CENSU TOKYO

Location: Google Maps
Tags: Food, Design, Architecture

If you find yourself near the Olympic Stadium and you’re looking for a place that feels quietly cool — like somewhere you’d want to discover on a trip but only hear about from someone who’s already been — then CENSU Tokyo should absolutely be on your radar.

It’s tucked away in a quiet corner of Jingumae, maybe a 10-minute walk from the stadium, but once you’re inside, it feels like you’ve stepped into a kind of secret city retreat. The design hits that perfect Tokyo balance — warm wood, clean lines, a touch of industrial edge, but still cozy. There’s an open kitchen on the ground floor that pulls you right into the action, and upstairs there’s terrace seating lit by soft paper lanterns that makes you want to settle in and stay a while.

Now, the food? This is where it gets really interesting. CENSU calls itself a “modern izakaya,” but it’s not your average grilled-skewers-and-beer kind of place. The chef — Fumiyuki Kinsu — has this background in French fine dining, and you can feel that influence, but everything still stays grounded in Japanese flavors. One of the standout dishes is a spring roll that tastes like a cheeseburger (yes, really), and somehow, it works so well. They also do this deep-fried chicken with chili peppers that’s got this addictive, smoky heat. It’s familiar, but with a twist that makes you stop mid-bite.

The drink list is great too — lots of craft sake options, including some that are exclusive to the restaurant. The staff are super friendly and happy to help if you’re not sure what to try (don’t be afraid to ask — they’re passionate and really know their stuff).

CENSU has that quiet confidence I love in a place — not flashy, not trying too hard, just doing what it does really well. It’s stylish without being pretentious, lively without being loud. If you’re in Tokyo and want a night that feels local, thoughtful, and a little unexpected — this is the place.