Our dinner at DEN in Tokyo was truly one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life. From the first moment, you feel that this place is different. It is world-class fine dining, yet there is warmth, humor and personality everywhere. The atmosphere is elegant but never stiff. You immediately feel welcome. Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa is not only an exceptional chef, but also an incredible host. His energy, his smile and the way he interacts with guests create something very special. You can feel that he genuinely loves what he does. The famous smiling salad is much more than just a playful dish. It represents the philosophy of DEN — serious technique combined with joy. Behind the humor lies incredible precision, balance and respect for ingredients. Every course showed refinement, harmony and deep understanding of Japanese tradition, yet with a modern and creative touch. The quality of the products, the presentation and especially the balance of flavors were outstanding. As someone who works in the culinary world myself, I can truly say this is mastery on the highest level. Not only technically, but emotionally. DEN is not just a restaurant. It is an experience that stays with you and I am a former Chef myself... Highly recommended — if you can get a reservation.
5.0Nam Truong· 7 months ago
Den is such a unique experience. It has the friendliest and most caring staff. The owner/chef and his wife are so personable, and we love their dog, who hangs out in the restaurant, also, but doesn’t make his appearance till close. Our family of four did the tasting menu with wine pairing. From the time of arrival, the staff are getting to know you and cooking for you and choosing the wines like they were your personal staff at home. The starter of a cracker sandwich with foie gras and couple of puréed vegetables was such a delicious surprise. This was followed by various soup and fish courses. The not your KFC fried chicken was terrific and also a nice surprise. There was an incredible 20 item salad and a very nice rice course before dessert. Each course was very unique and beautifully presented but the most memorable part of this experience was the exceptional quality of service. i would highly recommend Den!!
5.0Michael Chan· 8 months ago
I concur with all the previous reviews that my dining experience at Den was extremely unique as I felt like dining at a friend’s house! The staff was very attentive and friendly, which made the whole dining experience more enjoyable. The food was delicious and tasty as the chef chose to use the best local produce. All the dishes were well presented, and I particularly enjoyed the DFC (Den Fried Chicken) and the vegetable dish! I would definitely try to dine at Den again, when I next visit Tokyo! Thank you Team Den for the wonderful dining experience!
5.0Season Yeung· 7 months ago
ok, this place was fun. the vibe was chill and unpretentious and the set menu is the perfect amount of food. the service was a little… intense sometimes. if you stand up to go to the bathroom the server yells for you to sit down while she checks which happened a few times (small bladder :s). this kinda ruined the vibe but if you can hold it the id definitely recommend. i found the meal to be quite affordable for what you get too.
5.0Alexander Brown· 7 months ago