viral tokyo eats: the verdict
Okay so here's what's actually worth the hype
As a general rule, I try to avoid viral food spots. I’m not talking popular: good food often brings in crowds, after all. I’m talking, I’ve seen a million people post a TikTok on this spot and they all claim the food is God sent kinda vibe. I’ve been sucked in before, and often, whatever it is is overpriced, there’s a long wait, and at best- is good but not mind blowing, at worst- sucks.
However, when it comes to Japan, there were some rather viral spots I’ve been desperate to try. Yes, I’ve learned of them from instagram, but the targeting was top notch because I was CURIOUS. What can I say, I AM a tourist after all, and sometimes I want to have fun with trying the touristy things.
So yeah, I’ve ate at some viral foods here in Tokyo. Tactfully. I did what I could to avoid lines, since that often sets me up for failure (if I have to wait an hour, chances are my expectations get higher and I’m more irritable), and ensured that it was influencers that I kinda trust making the recommendation.
As a reflection, Tokyo is the kind of place where I have not had anything I’ve disliked, really. In fact, you go anywhere with locals in line, it’s probably a safe bet. With this in mind… are these viral spots ACTUALLY worth a long wait if other spots taste good and are less busy?