Breakfast At Tsukiji Market: The Best Foods And Restaurants

Last Updated on October 24, 2025 by Audrey

Not sure what to eat for breakfast at Tsukiji Market? Here are the tastiest foods you can enjoy at Tokyo’s biggest fish market in the morning.

Tsukiji Outer Market (築地市場, Tsukiji shijō), located in central Tokyo, is a must-visit destination for food lovers and a hub of Japanese culinary culture.

Now, Tsukiji Market isn't any ordinary market. There are tons of stalls--more than 400 stores reside here, selling a wide array of fresh seafood, incredible Japanese snacks, and delicious sweets. Taking a trip here is one of the best things to do in Tokyo.

If you have an upcoming visit to this huge fish market planned, there's a good chance you're visiting in the morning before you head out for the day.

What is there to eat for Breakfast at Tsukiji Market?

In this post, I'll take you on a mouthwatering journey through the 10 most popular breakfast foods at Tsukiji Fish Market, complete with my personal top restaurant recommendations!

Exploring Tsukiji is a fantastic way to experience Japan’s rich food culture through incredible snacks and delicacies. Let's dive in!

1. Fresh Tuna (まぐろ)

The most popular food should be obvious. Not sure? It's a type of fish... yup, tuna is the rock star of Tsukiji Market!

Tsukiji Market has always been famous for their fish, specifically their bluefin tuna. After all, the market draws its roots as a fish market since its creation during the Edo period (1935). In fact, 1/3 of the market deals in tuna!

Although the inner wholesale market (Jonai) has separated from the outer (Jogai) market since the creation of Toyosu Market in 2018, you may have heard about the tuna auction in Toyosu's inner market, an exclusive event where tuna of the highest quality is auctioned off. These sellers from Toyosu's inner market have intermediate sellers in Tsukiji, so the general public can also enjoy delicious fresh sashimi.

There are more than 8 different sashimi cuts of tuna alone. My favorite is the O-toro, the second fattiest cut of tuna. It's so delicious and just melts in your mouth. I encourage you to sample a few cuts and see how different they taste.

Top Restaurant Recommendation: Maguroya Kurogin

Off a corner of Tsukiji Market is my top spot to grab fresh cuts of tuna: Maguroya Kurogin, a small stall that’s always crowded. Don’t worry, though—the line moves very fast!

They proudly note that they were one of the first to handle Oma bluefin tuna in the Kansai region, and their experience and skill shine through in the high-quality taste. You get to watch the tuna being prepared and choose your cut fresh on the spot.

I ate here every morning when I stayed in Tsukiji and have no regrets!

Other Restaurant Recommendations: Miyake Suisan, Sushi Zanmai

I also recommend Miyake Suisan, another stall selling all sorts of fresh tuna and seafood, and Sushi Zanmai if you’re looking for sushi at a sit-down restaurant.

2. Kaisendon (海鮮丼)

Tuna shouldn’t be the only seafood you taste at Tsukiji Fish Market.

You’ve got to try all the other fresh catches the market is famous for, like classic ikura (salmon roe), salmon, and uni (sea urchin). A kaisendon is hands down the best way to enjoy them all at the same time!

A kaisendon is a seafood donburi, a bowl of fluffy rice topped with fresh seafood. While the toppings can vary, they typically include tuna (toro), salmon, scallops, shrimp, salmon roe, and uni.

I’ll be honest—I never liked uni whenever I tried it in the States. But when I had fresh uni paired with an assortment of incredibly fresh seafood in Tsukiji, the taste was leagues better than any uni back in California.

Restaurant Recommendation: Marukita-Don

Markita-Don is a very popular kaisendon restaurant with three different locations in Tsukiji Market. They're well-known for being open and serving kaisendons as early as 6 a.m., so there’s no problem showing up for breakfast!

You have to try their omakase-don, which is their #1 seller featuring 11 types of fresh seafood. You get to try eel, yellowtail, squid, and herring roe for the low price of 2,500 yen!

