My Favorite LOCAL Breakfast Spots in Tokyo

1. Tsukiji Honganji Cafe TSUMUGI / TSUKIJI

(築地本願寺カフェTSUMUGI）

Tsukiji Fish Market is definitely a must-go breakfast spot that is already widely known but just around the corner, there is a secret hidden breakfast spot inside of Tsukiji Honganji Temple unknown to many.  At Tsukiji Honganji Cafe Tsumugi, you can enjoy a Japanese style breakfast and tea spot with a temple view.

So for breakfast, the go-to order is the Japanese set meal with 18 little dishes with all-you-can-eat porridge.  Apparently, it has Buddhism reasoning behind the number of 18 but I go here to simply enjoy the food.

What I love about this place is that underneath of each dish, There is a description of the food so you always know what you are eating.

Breakfast is served between 8 am to 10:30 am. The 18 dish set often sells out before breakfast hour ends, especially on the weekends so make sure to be there early OR go there on the weekdays to be safe!

Info

Tsukiji Honganji Cafe TSUMUGI
3-chome-15-1 Tsukiji Chuo City Tokyo-to
03-5565-5581
Access: Directly connected from Tsukiji Station Exit 1

2. Tsukiji Sushi Sei at Gransta Tokyo /tokyo

（築地寿司清グランスタ東京店）

Gransta Tokyo is a big shopping area under Tokyo Station. It is filled with bento shops, food spots and souvenir sweets that many people sleep on for morning delights. My favorite Breakfast spot here is Tsukiji Sushi Sei as it is a proper sushi shop with a counter with roots in Tsukiji so you know their coming with the freshness. 

In fact, since bullet train leaves from Tokyo station, Gransta is made for early birds. Many restaurants and shop are open in the morning so if you are not feeling for sushi, you can always find something there.

Breakfast only menu is the sashimi set with dashi. The one in the picture is sea bream but they change the menu seasons by seasons. You pour the dashi soup over the rice and sashimi so it is a lot lighter than a big Kaisen Bowls. Perfect for the breakfast, right?

If you are really hungry, zuke don is also amazing here. ‘zuke’ means fishes are pre-seasoned.

Info

Tsukiji Sushi Sei at Gransta Tokyo
Tokyo Station Gransta B1F, 1-chome-9-1 Marunouchi Chiyoda Tokyo
03-5220-6865
Access : Inside of Tokyo Station, 2 minutes walk from Yaesu Central Exit

3. Tokyo Tojan Seikatsu /Gotanda

（東京豆漿生活）

This hidden breakfast spot is just 5-minute walk from Gotanda Station. Every weekends, locals lining up around the building for their Taiwanese style breakfast breads and freshly made toujan soy milk bowls. 

You can either throw down on their regular soymilk like this one to go with their delicious breads or you can do what I did and go with their most popular dish, Shentoujan. It’s seasoned with vinegar, hint of chili oil and their original seasonings.

This spot is super popular among locals and on weekends and holidays, it can be 1-2 hour wait. If you have a freedom to go on weekdays, I recommend avoid weekends.

Info

Tokyo Tojan Seikatsu
1 Chome-20-3 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa City, Tokyo
03-6417-0335
Access: 5 minute walk from JR Gotanda Station

4. Uchino Tamago Chokubaijo / Akasaka

（うちのたまご直売所）

Japanese loves raw eggs and more than that, Tamagokake Gohan. Tamagokake gohan is basically a bowl of white rice with raw egg and soy sauce over it. If you do not eat raw egg, it may sounds gross to you but Japan only uses fresh egg and in this way, you can really taste the richness of egg!

Anyways, Uchino Tamago Chokubaijo is a quick breakfast spots only has counter seats. I go to the one in Akasaka Biz tower but they actually have it at Haneda Airport.

What I recommend is of course Tamagokake Gohan (¥560) and Paolo loves their Oyakodon. Their Oyakodon comes with raw egg to go on top to give even richer texture. Tender chicken cooked with egg and flavorful dashi is just delightful!

Info

Uchino Tamago Chokubaijo
Akasaka Biz Tower B1F, 5-3-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
03-6426-5752

5. ALPHA BETA COFFEE CLUB/JIYUGAOKA

（アルファ・ベータ・コーヒー・クラブ）

I need at least one coffee shop in this breakfast recommendation, right? Alpha Beta Coffee Club was found by a former Google employee. They implies tech everywhere in the shop, like to adjust the temperature of the hot water for each coffee beans.

Well, all the tech is cool and all but for me, I just go there for the taste! Not only the coffee is amazing but also the food is amazing as well.

Everything is good but I recommend the Acai Bowl. It is extremely hard to find a good quality Acai Bowl in Tokyo but Alpha Beta Coffee Shop masters it. It comes with a perfect chilly acai, granora, banana, berries and honey. God, it is good.

Info

Alpha Beta Coffee Club
Mirushe Jiyugaoka 3F, 2-10-4 Jiyugaoka, Meguro, Tokyo
03-5726-8433