Choyo

Choyo, Ginza: The Verdict

Choyo earned a spot on the Opinionated About Dining Leading Restaurants in Japan list in both 2023 and 2024, ranking #192 in the 2024 edition; a meaningful credential in a country where that list is taken seriously by food-focused travelers. If you are looking for ambitious Chinese cooking in a city better known for sushi and kaiseki, Choyo is the most credible option in its category and worth booking.

About Choyo

Choyo sits at 8 Chome-17-4 Ginza, in one of Tokyo's most expensive and competitive dining corridors. Chef Zhao Yang leads the kitchen, the restaurant's consistent OAD recognition across two consecutive years suggests a kitchen that is not coasting on a single strong season. In a Ginza dining scene dominated by Japanese fine dining formats; sushi counters, kaiseki rooms, high-end tempura, Choyo occupies a distinct position as a Chinese restaurant operating at a comparable level of seriousness. That positioning matters when you are choosing between it and a dozen other options within walking distance.

The OAD ranking places Choyo in the same conversation as some of the most carefully watched restaurants in Japan, including venues like Gion Sasaki in Kyoto and HAJIME in Osaka. That context is useful: OAD inclusion is not handed out for atmosphere or novelty. It reflects a consensus among frequent, knowledgeable diners that the cooking is consistent and technically strong.

Lunch vs. Dinner at Choyo

Price range data is not available in Pearl's current record for Choyo, which means we cannot confirm whether lunch and dinner are priced differently. However, in Ginza's Chinese fine dining category, where venues like Chugoku Hanten Fureika and Chugoku Hanten Kohakukyu (Amber Palace) operate, lunch service typically offers the same kitchen at a meaningfully lower price point. If Choyo follows that pattern, lunch is likely the sharper value proposition: the same chef, the same sourcing, at a lower outlay. For first-time visitors or those benchmarking against other Ginza options, lunch is the lower-risk entry point. Dinner is the format to choose if you want the full experience without pacing constraints.

For comparison within Tokyo's Chinese dining tier, Ippei Hanten and Koshikiryori Koki offer alternative reference points for what the category can deliver across different price positions. Choyo's OAD standing puts it at the sharper end of that range.

Practical Details

Reservations: Booking is rated Easy, this is not a venue requiring months of lead time, but given the OAD ranking and Ginza location, booking ahead is still advisable, particularly for dinner on weekends. Location: 8 Chome-17-4 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, well-served by the Ginza metro station. Budget: Price range is not confirmed in Pearl's data; contact the restaurant directly or check current listings before planning spend. Dress: Not confirmed in Pearl's data, but Ginza's dining culture skews formal, smart casual at minimum is a safe assumption. Chef: Zhao Yang.

Broader Tokyo Context

Choyo is one reference point in a city with an enormous amount of dining depth. itsuka offers a different angle on Tokyo's contemporary dining scene, our full Tokyo restaurants guide covers the wider field if you are still building your itinerary. For stays in the area, the Tokyo hotels guide has current recommendations. If your trip extends beyond the capital, akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, and 6 in Okinawa are worth considering depending on your route.

For a global frame of reference on what ambitious Chinese cooking looks like outside China, Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin and Mister Jiu's in San Francisco are the closest international comparisons in Pearl's network. Also see our guides to Tokyo bars, Tokyo wineries, and Tokyo experiences for planning beyond the meal.