Onigiri, the traditional Tokyo breakfast
For a country with a cuisine as admired as Japan, Tokyo isn't the first name that springs to mind as the breakfast capital. . At first glance, Tokyo mornings cannot compete with brunches in New York, chilaquiles in Mexico City or flat whites in Sydney. Don't be fooled. Beneath the surface, Tokyo hides true gastronomic gems from early hours, ranging from Eastern tradition to Western contemporary , going through several hybrids for the mornings that you can't decide on one or the other.
What do you prefer, tradition, non-tradition or a hybrid?
THE TRADITIONAL
The start of a new day for more than 10 million Tokyoites means two things: a bowl of rice with salmon and udon soup . These two regular guests of the Eastern morning may seem strange to the Western diner, but don't let the unusualness of the menu stop you: the traditional Japanese breakfast is a surprising introduction to cuisine that needs no introduction.
The Roppongi neighborhood , a sort of Japanese Soho, hides Tsurutontan , one of the best options for an old-fashioned breakfast. The restaurant prides itself on its udon soup , of which it serves fifty different versions: with tempura, kitsune (sweet and sour, with fried tofu) and tsukimi (served with raw egg) are three of the most beloved.
The old-fashioned Japanese breakfast
As a resident of the hip district of Tokyo, Tsurutontan is a meeting point for when the bars close . Its schedule, from 11 at night to 8 in the morning, welcomes partygoers, insomniacs and travelers suffering from jet lag alike.
In a city constantly on the move like the Japanese capital, breakfast time will catch you on the street more than once . For one of those days, Omusubi Gonbei gives you a hand.
kitsune udon soup
The chain of street stalls is sprinkled throughout the city, from Shibuya to Akihabara , and he always has an onigiri ready for you to eat on the run. A regular in Japanese fast food, onigiri is as simple as it is effective : These spiced rice balls come in different versions, from spiced octopus to pickled plums.
For a unique morning experience, **leave breakfast to fate and get up early to visit Tsukiji Market**. The largest fish market in the world offers memorable meals, as well as a unique show.
Open from 5 to 9 in the morning, the many sushi stalls and rice omelettes they allow you to have breakfast next to immaculately dressed Japanese grannies, among giant tuna and freshly caught swordfish.
Tsukiji Fish Market
NOT SO TRADITIONAL
Maybe you've been in Tokyo for a week now and the prospect of having soup for breakfast again breaks out in a cold sweat. Or maybe you are one of those who need a good coffee and a croissant to wake up properly.
For days like these, years ago, Tokyo breakfasts would have been the equivalent of a shower without hot water: Western-style morning options were few and mediocre at best. Inevitably, globalization has done its tricks, and today it is not difficult to find waffles, pancakes or the great international breakfast kahuna: brunch.
Lilikoi Pancakes
** Moke's Bread and Breakfast ** is the personification of Nakameguro , the last Tokyo neighborhood to win the “trendy” medal. The great attraction of Moke's are the Lilikoi Pancakes, made with a base of passion fruit and topped with a creamy citrus sauce that would look out of place in any Honolulu restaurant.
The icing on the cake? Moke's is open until 10 p.m. , perfect for newly landed souls who still don't know what time zone they're in.
Moke's Bread and Breakfast
Paris Tokyo, as is
But if you just want to imagine you're in Manhattan, head over to Clinton Street Baking. This neighborhood institution Aoyama She draws inspiration from her older sister in the Lower East Side of New York.
Her blueberry pancakes are reason enough to brave the queues that line the entrance every Saturday. , but the menu also features muffins, scones, and Southern American delicacies like Fried Green Tomatoes and scrambled egg sandwiches. You will not regret.
blueberry pancakes
THE HYBRIDS
For fans of fusion cuisine, the adventurous and the undecided, good news: there is no reason to choose. Tokyo has several options that allow you to take a jasmine tea and some good eggs with bacon at once.
Lauderdale's, another regular at Roppongi, she prides herself on two things: her spinach and mushroom soufflés , and its inexhaustible coffee . There aren't many places in the Japanese capital that offer all the coffee (or tea, if you lean that side of the scale) you can drink, which earns Lauderdale's points up on TripAdvisor and in the hearts of everyone. Known coffee addicts.
The menu takes into account all the possible cravings that may lurk when you wake up. Pancakes with cream? He has them. Tortillas with tomato and Gruyère cheese? Presents. Rice With Octopus? Waiting, and with an extra dose of spice.
A Roppongi regular where to taste a hybrid breakfast
Another good option for a menu that weaves between Western and Eastern options is Eggcellent , also in Roppongi. The specialty of the house are, surprise, the eggs: Benedict, scrambled, poached, they all have their place at Eggcellent.
Not a big fan of eggs? Toasts, endive salads, rice with plums and pancakes also have a place on the menu.
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