10 Must-Try Delicious Foods At Tsukiji Outer Market (築地場外市場) in Tokyo

As I walked around Tsukiji Outer Market (築地場外市場) in Tokyo, I was captivated by its bustling vibe. This small vibrant market is home to a tidy sprawl of shops selling local produce, fresh seafood, dried goods, kitchen knives, and more. And of course, there are many restaurants and street food stalls selling delicious food! Based on my own experience, I have compiled a list of ten awesome foods to eat at Tsukiji Outer Market below.

1. Tamago (Egg Omelette)

Tamago is a Japanese sweet egg omelette. We saw many Tamago stalls in Tsukiji Market, and decided to check out the one with the longest queue.

This famous stall is called Tsukiji Yamachō, and we were able to see the chef expertly preparing the Tamago through a glass panel while queueing.

The queue moved pretty fast and soon we got our hands on a hot Tamago (JPY100). It was delicious! I loved the savoury-sweet taste and soft custard-like texture that seemed to melt in my mouth.

2. Deep Fried Corn Fishcake

The Deep Fried Corn Fishcake (JPY400), known in Japanese as “Morokoshi-agé”, is another popular snack at Tsukiji Market. I decided to buy this snack because it is highly recommended by many food bloggers.

The fishcake was chewy and tasty, complemented by the crunch of the fragrant roasted kernels. I wouldn’t say it was fantastic, but it was definitely quite satisfying.

3. Giant Oyster

Tsukiji Market is famous for its fresh and delicious Giant Oysters! I saw several stalls with freshly shucked oysters displayed on ice.

The price of the oysters range from JPY400 to JPY1,000 depending on size. If you are a huge fan of oysters, go for the largest one. I have a rather weak stomach when it comes to raw food so I decided to just buy a JPY500 oyster.

This was one of the freshest oysters I had ever eaten! There was no fishy smell at all and the oyster flesh was amazingly soft and smooth. It came with a light savoury dressing which made the oyster that much more delicious.

4. Grilled Unagi Skewer

Unagi (freshwater eel) is a delicacy in Japan. I came across a stall selling assorted skewers and decided to buy a grilled Unagi Skewer (JPY200).

I was surprised by its low price because this delicacy is usually quite expensive. The unagi was savoury with a tender texture that seemed to melt in my mouth.

5. Grilled Squid Skewer

I enjoy eating squids so I got a Squid Skewer (JPY150) as well. It was savoury, chewy and satisfying.

6. Horumon-don

Horumon-don (Stewed Entrails Rice) is white rice topped with entrails (“horumon”) such as intestines and lungs. It is sold at Kitsuneya, a venerable restaurant that opened at Tsukiji Market in 1947.

My Horumon-don (JPY800) came steaming hot. The miso-flavoured entrails were savoury and very chewy. It was perfect for eating with the hot Japanese rice.

Even though the dish might seem small, it was actually really filling. I felt super full by the time I finished eating!

This was a very satisfying meal for me, but if you are not comfortable with eating animal innards then you should probably avoid this stall.

7. Tomi Sujahta Silk Ice

Ice cream is always a good idea! We bought a Matcha Soft Serve (JPY400) from a small ice cream stall in the market called Tomi Sujahta Silk Ice.

The ice cream was milky with a rich green tea flavour and a rather fluffy texture. It was perfect for eating while walking around the warm outdoor market.

Other than Matcha, the stall also offers a variety of other flavours like Vanilla, Chocolate, Caramel and Strawberry. Interesting flavours include Yuzu and Black Sesame.

8. Strawberry Daifuku Mochi

The Strawberry Daifuku Mochi (JPY300) is a Japanese mochi stuffed with sweet red bean filling and topped with a strawberry. It is one of the most well-known snacks at Tsukiji Market.

The mochi was sweet and chewy, and tasted wonderful with the luscious red bean paste. The super fresh strawberry completed the experience.

Other than red bean paste, the stall also offers mochis with custard and matcha fillings. Top up more to get a white strawberry.

9. Super Fresh Sushi and Sashimi

We did not eat any sushi at Tsukiji Market because we had already gotten our sushi fix at Iso Sushi in Toyosu Fish Market earlier.

However, you might want to note that most tourists come to Tsukiji Market to eat super fresh sushis. Make sure you try the Otoro Sushi (Tuna Belly Sushi), because the tuna belly is the most prized and delicious part of the fish.

10. Sea Urchin

The Sea Urchin (uni) is considered to be a delicacy in Japan. For JPY500, you can get a taste of this tangy-savoury seafood. However, I decided to skip this because I was already very full from all the food I had eaten earlier.

Conclusion

Moments before slurping down my giant oyster

The wife and I had a wonderful morning at Tsukiji Outer Market! In terms of finding delicious street food, this is probably my favourite place in Tokyo. The market is very small so you will not have any trouble finding the foods mentioned above. It is also very vibrant with plenty of interesting sights. Note that the Tsukiji INNER Market was once located here too, but it relocated to Toyosu in October 2018 and reopened as “Toyosu Market”.

Tsukiji Outer Market
Directions: 4-minute walk from Tsukiji Shijo Station
Address: 4 Chome-16-2 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Opening Hours: 5am to 1pm (the best time to visit is between 7am and 11am). Closed on Sundays and PH. Some shops are closed on Wednesdays.

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!