10 Best Places To Eat In Harajuku (Tokyo) For First Time Tourists

This is a list of 10 best places to eat in Harajuku, Tokyo! This hip neighbourhood is best known for being the centre of Japan’s teenage subculture and street fashion, but it is home to plenty of delicious food too. Many of the eateries are located along the vibrant Takeshita Street, but there are also awesome eateries to be found in the Omotesando district.

Takeshita Street

1. Eiswelt Gelato

Eiswelt Gelato is a new ice cream shop at Takeshita Street that sells super cute animal shaped gelatos.

We ordered the Froggy (JPY580), a Japan exclusive green tea ice cream. This was the most adorable ice cream I had ever seen, and it tasted delicious! It had a sweet green tea flavour, along with a smooth but firm texture.

We also indulged in the Piggy (JPY580), a strawberry ice cream. It had a pleasant strawberry flavour that was sweet but not overwhelming. It is suitable for people who do not like overly sweet stuff.

Eiswelt Gelato
What to order: Froggy (JPY580), Piggy (JPY580), Teddy (JPY580), Bunny (JPY650)
Address: 1 Chome-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Directions: Six minute walk from Harajuku Station
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 8pm
Phone: +813 6804 3103

2. Zaku Zaku

Zaku Zaku (ザクザク) is known for its signature Croquant Chou, which is basically a cream puff with an elongated shape. When I first saw the snack I actually thought it was a churro.

It was really delicious! I loved biting into the crispy exterior covered with crunchy almond nuts, and savouring the luscious sweet custard fillings inside.

The wife and I both enjoyed this snack very much even though we were already quite full from all the food we had eaten earlier along Takeshita Street.

Zaku Zaku (Harajuku)
What to Order: Croquant Chou (JPY 250)
Address: 1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Directions: the store is near the middle of Takeshita Street at the Cute Cube building, a three minute walk from Harajuku Station (Takeshita Street Exit)
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 8pm

3. Marion Crepes

Marion Crepes is famous for its delicious Japanese style crepes. It is also purportedly Japan’s oldest crepe shop.

We ordered the Strawberry Chocolate Chocolat #34 (JPY 530), a sumptuous crepe consisting of chocolate ice cream, strawberry slices, a cracker, a generous portion of whipped cream, and a drizzle of nutella.

The luscious chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, strawberry and nutella turned into a sweet mush in my mouth, punctuated by the crunch of the tasty cracker. The light and smooth crepe skin was good for balancing out the richness of the fillings.

Marion Crepes
What to Order: Strawberry Chocolate Chocolat #34 (JPY 530)
Address: 1 Chome 6-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Directions: the shop is located near the middle of Takeshita Street, a three minute walk from Harajuku Station (Takeshita Street Exit)
Opening Hours: Daily 10.30am to 8pm

4. Totti Candy Factory

Totti Candy Factory is a Japanese candy store most famous for its colourful giant cotton candies.

We bought the gorgeous Harajuku Rainbow (JPY 900) which is made up of five colours: purple, blue, green, yellow, and pink.

I tried eating the cotton candy directly with my mouth, but ended up with bits of candy on my face and glasses. I figured out that the best way was to pull off small pieces and fold them into small portions.

Using this method, we finished the huge cotton candy in a few minutes. It tasted like typical cotton candy, but it definitely makes for a great Instagram photo!

Totti Candy Factory
What to Order: Harajuku Rainbow (JPY 900)
Address: 1 Chome 16-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, RYU Apartment 2F
Directions: the candy store is located along the middle of Takeshita Street, a three minute walk from Harajuku Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Fri: 10.30am to 8pm | Sat, Sun & PH: 9.30am to 8pm |
Phone: +813 3403 7007

5. Calbee Plus

Calbee Plus is a snacks shop that sells Calbee food products. We tried the Poterico Cheese (JPY310), a cheese flavoured potato stick snack.  It was crunchy and salty, with a distinct cheese fragrance.

Calbee Plus
Address: 1 Chome 6-18 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Directions: 2-minute walk from Harajuku Station
Opening Hours: Daily 9.30am to 8.30pm

Omotesando

6. Harajuku Gyozaro

Harajuku Gyozaro is a Japanese restaurant that specialises in delicious and affordable gyozas. We ordered the Pan Fried Dumplings (JPY290 for six pieces), which took almost 20 minutes to arrive.

