Hantei

It is possible to have bad food in Japan I was beginning to think it wasn’t. Then I went to Hantei. Hantei makes much of being a listed historic building. Unfortunately, it seems to have mistaken being old for being attractive. Inside, we were seated in a tired, drab room with not a single ornamen...t, picture or decorative object to distract from the fact that the place is desperately in need of redecoration. Perhaps the lack of decoration is part of the heritage experience. If so, they have certainly committed to it. We ordered the ¥7,000 set menu: 12 skewers, appetisers, a rice dish and dessert. The appetisers consisted of raw vegetables, a carrot purée with all the culinary excitement of baby food, and a couple of slices of pork. None had any discernible flavour. Then came the skewers. Twelve of them. And, remarkably, every single one managed to be both greasy and bland. This takes a certain consistency of vision. The rice dish followed, apparently determined not to break with tradition. The pumpkin dessert was perfectly edible, which by this stage felt like an achievement. I mentioned our disappointment to the waitress. Her response was that perhaps we simply didn’t appreciate it because it was Japanese food. This was particularly impressive. I eat a great deal of Japanese food and have done for years. The problem here wasn’t that I failed to understand some subtle Japanese culinary aesthetic. Bland, greasy food is bland and greasy in any culture. I then spoke to the manager, who kindly removed the cost of our beer and sake from the bill and said he would speak to the kitchen. I hope he does. Although judging by what emerged from it, I suspect the kitchen has already quietly resigned. The waitress actually seemed to understand our complaint, which made the whole experience rather more depressing. The manager, on the other hand, appeared entirely untroubled by the possibility that his restaurant had just served us the worst meals we have had in Japan, and probably ever. Hantei seems to be trading almost entirely on the fact that it occupies a historic building. The building may have heritage value. The food certainly doesn’t. A tourist trap wrapped in architectural heritage, serving food that appears to have been prepared by people who have forgotten why they are there. If you’re visiting Tokyo, there are thousands of places where your ¥7,000 will buy you a genuinely memorable meal. This is not one of them.

Visited October 2026

Wonderful authentic creative dinner in nezu. Located in a beautiful old restored house the food is interesting, fresh creative and totally Japanese. Staff attentive and accommodating. Could recommend it highly enough.

Visited May 2025

Love this place and try to visit every time I'm n Tokyo. For a while it was closed but was pleasantly surprised when it re-opened. The lunch menu revolves around kushiage which is different items cooked on short sticks. Please note its not a few pieces on a long stick like a kebab. Each item comes o...n its own small stick. For a basic lunch course its 8 pieces along with some refined small starters and with pudding to finish. It just across the road from Nezu Station so quite easy to find and the staff speak English

Visited November 2019

Value

Service

Food

A surprise to find such an old house in Tokyo with an excellent restaurant. On the Thursday evening of our visit they only served their famous skewers menu. In four rounds you will receive different skewers made from special ingredients such as mini crabs or shellfish. Very tasty but maybe at a cert...ain point something more substantial is wished for. The atmosphere is great and a definitely a special experience.

Visited October 2019

This is a delightful restaurant in an charming old building in a residential area. Our lunch was fabulous - a set menu with dish after dish of beautifully balanced and carefully prepared food. Everything was excellent and quite delicious. Lunch is particularly good value. The staff were very welcomi...ng and friendly. Could not recommend this restaurant more highly.

Visited September 2018