Gonpachi Nishiazabu - Kill Bill Tokyo Restaurant

You may never have stepped foot in this restaurant, but there’s a good chance you know it well. That’s because it featured in the most iconic scene in Quentin Tarantino’s martial arts action fest Kill Bill. That’s why, in common parlance, it’s just known as “The Kill Bill Restaurant.” Yes, this is the classic-style izakaya gastropub where The Bride fought a whole gang of yakuza in one of the bloodiest, craziest, most bombastically enjoyable fight scenes in cinema history. Thankfully they’ve cleaned up all the fake blood. In reality, the Kill Bill Tokyo restaurant is actually a fantastic gourmet playground for international visitors to Japan, located in the Nishiazabu entertainment district, where you can try a huge range of traditional Japanese foods, along with a great range of alcohol. They also offer some inventive fusion dishes like avocado and camembert tempura For fans of the film, describing the layout is pointless — it’s firmly locked in their memory. But for the rest of you, it’s good to know that it’s a huge high-roofed space, with a wide open dining area and a mezzanine balcony running around the perimeter. The Kill Bill Tokyo restaurant’s film fame means that they accommodate for all sorts of dietary requirements not common in Japan. There’s a vegan menu, and a Halal-friendly menu available with minimum 3 days advance notice. A meal here ticks so many boxes — at once a top gourmet, traditional, and pop culture experience. Just take it easy on the sake; nobody wants to see you recreate your favorite movie stunts (without the wires or stuntmen).