DEN is owned by celebrity chef Zaiyu Hasegawa, who learned the tricks of the culinary trade by working alongside his mother who just so happened to be a geisha in a ryōtei-style restaurant (a type of high-end restaurant). Wanting to breathe new life into traditional-style kaiseki (multi-course) dining, Hasegawa opened the restaurant when he was 29. In its relatively short lifetime, it has garnered a reputation for being one of Asia’s best dining experiences.

Den earned two Michelin stars for its modern seasonal creations, which rely on local farm produce without pesticides or chemicals. Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa is renowned for his cheeky, umami-rich inventions. Be delighted by a rainbow salad (made from around 20 types of vegetables, including a smiley-faced carrot), and “Dentucky Fried Chicken” (wings with black sticky rice and goji berries, served in a red and white KFC-style box).

The MICHELIN Service Award, supported by Mitsui Fudosan, is awarded to Emi Hasegawa from restaurant Den. Emi Hasegawa unites together the service team and acts as a bridge between diners and the kitchen. She is committed to providing a personalized service to guests, and sometimes even chefs and cooks join in the service and enjoy the food.

Zaiyu Hasegawa, the head chef of Den, is known for his tongue-in-cheek approach to Japan’s haute cuisine, kaiseki. The restaurant’s signature dish is Dentucky Fried Chicken, which even comes served in a KFC-replica box. Hasegawa puts a local spin on typical takeout-style chicken, combining it with rice and shiso before it’s deep-fried.

At Den, the traditional multi-course Japanese dinner that highlights the current season’s bounty gets a modern spin thanks to chef Zaiyu Hasegawa’s creative mind and whimsical personality with signatures like the Dentucky fried chicken, where a wing is cradled in a paper box reminiscent of a certain fast food colonel, and a 20-vegetable salad topped off with an emoji-fied carrot. Sushi lovers should also make a reservation at Sushi Kourin, a celebrated establishment that offers both omakase and à la carte nigiri. But if you're searching for some of the best pork cutlets in the city, head over to Tonkatsu.jp, where the cuts have been carefully selected from small farmers all across the country and are then double fried by chef Daisuke Masugi for some of the most tender morsels you’ll ever come across.

Den in Tokyo has two Michelin stars and is a mainstay on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa serves a modern, playful take on traditional kaiseki cuisine, with dishes like the signature "Dentucky Fried Chicken" (stuffed chicken wings served in a take-away box), Japanese carbonara made with asparagus, egg, and dashi, a savory cappuccino served in a Starbucks mug, and the famous Den salad topped with a smiley-face shaped carrot slice. The team at Den is unmatched when it comes to hospitality, making guests instantly feel part of the Den family.

While some miss the quiet intimacy of Den’s original location (a two-story house in the off-the-beaten-track neighbourhood of Jimbocho), no one can resist the convivial charm of its new digs in central Tokyo. “I wanted to create a more family-like atmosphere, where everyone can be together,” says chef-patron Zaiyu Hasegawa of the new location. The open-plan kitchen remains the same, but instead of an eight-seat counter, there’s a long, wooden table that can seat 12 – maybe more – as well as a couple of small tables.

Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa’s innovative dishes at Den all come with a humorous touch – you might find “ants” and emoji icons made from carrot in your salad. Seasonal kaiseki courses are designed to surprise; don’t miss the “Dentucky Fried Chicken”, which comes boxed up like fast food but stuffed with hazelnuts and mushrooms. It’s food as delicious entertainment.2-3-18 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo; +81 3 6455 5433

Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa's ingenuity and intent to make diners smile is paramount. Playful presentation is supported with technically savvy skills to create modern kaiseki, the style of Japanese cuisine involving a series of small, intricate dishes. Having made its debut in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2016 at No.37, it reaches No.2 in 2018, winning the title of The Best Restaurant in Japan.

Established in the year 2015, Den has been a Japanese restaurant with a difference. The chef and owner of the restaurant Zaiyu Hasegawa welcome his guests with a playful and warm personality. He took Japanese traditional kaiseki cuisine and some series of intricate dishes, known for their wealth of rules and formal approach and reinvented it into ‘fun dining’ for the visitors.

Best Tokyo restaurant for: Modern Japanese with a cosy atmosphere. Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa of the globally renowned Den takes an innovative twist to traditional Japanese cuisine. He believes his role is to act as a messenger between producers and diners, communicating the dedication and respect of farmers and fishermen for their ingredients.

Looking for restaurants in Japan that does kaiseki with a twist?. Den in Gaienmae, Tokyo is the restaurant for you. In fact, this creative establishment has been awarded 2 Michelin stars for its concept of taking “home cooking” to a whole new level with dishes such as Den Tacky where chicken wings are stuffed with steamed rice.

3 letters, 2 Michelin stars, 1 Michelin green clover, and the #1 Best Restaurant in Asia according to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Run the numbers any way you wish: Den will all but disappoint. We’re also willing to bet that Den is one of the few Michelin starred restaurants in Tokyo with their own chihuahua mascot.

If you're hunting for a truly gourmet experience in Tokyo, Den stands as a beacon of modern Japanese food. This Michelin-starred restaurant offers an epicurean adventure that's not just about the food but also the warm hospitality and the element of surprise. Every visit here feels like a discovery.

Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingūmae, 2-chōme−3−１８ 建築家会館ＪＩＡ館. Den is a Michelin-starred, modern kaiseki restaurant in Tokyo led by Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa. It’s known for a warm, relaxed atmosphere and playful details that bring a fresh spin to traditional Japanese cooking.

Den Tokyo is a top-notch restaurant located in the lively Jingumae district of Tokyo, inside the beautiful JIA Kan building. It's the perfect spot for an unforgettable dining adventure. Why we love it: Den Tokyo stands out for its ideal location and unique vibe.

A few restaurants I have on my future dining list are Narisawa in Minami Aoyama, L’Effervessence in Nishi Azabu, Den in Shibuya, and Florilège in Harajuku. In my next life, I’d like to be a food inspector for the Michelin Guides.

The buzziest restaurants – such as three Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant Sazenka or two-starred kaiseki restaurant Den – are frequently booked out months in advance.

den (傳) is kind of along the lines of kaiseki, though with a modern, World’s 50 Best vibe. It’s tough to reserve, but most people can get in with a bit of planning.

Led by owner-chef Zaiyu Hasegawa, Den is the first Japanese restaurant to claim the top spot since Narisawa took first place in 2013.