13 Delicious Black Owned Restaurants in Tokyo, Japan

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Japan is often considered (perhaps too simply) as one of the most monoethnic countries in the world. But especially in recent years, Japan has had more (visual) diversity compared to even ten years ago. So, as a Black person visiting Japan, I was curious about Japan’s Black community – specifically Tokyo as it has become one of my favorite cities in the world. And, has a hungry Black person visiting Japan, I was also curious about any Black owned restaurants in Tokyo.

I know I know – before you even ask “Why would you travel alllll the way to Japan just to eat at Black owned restaurants in Tokyo?? Why not eat at the local spots for authentic Japanese food??” Here’s why.

Because I can.

Truly, that’s the only explanation needed. If you don’t like it, you can kindly click the little “x” on the right side of the browser tab! However for a deeper answer, I also find it fascinating how folks from different cultures adapt their own cuisines to a new audience. In this case, food from the Black diaspora to Japanese palates. Will certain spices be toned down? Are some dishes more popular than others? How is “Black food” marketed to a country with an extremely low exposure to Black people in their daily lives?

I’m not a foodie, but this is one of the aspects of food culture that captivates my little mind.

Besides, do you think Japanese people don’t ALSO want to eat food from other places? It was mostly locals eating at these Black owned restaurants in Tokyo. So, compared to some of the famous Japanese spots that gets packed with tourists…mm…I’ll opt to mix it up a bit.

Black Owned Restaurants in Tokyo

In my first trip to Japan, I had only visited one of the (surprising!) many Black owned restaurants in Tokyo, and it was mostly by accident. You’ll see why in a minute haha. But this time around, I did make an effort to eat at more and wow, just like the rest of the incredible food in the city, these Black owned restaurants in Tokyo blew me out of the water with their flavor.

When I was doing research on various Black owned restaurants in Tokyo, I found that many of the articles published were outdated and extremely lacking, as if they were all revisiting the same three to four spots and not bothering to look further. They were also VERY impersonal with tags to Instagram accounts…so maybe the writer didn’t visit any Black owned restaurants in Tokyo at all…

All tea no shade.

So imagine my surprise when I found almost double the amount during my visit, and a large part of that was due to me following Black creators in Japan (largely Sundai Love) who regularly frequent these spots because they genuinely like them. Whether you just want to mix up your food in Tokyo, or if you’re curious where the Black people at, OR BOTH like me, then keep reading!

ALSO, many of these restaurants are cash only, so be sure to have some on you!!

American Cuisine

As I am but a questionably educated American, I foolishly assumed that out of all the Black owned restaurants in Tokyo, many of them would be from the USA, or at least the American continent.

That was…not the case.

But yanno what, I did find some spots serving good ol’ fashioned American food right in Tokyo. The first, and probably the most notable of Black owned restaurants in Tokyo is Soul Food House. This was the restaurant I visited on my first trip to Japan, and a large reason was because they were one of the only places open serving breakfast in Tokyo! Yah…breakfast (at least not what we’re used to) does not have as big of an importance in Japan.

This go around, Soul Food House was A LOT busier, in part because it is just THAT delicious. I’d actually recommend making reservations if you know your itinerary ahead of time. If not, then go at least a few hours before closing.

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, then definitely hit up Kyle’s Good Finds. A word of warning, Kyle’s Good Finds is a bit out of the main hub of Tokyo, but it’s in a pretty cool area, especially for manga lovers. Slightly off topic, but the owner of Kyle’s Good Finds told me there’s a mall in the area dedicated to manga, though I didn’t have time to stop by.

ANYWAYS, here’s one of the only Black owned restaurants in Tokyo where you can get a classic American-style cake. I got a plain NY cheesecake and carrot cake, and both were amazing. I noticed the carrot cake was extra moist (in the best way), perhaps to make up for having less icing than I’m used to. I wonder if that’s because Japanese cakes and desserts aren’t typically AS sweet as American ones…but I was too shy to ask haha. Regardless – 10/10!

