Tokyo Oden Guide: Must-Try Shops and the Charm of Japan's Winter Dish

Nov 21. 2025Topics

Tokyo Oden Guide: Must-Try Shops and the Charm of Japan's Winter Dish

1. What is Oden（おでん）? -- A Friendly Guide for Visitors

Oden is a traditional Japanese hot pot-style simmered dish (nabemono 鍋物).
Various ingredients--called tane--are slowly simmered in a delicate dashi broth made from kombu (kelp), katsuobushi (bonito flakes), soy sauce, mirin and salt.
Common ingredients include: daikon radish, boiled eggs, konnyaku, chikuwa, hanpen, and other fish cakes.

The dish is often enjoyed with karashi, a type of Japanese mustard that adds a spicy kick.

Oden is especially popular during the winter season, and today you can find it everywhere--from traditional street stalls and izakaya pubs to convenience stores.

Historical Background

Oden originally comes from a dish called miso dengaku, where tofu or konnyaku was grilled on skewers and topped with miso paste. Later, simmered versions appeared and evolved into the oden we know today.

The name "oden（おでん）" is believed to come from "o-dengaku,（お田楽）" shortened over time.

Regional Variations

Styles differ across Japan.
Tokyo's version typically uses a light soy sauce broth with strong fish-based umami.
Shizuoka oden uses a darker broth and ingredients often come on skewers.

2.Why Oden Is Great for Visitors

Gentle, comforting flavors
A wide variety of textures and ingredients in one pot
A deep expression of Japanese food culture through dashi, seasonality, and regional differences

3. English-Friendly & Visitor-Friendly Oden Shops (by Area)

Here are restaurants with English menus, English-friendly booking systems, or strong recommendations for foreign visitors.

Restaurant	Area	Why It's Visitor-Friendly	Link
Asakusa Oden Otafuku	Asakusa	Featured on GoTokyo; reservations available in English.	https://www.tablecheck.com/en/asakusa-otafuku
Kayanoya Dashi Oden	Tokyo Midtown	Stylish, modern, and well-presented with English site support.	https://www.kayanoya.com/en/shop/dashioden/
Choi Oden (Shinjuku)	Shinjuku	Creative toppings and English-accessible reservation pages.	https://www.tablecheck.com/id/choioden-shinjuku
Godaigo Shinjuku NS Building	Shinjuku	Kyoto-style broth; English menu available on Gurunavi.	https://gurunavi.com/en/g030242/mn/menu1/1/rst/
Ippei Nihombashi	Nihombashi	Traditional yet accessible, with English menu online.	https://gurunavi.com/en/g087101/rst/