My comprehensive “Ikebukuro with Kids” walks families through sightseeing, rainy day activities and well as handy tips like where to buy diapers and baby food etc.
But if you are looking for family friendly dining options in Ikebukuro – see my list here. I edit and add to this list often.
BREAKFAST IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS
Komeda’s Coffee, Ikebukuro Seibu Mae branch has the most reasonably priced western style breakfast in the area, in my opinion.
It is 1 min walk from Ikebukuro Station Exit 40. Breakfast is served from 7am-11am. It is a simple breakfast plate with bread and jam (or just butter) a hard boiled egg and a small salad and around 600 yen. See pictures of the Komeda’s Coffee breakfast menu here.
They are also a fabulous kid-friendly option for lunch and dinner.
They accept most major credit cards. They are a walk-in only spot.
There are several Komeda’s Coffee in Ikebukuro but this one and the Higashi-Ikebukuro are the only options I’m aware of that have a kids plate. See pictures of the Komeda’s Coffee kids plate here. All meals (adults and kids) are under 1000 yen.
My kids also love the desserts here.
The food menu here is mostly fried chicken, pasta, frankfurter sausages, burgers and pasta.
KOMEDA COFFEE, IKEBUKURO SEIBU MAE STORE
南池袋1-19-6 オリックス池袋ビル 2F
2ND FLOOR, ORIX IKEBUKURO BUILDING, 1-19-6 MINAMI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN 7AM-11PM
There is another Komeda Coffee in Higashi (East) Ikebukuro too. They have a change table in their toilets.
DENNY’S JAPAN
If you’re looking to start the day with a western-style breakfast, I recommend heading to Denny’s. Denny’s Ikebukuro Meiji-Dori is 4 mins walk from Ikebukuro Station. Open 6am-11pm.
Denny’s Japan (note, not the same as Denny’s in the US.).
They have a low common allergens menu. There is a change table in the toilets here. No bookings. Walk-in only. They accept most major credit cards.
See the full Denny’s Japan menu here. Please note, if you are vegan, that Denny’s in Japan do have a zero meat hamburger steak (like a vegan rissole – for the fellow aussies.)
MCDONALDS FOR BREAKFAST
If you are looking for a McDonald’s breakfast in Ikebukuro, I recommend walking 8 mins from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station to the Sushine City Alta shopping complex. The McDonalds on the basement floor here is open from 8:15am.
LUNCH IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: DORIA, HAMBURGER STEAKS, OMURICE
KOBE MOTOMACHI DORIA, IKEBUKURO
Just 1 min walk from the Seibu South Exit of Ikebukuro Station is a department store called Lumine (there is another in Shinjuku that you may have already seen.) They sell clothing and accessories but also have a restaurant floor. On that floor you’ll find many family-friendly restaurants.
I, in particular, like Kobe Motomachi Doria. As you can guess from the name, it’s brand from Kobe – specializes in Yoshoku (which is retro Japanified “western” dining options. These include hamburger steaks on hot plates, omurice and doria. Doria, if you’re not familiar, kind of looks like a shallow lasagna but is a bit more like a rice casserole. The bottom layer is rice and then another layer of protein such as meat or shrimp etc and veg and then the top layer is bechamel sauce and cheese. It’s really really yummy. Comfort food, for sure. Although Japanese people don’t call this “Japanese food” – I sure do. It often appears on the weekly dinner menu in the homes of Japanese people too.
This restaurant is on the 8th floor of Lumine. It is a walk-in only restaurant (no reservations.). The restaurant sits 60 people though so I would just wait if the restaurant is full. I would budget approx 2000 yen for an adult meal here. You can see pictures of the full Kobe Motomachi Doria Ikebukuro menu here. The full allergen menu list for Kobe Motomatchi Doria is here.
They accept most major credit cards. Children are most welcome here. There is a kids menu – see pictures of the options here. They are so cute. Kids meals are for children 10 years old and younger. Each meal comes with either orange or apple juice.
They are also on Uber Eats. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
The menu is also displayed as wax models outside the shop so it’s super easy to see what you’ll be getting (and point at them to order.)
