Late Night Dining in Shinjuku?

[wired2theworld]

My husband and I are going on our first trip to Japan in April. Our flight arrives at Narita at 7:15 PM on a Saturday night so I figure we probably won't be checked into our hotel, the Tokyo Hilton in Shinjuku, until around 10pm.

I'm sure we're going to want to go out and get some food. I don't know anything about the area around the hotel and was hoping someone could recommend something within walking distance.

We're looking for something inexpensive and easy for our first jetlagged meal; maybe a good bowl of ramen, or...?
I'm open to all suggestions, and still trying to learn about the food and culture of Japan, so forgive me for not knowing exactly what I want in advance.

[wired2theworld]

Wow, maybe I should have looked at this when I was in Japan, but I just got back yesterday. Wish I'd known about Kuromon.But we had a fantastic time anyway.
Our first night we walked around the hotel and there was not much open at all by 10 PM so indeed, we ended up at Denny's. But yes, the menu was 100% Japanese (no Grand Slams there!) and we each had a bowl of ramen and a beer and called it a night. Not bad.
Once we learned the different areas around the station, we found plenty of other options, but that first night we were tired and clueless, so it was hard to figure it all out.
When I recover from my jet lag, I'll return with a dining report on another thread, but in general we ate nothing but Japanese food for 8 days and loved almost every meal. We didn't do any high end dining but ate in plenty of small local places and really enjoyed ourselves. Very happy not to have cancelled our trip.

[sasicka]

When I was there in 2009, there was a pretty nice restaurant in one of the buildings between the Shinjuku municipal building and the Hilton, on the 49th floor. Was it the Sumimoto building? In any case, they were open until late (I think 11pm) and they had good food with amazing views and traditional seating on the tatami next to the windows. Sorry, I don't remember the name any more.

[Robb S]

Restaurants in the Sumitomo Building take their last order at 10:30pm at the latest, which is cutting it pretty close for someone checking into their hotel at 10pm.

[sasicka]

Yes, that's true, but I think that OP is a bit pessimistic about the time it takes to get from the airport to Shinjuku. I had a similar flight in 2009 and I was sitting on the 49th floor of Sumimoto by 9:45.... Just wanted to get the OP some tips very close to her hotel, if she arrives early enough. Also, I felt it was a great introduction to Tokyo and Shinjuku, the awsome view from the 49th floor big windows :-) it felt like being on the set of Blade Runner or 5th Element :-)

Edit: Now I look at the original post, I guess my comment was too late and the OP is already in Japan. Sorry.

[Robb S]

Well it's also a good suggestion for any other night that someone is staying at the Hilton. BTW Kuu is probably the place on the 49th floor you went to (last order 10pm). I also really like Yuian on the 52nd floor (last order 10:30pm).

[sasicka]

yes, Kuu is probably the place, it seems to be, but I don't remember the name. We actually quite liked the food and they had decent cocktails as well (compared to the Japanese standard).

[Uncle Yabai]

Sumimoto? Wasn't that the name of the Japanese archvillain in Austin Power's Goldmember?

[davidenemy]

I live next to the Hilton.

There's a really nice Italian/French place called Fungo opened till 2-3 am down the hill, if you go further down, you'll hit the 24h McDonald's (in case you are desperate for a teriyaki burger!) and then a few "gyudon" places open all night.

There's a big supermarket and a denny's on the way down the hill, also opened 24h (before the fungo)

The Denny's is 100% Japanese other than the name.

ps.I think that Kuromon shop is a bit far.

goo.gl/f9HFk
A is the Hilton, B is the Fungo, in the middle is the super market, you can see the D for Denny's and if you go further down there's some activity at all hours.

[Ninisix]

Sorry, different hotel on the plot, do it differently with maps :

Map access to the hotel Hilton :
http://hiltonjapan.ehotel-reserve.com/hilton-tokyo/access-guide/index.html

Map access to the ramen shop Kuromon 
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a079000/map/

[wired2theworld]

Still planning on going to Japan, in about 2 weeks, so I thought I'd bump this up in case anyone else had some recommendations.

[Robb S]

You should definitely ask your hotel to double-check the hours of places you want to go, as some restaurants are closing a bit earlier at the moment, while others are keeping their regular hours.

[Ninisix]

The ramen Kuromon is near your hotel and is open until 22:00 PM. Their specialities is ''tsukemen'', noodles are to deep on the sauce. There is one or two side dish like yuzu roast chiken, ..
It is not a the best one, but for the 1st night you can share the dishes as japanese do.
http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130...
Hope you will enjoy it

[Robb S]

The OP is checking into the hotel at 10pm. The restaurant you recommended closes at 10pm. How is 10pm "late-night dining"?

[Silverjay]

Anyway, as you suggested, better to go to other side of Shinjuku Station. Kabukicho has many places open late- especially ramen. There's also a newer branch of Uoshin, a good seafood izakaya, that is open late and just east of the station.

[Ninisix]

wow, how to survive they're first ? Some second hand knowledge are needed in Shinjuku, don't you think so ?
I will make a call tomorrow to check at what time is the last order, usually there are open until 22:30.

[Ninisix]

So now that I can confirm this Ramen Shop Kuromon is open until 23:30(last order), I have to do a more thick description:
the tsukemen- soba are their speciality(an advice : share it), there is also some usual ramen, yuzukosho sauted chiken, springroots, sake,
beer.. And it is located on a corner 20-30 meters from your hotel.
It might be a good shortcut for the first night off.
Hope you will e

[Robb S]

Oh, that actually is helpful. It sounds good!

[Robb S]

Unfortunately that side of Shinjuku station isn't the greatest for late-night dining. Watami (http://www.bento.com/rev/3200.html ) is one of the few places in the immediate vicinity that's open late.

If you don't mind walking a bit farther (976 meters from the Hilton), Daidaiya is open until midnight (last order) and has very good, creative food. (http://www.bento.com/rev/0322.html )

[wired2theworld]

Thanks for the advice. I'll check them out.

Anyone else?