Additionally, this restaurant allows pets on the terrace, so you can dine with your furry friend!

shiva curry wara

A famous Indian curry shop in Sangenjaya.

Though it’s located in an alley, this restaurant has been chosen as one of the top 100 lunch spots and is very popular, often with a line even on weekdays.

For lunch, you can choose from a single curry, a two-curry set, or a three-curry set. Each curry has its own unique deliciousness, so it’s best to pick according to your mood on the day.

One of the most popular items is the “Cheese Kulcha” bread.

The garlic flavor and the rich cheese make for a delicious dish. It pairs well with the curry.

Another popular dish is the “Coriander Salad.” This dish is made with a generous amount of Coriander on top of lettuce, and the dressing with spices complements it perfectly.

This curry shop has a completely different taste compared to ZAZA’s curry, so depending on your mood, it’s a good idea to choose the shop accordingly.

Tongarashi

A curry shop run by an elderly grandmother.

The shop had been closed for business due to treatment for her legs, but it reopened in November 2023.

The curry here is famous for being “the curry your cells remember.”

The main menu features two types of curry: “Pork Belly Soft Bone Curry” and “Spinach Chicken Curry.”

Occasionally, additional curries are offered depending on the day.

The most popular dish is the “Pork Belly Soft Bone Curry.” It’s a rich curry with the concentrated umami of pork.

The grandmother’s friendly personality makes the restaurant beloved by locals.

Why not enjoy a delicious curry here and feel your heart warmed by the grandmother’s charm?

Kitchen Alex

A good old-fashioned Western food restaurant near Sangenjaya.

The restaurant focuses on popular Western dishes like hamburgers, curry rice, and omelets.

The most popular dish is the “Hamburger Steak with Crab Croquette.”

The hamburger is topped with a rich demi-glace sauce and has a tender, soft texture, which pairs well with rice.

Ginger pork is also a popular item.

A large pork loin is served generously, making for a hearty meal.

It’s a perfect place to visit when you’re craving a substantial lunch on your own.

L’ARTE

A place to enjoy authentic Neapolitan pizza.

The exterior is stylish, making it a perfect spot for a date. It’s a popular restaurant.

Chef Yu Inoue of this restaurant has appeared as a judge on the popular variety show “Job Tune.”

The restaurant’s specialty is pizza with a crispy outside and a chewy inside, offering a satisfying meal. Many people end up finishing the pizza on their own because of the delicious pizza dough.

If you’re visiting for the first time, it’s recommended to try the basic Margherita pizza.

The acidity of the tomato and the rich, delicious cheese make for a perfect match.

During lunchtime, you can enjoy delicious pizza sets at an affordable price, so it’s a great place to visit with friends or a partner.

RIZO

A stylish bistro where you can enjoy freshly cooked rice.

The restaurant focuses on handmade, additive-free charcuterie and rice dishes cooked in a cocotte.

The theme of the restaurant is “kind to people, kind to nature.”

Charcuterie refers to processed meats such as ham, bacon, sausage, pâté, and mousse. The restaurant makes over 10 types of charcuterie in-house.

On weekdays, the restaurant offers a rotating weekly lunch menu at a great price.

You can check the menu for the week on the restaurant’s official SNS before you visit.

Additionally, you can enjoy a course meal during lunchtime, which is perfect when you want to indulge in a leisurely and luxurious meal.

One of the course options, “Select Cocotte Rice,” is exquisite. The rice, cooked in a cast-iron pot, is hot and delicious, and it’s a unique dish you can’t easily find elsewhere.

It’s a great place for special occasions or meals with long-lost friends.

Summary

We have introduced 10 restaurants in Sangenjaya where you can enjoy truly delicious lunches.

Did you find a place you’re interested in?

All of these are highly recommended restaurants, so be sure to visit them when you’re in Sangenjaya.