"Elegant yet refreshingly unpretentious, budget-friendly yet generous, this Asakusa-adjacent institution has been around since 1972. The venue originally served Zen Buddhists at temple functions but now offers vegetarian dishes of fucha cuisine to customers, as well. In private tatami rooms, guests receive wave after wave of intricate dishes: a light tea and rakugan (pressed-sugar sweet), unpen (thick, gingery soup made with leftover veggies, essential to the no-waste philosophy of fucha cuisine), rich sesame tofu, fried eggplant covered in savory miso, and more seasonal dishes that change too regularly to keep up with. Running between 3,450 and 5,000 yen ($23–$34), the weekday lunch boxes are a particularly good deal (compared to standard meals costing 6,000–10,000 yen). Make sure to wear hole-free socks, as you will have to remove your shoes before entering the tatami room." - Chiara Terzuolo
