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The best Dojo Nabe in Tokyo

Also spelt dojonabe, dozeu, dozeu nabe and yanagawa nabe. A curated shortlist, shaped by your votes.

Editorial picks

Selected from published food guides and local reporting. How the list works

  1. Number 1.Komagata Dozeu (Asakusa honten)

    Komagata, two minutes from Asakusa Station Asakusa and Ueno

    Open
    11am to 8.30pm; a few scattered closed days each month
    Where
    1-7-12 Komagata, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0043

    Two centuries in, the whole-loach dozeu nabe still arrives on a flat iron pan with a mountain of scallions. Check the month's closure list on the website before you go, and expect a queue at eleven.

    What to orderDozeu nabe, whole loach under a heap of scallions

    0 votes

  2. Number 2.Dozeu Iidaya

    Nishi-Asakusa, off Kappabashi Asakusa and Ueno

    Open
    11.30am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 9pm, shut Wednesdays
    Where
    3-3-2 Nishi-Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo

    Behind Kappabashi, a Meiji-era loach house that has kept the same broth. Ask for the dozeu nabe and keep adding scallions. It shuts on Wednesdays, and QR payments are not accepted.

    What to orderDozeu nabe, or the honenuki version

    0 votes

  3. Number 3.Ryogoku Dozeu Kikyoya

    Ryogoku, by the west end of Ryogoku Bridge Tokyo Station, Nihonbashi and Kanda

    Open
    11am to 2pm and 4.30pm to 9pm, shut Sun and holidays
    Where
    1-13-15 Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

    The youngest of the loach houses, family-run beside Ryogoku Bridge since 1933. Maru nabe is the one to order, whole fish, soft bones. During January, May and September sumo, it opens evenings only from five.

    What to orderMaru nabe, the whole loach pot at 1,400 yen

    0 votes

  4. Dozeu Hirai

    Honjo-Azumabashi, across the bridge from Asakusa Asakusa and Ueno

    Open
    11.30am to 2pm and 5pm to 9.30pm, shut Sundays
    Where
    1-7-8 Azumabashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

    Cross Azumabashi and you are at a counter run by an elderly couple, burdock already under the loach. Get the maru nabe. Sundays are dark, the room is tiny, so telephone first.

    What to orderMaru dozeu nabe, with the split-loach tempura alongside

    0 votes

  5. Mimasuya

    Kanda-Tsukasamachi, three minutes from Awajicho Tokyo Station, Nihonbashi and Kanda

    Open
    11.30am to 1.30pm and 5pm to 10.30pm, shut Sun
    Where
    2-15-2 Kanda-Tsukasamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

    Open since 1905, this Kanda tavern trades on loach and horse sashimi. Order the yanagawa nabe, egg over burdock. Sundays and holidays are shut, and without a booking you queue before opening.

    What to orderYanagawa nabe, loach and burdock finished with egg

    0 votes

  6. Nyorosuke Tonanya Asakusa (formerly Tatsumiya)

    Asakusa, on Kannon-dori a minute from the station Asakusa and Ueno

    Open
    11am to 9.30pm daily, last orders 8.30pm
    Where
    1-33-5 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo

    Once Tatsumiya, the Asakusa place people meant when they said loach. Eel now leads the menu, so ask plainly for the dozeu yanagawa nabe. Open daily, which makes it the fallback when the specialists close.

    What to orderDozeu yanagawa nabe, egg over loach and burdock

    0 votes

  7. Dozeu Daimon

    Nishiarai, three minutes from Daishimae Station Asakusa and Ueno

    Open
    5pm to 11pm, shut Sundays
    Where
    1-7-1 Nishiarai, Adachi-ku, Tokyo 123-0841

    A drinking shop near Nishiarai Daishi rather than a temple-front tea house, and its own billing calls the dozeu yanagawa the speciality. Evenings only, closed Sundays, and it is small enough to warrant a call.

    What to orderDozeu yanagawa, the house speciality

    0 votes

  8. Sanyu (Monzen-nakacho)

    Monzen-nakacho, a minute from the station Tsukiji, Tsukishima and Toyosu

    Open
    5pm to 9:30pm, shut Sundays
    Where
    1-7-5 Monzen-nakacho, Koto-ku, Tokyo

    Neighbourhood fugu shop where the lunchtime loach, simmered whole or done yanagawa style, costs a few hundred yen. Nobody publishes the hours, so ring before you cross town, and do not expect ceremony.

    What to orderDojo yanagawa nabe at lunch, or the maru-ni

    0 votes

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