Rito

Just outside Mejiro Station, Rito is a Japanese restaurant suited to evenings when you want to sample an array of distinct flavors in small, thoughtful portions. Decorated in a striking modern palette of black and red, the quiet space features an open-kitchen counter where diners can watch the kitchen's disciplined handiwork unfold up close.

Courses commence with an artful spread of appetizers and sashimi. The kitchen moves freely beyond traditional boundaries, incorporating touches like wispy ribbons of scraped Raspadura cheese, baby sweetfish escabeche, and jewel-like nigiri sushi. Between pristine cuts of bluefin tuna or horsemeat sashimi, fragrant grilled silver cod saikyo-yaki, and hand-formed menchi-katsu with crisp breading, every plate presents a different play of texture and serving temperature.

For the main meat course, guests can choose from options such as Yonezawa pork, domestic Wagyu fillet, Yezo deer, or A5 Yonezawa beef rump. Meals conclude on a deeply satisfying note with freshly steamed earthenware-pot donabe rice—often enriched with snow crab or simmered conger eel and sansho berries—or smooth, chilled Awaji Island wakame noodles.

Paired with an extensive selection of sake and wine, Rito works wonderfully for deliberate, leisurely dinners as well as weekend lunches. Given the limited number of seats, reservations in advance are recommended.