French guide to Tokyo
It might seem strange to recommend eating French-style cooking in Japan. With many types of Japanese cuisine such as sushi, yakitori, tempura, and ramen, one might not rank French near their top of the list to try. This was certainly my feeling for many years visiting Japan. However, after trying a few restaurants, French-Japanese cuisine is now one of my favorite categories to explore. The best way to describe the food is Japanese ingredients, cooked with traditional French techniques. Here are the restaurants I’ve visited so far and my thoughts about them.
L’Effervescence
Worth trying once: Yes
Would I go back: Yes
Price: $$$$
L’Effervescence is regarded as one of the best French restaurants in Tokyo, receiving the rare Tabelog Gold Award multiple years in a row. The food and service are both excellent. My favorite dish was their “apple pie”, which is presented like a McDonald’s apple pie, yet tastes nothing like it. It’s savory on the inside with a buttery and flaky pastry on the outside. The restaurant iterates on this dish often, and labels the version number on their menu. The version I tried was 40!
Surprisingly, another dish that was very memorable to me was their salad. I usually don’t pay much attention to salads as I love seafood and meat dishes more. However, I knew this salad was different when they presented me a sheet that listed every ingredient in the salad, grouped by farm and location. The salad included 44 different ingredients! Each bite tasted differently and it was easy to appreciate the attention to detail given to the salad.
Their signature dish is a Tokyo turnip which they cook for four hours, making it extremely juicy and bursting with flavor. The meal ends with a cup of matcha tea, prepared in the style of a traditional tea ceremony. Quite the spectacle to watch.
For how excellent this restaurant is, making a reservation is relatively easy as long as it is done early enough. Bookings are available online through OpenTable. Overall, I highly recommend this fantastic dining experience.
Hommage
Worth trying once: Yes
Would I go back: Yes
Price: $$$$
What I love about Hommage is how intimate the restaurant feels. The seating area is located on the second floor and the space isn’t very large, but doesn’t feel crowded. The restaurant is run by chef Noboru Arai who is incredibly friendly and hospitable. The entire dining experience feels very personable, and you can sense the care Arai-san puts into every dish.
I loved every course from appetizer to dessert. Each dish had unique flavors and textures, creating a wonderful culinary journey throughout the meal. Ingredients were innovative such as the wasabi yogurt that wrapped thinly around the trout in one of the entrées. Hommage was my first French-Japanese restaurant I tried in Japan, and I credit it to making me fall in love with the category.
Reservations can be made online and are not difficult to book. Prices vary depending on how many courses you choose. I felt very full after the 5-course menu for dinner. Lunch options are also available at lower price points. Overall, the restaurant delivers great value given the quality of food and I look forward to returning in the future.