West African Cuisine

Now if you’re looking for Black owned restaurants in Tokyo, the majority is going to focus on West African cuisine. Not including US military stationed in Japan, Japan’s Black immigrants are largely from West Africa, largely Nigeria and Ghana. Of African cuisine, my main experience has been with Moroccan and West African cuisine, so I was excited to see what West African food tasted like in Japan.

To get my food adventure started on the right foot, I went to Food Hut Plus. The owner is so sweet and charismatic, and it’s her third restaurant in Tokyo! Plus, she let me borrow her charger because my phone (and pocket wifi) was dying haha. I stopped by for lunch and unfortunately wasn’t very hungry so I only ordered fufu, but omg it was some of the best fufu I’ve ever had!

Esogie African Restaurant & Bar is super close to the Shinjuku subway station so it’s convenient to either start or end your day in Shinjuku at this Nigerian restaurant. Y’all know I HAD to get the oxtail, but their homemade drinks were equally delicious. The owner and chefs are super friendly and funny, and thankfully have no problems walking you through the menu!

Calabash is another great West African restaurant, but Calabash is different in that their menu mostly encompasses dishes from Mali, Senegal, and Ivory Coast – which I hadn’t been exposed to before. No place like Tokyo! Plus, if you’re looking for live music, Calabash is THE SPOT! It was my first time having yassa pre and it won’t be the last, but I also loved the kebabs!

Known by a few of its past names, African Home Touch specializes in Pan-African cuisine. So…I guess…not really specialized-specializing haha. But their kebabs and grilled fish (I believe it was tilapia?) are out of this world. Plus, most of their ice cream is served out of the fruit its made from (aka their pineapple ice cream was served out of a pineapple – super cute!). I went solo, but going with a group of friends would be great and you could order their “buffet” menu of six dishes.

East African Cuisine

I just want to say, Ethiopians – y’all be everywhere!!! Including opening up some dope Black owned restaurants in Tokyo! There were more East African restaurants than I expected, and they were ALL poppin’ with groups of people catching up after work or having an evening out with the family.

Who would’ve thought my first experience with Ethiopian food would be in Tokyo at Little Ethiopia Restaurant and Bar Yotsugi? It was another restaurant that was a little farther away from the Tokyo hub, but hands down worth the trip! Apologies as I am still new to Ethiopian dishes so I forgot what I ordered, but the meat was sooo juicy and flavorful, and truly melted in my mouth! The owner is also super nice and trusted me enough to keep cooking my food while I ran down the street to the Family Mart to pull out more cash hahah.

As (I believe) the first Ethiopian restaurant in Tokyo, Queen Sheba is a favorite for local residents looking for Ethiopian cuisine and is a staple for those looking for a certified Halal restaurant! I had some fantastic kebabs and a nice cup of tea, but you honestly can’t go wrong with their menu. Though I didn’t stay long enough into the night to experience it, Queen Sheba frequently hosts live music and dancing, and there’s plenty of space for those eating in groups!

If you’re looking for something that leans a little more Kenyan, Masyuko’s Buffalo Cafe is the best option. This was ALSO my first experience with Kenyan cuisine (I know I know, I’m working on expanding my palate!!) and it blew me away. First of all – THE OLIVES. DIVINE. Unlike a few of the other Black owned restaurants in Tokyo, Masyuko’s Buffalo Cafe blended in so completely with traditional Japanese building design that I almost missed it! The chef was also super helpful with explaining the different dishes to Kenyan newbies like me!

European Cuisine

We’re going to all the continents with this one! Yes, there are Black owned restaurants in Tokyo that also focus on traditionally European (and Europe-adjacent) dishes! Honestly, I was expecting more restaurants to fall under this cuisine because there are so many amazing Black chefs that train in Europe and specialize in French, Italian, and Spanish, so maybe after seeing this list of Black owned restaurants in Tokyo, it will entice a few more chefs who immigrate to Japan to open some!

So the first I want to shoutout is Addis Restaurant, which has a lot of Ethiopian dishes yes, but also a good amount of Mediterranean food which was surprisingly hard to find in Tokyo! I got a pasta dish, but the table next to me ordered lamb and it smelled so good I was HARD JEALOUS. If you’re craving variety, hands down you’ll want to swing by Addis Restaurant!

