JULIA

The 38 Best Restaurants in Tokyo, Japan | Eater

"Price: $$$ Nao Motohashi is one of only a handful of female chefs in Japan listed in both the Michelin and Gault & Millau guides. She and her sommelier husband, Ken, are warm hosts at their Aoyama restaurant, which is located in a former house. Diners enjoy an aperitif and appetizers on the first-floor lounge before moving upstairs to the main dining room overlooking an open kitchen. Highlights on the vegetable-forward menu include pickled tomatoes in a rose and hibiscus sauce, scallops with butterbur, and duck with slightly bitter spring mountain vegetables. The signature cheesecake ice cream pairs wonderfully with a warm sake. Must-try drinks: The non-alcoholic program is exciting, with house-made beverages such as grilled mandarin oranges with jasmine; burnt honey juice; and an apple, whey, and pomegranate drink." - Yukari Sakamoto