Hobo Shinjuku Norengai

Ten-seat 24-hour ramen shack on the 2nd floor of a Golden Gai shanty, famous for sugoi niboshi ramen — a pungent broth boiled 12 hours from 20-plus types of dried fish — that helped kick off Japan's niboshi-ramen boom.

Set-menu sushi dining in a compact, low-key venue tucked away on an alley near Tsukiji Market.

Nostalgic 50-plus-year-old Ryogoku institution serving thick, chewy pan-fried gyoza with vegetable-heavy filling, plus a shoyu-miso Bandai ramen, in a Chinese diner setting.

Compact outfit with counter seats & a low-key vibe offering creative noodle soup options.