HOPPERS

Situated halfway between Nihombashi and Kayabacho stations, Hoppers is a restaurant serving “new Sri Lankan cuisine” by the Sumida River. The sister shop of the popular restaurant Spice Cafe — a longtime favorite of Tokyoites looking for their curry fix — is named after the traditional Sri Lankan bowl-shaped crepe-like pancake, which is naturally a popular side order at the restaurant, traditionally topped with an egg and dhal. Owner and chef Kazuhiro Ito spent his young adulthood traveling around the world, covering a staggering 48 countries in just three and a half years, and cultivating a deep and enduring love for spices — particularly those of Sri Lanka. Though Spice Cafe opened in 2003, it took 12 years for it to earn a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Hoppers, on the other hand, took just three: from the start of its operations in 2021, it made entry into the Michelin Guide Tokyo as a Bib Gourmand recipient in January 2024. The Michelin Bib Gourmand is given only to those restaurants that are delicious and affordable in equal measure: Hoppers’ Spice Cafe heritage ensures the former, but its lunches solidify the latter condition as well, with a staggering nine side dishes and a free flow of rice, all for under 2,000 yen before tax (as of the time of writing). Michelin Guide: 2024 - Bib Gourmand