Arrocería La Panza

★★★★★★★★★★via Google

“Reservations are required! I had dinner here during the Chinese New Year holiday, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable meals of the trip. The standout dish for me was the calamari croquetas. They were perfectly crispy without feeling greasy, paired beautifully with the rich and creamy aioli. The filling even had tender pieces of fresh squid, which made every bite even better. My friend and I absolutely loved them. The duck paella was another highlight. The duck breast was cooked to a beautiful medium-rare—juicy, tender, and finished with slightly crispy, caramelized edges that added great texture and flavor. The only thing that didn’t quite meet our expectations was the sangria. We were hoping for more fresh fruit and a more noticeable cinnamon flavor. The restaurant itself is small and cozy. While the atmosphere is lovely, the tables are fairly close together, so it may not be the best place if you’re looking for a quiet, private conversation. Overall, we were extremely happy with our dinner. The food easily made up for the minor drawbacks, and I’d definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a memorable meal.”

★★★★★★★★★★via Google

“This is a highly regarded restaurant that has been selected for the Michelin Guide Tokyo Bib Gourmand for eight consecutive years, and in 2022 it also became the first restaurant in Japan to receive the “Restaurants from Spain” certification from the Spanish government and ICEX (Spain Trade and Investment). I had been interested in it for some time, and after visiting, I felt the reputation was well deserved. Overall, the food is consistently good, and every dish was simply enjoyable without any major misses. Including drinks, the total came to around ¥15,000 per person, which I found to be very good value considering the quality and content of the meal. The duck paella was particularly impressive, made with a Japanese-style dashi that gave it a refined and comforting flavor well suited to Japanese tastes. The Iberico pork steak was also excellent—so refined that it did not even feel like pork based on appearance or flavor, with no unpleasant heaviness. The scrambled eggs with bottarga were rich and satisfying, and the clams steamed in sake were even better when eaten together with bread, which soaked up all the umami. Beyond its accolades, this is a restaurant that delivers genuine satisfaction through its food, making it an easy place to recommend with confidence.”

★★★★★★★★★★via Google

“Medium-small restaurant, friendly atmosphere, good service... the best beef that I had in Tokyo. I was in Tokyo for a 2-week business trip and went there inadvertently, following a tip in the internet. Great red wine and fabolous beef. The costs are medium to high but they worth a lot. I went there for the second time but unfortunately the restaurant was overbooked. For sure I will come back there if I go to Tokyo again. EDIT: I visited in 2023 and returned in 2024; however, as was the case during my first visit, I was nearly unable to dine. Reservations are virtually essential. That said, I stand by my previous assessment!”

★★★★★★★★★★via Google

“We visited Arrocería La Panza during our trip to Japan. My husband had made a reservation in advance for their Michelin-recommended course, and since the reviews on Google looked quite good, our expectations were high. The meal started off well — the appetizers and the croquetas with squid were tasty and enjoyable. However, when it came to the main rice dish, we were unfortunately very disappointed. The flavor was overwhelmingly salty, and although the presentation with rabbit and chicken looked nice, the meat itself was extremely tough and difficult to eat. We only managed a few bites and could not finish it. What made the experience more disheartening was that no one from the restaurant came over to ask if everything was okay. It gave me the impression that perhaps, being Michelin-recommended, the restaurant may not pay much attention to feedback on Google Reviews. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and others might feel differently. For me, dessert is also an important part of the meal, but the cheesecake did not leave a memorable impression either. Overall, while the appetizers and croquetas with squid were good, the main dish and the level of service fell short of expectations.”

★★★★★★★★★★via Google

“Cozy and nicely decorated restaurant with great food. The two paella dishes (chicken and clam) were on the salty side. On the night we visited, there were two large tables with pretty hyper diners, so it was a bit too noisy. Because the dinning area is very small and crowded we could easily hear conversations from other tables, so this may not be an ideal restaurant for date nights. I will certainly re-visit and try their other dishes.”

★★★★★★★★★★via Google

“Make a reservation! One of the most delicious experiences you can have in Ginza. Come with friends, family, and an empty stomach. Take your time, enjoy the intimate atmosphere, and let yourself melt into this little bit of Spain that this team has brought to Japan.”

★★★★★★★★★★via Google

“It’s been a while since I ate Spanish cuisine, and this restaurant did not disappoint. The food was good. There was a water variety to the type of pie as they offered and mini authentic Spanish dishes in the menu. I ordered the black squid buñuelos because they said it was one of their best recommendations, and honestly it was to die for. I never ate a Buñuelo so I didn’t know what to expect, but it was one of the best dishes. It’s like mochi but softer.”

★★★★★★★★★★via Google

“Excellent authentic Spanish cuisine! A wonderful array of colourful dishes served by a warm and friendly staff. Highly recommended.”