ASAKUSA is one of famous destination for tourists. And there are a lot of good foods that you can find and enjoy! I used to go to Asakusa a couple of times per year, and here are my food recommendations that you can find around Nakamise street!
Must Try Street Food in Asakusa
You need to know that you CAN NOT eat and walk on Nakamise Street.
Here I am introducing some food on & off Nakamise street, and I also leave information for each store, too. Please pay attention on the signs of each store if you go.
Menchi Cutlet at Asakusa Menchi
Menchi is short for Menchi cutlet which is normally made of ground beef and onion. Cook chopped onions, and mix it with ground beef (or pork, or both), shape it round, put bread crumbs on, and fry it!
This Menchi is very famous! It is crunchy outside, and you can taste the sweetness of onion and savoriness of meat inside.
There is always a line, but it’s worth to wait.
Information for Asakusa Menchi
- Only cash – even better if you have coins
- There is a place to eat 2 shops away. (Just a place, no service)
Unagi (Eel) Riceball at Asakusa Unana
Unana has a rice ball with a piece of grilled eel. It was opened in 2020, so it’s still new but already pretty popular as you will see a line there!
They have a system to buy. You can buy the ticket with the vending machine, and give it to them. They write the time that you need to come back. You come back to receive it. (as of October 2022)
The riceball is grilled, it’s crispy outside. The grilled eel is very tender and smelling so good.. The grilled rice ball and eel well-match with the sauce.
Information for Asakusa Unana
- Eat-in space is 10-20m away from where you buy the ticket
- Do not lose the ticket!
Matcha flavored Dango at Suzukien
Suzukien – where you can find matcha gelatos, dangos, and beverage (green tea, Matcha, etc)!
I ordered a set of matcha dango & iced green tea. About matcha on this dango, each one has a different level of bitterness of Matcha, this beautiful gradation makes it look even better. Iced green tea is not sweetened at all, you might feel it’s bitter though, it’s nice to try maybe!
There is the richest (strongest) matcha gelato in the world, too. Let me know if you try 😉
They sell teas, tools, and etc. I bought some tea powders to my grandparents as souvenir.
Information: Suzukien
- There are some seats inside but not many
- The place to order is small, you order and wait around seats.
Ningyoyaki at Bairindo
Ningyoyaki is also Japanese sweet, that fluffy cake outside and red bean paste inside.
You can find some Ningyoyaki shops around Asakusa, but I recommend this place because they are actually making it there so that you can buy fresh ones, and also it’s cheap so easy to try it especially if it’s your first time.
There are some different shapes, pigeon, Kaminarimon Gate,
They have Tsubu-an (mashed : paste and some pars of bean remained) and Koshi-an (smoothened : completely paste). I personally prefer Koshi-an (smooth one), but Tsubu-an is more popular, actually.
Information : Bairindo
- Price might be changed depending on the day
- No place to eat (do not eat on the Nakamise street)
Imo Kintsuba at Mangando
Imo kintsuba is one of my favorite Japanese sweets (Wagashi). They boil and mash sweet potatoes, and make a square with that, put batter (potato starch + water), and bake it.
The sweetness of sweet potato is emphasized and perfect level of sweetness for me.
Information: Mangando
- a small bench is there for seating to eat
Melon pan with Soft served from Kagetsudo
Kagetsudo was opened in 1945! Melon Pan is a bread with a crispy cookie-dough-ish on the top. You can choose what flavor of soft served ice cream. We choose matcha which was great!
The combination of warmth of bread and coldness of soft served is good! Just be noted that the ice cream melts easily.
Kagetsudo in Asakusa
- No Eat-in Space
Ichigo (Strawberry) Daifuku at Ichigoza
Ichigoza has strawberry snacks and sprits like strawberry beer, champagne with strawberry, etc.
We wanted to get a “Daifuku Ichico”, however they didn’t have it. So we got 2 types of small Ichigo (strawberry) Daifuku. Mine on the left on the picture above, red beans paste inside wrapped with Mochi. On the right on the pic has chocolate cream inside.
Asakusa Ichigoza
- Eat-in for some people (in this location)
- Alcohol is allowed over 20 years old in Japan
Photogenic Dango from Soratsuki
If you want to find something photo-worthy, this Dango might be good for you! Soratsuki has strawberry-related food, and we tried a cute dango which is rice balls on a stick. There are 4 types of Annko (paste); red beans, matcha, strawberry, and mango. They also have other kinds of dango, strawberry smoothie, Dorayaki with red beans paste + strawberry inside, etc.
Be careful to feed older people or/and kids not to choke.
Soratsuki, Asakusa
Soft Served Ice Cream @ Funawa
“Funawa” is famous japanese sweet store, where you can get Imo yokan, Dorayaki, Soft served ice cream, etc.
I personally love their sweet potato flavored soft served! Matcha flavor is also good! If you would like to try something cold, I’d recommend this place for getting a soft served for you.
Information: Funawa
- one store on Nakamise street
- one store is a block away from Kaminarimon Gate
- Main store is 8 mins walk from Kaminarimon Gate, but it’s a restaurant where you can sit down and eat.
People go to Asakusa for Sensoji Temple, usually. Please don’t forget to enjoy food there too 😉
Asakusa has a lot of good street food including Japanese traditional snacks there, hope you enjoy food in Asakusa!