And of courseeee DiDi Grande!!! I actually visited this spot because Soul Food House was all booked for the evening and this restaurant was down the street. Originally, I didn’t even know it was one of the fantastic Black owned restaurants in Tokyo, all I knew is that I wanted some risotto hahah.

Technically, DiDi Grande is a steakhouse, but it was a little heavy for what I was feeling for dinner so I ordered tapas style with a risotto. But mannn did the steak sound GOOD. The small plates were all fun and tasty, and the hospitality was top notch. Thank you to the chef/owner and waitress who let me practice my rudimentary Japanese with them hahah. And of course, the star of the show, the risotto!! The flavor was incredible and really hit the spot. I learned later that they have a great deal for a lunch set, so I’m definitely hitting them back up when I’m in town!

Bars

Tbh, a few of the above listed Black owned restaurants in Tokyo could double as bars, but for the sake of simplicity – and categories – I picked out two that I felt had more of a nightlife/after party vibe.

The first I give all the credit to Sundai Love, founder of Mood Global and one of my favorite Black influencers to follow. I’ve seen multiple of her YouTube videos that feature Chicken Man, and even from the video the food (and drinks) had my mouth watering! SO THANK YOU SUNDAI!!!

Anyways, let me introduce you to Chicken Man!

Yooo, I never knew how much I missed rotisserie chicken until I was out late one night in Tokyo – I believe coming back from a long day at Tokyo Disney. The bar is a small unassuming place, with warm lighting and some fun lively regulars. We, of course, ordered some chicken. If it weren’t so late, I also would’ve ordered some appetizers and more drinks, but alas we had a packed schedule the next day so I didn’t want to stay out too long. That said – I LOVED Chicken Man. And it’s right in Roppongi so you can either pre-game or sober up with good food and company!

Now let’s get into R2 Supper Club, because THAT’S a legit lounge!! A bit more upscale than Chicken Man, lol, but the prices were fair imo, especially compared to going out for a classy drink in other large cities around the world. Plus wow, the quality backs it up! I highly recommend any of their yuzu drinks (my new favorite flavor), but they also have fantastic NA options (the Savannah is chef’s kiss!). We ordered a few bites to share and it was a cool place to kickback.

My only sliiiight concern was that they also smell cigars and I’m very sensitive to smoke, so I didn’t end up staying too long – though that’s not uncommon for Japan anyway. If you want to keep the party going, join a Tokyo bar hopping tour!

Other Black Owned Restaurants in Japan

And of course, this list of amazing Black owned restaurants in Tokyo is not complete and the end all be all; there are many more that I need to visit and eat at. Like teeeechnicallyyy The Big Bamboo (Fussa, Tokyo), Sirena (Kokubunji, Tokyo), and El Sandwichazo (Shimokitazawa, Tokyo) would fall under Black owned restaurants in Tokyo, but it’s like JUST BARELY on the city line, so I didn’t make it out there yet.

And on that note, there are Black owned restaurants outside of Tokyo as well! I haven’t been to them yet, but some of the big names are Cafe Orleans (Okinawa), Arrowhead Tavern (Nagano), and Circa 1888 (Fujieda). I will definitely be back to visit more Black owned restaurants in Tokyo and all over Japan!

Yummy CupCakery is also out in Chiba, though it is not a formal restaurant and more of a self-bakery operating out of the owner’s house on an order-to-order basis, so not too accessible for the average traveler.

Conclusion: Black Owned Restaurants in Tokyo

And there ya have it folks! My personal recommendations for Black owned restaurants in Tokyo! I paid for EVERYTHING (food, flights, hotels – the entire trip), and no part of this trip was sponsored or hosted. I did not write this blog post just to pitch it to brands or publications.

I visited these amazing Black owned restaurants in Tokyo because I wanted to support them. I wrote this post so that others could support them.

Genuinely.

In a city with so much good food, hopefully you’ll want to add one of these fantastic restaurants to your itinerary! Did any of these Black owned restaurants in Tokyo catch your eye? If you know of any other Black owned restaurants in Tokyo I need to try out, then let me know in the comments!

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