When I tried their omakase-don, I loved almost everything. I wasn't too fond of the texture of uncooked squid, the taste is also completely different from cooked squid. Regardless, it was delicious and relatively affordable for such a diverse assortment.

3. Tamagoyaki (卵焼き)

Tamagoyaki is a special kind of omelet that is created by rolling together several layers of fried beaten eggs. It also has a distinct subtly sweet flavor that comes from dashi, sugar, and mirin that are added to the mixture before cooking it.

Tamagoyaki is a specialty that you need to try while you're in Japan, especially if you've never tried it before. I don't really like eggs, but I love the sweet flavor of tamagoyaki. It's one of my favorite things to order!

Restaurant Recommendation: Tsukiji Shouro

Tsukiji Shouro has a long-standing history all the way from when the Saito family opened Shouro Sushi in 1924, where their tamagoyaki was first sold. Now, they have two stores in Tsukiji, Tsukiji Shouro and Shinten, as well as multiple branch shops in supermarkets, department stores, and stations.

Tsukiji Shouro's tamagoyaki is deliciously fluffy and has a beautiful sun color with a slight crispiness. While they sell tamagoyaki in various styles, from the traditional omelet to sandwiches, they also sell egg-based desserts like creamy flan, cream puffs, and more!

4. Oyakodon (親子丼)

You may have never heard of oyakodon—I hadn't until my second trip to Japan. Oyakodon combines chicken, scallions, and runny egg with a signature umami-rich tare sauce, all served over a bowl of fresh rice. Its literal meaning is "parent-and-child donburi"!

It's a classic comfort food and a very popular donburi (rice bowl). Despite being made with seemingly simple ingredients, the way the dish is prepared, combined with its umami flavors, makes it something I could eat every day.

Restaurant Recommendation: Toritoh

Toritoh is a hidden gem tucked away in the back corner of Tsukiji Market. This company has been handling chicken and duck meat for over 100 years, so you know they’re experienced!

Their oyakodon can be ordered in several variations. I recommend the traditional style or the curry version, alongside an order of karaage (fried chicken) and mizutaki (a milky chicken soup).

Toritoh uses fresh, high-quality ingredients to make this simple dish unforgettable. The bright orange eggs have a velvety texture, and the chicken is packed with flavor. For a price range of 1,000–2,000 yen, you get a healthy breakfast that tastes familiar yet uniquely special.

5. Monja Croquette (コロッケ)

Okay, I get it. You're probably scratching your head at this one. We've all probably enjoyed a croquette in our lifetime, and though we love the flaky, oily goodness of this potato snack, at the end of the day, a croquette is a croquette.

Well, I'm here to explode your mind with all the possibilities of what a croquette can be! Enter the monja croquette, a spin on a traditional croquette that combines monjayaki flavors, a type of Japanese pancake, with a croquette.

Ingredients such as cabbage, seafood, and meat are bound together and then fried to present a fusion dish with unique flavors. There's only one place that serves croquettes in Tsukiji, and I'll bet you've never tried anything like it.

Restaurant Recommendation: Tsukiji Croquette

Tsukiji Croquette imagines a very unique twist on your traditional old potato snack. They add seafood on top, incorporating what Tsukiji is famous for on this comforting snack. While the crispy croquettes already have Worcestershire sauce to make them moist and tangy, the highlight is in the toppings you can add.

You have the choice to add 4 different types of toppings: bonito flakes (350 yen), mentaiko sauce (400 yen), kimchi (400 yen), or seafood (450 yen). The result is an incredibly special burst of flavors that oozes out on top and adds to the crispy crunch.

Make sure to come early or with time to spare, because the line can get long at Tsukiji Croquette!

6. Tempura Udon (天麩羅うどん)

I've had tempura udon quite a few times in America, but it has never tasted as good as when I ate it for breakfast at Tsukiji Market!

