Picture choosen by: Mr.Aadu Sye Wake up Your Taste Bud in Tokyo Cuisine in Tokyo is internationally acclaimed. In November 2007, Michelin released their guide for fine dining in Tokyo, garnering 191 stars in total, or about twice as many as its nearest competitor, Paris.

Some special restaurants are stated as following:

@Home Café
Wanna walk on the wild side of Tokyo's fetish for kawaii (cuteness)? Try being served coffee by girls dressed as French maids! You'll be welcomed as go-master the minute you barge into this café. The anime-esque staff, decked out in Victorian pinafores, is drowning in kawaii ; titillating, perhaps, but it's no sex joint. Maid cafés are where Akihabara's otaku (geeks) get their kicks. Dishes like curried rice are even topped with smiley faces.

Akiyoshi
If in the mood for yakitori, Akiyoshi is an approachable, ebullient place to partake. The open grill at centre stage ignites a festive, sociable space. The chefs work quickly to help move traffic along, but that doesn't mean you can't sit comfortably through several small courses and at least one conversation. There is no English menu, though ordering is simple with the picture menu.

Asakusa Imahan
It's fitting that the original branch of Imahan, the city's most famous chain of shabu-shabu restaurants, is located at the heart of Shitamachi. While sitting at low tables on the tatami mats, you can get happy on sake while letting your meat and seasonal vegetables simmer away. Although it's certainly an expensive affair, a meal at Imahan is the most dignified way to enjoy this much-revered Japanese culinary treat.

Asterix
Lunch at Asterix is a smashing deal, but dinner has its own merits - not as rushed, so you can linger over your wine while you mull the meal that is pleasantly dulling your senses just so. Portions here are large, but the dining room is petite, so reservations are advised. The menu is in French but not English, which may or may not make things easier on you.

Barbacoa Steakhouse
True, the speciality at this Brazilian-style steakhouse is the slab of steak, but Barbacoa also makes a kind concession to herbivores with its all-you-can-eat salad bar. This place also gets a great view of the bay and bridge.

Beer Bar Bitter
This backstreet restaurant in Kagurazaka can be tough to find (hint - look up!), though like all hidden establishments, it is certainly worth the effort. In addition to the standard Japanese pub offerings, Bitter has a number of traditional European staples on the menu including steamed mussels and shepherd's pie, though don't let these culinary concoctions distract you from the impressive Belgian beer menu.

Ben's Cafe
Local Waseda students and expats come to Ben's to quell cravings for bagels or Belgian beer - or just to chill. The patio out front is a good place to sip wine and watch life amble by on warm evenings. Ben's also hosts poetry readings and art exhibitions by local artists, and it has wi-fi access.

Birdland
Commanding legions of yakitori -loving followers, Birdland is something of a destination for anyone in need of some seriously gourmet grilled chicken. Although yakitori comes in all shapes, sizes, colours and organs, you won't have a difficult time ordering here - simply choose from one of several set courses and experience first-hand how many different ways there are to cook up a bird.

Chalet Swiss Mini
Somehow this odd little school and café works. Nestled among the temples and shrines on a hill in Shitamachi, which was spared of the bombing during the war, it looks just like a Swiss chalet on a Hollywood movie set. It serves, not surprisingly, very good fondue, pastries and sandwiches, often to children who are just being let out of class upstairs.

China Room
Located inside the world-famous Grand Hyatt Tokyo at Roppongi Hills, the China Room offers the most lavish and refined Chinese cuisine in the capital. From perfectly roasted Peking duck and fragrant shark-fin soup to rare oolong teas and handcrafted dumplings, the China Room is a feast for the senses that never fails to disappoint. In addition to widely known culinary classics, the China Room also offers rare Japanese seafood delicacies such as Niigata snow crab and Hokkaido uni (sea urchin roe).

Coucagno
Few restaurants in Tokyo can claim more stunning views than the highly praised Coucagno, which occupies the 40th floor of the Cerulean Tower, one of the most dramatic buildings in both Shibuya and Tokyo. From such lofty heights, the Shibuya street scene looks as if it's populated by tiny ants, though attention quickly shifts to the food once the chef gets going. As you'd expect, everything from the delicate sauces drizzled across your roast duck to the perfect crust atop your creme brulee is indeed a class act.

Daiba Little Hong Kong
Among the quirky attractions of Odaiba is this kooky replica of the Hong Kong streets, complete with a recorded soundtrack of simulated street noise, neon signs, souvenir shops and restaurants slinging dumplings and yum cha .

Daiwa Sushi
Lines are pretty much unavoidable at Tsukiji's best and most famous sushi bar, but once you're past the curtains and your first piece of sushi hits the counter, gratification is inevitable. Unless you're comfortable ordering in Japanese, the chef's sushi sets are a good bet, which can easily be ordered by simply pointing at the picture menu. Though the staff may be too polite to say so, you're expected to eat and run so others can partake in this quintessential Tsukiji experience.