Best brunch in Tokyo

It’s not often you find a restaurant in Tokyo which churns out dependable southern American-style fried chicken, waffles and other cajun favourites. This is where the cosy and friendly Soul Food House comes in. Serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, this restaurant is the perfect place to get your chicken and waffle fix along with Creole-inspired sandwiches, mac and cheese, salads and more. Order the ultimate chicken and waffles, which comes supersized with bacon and fried egg, all drizzled in maple syrup.

The perfect hangout before or after a day out in Yoyogi Park, Path serves breakfast and brunch – including their famous, super-fluffy dutch pancake  – from 8am to 2pm. Get there early to secure a seat and wait around 30 minutes for this oven-baked deliciousness, topped with uncured ham, burrata and copious amounts of maple syrup. And we do mean early: its popularity means that there may be a small queue before the 8am opening. 

Attached to the trendy Trunk Hotel, Trunk Kitchen spins out meals from breakfast to dinner, but their weekend brunch is a particular highlight. The nutritionally-balanced brunch menu has a good mix of French and American flavours, with items such as eggs, hummus, veggie burritos and Thai style grilled chicken. The restaurant also offers a traditional Japanese-style breakfast set consisting of one soup and three side dishes.

Go for the Original Benedict if you're a egg purist, or switch it up with the AM Eggcellent Benedict (aka the Half & Half) which comes with avocado, raw tuna and quinoa rice instead of an English muffin. If your sweet tooth is an early riser too, head straight for the pancakes served with peanut cream, whipped butter, jam or maple syrup, or even the ones topped with coconut sauce, macadamia nuts and roasted coconut flakes. At Eggcellent you're in for an all-round delicious breakfast eggsperience (sorry, we couldn't resist).

This LA-born café and restaurant is best known for its organic coffee, bubble tea (they call it 'boba') smoothies and classic comforting food such as sandwiches and fluffy pancakes topped with seasonal ingredients. This Tokyo outpost also offers a range of Instagram-worthy desserts including the towering Urth waffle bon bon and frosty granita.

Ivy Place opens daily at 7am, when early risers can have a breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs and free-flowing coffee on the patio facing Tsutaya Books. If you prefer a morning lie-in instead, stop by later in the day when the larger restaurant area opens up, serving an eclectic menu of international fusion food including flatbread pizzas, seafood linguine, grilled swordfish and domestic filet steak. The two outdoor terraces are the best place to sit when the weather's good – and be sure to try some of the in-house TY Harbor microbrew beer. If you're there for the pancakes, make sure you place an order before 5pm.

Occupying the top floor of the new Ginza landmark Okura House, Australian breakfast supremo Bill Granger's sixth Japanese branch offers not only tried-and-tested Bills staples such as ricotta pancakes, organic scrambled eggs and flat white coffee, but also afternoon tea, dinner and a takeout menu. This Ginza outlet features an extra-long marble bar counter plus a large selection of spirits; what's missing is the lazy surf atmosphere.

On clear days, the terrace outside Grand Hyatt's main brasserie teems with activity. The restaurant offers an all-day dining menu along with buffet and dinner options. If you're looking for a long brunch session over the weekends or on public holidays, go for the brunch buffet which comes with a free-flow champagne option. Cheers to that.  

One of the many Bubby's outposts in Tokyo, this brunch spot is a safe choice for a reliable selection of Western comfort food – think eggs Benedict, burgers and pancakes – that is available until late in the evening. Bubby's Kichijoji is also family-friendly, with a kids' menu and high chairs available.