煉瓦亭(中央区) Rengatei (Chuo-ku) Ginza / Western-style food, omu-rice, meat dishes Founded in 1895, this is a long-established restaurant in Ginza that is said to be the originator of various Western-style dishes. lunch:¥1,000~¥1,999 dinner:¥2,000~¥2,999 Official website |
It is said that Japanese Western-style food has evolved from Western cuisine to its current form.
The oldest of the old, the pioneer of Western-style food, is located in Ginza.
For this reason, we will introduce “Rengatei”, which is said to be the birthplace of many Western-style food menus.
Please check the official website and Google Maps below for opening hours, holidays, reviews, etc.
This is the restaurant where omu-rice and hashed beef rice were first served.
Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of research into long-established Western-style restaurants, and just like Taimeiken, which I’ve introduced on a separate page, I’ve always wanted to visit Rengatei in Ginza, but I’ve never managed to make it there.
After all, it is said to be the originator of Japanese Western-style restaurants, and the birthplace of many Western-style dishes that have now become staples, including omu-rice and hashed beef with rice.
I finally got around to visiting, and headed straight to the restaurant with the aim of trying one of Rengatei’s signature dishes, omu-rice.
A famous restaurant supported by many celebrities
Before I went there, I looked at Google Maps and saw that it was a high-class restaurant, but even so, I thought I could probably get an omu-rice for around 1000 yen.
I went in at around 12:40 on a weekday afternoon, and the restaurant was almost full.
When I looked at the menu, I saw that the omu-rice was 2400 yen, making it the most expensive omu-rice I’ve ever had in my life (as of September 2022).
I wondered what was different about this omu-rice from the usual kind, but I think the biggest difference is the rice inside.
It’s not the kind of rice you’d expect to find in a chicken rice dish, but rather risotto-style rice.
As you’d expect from the restaurant that invented omu-rice, it’s clearly different from the usual kind.
The atmosphere of the restaurant, which exudes a sense of tradition, made me feel like I was eating a real omu-rice.
In addition to being loved by many cultural figures, Rengatei is also famous for being the restaurant where Prime Minister Kishida invited President Yun Suk-yol of South Korea, and it is a restaurant where you can be sure to get authentic Western food.
About “Rengatei
Rengatei is a pioneering Western-style restaurant that was established in 1895 (Meiji 28).
In addition to being known as the birthplace of pork cutlets, fried oysters, omu-rice and hashed beef and rice (there are various theories), it is also known as the birthplace of shredded cabbage and rice served in a bowl, and it was the first restaurant in Japan to be called a Western-style restaurant.
It is known as a representative Western-style restaurant in Japan, and it is visited by many customers from all over the country and overseas.
It is also known as a restaurant loved by the writer Shotaro Ikenami, and it is a restaurant that Western-style food lovers should visit at least once.
Access, reviews
You can check the access to “Rengatei”, opening hours, regular holidays, reviews, etc. from the Google Map (click to enlarge) below.