Luke’s Omotesando

Maine Lobster in Tokyo — can’t get any better! Loved the rolls but be sure to pick up a few as even the American size is small.

While not the best roll for the lobster, a wonderful and delightful treat you’re unlikely to see anywhere outside the northeastern US and maritime Canada. A bargain for Tokyo and this neighborhood. Like donuts, best to order by the dozen. It’s not unheard of for 100+ people to wait in-​line to be served out of a glorified closet. Impressive street food from a place not known for it. Order the soup and chuck your lobster in it if you want to add some heat.

Here’s the deal with Luke’s — if the line is short it’s a slam dunk, the lobster roll is very good and you can add a beer for 500 yen. If the line is long, you’ll have to decide for yourself how badly you want one.
We had the time and wanted to try it while we didn’t have the kids along so we but the bullet and waited 20+ minutes in line and another 10 for our order. We both ordered the U.S. sized lobster rolls. They were good, with a generous portion of lobster. I wasn’t expecting the meat to be cold, which was a bit of a disappointment on a cool February day. That said, on a hot summer day this is probably a selling point.
Would I do it again? Sure, if the line isn’t too long and it was a bit warmer outside.

Decent lobster roll in the ever busy Omotesando area. Like most decent eateries in the Omotesando area you’re going to wait in some kind of line. For me it was well worth it. Somehow I built some patience like a local and roughed out the long line (30 mins). If you ever waited in line at Eggs and Things you would understand.
The food: I ordered the lobster roll and and beer. There’s two sizes– Regular and US size. Of course I ordered the US size. Like a lot of people I expected the lobster to be straight out of the pot hot and bread to be room temp. It was the complete opposite. The bread was toasted and crispy. The lobster was cold but well buttered up and seasoned. Well worth the wait. I crave another while writing this review. Ate it with a Brooklyn Lager. Only downside… should’ve ordered 2 or maybe 3. Not going to wait in that long line. No way Jose!
Service/​Facility: service was great. Once you order the food comes out within 5 mins. What I don’t like is the limited seating. No indoor seats. Benches and a few tables fit about 20. Minus half a star. A lot of people were standing on the other side of the street and eating because people were saving seats. Others were saving seats while their spouse/​friends were in line. I had perfect timing and was able to find one right after I picked up my order.
Stop by and hop in line. Everybody get your roll on! ¹⁴⁄₁₀₀ 2016 Challenge.

Luke’s lobster. Not sure how Japan and Maine lobster got together but the union is very much spot on. Because the ingredient is costly and not used frequently, I’ve tasted many lobsters that are not cooked well, overcooked, from frozen, lobster rolls that are masked with mayonnaise. Here it is all fresh lobster, minimal filler. You taste the sea, with just enough butter all wrapped inside a soft, light Japanese bread roll. Perfect.

Once again, its a Thursday night. Craving a hot chocolate milk at Max Brenner and walking along cat street I run into Luke’s! This time there was NO DISNEY-​LAND RIDICULOUS LONG LINE so put my craving to side an INHALED the SMALLEST 950YEN LOBSTER SANDWICH in two 2.5 bites and downed it with BEER! Its Tasty, like my TASTEBUDS wanted more, but I was unwilling to pay another 950YEN for a BABY SIZED SANDWICH lol Last time I saw anything remotely this small was the hamburger that came with a Happy Meal McDonalds… but anyways, the taste will not disappoint. They also offer shrimp and crab sandwiches. Oh and before I forget this place is basically a standing eatery with a couple of chairs, and benches they’ve laid outside around the order window. If you happen to find an open spot, throw your bag, your shoe, your sock… whatever! Just claim it or else it will be taken right before your eyes!

I was walking from Shibuya to Omotesando and stumbled upon a long line. Not surprised. The surprising part was seeing lobster rolls in Tokyo! Perfect timing because I was craving some food from the states. I caved in and stood in line for 15 minutes and then another 15 minutes for the food to come out.
They have different types of rolls: lobster roll, shrimp rolls, and crab rolls. They do have combos, but best just to stick with the classic lobster roll.
As another Unilocaler stated, the roll in Chelsea market in New York was definitely better, but this is not a bad catch for something in Japan. The bread could be crispier and the lobster could be more flavorful. Lobster rolls are a new thing in Japan, so I think the folks here aren’t used to the food. I overheard a lot of people being shocked to taste cold lobster in a warm bread roll.

Lightly buttered Maine lobster chunks in a lightly toasted ever-​so-​soft roll that gives a nice satisfying crunch yet still pliable to hold the meat in. ¥980 for Japanese size. Pretty reasonable.

Right off the main shopping street that connects funky Harajuku and upscale Omotesando is this location of Luke’s Lobster, which sells Maine lobster rolls. If you’re thinking it’s weird to sell lobster from the Atlantic Ocean on an island in the Pacific, I hear you, yet lobster rolls are not a thing in Japan and this was an interesting sight.
This is just a stand, there is no indoor seating and only a bit of outdoor seating. The prices here are very reasonable, similar to US prices: the regular size roll is ¥980, U.S. Size is ¥1580, and then they have mix rolls with shrimp/​crab and lobster for similar prices. They also offer American potato chips for a couple hundred yen, and American beer like Blue Moon and Brooklyn Lager, for a reasonable ¥500. The regular size roll is definitely enough for a small meal, only get the U.S. Size roll if you’re really hungry.
I’m the first to admit I know nothing about lobster rolls. I actually had never had one before. I loved the butter-​toasted outside of the roll, and there was a very generous serving of lobster. The balance of flavor was good, had a bit of Old Bay, and big chunks of lobster. It was clearly fresh; they update a sign outside with which city in Maine the lobster is from that day. A few pieces were a bit tough and slightly on the chewy side– nothing that made me think it was old or not fresh, but just enough to turn me off of it a bit. I’m glad I got one and I could see this scratching an itch for an East Coast transplant, but this isn’t some innovative or completely outstanding food. It is good and a solid deal for the price, though.