東京 芝 とうふ屋うかい

Tofuya Ukai offers a culinary experience that transcends mere dining; it's a journey into the heart of Japanese elegance and hospitality. Nestled at the foot of Tokyo Tower, this culinary haven immerses you in the ambiance of old Edo from the moment you step through its gates.

From the meticulously crafted homemade tofu to the succulent botan prawn and spring vegetables, each dish tells a story of tradition and innovation. The deep-fried tofu with miso is a revelation, offering a perfect balance of textures and flavors. The "Tataki" premium wagyu roast beef melts in your mouth, a testament to the chef's skill and dedication to quality.

The "Nabe" hot pot dish is a celebration of simplicity and sophistication, with deep-fried tofu and bamboo shoots taking center stage. Simmered soft abalone and asparagus with abalone liver butter sauce elevate the humble ingredients to new heights of indulgence.

The seasonal dessert selection, featuring options like matcha parfait or soy milk blanc-manger, provides a fitting conclusion to the culinary journey, leaving a lingering sense of satisfaction.

But Tofuya Ukai offers more than just exceptional cuisine. Its sprawling Japanese garden and traditional Sukiya-style private rooms create an atmosphere of tranquility and refinement, transporting you to a bygone era. The attentive service and warm hospitality further enhance the experience, ensuring that every moment spent here is truly unforgettable.

Ukai's philosophy of hospitality, rooted in a deep respect for tradition and a commitment to excellence, shines through in every aspect of the dining experience. It's not just a restaurant; it's a world unto itself, where the beauty of Japanese architecture meets the artistry of culinary craftsmanship. Tofuya Ukai is a testament to the timeless appeal of Japanese cuisine and hospitality, a place where every visit is a celebration of life's simple pleasures.

My wife's dear friends who live in Japan picked us up at our hotel and took us to the Tokyo Tower (as we'd never been there) and then to lunch at a place adjacent to the tower, Tofuya Ukai. Japan continues to amaze me; how can there be an ocean of tranquility next to one of the major attractions in Tokyo? Unless you knew of its existence, you'd bypass a treasure.

While we waited for our appointed time, we toured the grounds and marveled at the gardens, ponds, trees ... we were transported back in time to a quieter place, a quieter time. We were shown to a private room overlooking the gardens and feasted on a multi-course lunch ... I consider it to be the finest meal I had in three weeks in Japan.

We began with Sakihassun, an appetizer tray with mashed tofu and chrysanthemum salad, chestnut, gingko nut, sweet potato, scallop with crispy brown rice, boiled shrimp sushi, and grilled and simmered sweetfish seasoned with sansho pepper. All I could say was "sublime".

Next up was the best tofu dish I've ever had ... deep-fried tofu with miso. We'd seen a chef preparing this as we walked the grounds ... How can something so simple be so good?

Next was assorted sashimi of the day.

The fourth course was a dish of simmered eggplant and herring. I love eggplant and herring so this disappeared in seconds.

The fifth course was not a favorite of our host ... Tofu in warm konbu seaweed soup. I liked it but one has to be accustomed to slimy foods ... it brought memories of natto, which I love.

Next was a dish of deep-fried trout with vinegared vegetables. I was full but the food was so good I couldn't stop.

At last, a rice dish ... steamed rice with seasonal mushrooms. Such a simple dish, such complex flavors.

Finally, a poached pear in sugar and white wine syrup ... paired with ocha, it was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. Domo arigato Ichiko-san and John-san. You are too kind!

If you're in Tokyo and can secure a reservation, you will not be disappointed. Tofuya Ukai ... perfection!

Nice locate food and services
Cross the street from the social media hot photo spots !

I love love love this place. What's not to love when you're being served delicious foods of the season in a nice private room with a view of a very pretty Japanese garden. I got the 8 course vegetarian lunch meal. By the end, I needed someone to roll me out. LoL. (Yes, they have non vegetarian meals as well.)

-Peanut Tofu, Radish Pickles, Lily Bulb Tempura, Vegetable Sushi
-Deep Fried Tofu with Miso
-Yuba Sashimi
-Baked Yam Potato
-Tofu in Seasoned Soy Milk Served Warm
-Vegetable Tempura
-Steamed Rice with Sweet Potato & Ginko Nut
-Persimmon & Azuki Beans

Everything was so delicious. It's one place that I would like to go to each time I visit Japan. The lunch is about $150 per person, which is better than dinner which can run at least $250 per person.

Absolutely, a fantastic place in the middle of Tokyo. It is a beautiful place. You never imagine such a place exit next to Tokyo Tower. The evening gives a great light up to the garden and the Tokyo Tower. The food is very good. They give you a variety of Tofu-based dishes. some of you may say, it is tofu. But, I can guarantee that you will enjoy the food. It may not be the best of the best but it is above average (four out of five). I absolutely use this to bring guests from foreign countries.

