A light emitting device includes a substrate in which a specular reflection area that specularly reflects reaching light is disposed on one surface, a light emitting element disposed on the substrate to emit light at least from a side surface, and a light flux controlling member disposed over the light emitting element to control a distribution of light to be emitted from the light emitting element. The light flux controlling member includes a rear surface disposed closer to the substrate, an incidence surface being an inner surface of a recess opening toward the rear surface and receiving light emitted from the light emitting element, and an emission surface emitting at least a part of the light incident through the incidence surface toward an outside. An outer edge portion of the specular reflection area is positioned outside an opening edge portion of the recess.