Masters/Fine Dining Restaurant/Den

Den

No.53 World's 50 Best 2025 — elite chef

Fine Dining RestaurantFine DiningJapanWorld's 50 Best

Veronica's Take

Den, the Tokyo restaurant that has just cracked the World's 50 Best list at No.53, is chef Zaiyu Hasegawa's audacious twist on Japan's revered kaiseki tradition. Hasegawa, who has earned two Michelin stars for his boundary-pushing cuisine, fuses high-end technique with playful nods—from Japanese home cooking to fast food favorites—all while preserving the elegance and precision of kaiseki. And yes, the experience is made even more unforgettable by the restaurant's charming mascot, Puchi Jr, who often greets departing guests with a wagging tail. This is kaiseki like you've never seen it: refined, inventive, and irresistibly warm.

denrestaurant Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa’s iconic restaurant is unlike any other in Japan: creative, contemporary, accessible and welcoming whatever the season. Drawing on his training in kaiseki (Japan’s elegant multi-course cuisine), Hasegawa’s menus incorporate a diverse range of influences from Japanese home cooking to fast food favourites, plus nuances gleaned from his frequent overseas travels and collaborations. As you leave, don’t be surprised if the Hasegawas’ faithful canine mascot, Puchi Jr, appears to bid you sayonara.

Accolade

List: World's 50 Best Restaurants · Rank: 53 · Year: 2025

Key Facts

The people behind Den

Zaiyu Hasegawa

profile

Chef & Owner, Den

Zaiyu Hasegawa is the chef and owner of Den, an innovative kaiseki restaurant in Tokyo, Japan. Den has been awarded two Michelin stars and is known for its creative reinterpretation of traditional Japanese cuisine. It is ranked on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.