KOBE MOTOMACHI DORIA, IKEBUKURO
豊島市西池袋1-11-1 ルミネ池袋店8F
8TH FLOOR, LUMINE IKEBUKURO, 1-11-1 NISHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: TGI FRIDAYS
If you’re after American style burgers for lunch or dinner, TGI Fridays is fine 7 mins walk from Sunshine City or 4 mins walk from Ikebukuro Station. TGI Fridays accept most major credit cards and they also accept reservations. Booth seating is available -which is always handy when dining with little children. For an adult meal I would budget 2000 yen for lunch and around 3000 yen for dinner. The kids burger plate is 495 yen and comes with fries and a small fruit plate.
TGI FRIDAYS IKEBUKURO
東池袋1-21-13 aune池袋2F
2ND FLOOR, AUNE IKEBUKURO BUILDING, 1-21-13 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN 11:30AM-11PM
TGI FRIDAYS IKEBUKURO WEBSITE
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: INDIAN-THAI FUSION
If you’re craving Indian-Thai fusion cuisine while in this area, I recommend visiting Kanyam.
They have a menu in English. There is also a vegetarian menu and a kids plate ( includes a nan, a non-spicy/slightly sweet curry, a soft drink and a dessert.)
They also serve fries here.
They have the space to store a stroller while you dine.
This restaurant is 7 mins walk from Otsuka Station. 6 mins walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station.
I would budget 2000 yen per adult to dine here. They accept most major credit cards.
I recommend the cheesy nann.
KANYAM
東池袋4-41-22 渡辺ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR 4-41-22 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN 11AM-11PM
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: SUSHI TRAIN FOR LUNCH
Kura Sushi is located at the eastern gate of Ikebukuro Station, known as the Higashi Ikebukuro Branch ( Open 11am-11pm daily) and also within the Sunshine City complex ( Open 11am – midnight daily). Both accept most major credit cards, offer takeout, kids welcome, completely non-smoking restaurants.
The Kura Sushi Ikebukuro Menu can be found here. I’d expect to pay approximately 1500 yen per adult in total for a decent lunch or dinner. Sushi train chain Kurasushi have a list of all of their food with common allergens here.
(Kurasushi is great when dining with kids and there are lots of cooked non-raw sushi options but if you really love sushi you may be a little disappointed with the raw-fish quality / some have found that the fish meat is a bit frozen in the middle. See here for my tips on what to do in Japan if your kids like to eat westernized versions of sushi or california rolls etc.)
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: YAKINIKU
Yakiniku Champion, Ikebukuro welcomes children and babies. They are in a building connected to Ikebukuro Station so are very easy to get to.
Yakiniku is Korean barbecue where you cook your own thinly sliced meat and vegetables on the grill at your table.
For lunch I would budget for 2000 yen per person while at dinner I would expect to pay more like 6000 yen. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards.
They have an English menu and another menu that points out common allergens in certain dishes and sauces.
This restaurant has high chairs and a place to store strollers.
YAKINIKU CHAMPION, IKEBUKURO
豊島区西池袋1-1-25 東武百貨店池袋店 レストラン街スパイス 14F
14F TOBU DEPARTMENT STORE’S RESTAURANT FLOOR IN THE SPICE SECTION, 1-1-25 NISHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-10PM
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: HAMBURGER STEAKS (WITH GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS)
6 mins from Ikebukuro Station, East Exit is a hamburger/steak grill restaurant called “Bikkuri Donkey”. The name always makes me laugh as it literally translates to “Surprise Donkey” but the interior is quirky ( kind of like dining inside “Western River Railroad” at Disneyland.). It’s a casual restaurant and lots of families dine here.
The cuisine is “hamburger steaks served on mini hot plates.”
They have a cute kids menu .
It’s a great place for grease and fries if that’s what you’re craving.
The restaurant allows smoking in certain parts of the restaurant at certain times of day. They have a kids menu and they have high chairs.
There is one gluten free hamburger steak option at this restaurant too. I would budget around 1500 yen per adult to dine here.
In the morning, they also offer a breakfast plate with eggs and toast and bacon for approximately 1000 yen.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. They also take reservations and walk-ins.