In case you've never enjoyed this popular soup dish before, tempura udon is made of a dashi-based broth and chewy wheat noodles with just the right amount of thickness. It usually comes with scallions and fishcake.

The tempura varies, but it almost always has crispy tempura shrimp with an assortment of vegetables. The vegetable has been dipped in tempura batter and then dropped in oil until it's fried to perfection.

If you enjoy eating soup for breakfast like myself, it's a nutritious, filling meal that will fill you up with tons of energy to tackle the rest of the day.

Restaurant Recommendation: Uogashi Shokudo Food Court

Uogashi Shokudo Food Court is a hidden gem I stumbled upon after dropping lots of yen on ceramics and dishware at the nearby Ichifuji (totally worth it, by the way). The third floor is a small food plaza with around 5-6 different restaurants. You can get a kaisendon, sashimi, tempura, udon, and more.

I got a tempura udon set from one of the stores here. It was simple, cheap, and tasted delicious. My set came with a big bowl of plain udon with a tasty broth, and large tempura shrimp, sweet potato, eggplant, and pumpkin. They also added scallions as a garnish on the side.

The plaza is open after 7 am, so it's a great choice for an early breakfast at Tsukiji Market, especially if you're traveling in a group so everyone can choose whatever fits their taste. There's lots of seating inside, as well as a rooftop terrace for additional outdoor seating.

7. Ramen (拉麵)

Who doesn’t love enjoying a warm (or cold!) bowl of ramen early in the morning? While there aren’t too many ramen shops around Tsukiji, you can still find a great shop to enjoy a delicious bowl of ramen if you know where to look.

Ramen is a hardcore staple in Japan. It’s a wheat-based noodle dish, typically served in shoyu (soy sauce), miso, shio (salt), or even tonkatsu (pork) flavor. You’ll commonly find tender pieces of chashu pork, nori (seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), a perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg, and scallions in your dish.

Top Restaurant Recommendation: Wakaba

Located right beside the main road of Tsukiji, Wakaba has been a long-time favorite. There’s always a queue filled with locals, but the turnover rate is fast so you never have to wait too long.

This family-owned business consists of a small stall and just a couple of workers who serve delicious, cheap, and simple shoyu-based ramen for only 1,000 yen.

You’ll find that while Wakaba Ramen may be simple, they do ramen very well. The broth is light and refreshing, with flavorful and soft pork. You can sit at the counter, or grab one of the standing tables to slurp your noodles along with the other customers.

Other Restaurant Recommendation: Yamada No Unagi

I also want to mention Yamada No Unagi, another ramen joint in Tsukiji Fish Market that serves delicious unagi bone broth ramen. However, they don’t open until 11 AM, so they aren’t open early enough for breakfast.

Deep Fried Oyster (牡蠣フライ)

Seafood will always be a core theme in Tsukiji, and there are endless ways to prepare them for different tastes! While you should try raw oysters if you are able to, I love having fried oysters because the taste is completely different, and it also feels a little safer on my stomach.

I once enjoyed some raw oysters the night before I hopped on a plane to California, and suffered the worst case of food poisoning ever. I still can't believe I made it home, I thought I was going to pass out and have an accident on the plane. So you can't blame me for going the cooked oyster route, especially in another country!

Anyway, I didn't write this post to tell you about my awful stomach issues. The oysters in Japan are delicious in any shape and form, but let me point you toward a hidden gem in Tsukiji that serves delicious fried oysters.

Restaurant Recommendation: Oyadasu

Odayasu is located in the Tsukiji Uogashi Odawarabashi Building, a market of over 60 stores that carry on the charm of the old Tsukiji Market before the inner market moved to Toyosu. Odayasu serves many different kinds of fried foods, like tonkatsu, but their best dish has got to be their deep-fried oysters.

You can order six deep-fried oysters that have been breaded to perfection with panko crumbs. This delicious meal is served with tartar sauce, julienned cabbage, and a side of rice.

