Nasu House (茄子屋) is a cozy late-night yakitori and grill in Jing’an, specializing in charcoal-grilled chicken.

Kingichi is a single-counter ramen shop near East Nanjing Road that does clean-tasting tonkotsu-based ramen soups and a fantastic pork cutlet.

Butanchu Ramen is a small ramen shop in Shanghai that specializes in Hakata-style broth — thick, rich, and porky.

Shichiton is a ramen shop in Shanghai that does truly massive bowls of thick, wavy noodles. Jiro-style ramen.

Shichiton is a ramen shop in Shanghai that does truly massive bowls of thick, wavy noodles. Jiro-style ramen.

Sobamichi is a Japanese restaurant in Shanghai that specializes in soba noodles. Established in 2015, this humble shop prides itself on authentic soba, imported directly from Japan.

Noya is a Japanese restaurant that does a set menu with sukiyaki as the main course. High-marbled beef alongside sushi and sashimi.

Uni Shushi is an intimate 12-seater Japanese omakase restaurant brought to you by Sun-San of Ochiyo fame. High quality sushi at ¥498 or ¥698.

Tokyo Ichimi is a standing soba noodle shop in Shanghai serving soulful bowls of noodles with tempura toppings. Excellent soba in a robust broth at ¥29 a bowl.

Sushi Ren is a Japanese restaurant that does shabu shabu, sukiyaki, and sushi. Good Tokyo-style sukiyaki and fantastic sushi but at a premium.

Motoya is a Japanese restaurant that specializes in Kanto-style sukiyaki. Superb meat quality and value for money.

Atelier Izakaya is a Japanese restaurant serving up creative izakaya bites, yakitori, dishes with Asian-inspired flavors, and cocktails.