Some Bikkuri Donkey branches have also introduced a vegan soy hamburger steak (served with rice.) It’s usually on the menu down near the kids menu section.
BIKKURI DONKEY IKEBUKURO
豊島区東池袋1-21-11 オーク池袋ビル B1F
B1F OAK IKEBUKURO BUILDING, 1-21-11 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 8AM-11PM
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: ITALIAN
and just 2 mins walk from Bikkuri Donkey is family-friendly, casual italian restaurant, Palermo. Palermo is 5 mins walk from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station. Palermo accepts most major credit cards and is a non-smoking restaurant. Children are welcome here. When budgeting to dine here, I would set aside 3000 yen per adult at dinner time and 2000 yen per adult at lunch time.
There are two kinds of pizza here – Margherita & Pizza Alla BisMarck.
PALERMO, IKEBUKURO
豊島区東池袋1-10-1 住友池袋駅前ビル １Ｆ
GROUND FLOOR, SUMITOMO IKEBUKURO EKI MAE BUILDING, HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-10:30AM (LAST ORDERS 10AM)
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: GYUKATSU
Gyukatsu (Tonkatsu but made with beef not chicken) in Ikebukuro
Gyukatsu Motomura welcome families and accepts most major credit cards. The entire venue is non-smoking. Gyukatsu is served on its own little hot plate so if you find it to not be “well done” enough to your liking – you can keep it sizzling cut side down for a bit longer. (Tonkatsu is usually pork but this place is beef. So that’s why it’s called “GyuKatsu.”) This restaurant is 3 mins walk from Ikebukuro Station. Meals here are approximately 2000 yen. This restaurant is walk-in only so I recommend (if dining with kids) arriving around 10:30am to make sure you can get a table without having to wait too long. This is a casual restaurant with great quality food.
GYUKATSU MOTOMURA, IKEBUKURO BRANCH
豊島区南池袋3-13-10 ISP第三ビル 2F
2F ISP 3RD BUILDING, MINAMI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-10PM
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: PIZZA
A family-friendly pizza and salad spot in East Ikebukuro
“A Pizza” is 7 mins walk the east exit of Ikebukuro Station. You can ask your hotel to make a reservation by phone on your behalf (please note that they only take reservations for dinner time.) I recommend budgeting for 2000 yen per adult at lunchtime and more like 3000 yen for dinner. They accept most major credit cards. The restaurant is non-smoking. There is a special booth for smokers near the entrance. See the “A Pizza” lunch menu here. See the “A Pizza” dinner menu here.
A PIZZA
豊島区南池袋3-18-30
3-18-3- MINAMI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11:30AM-10PM
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY IZAKAYA FOR LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO
There is a big department store in Ikebukuro called Parco. It’s just 1 min walk from Ikebukuro Station or 9 mins walk from Mimaru Tokyo Ikebukuro. There are many restaurants that welcome children within this building. One of my favourites is an izakaya called Washoku En. Like most izakaya in Japan, the idea is that you order lots of little dishes and try lots of little things and then order more as you go, if you wanted to. This is a wonderful place for adults to try Japanese sake (hot and cold) or lemon sours etc while still dining as a family. I recommend budgeting for 2000 yen per adult here at lunch time and more like 3500 yen at dinner time.
The entire restaurant is non-smoking and they do accept most major credit cards. They have space to store a stroller while you dine.
You can ask you hotel to make a reservation for you or you could try for a walk-in (I only recommend attempting this before 7pm.) If you do need to wait – write your name and number of people in your party on the list out front.
When dining here for lunch, everyone who orders a lunch set can have unlimited refills of rice and miso soup.
WASHOKU EN, IKEBUKURO EAST EXIT, PARCO
豊島区南池袋1-28-2池袋パルコ本館 8F8TH FLOOR, IKEBUKURO PARCO MAIN BUILDING, 1-28-2 MINAMI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-11PM (CLOSES AT 10PM ON SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS) *Lunch menu available 11am-4pm
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: CASUAL STEAK AND HAMBURGER STEAK JOINT
This is a very very casual spot but I also know many people who love it – especially if you are gluten free. It is a chain restaurant called Ikinari Steak (which translates to “and suddenly there was …steak!”)
