Tokyo Street Food Guide: Where to Try the Most Famous Snacks
Last Updated on October 29, 2025 by Audrey
What should you try from Tokyo's street food scene?
When you think about Tokyo’s food scene, I admit that street food isn’t usually what I’m thinking about.
Tokyo is better known for high quality, Michelin rated restaurants and omakase. However, Japan is no stranger to street food stalls, and that includes Tokyo! There are pockets in certain areas that sell some incredible snacks. You can taste some delicious tuna belly in Tsukiji Market, grab a strawberry daifuku as you browse around Asakusa, and much more.
In this guide, I’ll go over which areas of Tokyo you can go to get delicious street food bites, and exactly the kinds of foods to expect.
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Where is the best street food in Tokyo?
While most of the restaurants in Tokyo are more of a sit-down vibe, you can definitely find some street stalls in certain areas. The best part is that the city’s food scene is very experimental, with constant competition empowering each stall to outdo each other with bold, mouthwatering creations.
While I’m not sure if I would say Tokyo has the best street food, I have to say that the food here is pretty amazing if you know where to look. So let’s break down where you should go for some quick bites.
Best street food areas in tokyo
Though the city has no shortage of things to do, one thing it is lacking is that there isn't really a street food strip compared to Osaka’s Dotonburi. And I wouldn’t really call the alleys with izakaya/yakitori bars “street food” either.
The best chances you have of trying street food here are during a festival or around a main attraction like Ueno Park.
However, that doesn’t mean you won’t see any street vendors during your trip! Here are the best areas where street vendors will usually appear, regardless of the season.
Tsukiji Market
My favorite area to go for street food, Tsukiji Fish Market comes the closest to a typical “street food” area. Vendors set up all along the strip, selling small portions of food like fresh seafood, tanghulu (fruit with dried sugar), mochi, tamago (egg), and more.
While some argue Tsukiji Fish Market is a tourist trap, I personally loved visiting and even stayed around the area.
The food is still affordable, though it might be a bit more expensive than lesser known areas. However, in exchange for a slightly higher price you get to experience one of Japan’s biggest markets and have a huge variety of street food to try.
You can click here to learn about what to eat at Tsukiji Market, and click here for the best time to visit. It gets very crowded!
Takeshita Street
Located in Harajuku, a trendy stylish neighborhood in Shibuya, this fashion forward street is one of my favorite areas to visit. It’s known for its amazing stores, but there’s also a lot of food stalls here as well!
Nakamise St
You’ll naturally run into Nakamise-dori street as you venture through Asakusa to visit Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s largest Buddhist temple. This bustling street has casual stores to browse, along with delicious street food stalls to enjoy.
Ameyoko
Ameya Yokocho (Ameyoko for short) is a shopping street in Ueno with 400 stores selling Japanese seafood, snacks, clothing, and more. Since it’s next to Ueno Park, it’s very popular during festival and cherry blossom season.
Omoide Yokocho
Honestly, Omoide Yokocho is not a street food area. This alleyway is popular because it’s full of izakaya, tiny restaurants that hold up to 6-8 guests max and serve yakitori and kushiyaki, food on grilled skewers (think Japanese tapas). These restaurants are more like sit down stalls.
However, since you can enjoy food in small portions here and walk around the area, I figured I’d let you know about it.
What Are the Best Tokyo Street Foods?
Okay, let’s break down what street foods you’ll find in Tokyo! I’ve separated it into savory and sweet foods.
Savory Tokyo Street Foods
Sashimi (Especially Tuna & Salmon)
- Where to find: Maguroya Kurogin in Tsukiji Market
My absolute FAVORITE food to buy in Japan. The sashimi sold by Tokyo street vendors is extremely delicious, especially with the Toyosu Fish Market being close by where tuna is sold for incredibly high amounts.
I usually go to Tsukiji Outer Market to eat fresh cuts of tuna and salmon, as sellers from Toyosu Inner Market have intermediate sellers in Tsukiji. I highly recommend you try the O-Toro tuna cut, the second fattiest cut of tuna. It’s so delicious and just melts away in your mouth.
Yakitori
- Where to find: Omoide Yokocho, Rambling Street at night
Yup, our Tokyo street food guide would be lacking if I didn’t include yakitori in here. Yakitori is chicken skewers grilled over an open flame, and it’s an absolute staple in casual Japanese cuisine.
