Dining at the Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT)
By Beverly Johnson
Obviously Japanese food is going to be good at Tokyo Narita but how good can it be? Well maybe the best restaurant at any airport in the world good!
There are several dining options at Tokyo Narita Airport that you can choose from. In this review I am going to give you an idea of places worth your time and money. Yes new places pop up and some go away so take into account that this review was written in December of 2015.
Sushi Kyotatsu: Near Gate 34 in Terminal 1 of Tokyo’s Narita Airport is a magical place called Sushi Kyotatsu—the best airport restaurant in the world. It’s not just good-for-an-airport good, it’s good-for-Tokyo good. The best meal I had on my trip to China last year? Sushi Kyotatsu on the way home: super-fresh fish, frosty mugs of Sapporo, friendly waiters, and skilled chefs—everything you’ve come not to expect from airport food.
Café & Bar Avion, The fare at this international café with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the runway ranges from American-style hamburgers to a bowl of udon (or Japanese wheat) noodles with fried shrimp. Not hungry? Try a 12-year-old Suntory Yamazaki, an excellent Japanese single malt whiskey.
Sushiden: At the airport outpost of this popular Japanese sushi chain—there are more than 60 locations throughout the country—you’ll have a front-row seat at a marble counter as the chef prepares fresh sushi rolls, such as tuna nigiri made with fish from the Tsukiji Fish Market.
Tave Ciao: Comprising just a few booths and stools, this restaurant may be short on old-school Italian charm but the dishes deliver; choose from thin-crust margherita pizza, pepperoncini pasta with red pepper flakes, and Japanese-style spaghetti topped with native shimeji mushrooms.
West Park Café Express: More of a take-out stand than a café, this “American-style” operation is the ideal spot for grabbing a quick bite or refreshment—pure beef hot dogs, beer, muffins, and coffee—on the go.
MochiCream: The polished shop puts a twist on traditional Japanese mochi (glutinous rice cakes) by injecting them with fluffy cream, along with the standard red bean paste. Try offbeat favors such as blueberry or caramel pudding.
Jitsuen Teuchi Udon Kineya: This brightly lit, open-air space filled with wooden tables dishes up traditional Japanese specialties such as dashi jouyu udon, noodles served cold with lemon, grated daikon (white radish), and sliced leek. Sit at the long counter that stretches along the window for runway views.
Thai Restaurant Jai Thai: Savor the refined cuisine of one of Thailand’s top chefs in the restaurant’s laid-back setting. Take away menu also available. Check out the Tom yam kung soup, special Vietnamese style spring rolls and fried shrimp cakes.
Ramen Kagetsu Arashi: Arashi is a popular ramen noodle shop all over Japan. The secret to its popularity is soup created from large portions of pork back fat stewed slowly over a low flame. Try it once and you will be hooked. The best item on the menu, I think, is the Ramen Noodles with garlic cloves.