I never thought I could love tofu so much!

Tokyo Shiba Tofu-ya ukai is a true authentic Japanese dining experience! It's best to go with a local for translation purposes.

The service is impeccable, the dishes served here was amongst the finest Japanese food that I have ever had. The outside garden was beautiful as well as the Japanese architecture. It felt like I traveled back in time to the early Edo period, with the giant Tokyo tower in the back ground to bring me back to the present.

You have to try the Tofu build in a hot pot of season soy milk and the deep fried tofu coated with miso.

My strongest suggestion is to just go with what your host or server suggests for you. No matter what you have here it will be good and you will leave here with memories that will last for your whole life.

Ok, so this is one of those places that you are going to spend a pretty penny. My husband made a reservation and it's a set menu. The entire dining experience was probably about 2 hours, so just make sure you set enough time for this place.

Out of all the dishes we had, the things that stood out the most were the deep fried tofu, fried eggplant & wild duck, and the charcoal-grilled beef. Everything else was delicious as well, but if I had to choose those were the winners.

The first dish was an appetizer with a few bite size pieces. The corn tempura was really good, crunchy, flaky, and not too oily at all. The deep friend tofu had an excellent texture, perfect amount of miso flavor spread over the tofu for each bite. I honestly normally do not care for eggplant, but there eggplant was prepared so well. I believe it must have been grilled. The outside of the eggplant was covered with sauce but there were varying textures of it, crispier on the outside and soft in the inside. It was sweet. I wish there was more duck, but the duck was tender. However, I think the real winner that night was the charcoal-grilled beef. It was perfectly cooked and seared to a medium rare. With just the right amount of seasoning to just melt right in your mouth.

Overall it was a great experience, you do have to take off your shoes when you are in dining area, so if you are a bit conscious about that, just make sure you clean your feet before you go. :)

We were advised that reservations were needed so we made them before we left for Tokyo. (When I called I was pleased that they spoke English and they had no trouble understanding the type of room we desired) Perhaps because it was a weekday lunch we probably would have been seated without a reservation anyway. So if you want to chance it, going for lunch might be your best bet in getting a table. We were very glad we were able to experience a meal there.
The women were elegantly dressed in kimono something I remember in the tea houses or Canlis that were on Oahu many years ago. There are 55 private rooms, each with a view of a Japanese garden. There were three types of rooms that we were able to choose from, Western, traditional (the one where you sit on the floor) and the one we chose - a recessed floor for your legs.
We had read other views and thought the two hour period to eat lunch was an exaggeration, it wasn't. We ordered a Take and two Matsu. The difference between the two is slight. The grade of sashimi was a bit better in the Matsu and the Matsu comes with an additional course of trout. The group had to decide what type of tofu soup we wanted because we all had to have the same course, either tofu in soy milk or tofu in seaweed soup. We chose the latter.
While my son thought the dishes that featured tofu were exceptional, as I guess it should be when tofu is in part of your name. The first course was my favorite, the one I ate slowly and savored every bite. It was described as sesame tofu with dashing and wasabi. It looked like a light brown tofu but it tasted like sesame mochi. I love mochi and because of its similarity to it, I loved this dish. Everything was wonderful but nine courses were too much (and I didn't eat a few dishes - sashimi, chilled soup,part of the trout and the hijiki rice) and I was stuffed.
Yes, it was a bit pricey but for the quality and perhaps the quantity, the amount of time we spent it was well worth it and we would do it again.

Pretty good food at high prices. It one of the most beautiful restaurants in Tokyo. Worth going just to see the buildings and gardens. I often take out-of-town visitors. One would never expect to see such a huge restaurant (including the gardens) at the foot of Tokyo Tower or anywhere in central Tokyo

another memorable dining experience in tokyo, one that we will never forget!

my friend had recommended that we go to tofuya ukai, so i immediately made a resv for the restaurant as soon as the resv opened up.

located at the base of the tokyo tower, tofuya ukai is a beautiful secret zen garden tucked away in the hustle bustle of tokyo that creates the perfect setting for lunch. you'll feel like you've traveled back in time to the edo period with kimono wearing staff and long hallways of tatami floored rooms.

we were greeted at the entrance of the restaurant, given a tour of the restaurant, then eventually guided to our private dining room upstairs, overlooking the central garden where the fried tofu "hut" was.

our lunch consisted of 8-courses ranging in a variety of appetizers, sashimi, soup, and rice. each with delicate flavors, beautiful presentation, and perfect portions.

service was impeccable. each dish was timed perfectly. we didn't feel like we were rushed, or waiting for our next dish. we had some time to breathe before moving on to our next dish.

after your meal you're free to roam around the restaurant grounds and soak in the views the restaurant has to offer.

price point is absolutely reasonable considering the number of courses, quality of food, service, and obviously location.

would totally come back again!