Most of the time you’ll enjoy yakitori in sit down restaurants like in Omoide Yokocho. However, the exception is during matsuri (festivals) or, in my case, drunkenly walking around Rambling St at night.
After partying in Atom and Harlem, two very popular clubs in Tokyo, I turned my head and was pleasantly surprised to see someone grilling yakitori on the street! Those skewers took forever to cook on that tiny little grill. But they were delicious.
Spiral Potato
- Where to find: LONG!LONGER!!LONGEST!!! At Takeshita Street
While wandering around Shibuya, we stumbled a pretty funny shop on Takeshita Street called LONG!LONGER!!LONGEST!!!. They have some silly marketing too, and that was just enough to lure in my boyfriend to buy one of those giant spiral potatoes on a stick.
Don’t get me wrong, though. These potatoes are fried to PERFECTION, and with a little seasoning they taste pretty divine. It’s a huge portion though, so enjoy it with 2-3 people.
Monjayaki cooking on “Monja Street”
- Where to find: Monka Street
You can try one of Tokyo’s signature B-kyū gurume, which is a term that means delicious, affordable Japanese comfort food.
In terms of street food, monjayaki fits the bill: a runnier version of okonomiyaki. If you head to Monja Street in Tsukishima you’ll find over 100 restaurants specializing in the dish. It’s not too far from Toyosu Market and Teamlab Planets, so you could add it to a quick visit to the museum.
Takoyaki
- Where to find: Gindaco at Tsukiji Market
Takoyaki is another B-kyū gurume, bite-sized balls of batter with octopus inside. While this delicious dish originates from Osaka, you can find takoyaki around Japan too.
I recommend popping into Gindaco during your visit to Tsukiji to try this street food staple. With those wispy bonito flakes on top and mayo drizzle, it’s seafood umami in the perfect bite.
Wagyu skewers
- Where to find: Ueno Park, Tsukiji Market
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.
I won’t lie to you, Wagyu is relatively expensive. In Tokyo, expect to buy a wagyu skewer for around 3,000 yen ($20 USD).
👍 Pro tip: My personal favorite way of enjoying Wagyu is lightly dipping it in salt, but make sure to also try it with the garlic slices and wasabi!
Yakisoba
- Where to find: Ueno Park
Yakisoba is a Japanese stir-fry noodle dish made from wheat-based Chinese ramen noodles (not soba, surprisingly). It usually comes with pork, an assortment of vegetables, and pickled cabbage.
It’s a street food stable, so you can find it anytime there are street vendors, either during festivals or near popular attractions like Ueno Park.
I don’t really have a good restaurant recommendation because it’s such a common snack that you can find almost anywhere. Definitely give it a try if you haven’t had it before, though!
Sweet Tokyo Street Foods
Strawberry Daifuku
- Where to find: Ginkado on Nakamise St
A daifuku is a glutinous rice cake (a mochi) that is pounded into a paste and often filled with anko – sweetened red bean paste.
It’s one of my FAVORITE dessert snacks in Japan. The mochi is so soft and lightly sweet, and the red bean is just delicious. I highly recommend you try it, even if you don’ t really have a sweet tooth.
Solatsuki in Tsukiji Outer Market and Ginkado on Nakamise Dori Street sell some great daifuku.
Caramelized Sweet Potato
- Where to find: Oimoyasan Koushin
Freshly baked sweet potatoes are another popular street food you may see, and the best places to try them are at Oimoyasan Koushin stores that you can find around Tokyo Station and Asakusa!
My favorite variety are the caramelized sweet potatoes in bite sized pieces. They’re perfectly coated with sugar and fried to perfection.
Tanghulu
To be perfectly honest, I think tanghulu look better than they actually taste. Tanghulu is fruit (typically strawberries, tangerines, and grapes) skewered on a bamboo stick and glazed with a coat of hardened sugar.
They look so aesthetic and photo-worthy, but when I ate it I was a little underwhelmed.
That didn’t stop me from buying a whole skewer of tangerine tanghulu at the kurayami matsuri festival though.
You can find tanghulu at Solatsuki and Marutama in Tsukiji Market! Solatsuki always has a line, but it moves fast.
Dango
Dango is a sweet dumpling made from rice flour, with toppings like red bean paste or a sweet soy glaze added on top.