Like I said – it’s very casual but also kid-friendly. There is another branch of Ikinari Steak is just 3 mins walk from Mimaru Tokyo Ikebukuro.(this one is a bit bigger and has high chairs.)
There is another Ikinari Steak in Ikebukuro – closer to the station. They accept most major credit cards here and are also on ubereats. They have high chairs here. You can see pictures of the full Ikinaru Steak menu for this branch here. I recommend budgeting 1500-2000 yen per person (adult) to eat a meal here. Many gluten free diners like this restaurant as it’s quite easy to ask for steak and rice without any sauces.
IKINARI STEAK, IKEBUKURO HIGASHI-GUCHI
豊島区東池袋1-15-1 菱山ビル1F
GROUND FLOOR, NISHIYAMA BUILDING, 1-15-1 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10:30PM (THEY HAVE A LUNCH SET MENU ON WEEKDAYS FROM 11AM-3PM)
DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: SEAFOOD & STEAK
“Australian” Steak and Seafood
Hate to break the hearts of Americans that love the Outback Steakhouse – but it isn’t even a little bit “Australian” to me. I am partial to a “bloomin’ onion” from here though. I really like it here – especially when dining with kids. The portions are generous and it’s very kid friendly. They even have high chairs. It is a 1 min walk from Ikebukuro Station – take the East Exit. They welcome children- they have a kids menu and space to store strollers while you dine. Please note that a 10% service charge is added to your bill when you dine here. They do accept most major credit cards. I recommend budgeting 2000 yen for an adult lunch meal and more like 4000 yen at dinner time. This restaurant is completely non-smoking. See the full Outback Steakhouse menu here. You can make a reservation on the Outback Steakhouse website.
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
豊島区東池袋1-41-4 池袋とうきゅう７F
7TH FLOOR, IKEBUKURO TOKYU 1-41-4 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 5PM-10PM (LAST ORDERS 9PM)* OPEN UNTIL 10:30PM ON FRIDAYS
OPEN WEEKENDS MIDDAY-10PM (LAST ORDERS 9PM)
PIKACHU SWEETS WITH KIDS IN IKEBUKURO
THE POKEMON CENTRE & THE PIKUCHU SWEETS SHOP
Within the Sunshine City complex you will also find the Pokemon Center ( gift shop) and the mostly takeaway dessert shop ( cupcakes and cookies, mostly) at the Pikachu Sweets shop. Both are open from 10am – 8pm daily.
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: VEGAN RAMEN AND GYOZA
If you’re looking for delicious vegan food, I highly recommend T’s Tan Tan inside of Ikebukuro Station. Vegan ramen, gyoza etc.
T’S TAN TAN, IKEBUKURO BRANCH
INSIDE OF THE STATION TICKETING GATES ON THE CHUO (CENTRAL) CONCOURSE
OPEN 11AM-9PM
T’S TAN TAN WEBSITE
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: OMURICE
The Tobu Ikebukuro Department Store is connected to Ikebukuro Station and has some great family restaurants.
One of my favourites is Pomme no Ki on the 11th floor. It is an Omurice restaurant. Omurice is a rice dish deserved with a big omelette – and then you choose the sauce on top which can be curry, gravy, stew or a tomato based sauce. It’s really yummy.
When eating at Pomme no Ki I would budget around 2000 yen per person. It is possible to make a phone reservation (Japanese only so ask your hotel to do this) but walk-ins are also fine. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and is an entirely non-smoking establishment.
POMME NO KI CLASSIC IKEBUKURO
東京都豊島区西池袋1-25-1 池袋東武スパイス 11F
11TH FLOOR, IKEBUKURO TOBU DEPARTMENT STORE “SPICE” SECTION, 1-25-1 NISHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU, TOKYO
OPEN 11AM-10PM
LUNCH IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: ALL YOU CAN EAT PIZZA FOR LUNCH
3 minutes walk from the Ikebukuro West Exit is the Italian pizza chain Salvatore Cuomo. On weekdays, if you are seated at opening at 11am you can eat all the pizza you can for 980 yen for 45 minutes.
