Ro's Recz

Address: Japan, 〒107-6245 Tokyo, Minato City, Akasaka, 9 Chome−7−1 東京ミッドタウン 45F

The Ritz Carlton in Tokyo Midtown is one of the nicest hotels in the world, and it also is home to an amazing restaurant on the 45th floor. The restaurant is called Hinokizaka, and it is a 1-Michelin star restaurant (apparently the only Japanese hotel restaurant to earn this).

Hinokizaka is a bit of an interesting restaurant, as it has four separate dining options which are kaiseki, sushi, tempura, and teppanyaki. I have tried the tempura and the teppanyaki, but I have yet to try the other two.

The teppanyaki at Hinokizaka is my personal favorite so far. Teppanyaki is basically grilling meat on a hot plate, most often beef. Hinokizaka uses some of the best beef in the world, as most of the cuts are either some sort of Kobe or Wagyu beef. The chefs then cook the beef right in front of your table before serving it freshly on your plate.

I have tried many teppanyaki places in Japan, but none are better than Hinokizaka in my opinion. In addition to having great food, Hinokizaka also has great views of the city since it is situated near the top of the Ritz. If you are ever looking for a great, ultra-fancy restaurant in Tokyo, Hinokizaka would be near the top of my list (also is great since it has a variety of dining options!).

Hinokizaka Recommendation Rating: 5

This post has now been updated to reflect a new ratings system that I have implemented, which is scored as follows:

1: Something worth checking out if you have time

2: Something that is a hit for some people, but not a must for everyone

3: Something worth prioritizing if interested

4: Something worth making time to check out

5: An absolute home run, worth going out of your way for