Gonpachi

Dominating the Nishi-Azabu crossing like a feudal Japanese castle, Gonpachi was supposedly an inspiration for the film Kill Bill. Sit at rustic wooden tables or in private booths and sup on simple country-style cooking, such as yakitori, grilled pork or soba. The waiters dress in folksy happi coats and traditional festival music plays over the speakers. The separate third-floor sushi restaurant is more sophisticated, in both atmosphere and food, and has an open-air terrace. When George W Bush was in town, this is where then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took him.