Or, if you want a little more variety, you can order the kaki mix set, which is 3 fried butter oysters and 4 deep fried oysters that come with rice and miso soup for only 1600 yen.

I personally prefer the deep-fried oysters. I think they taste heavenly with the tartar sauce!

Wagyu Beef (和牛)

Maybe you’re not a seafood lover, and that’s okay. Because you can also find the highest quality beef right here in Tsukiji Market! Japan is famous for its Wagyu, which is beef cattle from Japan.

Known for its amazing marbling, taste, and texture, Wagyu beef is the highest quality beef in the world. The cattle are raised with great care, and the results show in the rich umami flavor and sweetness of the meat. Wagyu beef has a soft, buttery texture that just melts away in your mouth. It's one of my favorite street food snacks to grab.

Restaurant Recommendation: Kobe Beef Steak Nikuhoshi

Kobe Beef Steak Nikuhoshi is the only place in Tsukiji that serves Kobe beef, which is regarded as the top tier of Wagyu beef. It’s open from 7 am, so you can enjoy some deliciously marbled steak that has been cooked to perfection first thing in the morning.

I won’t lie to you, Wagyu is relatively expensive, even here. However, one thing I really love about this restaurant is that they offer several different options for you to experience Wagyu beef.

You can have a Wagyu beef skewer or Wagyu beef sushi for around 3,000 yen. Or, if you don’t want to spend too much but still want to taste Wagyu, you can try stewed Wagyu beef for 1,000 or a wagyu and cabbage sampler for 1,500 yen.

If you want to go all out, definitely try the Kobe! It has the richest flavor, the most marbling, and it’s unbelievable how tender the meat is. It might be the best steak you’ve ever experienced in your life.

10. onigiri (お結び)

Before you head out of Tsukiji Market, pick up one more thing for breakfast: onigiri!

One of my favorite things while visiting Japan was getting to munch on an onigiri every morning before jumping on a train to start my day. Onigiri, or rice balls, are a simple treat that I will never get sick of. Consisting of fluffy white rice, nori (seaweed), and a salty or sour filling, it’s the perfect cheap snack on the go.

Restaurant Recommendation: Onigiri Marutoyo

Onigiri Marutoyo sells cheap, large onigiri with lots of tasty toppings inside. Most of their rice balls range from 200-300 yen, so it’s an affordable snack that will fill you up after only a few! The line grows pretty quickly after 8 am, and can get very long, so I recommend grabbing it quickly if you show up early.

The most popular ones seem to be the ikura (salmon roe), which is one of my personal favorites, pork miso, and the runny egg that has a perfectly jammy orange yolk. There are tons of different varieties, so I recommend trying a bunch! And did I mention they also have some pretty delicious tuna sushi too?

If you don’t have time for anything else, then you can enjoy a quick breakfast at Tsukiji Market by grabbing some delicious rice balls.

Free Map of Best Tsukiji Foods and Restaurants

Here's a free Google Map of the best restaurants and food spots at Tsukiji Outer Market. I love to save places on my maps then use it for a reference when I'm traveling!

Breakfast At Tsukiji Market FAQs

When does Tsukiji market open?

The shops at Tsukiji Market run independently, so opening times will vary per store. You’ll find that some shops start opening as early as 05:00, and almost all of the stores will be open by 9:00.

I focused on restaurants that open early (around 07:00-08:00) for breakfast.

Best time to visit Tsukiji market

I recommend visiting around 8:00-09:00 if you’d like breakfast at Tsukiji Market, or 11:00 for lunch. If you go during these times, all the stores will be open.

Take a look at my post When Is The Best Time To Visit Tsukiji Market for more information!

What else to do around Tsukiji Market

Aside from eating, there are lots of other things you can do around Tsukiji Fish Market. If you're looking for more things to do in Tokyo after, check out my Tokyo Itineraries!