Photo Credit: Maakun on WikiMedia
It’s a popular dish usually present at festivals. The consistency is quite chewy, and it’s not very sweet. During cherry blossom season, you can find Hanami dango, a special tri-colored dango that’s pink, white, and green.
I have a huge sweet tooth, so I find that dango isn’t sweet enough for me!
Taiyaki
Mmmmm, taiyaki. This is a super cute cake that’s crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and shaped like a fish. It’s usually filled with red bean paste (anko), but you can usually choose a different topping if you want.
Now I’ve had really really good taiyaki, and I’ve had just meh taiyaki. The trick is that it needs to be perfectly crispy on the outside. If it’s too soft then it just doesn’t taste as good.
Unfortunately, I have yet to find an amazing taiyaki place in Japan, so let me know if you have any recommendations!
The Best Tokyo Street Food Tours
The best way to taste the best street food in Japan is by going with a local who knows their way around Tokyo!
Not only will you get to try a variety of foods you’ve never tasted before, but you’ll also learn so much about the culture and history of the country. Here are the top tours that I highly recommend.
TOP PICK: Shinjuku Food Tour
This highly rated food tour takes you all around Shinjuku, Tokyo’s busiest neighborhood! You’ll dive head-first into the Japanese food scene and try 13 different dishes at 4 local eateries.
This tour sells out fast, so book your tickets early!
Book your spot on the best Tokyo Food Tour with 5,000 5-Star Reviews!
PICK #2: Tsukiji Market Street Food Tour
I love Tsukiji Market, but it can get really crazy here. On this tour, your guide makes sure you don’t get lost or overwhelmed in the crowd, and you’ll get to sample sushi, sweets, and snacks that she recommends!
My favorite part is that she brings her own wasabi grater so you can try fresh, real wasabi with your fish. It really makes a huge difference in taste!
Book your spot on this tour with 2,000+ 5-star reviews and FREE cancellation!
Tips for eating Tokyo Street Food
Japan has different customs when it comes to eating outside, so here’s what you need to be aware of.
Don’t walk and eat
It’s considered highly disrespectful to eat and walk at the same time. You either need to eat at a designated area around the shop, or save your snack until you find somewhere you can sit and eat undisturbed.
Eat near the stall
Most shops will have small standing counters where you can stand and eat your food.
Bring your own trash bag or save your trash
Japan doesn’t have many public trashcans as a safety measure after there was a gas attack in the Tokyo subway back in 1995.
Therefore, you gotta bring your own trash bag, or save it until you find that unicorn trashcan somewhere. Or, if you stick around and eat next to the stall where you purchased your food from, they’ll typically dispose of your trash for you.
Bring cash
Most street stalls will not accept card, so it’s best to have some cash on you at all times. I would recommend keeping at least 5,000 yen on you if you’ll be heading to the street food areas.
Do not tip
It’s considered disrespectful to try to tip, even when purchasing street food.
Tokyo Street Food FAQs
Is Tokyo good for street food compared to Osaka?
If I’m being totally honest, I think Osaka is a bit better for street food because you have the designated Dotonburi area for incredible street snacks. Tokyo doesn’t really have an area like that, though Tsukiji Market comes close.
If you plan on hitting Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka during your trip, click here for my 10 day Japan itinerary that takes you along the Golden Route.
Where is the best place to find street food in Tokyo?
Tsukiji Market and Ameyoko are the best areas to find street food.
Is Tokyo street food expensive?
Honestly, Tokyo street food is probably more expensive than other areas of Japan like Hokkaido or even Osaka.
On the cheaper end, a few pieces of sashimi or a dish of yakitori will probably run you 400-600 yen ($2.70-$4 USD) depending on what kind you buy.
On the other hand, wagyu skewers will cost 3,000 yen ($20 USD) and upwards. So it can get expensive, especially if you love wagyu meat like myself.
Can you eat street food year-round or only during festivals?
You can find most of the foods available year round in certain areas around Tokyo.
Is Tokyo street food safe to eat?
Yes! It’s perfectly safe to eat, so enjoy to your hearts content!
Conclusion: Street Food in Tokyo
Now you know what street foods you’ll be able to spot around Tokyo! I had a blast cruising around the city and eating everything I could see in sight, and I can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself.
If you need ideas on how to structure your trip, I recommend checking out my 4 day Tokyo itinerary. 4 day Tokyo itinerary. I also offer customized itineraries if you need help! Feel free to email me at audrey@getlostinjapan.com or drop a comment.
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