For other times on weekdays ( lunchtime) you can choose one pizza or pasta and it is all you can eat salad for 1000 yen.
SALVATORE CUOMO, IKEBUKURO
西池袋3-21-13 ウェストパークタワー池袋 1F
GROUND FLOOR, WEST PARK TOWER IKEBUKURO, 3-21-13 NISHI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11AM – 2:30PM
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM- 11PM
OPEN ON WEEKENDS 11AM-11PM
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR EXCEPT FOR JANUARY 1ST
DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: A KID-FRIENDLY IZAKAYA
For dinner, I recommend walking for 3 mins from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station and heading to Oto Oto Ikebukuro. The interior is very modern and sleek and the menu is huge – and also includes a children’s menu.
It’s best to make a reservation here.
I would budget 2000 yen for an adult meal at lunch time, but more like 7000 yen for dinner.
Oto Oto accepts most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They also have space to store strollers while you dine. See pictures of what the restaurant looks like on the Oto Oto Website here.
You can also see the full Oto Oto Ikebukuro Bamboo Garden menu here.
OTO OTO, IKEBUKURO
南池袋1-19-5 ＭＩプラザビル5F
5TH FLOOR, MI PLAZA BUILDING, 1-19-5
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-3PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 11:30AM-4PM & 5PM-11PM
See here for my tips regarding Japanese dining etiquette.
LUNCH OF DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: SUKIYAKI & SHABU SHABU
This hot-pot style of eating is so much fun for families and just interactive with kids. This restaurant Syabu-yo is a chain restaurant.
Syabu-Yo Ikebukuro Sunshine 60 Branch is 500 metres from Ikebukuro Station.
Diners choose the amount of time they would like to have unlimited meat brought to their table (usually 60 or 90 mins) and that price also includes access to a salad and vegetable buffet and ice-cream. The instructions on how to make your meal at the table are here on the Syabu-Yo website but the staff will also help you. My kids prefer sukiyaki to shabu-shabu as it is so sweet and more-ish.
This style of restaurant is tricky if everyone has different dietary requirements (for example if one family member is vegetarian etc) as all the food is cooked in one pot. I guess you could get around this by getting two tables with two separate pots. Sometimes they have pots like the one pictured below that has two sections. This is mostly so you can cook two different flavours but it could also work for a meat side and a veg side too, I guess
To eat here I would budget for around 3000 yen per adult. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. Syabu-Yo accept most major credit cards.
If you like this restaurant – I’m pretty sure you will! Then you are in luck as you can always google your closest Syabu-Yo branch as they are all over Japan.
They have free wifi.
They also have the little robots that bring the meat to your table. My kids love this!
This restaurant is open every single day of the year. Best to have your hotel make a reservation on your behalf (unless you plan on trying your luck by walking in ) or you can try via the Hot Pepper website here but you need to use google translate.
SYABU-YO, IKEBUKURO SUNSHINE BRANCH
豊島区東池袋１－２９－１ サントロペ池袋ビル６F
6TH FLOOR, SANTOROPE IKEBUKURO BUILDING, 1-29-1 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-11PM (FROM 10AM ON WEEKENDS)*Lunch menu switches to the dinner menu at 4pm
LUNCH OR DINNER IN IKEBUKURO WITH KIDS: RAMEN
I don’t recommend this spot for small kids but if you are travelling with kids who are 10+ or are teens, I recommend visiting a ramen restaurant called Ore Ryu Shio Ramen. Shio Ramen means “salt ramen” – as the ramen stock/soup is quiet simple and mild. The tables are filled with different condiments – you can make your ramen spicy or garlic-y or sweeter etc. First thing to do is try the broth and then add as you go. A bowl of ramen here will cost a little under 2000 yen. They sell ramen and tsukemen here. There is also fried chicken and gyoza on the menu here. This is a walk-in restaurant only (no reservations.) Cash only.
They have an English and Japanese menu. See here for instructions on how they recommend you add the condiments and flavours to your ramen.
The restaurant is 5 mins walk from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
ORE RYU SHIO RAMEN
豊島区東池袋1-40-9 第89東京ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, DAI-89 TOKYO BUILDING, 1-40-9 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10:55PM