1 Day In Tokyo Itinerary

2 Days In Tokyo Itinerary

4 Days In Tokyo Itinerary

🔪 Browse premium knives and dishware

I recommend stopping by Ichifuji if you're interested in Japanese dishware. We bought utensils, plates, bowls, and even a teapot here! We had to carry it in our luggage all the way back to America, but it was so worth it. I'm still enjoying the high-quality ceramics now!

🍓 grab dessert

Who said you can't eat dessert for breakfast? Well, it wasn't me, because I definitely encourage it. There is incredible tanghulu (candied fruit), ice cream, and daifuku mochi that you can enjoy while walking around the market.

I recommend checking out Solatsuki and Marutama for the best sweets! Solatsuki always has a line for their tanghulu, but it moves fast. I would recommend their daifuku mochi instead, the tanghulu is a bit too sweet for me.

⛩️ Visit Namiyoke Inari Shrine

Did you know there is a shrine located just one block away from Tsukiji Market? I had no idea until I wandered around one day.

While the shrine is small, it packs a lot of history! Originally, the Namiyoke Inari shrine was built to honor an inari god who protected construction from being repeatedly destroyed by ocean waves crashing along the coastal area of Tokyo. That's why the translated meaning of Namiyoke Inari Shrine is "protector of waves".

However, after Tokyo's fish market moved to Tsukiji after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, the shrine became an unofficial guardian shrine for the marketplace and its traders. Now, the shrine hosts the Tsukiji Shishi Matsuri (also known as the "Dancing Lion Festival" every three years!

🛍️ Go shopping in Ginza

Ginza, one of Tokyo's most luxurious and incredible shopping districts, is a short 15-minute walk away from Tsukiji Market!

I loved grabbing a bite to eat at Tsukiji and then walking over to Ginza to burn some calories (and some cash...).

There are so many shops here, from Muji and Uniqlo's Flagship stores to all the luxury brands you can think of. It's also a great place for pre-loved luxury and vintage shops! You can easily spend the whole day around the Tsukiji and Ginza areas.

how to get to Tsukiji market

There are two main ways to get to Tsukiji OuterMarket.

The first way is to take the Toen Odeo Line to Tsukiji Shijo Station and exit from the A1 exit.

The second route to Tsukiji Market is to take the Hibiya Line to Tsukiji Station and exit from Exit 1 or 2.

Should I take a tour of Tsukiji Market?

Tsukiji Market is a complete food lover's paradise--but it can also be chaotic. It can be a little overwhelming at times, and there are an abundance of options.

Going with a tour guide who can fill you in on the history and culture of the market, and more importantly, knows all the hidden gems, is an excellent option if you want to experience the best out there.

Here are the most highly rated tours of Tsukiji Fish Market below!

🦀 Tsukiji Fish Market Street Food Half-Day Tour with Tasting 🦀

Enjoy this highly rated half-day tour exploring Tsukiji with an experienced English-speaking guide. You'll taste fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables, and more while learning about Japanese culinary traditions.

🐟 Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Private Food Tour 🐟

Experience Tsukiji with a local private guide who knows the hidden gems in this maze of 400 shops. You'll get to taste incredible dishes and learn the fascinating stories behind this iconic market.

🍣 Tsukiji Fish Market Tour and Sushi-Making Class 🍣

After a deep-dive exploration of Tsukiji Fish Market, you'll get to take an authentic sushi-making class at one of Asia's largest cooking schools, and even receive a certificate and gift upon completion.

Breakfast at Tsukiji Market Conclusion

There you have it, the best foods for breakfast Tsukiji Market that you have to try!

Dare I say to even make this a food scavenger list?! You could make it your mission to sample everything I listed above and trust me, you won't be disappointed. Everything at Tsukiji Fish Market is astounding, and I'm excited about your upcoming foodie experience!

If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment or say hi to me at audrey@getlostinjapan.com. I'd love to hear all about your adventures in Japan, and am available to help if you any travel planning assistance!

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