Ekiben: Save time without sacrificing quality
You have already probably heard of bento boxes. These are on-the-go packed meals that are very common in Japan among students, workers, and pretty much anyone who is having a meal outside.

They are so popular that different cities and prefectures have also their own specialty versions of them.

Well there are also bento boxes sold exclusively in train stations. These are called ekiben (from the word eki (station) and bento). Tokyo station offers a wide variety of them, from all kinds of fish to a bunch of choices of meat.

The meals are not only delicious but they also often come in cute, or even artistic packages that make buying them even more worthwhile.

Ramen Street: There's much more than you think!
Ramen is probably one of the most famous Japanese dishes around the world. Outside of the country, though, there appear to be few choices and eating ramen too often could end up being boring for most.

But there are a lot of varieties, flavors, and ingredients, that can make ramen a unique flavorful experience every time you eat a bowl, and Tokyo Station has them all in its renowned Ramen Street.

This section of the station is just what you would imagine it to be. Filled with ramen restaurants of all kinds, here you can try rich pork or fish broth ramen, dipping noodles, beef, soy sauce, or salt ramen. For those among you with a more adventurous palate, it's worth trying beef tongue ramen, tonkotsu ramen, and much more.
The list of restaurants and dishes is quite long, but rest assured there are choices that range from the very classic to the very edgy and avantgarde. Most of the restaurants take orders from a machine, making selecting your choice easier also for those who are not too comfortable with speaking Japanese.

Japan Gourmet Street: Nation-wide food tour within a city block
It would be nice to travel during one vacation to all the places in Japan we'd like to visit, but for most people it's just impossible. We would love to see all the landmarks, enjoy all the sights, and, let's face it, taste all the local delicacies.

Well, at least when it comes to the food, if you want to enjoy local dishes that can hardly be found outside of their place of origin, all you have to do is stroll down Nippon Gourmet Kaido (Japan Gourmet Street).

Opened in 2017 within the Ichibangai shopping complex in Tokyo Station, this new street boasts restaurants serving authentic specialties from all over Japan.

You can try the Hiroshima okonomiyaki (Hiroshima-yaki - since ever the great rival of the more mainstream Kansai Okonomiyaki), or a traditional nabe (hot pot) from Kyushu, or dumplings from Yokohama's Chinatown.

If you're in the mood for shrimp, take a seat at Toyama Shiroebitei, the so-called "Jewel of Toyama Bay" and try the region's specialty white shrimp. If you're in the mood for sushi, you'll have a hard time finding something better than sushi from Hokkaido, served in Tokyo Station at Sushi Bar Tachigui Sushi Kantaro.

Fruit Parlor Kajitsuen: Fruit cakes to die for
A good food tour cannot lack a fruit and cake café.
Fruit Parlor Kajitsuen is one of the most popular in the whole of Tokyo and it's not hard to see why.

This restaurant specializes in cakes, and especially fruit cakes, offering a wide variety of delicate sweets offered in generous portions.

Particularly in high demand is their strawberry cake prepared with rich and flavorful Fukuoka strawberries (it's worth noting that this prefecture is renowned across the country for its strawberries).

The café is located by the Yaesu North exit, in "Kitchen Street" in the station.

Brasserie Paul Bocuse Daimaru: A taste of Europe
While Tokyo Station is a hub of national food, it also offers more than just a few choices of international food. One notable example is Brasserie Paul Bocuse, restaurant opened by the famous chef and serving authentic French food for all palates, ages and wallets.

Breeze of Tokyo: Where Tokyo meets Paris
Since we are talking about French cuisine, visitors who love flavors from central Europe, but don't want to miss on the beauty of Tokyo, can rejoice in eating in Breeze of Tokyo. This restaurant offers meals prepared exclusively with seasonal ingredients (the menu changes every three months), which you can enjoy while also gazing at a spectacular view of Tokyo's skyline from the Marunouchi Building, just by Tokyo Station.

AWKitchen Tokyo: Fresh Italian dining
In the Shin-Marunouchi Building by the station, you'll find AWKitchen, and Italian restaurant which specializes in vegetables and which prides itself in serving only extremely fresh produce, delivered daily from dozens of individual farmers from all over the country.
While vegetables are the specialty of the restaurant, this dinery has also a lot more to offer, from traditional Italian dishes, to more experimental Japanese-Italian fusion ones.

La Mere Poulard: A staple dish for a satisfying gourmet experience
Some of you may be familiar with the centenary restaurant La Mere Poulard located on Mont Saint Michel (France).
A world-famous eatery, this restaurant is particularly well known for its staple delicate melt-in-your-mouth soufflé omelet. The original restaurant sits on the French World Heritage Site, but you can find its branch also by Tokyo Station, without missing on any bit of the restaurant's dishes' authentic flavor.

Café 1894: A step back in time
Café 1894 is located in the Mitsubishi Ichigokan art Museum, and its décor follows the original architecture of the building erected in 1894. Once a bank, the setting will remind you of a nicely lit and cozy noir movie. The architecture remained faithful to its original design, but the comfort is definitely 21st century.
The café offers also different dishes and drinks in tone with the temporary exhibitions in the museum, making the experience ever-changing and interesting.
Enjoy your meals and the atmosphere in a very "play it again Sam" background.

Roji Nihonbashi: When gourmet meets canned food
All good things come to an end and so will your fantastic trip to Japan, but there's always that last struggle and dilemma of what to take back home as a souvenir that is interesting, original, but also that can bring back memories.
And we all know that food brings back the best memories. Japan is often full of unique innovations and trends, and one of those is gourmet canned food.
Roji Nihonbashi is where you'll find an enormous variety of it.
We often associate canned food with cheap, often not-so-tasty looking stuff, but at Roji Nihonbashi that is not the case.
Here you'll find canned food for all tastes, dietary restrictions, and quirks, perfect to enjoy meals at home, on the go, or to bring back home to surprise and maybe have a laugh with your family and friends.

Japan is famous for its food, and Tokyo is the capital of Japanese cuisine from high-end to hole in the wall local food. Here you'll find all sorts of dishes from all over the country and the world, but if you don't feel like going hunting for your favorite restaurant in what is the largest metropolis in the world, just go visit the many Tokyo Station restaurants and enjoy Tokyo Station food.

We gave you a list to start from, but go out, explore, and enjoy! You'll start planning your next trip back to Japan as soon as you get on your flight back home.