Every Japanese person loves oden. While it may not be very familiar to many visitors from overseas, this time I’ll introduce some of the best places in Tokyo where you can enjoy this comforting soul food.
What is Oden?
Oden is a traditional Japanese dish where ingredients such as daikon radish, eggs, and fish cakes are simmered in a flavorful broth made from dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi) and kelp (kombu).
Common ingredients include:
- Daikon radish
- Boiled eggs
- Konnyaku (yam cake)
- Hanpen (soft fish cake)
- Chikuwa (grilled fish paste stick)
- Ganmodoki (fried tofu fritters)
The flavor and ingredients vary by region. For example, Shizuoka-style oden is known for its dark black hanpen, while Kansai-style oden has a lighter broth.
In winter, you’ll even find oden sold at convenience stores across Japan. It’s a dish that can be enjoyed both at home and at restaurants, and has long been loved by Japanese people.
Must-Try Ingredient
The absolute must-try is daikon radish.
It soaks up the delicious broth and becomes incredibly flavorful — truly the highlight of oden!
Other than that, you can freely choose what looks appealing to you. That’s part of the fun of eating oden.
It’s recommended to enjoy oden with a little bit of karashi (Japanese mustard), but if you’re not a fan of spicy flavors, it’s perfectly fine to eat it as is.
Think of karashi as a type of Japanese mustard, similar to wasabi.
5 Recommended Oden Restaurants in Tokyo for Foreign Visitors
1. Sandaime Bunji – Ginza Main Store
Not only oden, but also other Japanese dishes such as Sendai-style beef tongue and fresh sashimi are available.
It’s a full-scale Japanese restaurant, but oden is one of its most popular items.
✅ English menu available.
2. Shimbashi Otakou
A long-established oden shop founded in 1932. Ingredients are carefully sourced from trusted suppliers, and the authentic Kanto-style oden flavor has been passed down for generations.
They also serve other Japanese favorites such as tempura and yakitori.
✅ English menu available.
3. Kombuya Ebisu
Located on the 38th floor of Ebisu Garden Place, you can enjoy oden and fine Japanese cuisine while taking in a stunning night view of Tokyo.
The restaurant’s theme is “an oden bar you might find in New York.”
- Over 30 varieties of oden made with carefully prepared Rausu kombu broth.
- Seasonal dishes crafted by skilled chefs.
✅ English menu available.
4. Oden Ore no Dashi
A restaurant focusing on oden, seasonal dishes, and carefully selected sake.
The broth is a perfect blend of katsuobushi (bonito flakes), mackerel flakes, grilled flying fish, Hokkaido kombu, and chicken stock — the taste is simply exquisite.
You can also enjoy many other dishes alongside drinks.
✅ English menu available.
5. Tokyo Oden Love Story
A quirky oden restaurant with a retro atmosphere, located in Ueno, Shibuya, and Ebisu.
Customers self-report the items they’ve eaten before paying.
The concept is to encourage conversations with strangers, so if you’re not sure how it works, don’t hesitate to ask the person next to you!
❌ No English menu available.
In summer, they sometimes serve chilled oden.
Final Thoughts
Here we introduced some oden restaurants in Tokyo, but you can find great oden shops all over Japan.
If you come across an oden restaurant in Kansai or Shizuoka, definitely give it a try. Delicious regional oden is waiting for you wherever you go!
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