If you’re craving proper Italian food without the fuss or fanfare, a casual neighborhood restaurant fits the bill. A good choice is Northern Italian restaurant Emilia in Jingumae.
Emilia - image © Florentyna Leow
Jingumae is a largely quiet and residential area, but it’s also home to some charming local restaurants. A good one to check out for lunch or dinner if you’re in nearby Harajuku is Emilia, which specializes in Northern Italian cuisine. Prix-fixe lunch options start at JPY1100, which is quite a steal for food of this quality in central Tokyo. The JPY2800 course is a little more expensive than average, but worth it nonetheless.
Emilia - image © Florentyna Leow
Like many restaurants in Japan worth their salt, they do indeed pay attention to the details here. The pasta is freshly made on the premises every day, the main courses (like roast squab or venison in autumn) are exquisitely cooked, and there’s a lot of thought given to the quality of produce, whether it’s local or from regional Japan. The only real gripe here might be dessert: it’s all delicious, but distressingly dainty.
Emilia - image © Florentyna Leow
At the end of the day, however, all this is secondary to how convivial and relaxed it feels to dine there, especially with friends. A meal at Emilia won’t change your life, but you’ll enjoy it - and that’s much more than you can say for many restaurants.
English name:
Emilia
Japanese name:
エミリア
English address:
2-25-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0005
Japanese address:
〒150-0005 東京都渋谷区神宮前2-25-4
Opening hours:
11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Closed Tuesday
Price:
Non-smoking section:
Yes
Reservations:
Possible
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 10-minute walk from exit A3 of Kokuritsu-kyogijo Station on the Toei Oedo line.
Telephone:
+81-3-3402-5517
Website:
Official website (Japanese)
Customer Reviews:
:: Read customer reviews of Emilia on TripAdvisor.
Near To Here:
Emilia is located in Tokyo's Harajuku And Aoyama district. See our complete list of things to do in Harajuku And Aoyama, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
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