Den

June 10, 2025

68. That's the number of times I failed to connect with this audaciously popular two-Michelin-starred restaurant exactly two months from the day I was planning to be in Tokyo with my husband hoping to dine here. There had been forewarning of such a frustration, and in fact, I had given up on two attempts made before previous holidays in Tokyo. What drives my persistence? Well, Den currently ranks #32 on the revered World's 50 Best Restaurants list, and Phil Rosenthal, everyone's favorite foodie mensch, aired a Tokyo episode of his first food travel series in 2015 and it prominently featured a visit to this restaurant. It only took me a decade to make a visit real on my 69th repeat dial when I made contact with a pleasant English-fluent staff person who confirmed our reservation. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood close to Japan National Stadium, the restaurant has a casually intimate feel that felt immediately welcoming thanks to the family ambiance that Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa has clearly established with his team. His lovely wife Emi performs hostess duties in a traditional kimono, and toward the end of the meal, their cuddly chihuahua Pucci effortlessly attracts infectious admiration. Noriko was our server, and she was an ebullient presence having been in Zaiyu-san's employ for over a decade. She guided us through the leisurely paced nine-course kaiseki dinner set. It started with the signature Monaka, a sweet, light cracker sandwich typically filled with red bean paste. This wagashi, however, was filled with a rich mix of foie gras, sweet spring fruits, and minced cucumber. It was a refreshing bite with a complexity of flavors that worked synchronistically. Next was a uniquely delicious take on Chawanmushi, the classic steamed egg custard with yuba, milk, soy sauce, a dab of fresh wasabi, and a swirl of what I could only guess was a savory honey. With his younger face on a cardboard takeout box, Zaiyu-san showed off his cheeky sense of humor with Dentucky Fried Chicken. The box contained a chicken wing with a lightly crispy skin and stuffed with sticky rice and fresh seasonal ingredients like edamame and softshell turtle. It was a delightful bite again with a complexity of unexpected flavors. The Sashimi course came next, and even the slices of fresh horse mackerel (aji) came with subtle pleasures like wasabi, nori sauce, rice vinegar and dashi. Next was the Seafood course anchored by freshly steamed Sea Bream served with snap peas, broad beans, baby cucumber with miso, and a local specialty, Fuji mountain vegetables. It was a culinary pleasure simply executed but not more than the Salad course, the most famous dish Zaiyu-san presents with fifteen uniquely locavore vegetables. Assembled in a bowl with a kombu seaweed & sesame oil dressing, the bounty included sweet leeks and baby squash. Next came the surprisingly hearty Soup course as it was a full-bodied fish broth filled with pike conger eel and sweet onions. The main entree arrived with Zaiyu-san making a tableside appearance with his large claypot of tender beef rice. Our servings came with pickled vegetables and a bowl of white miso soup mixed with bonito flakes. It was a hearty and filling climax capped by the Dessert course, soy milk pudding with almond milk sauce, fresh raspberries and blackberries, and green truffle mushroom jelly only found in nearby lakes. True and tasty. A couple of high-end bottles of sake kept us nicely lubricated throughout the evening. Our tab? ¥63,500... which converts to...well, let's just say it was a genuinely special evening. FOOD - 5 stars...Zaiyu-san knows his craft and how to source AMBIANCE - 5 stars...more casual than you'd expect and all the better for it SERVICE - 5 stars...Noriko-san knew how to make us feel at home with the Hasegawas TOTAL - 5 stars...hope your phone's auto redial works

November 16, 2024

A very rare warm homey dining experience with the most attentive, considerate services you'll ever experience. I felt the staff KNEW me and everything I like and don't like. The way they spoke to me and kept the conversation going felt so natural and fluid, it felt like we were long time friends... All this was just about the service!!! The food is so yummy. The appetizer with the pate was nothing like I've ever tasted before. What really blew me away was the salad 🥗...! I know I know, boring. In fact it doesn't even have dressing. I'm not quite sure how to explain it but the mix of hot and cold veggies was filled with flavor explosions. Yes, this place is really really expensive but I think with the quality of the food and experiencing the service makes it a 5/5. Overall you should expect to stay at least 2 hours to make it through the set course. Many people rate it lowly because of the inability to get a reservation, I don't think that's fair. Yes the reservation is hard to get. Don't think weeks, think months. If you live in Tokyo, the pro move is to get on the wait list for possible cancellations.

June 8, 2025

No restaurant is like Den. This is where you feel like eating at home, the food cooked by your mom - the best food on earth. Flavours, textures, chemistry, all is there, all in symbiosis. Not pretentious, with local ingredients, the dishes are executed perfectly. Along the experience, a family atmosphere is being created with the staff and your dining partners (both couples from New York) whom I never met before dining at Den. Thank you Chef Hasegawa for sharing your amazing cuisine, Noriko for the stellar service and letting me try so many sake, and the whole team at Den for making this experience unique.

October 10, 2024

If you’re lucky enough to get a reservation here, prepare for a truly memorable experience. Den Tokyo encourages you to feel at home in their relaxed atmosphere, it lacks the pretentiousness and stiffness of other Michelin restaurants. Their Den salad with the emoji carrot features over a dozen separate vegetables each cooked in a different way, and the DFC parody chicken is culinary surgery to put it short. Everything down to the tableware and ceramics is locally sourced, and the staff, despite being busy, still find the time to have a casual chat with you. Chef Hasegawa is an absolute character, and we were lucky enough to meet Den mascot Puchi Jr! This was a meal I’ll remember for a lifetime. I can only hope Den Tokyo receives their 3rd Michelin Star, which is truly deserved.

June 23, 2025

A great and playfull food experience! The staff was very welcoming and helpfull. The food was top class and the Sake parings were fantastic. Can warmly recommend this restaurant!