Chanko Kawasaki

Founded in 1937 by a sumo wrestling great of the era, this sumo cuisine restaurant in Ryogoku offers a real protein-packed hit of history. Yokoteyama-san was the founder, and a well-known wrestler in his day. The sign of his restaurant shows the chubby face of a beaming sumo wrestler, presumably looking down upon a pot of their simmering chanko nabe hotpot. Here you can try this famous dish, as well as some of the other sumo cuisine that Yokoteyama and other sumo wrestlers used to bulk up to their enormous sizes, before wandering off to explore Tokyo’s fascinating sumo district. Their chanko nabe is totally authentic, largely unchanged since the days when the founder used to chow down gigantic portions. You can enjoy a smaller bowl, of course, unless you’re looking to make a run at the sushi championship belt yourself. They also offer a good range of beer and sake, including a cedar-cask-aged variety, drawn from the rope-encircled cask in the middle of the restaurant. None of this will break the bank, which is why Chanko Kawasaki is even listed in the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand restaurant, meaning it is incredibly good value for money.