But it was definitely worth the wait, because these were the best gyozas I had ever eaten! The skin had a wonderful crisp texture. As I bit into the gyoza, the sweet savoury juices of the tender pork fillings started oozing into my mouth. It was super satisfying!

Harajuku Gyozaro
What to order: Pan Fried Dumplings (6 pieces for JPY290), Steamed Dumplings (6 pieces for JPY290), Beansprouts (JPY250)
Address: 6-2-4 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Directions: Six minute walk from Harajuku Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 4.30am | Sun: 11.30am – 10pm |
Phone: +813 3406 4743

7. Bills Omotesando

Bills Omotesando is an Aussie cafe on the 7th floor of Tokyu Plaza that serves delicious breakfast and brunch items. This cafe is extremely popular so make sure you go early to avoid disappointment.

I ordered the signature Ricotta Hotcakes (JPY 1500), which comprises three pancakes dusted with icing sugar, a few small chunks of honeycomb butter, a banana, and a small pot of maple syrup.

The pancakes were delicious! They had a soft and moist texture that seemed to melt in my mouth. On the whole, it was lovely savouring the fluffy pancakes, sweet maple syrup, tasty butter, and fresh banana as they turned into a sweet pleasant mush in my mouth.

Bills Omotesando
What to Order: Ricotta Hotcakes (JPY 1500), Full Aussie (JPY 2200)
Address: 7F Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, 4-30-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Directions: Walk 5 minutes from Harajuku Station, then take elevator or escalator to 7th floor of Tokyu Plaza
Opening Hours: Daily 8.30am to 10pm

8. Starbucks Omotesando

Starbucks Omotesando is a beautiful Starbucks outlet located on the 6th floor of Tokyu Plaza. I chanced about this cafe after having breakfast at Bills Omotesando.

Known as the “Starbucks in the Sky”, it is home to a manicured garden filled with lush trees and wild plants. The centrepiece is a stylish hexagonal table around a sun roof.

This artisan cafe with a stylish outdoor space is the perfect place to relax over a cup of coffee. I also like that there is plenty of space in the garden, so you do not have to worry not being able to find a seat.

Starbucks Omotesando
Address: 6F Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, 4-30-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Directions: Walk 5 minutes from Harajuku Station, then take elevator or escalator to 6th floor of Tokyu Plaza
Opening Hours: Daily 8.30am to 11pm
Phone: +813 5414 5851

9. Luke’s Lobster

Luke’s Lobster is a famous seafood joint in Japan known for its sumptuous lobster rolls. It also offers other seafood rolls like crab rolls and shrimp rolls.

The wife and I ordered one regular Lobster Roll (JPY 1058) to share. It is quite a small portion, so I recommend getting the “US size” if you’re feeling hungry.

Like the New York version, the Lobster Roll consists of lobster chunks covered with glistening butter and sandwiched in a toasted buttered bun.

The lobster chunks were fresh, tender and juicy. On the whole this was quite a satisfying lobster roll, but I wished the bun had been warmer.

Luke’s Lobster (Harajuku / Omotesando)
What to Order: Luke Lobster Roll US (JPY 1706)
Address: 6-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Directions: 10-minute walk from Harajuku Station
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 8pm

10. Flippers Tokyo

Flippers is a pancake cafe chain famous for their delicious souffle pancakes. We ordered the signature Kiseki Pancake Fresh Fruit (JPY 1300).

These “Kiseki” souffle pancakes are made with eggs from the Miyagi prefecture, domestic wheat, ricotta and buttermilk. They are paired with Flippers’ house-made maple butter cream, colourful fresh fruits, and dusted with icing sugar.

These pancakes were super light and fluffy, with a luxuriously smooth texture and a subtle eggy fragrance. Eaten together with the sweet butter cream and fresh fruits, the pancakes were heavenly! The tangy strawberries provided a nice balance to the dish.

Flippers (Omotesando Branch)
What to order: Kiseki Pancake Fresh Fruit (JPY1300), Kiseki Pancake Plain (JPY1000)
Address: 6-1-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Garden terrace 1F
Directions: 7-minute walk from Harajuku Station
Opening Hours: | Daily 11am to 8pm |
Phone: +813 5468 2133

This article is part of our super awesome Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide For First Timers. Everything you need to know about Tokyo is just a click away!