4 Restaurants in Tokyo to Put Your Stomach to the Test!
- Published on : 26/10/2026
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Wanko Soba
@mitaku on Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
Working up an appetite? In Tokyo, some restaurants don’t just serve hearty meals—they challenge their customers to finish them in record time! The prize? A free meal—or even a reward. Ready to give it a try? The Japan Experience team presents four spots in the capital where you can put your stomach to the test.
Yataiya Hakatagekijō Nishi-Shinjuku: 100 gyoza in an hour
Inspired by yatai, Fukuoka’s iconic street food stalls, this chain of izakaya offers casual cuisine in a lively atmosphere. In Nishi-Shinjuku, the challenge is a tough one:to devour 100 gyoza (about 1.5 kg of Japanese dumplings) in one hour!
According to the announced terms, successful participants will receive a free meal, as well as a voucher entitling them to two free plates of gyoza for life. However, if you give up or exceed the time limit, you’ll have to pay 5,130 yen for the 100 dumplings. The atmosphere is electric, as participants are introduced to the other diners and their performances are announced over the microphone. It’s enough to turn dinner into a real show!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ADDRESS: 160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 7-10-10
HOURS: Daily, from 4:00 p.m. to midnight
Yataiya Hakatagekijō
@tabelog, promotional image of the restaurant
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Steak House Ribera: A Major Challenge for Meat Lovers
With its generous steaks and a clientele of wrestling fans,Steak House Ribera is a well-known spot among meat lovers. Here, the challenge is aimed at those with the heartiest appetites: three servings, each consisting of a 500-gram steak and 500 grams of rice, to be finished in under 30 minutes.
According to the originally announced rules, participants who finish all three plates within the allotted time receive a free meal and win 10,000 yen. For everyone else, the bill comes to 10,500 yen.
So it’s best to come on an empty stomach, and don’t underestimate the mountain of rice that comes with the steaks!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ADDRESS: 153-0064 Tokyo, Meguro City, Shimomeguro, 6-17-20 Shimomeguro Mansion
HOURS: Wednesday through Sunday, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Ribera Steak House
@Tabelog
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Fun with Wanko Soba: Kurukuru Wanko, the Conveyor-Belt Noodles
In Shinjuku, traditional wanko soba, those small portions of buckwheat noodles originating from Iwate Prefecture, are the perfect setting for a challenge that’s as delicious as it is unusual. At Amusement Wanko Soba Kurukuru Wanko, forget about the server rushing to fill your bowl: the portions arrive on a conveyor belt, ready to be devoured!
How does it work? Eat as many bowls as possible in 40 minutes, in a lively atmosphere where everyone is trying to beat their own record. The hungriest diners can even aim for the symbolic 100-bowl mark and have their name added to the wall of champions.
A fun experience that puts a new spin on traditions. The question is, will your stomach be able to keep up?
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ADDRESS: 160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1-22-9 J・Gold Build., 5th Floor
HOURS: Daily, 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Kurukuru Wanko
@kurukuruwanko.com
Densetsu no Sutadon Ya: A kilo of sutadon in 20 minutes
You don’t need to start with several kilos of food to get a taste of Japanese culinary challenges. At Densetsu no Sutadon Ya, everything revolves around sutadon, a specialty consisting of rice topped with pork belly marinated in soy sauce and served with a raw egg.
The challenge is to finish a 1-kg bowl in 20 minutes, containing 600 g of rice and 400 g of meat. The dish costs 880 yen, and participants who succeed receive a 200-yen bonus. It’s a great way to take on an XXL challenge without diving straight into a mountain of steaks or ravioli!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ADDRESS:1-15-13 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023.
HOURS: Daily, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sutadonya
@sutadonya.com
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