Local noodle shop for handmade udon and soba. This hearty serving of thick Musashino style udon and soba is less than $6. Jingoro 甚五郎 Tōkyō-to, Kokubunji-shi, Honchō 3-12-2 http://www.jingo6.com/sp/menu.html
Month: April 2023
Ginza Tempura
Only $6.75 (¥920) for this vegetable tempura donburi rice bowl at Hageten. The menu includes ramen. Hageten is in the heart of Ginza. Ginza 5-6-7 Some of my clients like the restaurant so much they return during their stay in Tokyo. 🥰
bread, espresso &
bread, espresso & is an excellent bakery with several branches including Omotesando and this café in Shibuya at Miyashita Park on the second floor. Breakfast morning set here includes cheesy toasts, including one with truffles, or this cheese omelet with salad. It was busy on a recent weekday morning open from 8:00 a.m. Popular shop…
Koko Head Cafe
Chef Lee Anne Wong has brought her Hawaii Koko Head Cafe to Tokyo. In Hawaii it is a popular brunch café. What’s unique about Koko Head Cafe Tokyo is that it’s also open for dinner. In Hawaii it’s a brunch restaurant so closes in the afternoon. So stop by later in the day for a…
Bagel Breakfast
I was so excited at this cheap breakfast I spilled the coffee. Only 450 yen ($3.40) and it includes the coffee. Today’s bagel was kokutō or black sugar. The boiled egg comes with a bit of salt that is wrapped up in paper. I almost missed it at first as the paper package is so…
Tokyo Station Onigiri
The ongiri lunch I had yesterday was so good that I went back today. The onigiri is made with rice that is used for making saké, also called sakamai. The onigiri rice changed, today it was Asahimai. I selected mentaiko and tuna mayo, like a tuna salad. The other option was okaka, katsuobushi with soy…
Kyoto Poco Kissaten
Near Kyōto station is Poco kissaten. I picked it for breakfast as it was open from 6:00 a.m. The morning sando set is a bargain 650 yen ($5) and includes a cup of coffee. The sliver of a shop is in a retro building in a part of the city that is being completely rebuilt…
Kyōto Pasta
While on the road in Japan I start to crave non-Japanese food. In #Kyōto we had a lovely #pasta meal using Kyōto ingredients. #Pontoiru is located in the Kyōto Station building #Porta on the 11th floor. The menu is quite big, but it was easy to go with the half-and-half sets. Two bowls of pasta…
Kyoto Daiki Suisan Sushi
When in doubt about where to eat my kid loves to request kaitenzushi, conveyor belt sushi. We ended up at Daiki Suisan @daikisuisan at the basement of the Kyoto Tower building when other restaurants in the area had super long lines. The Japanese love to eat at 12 noon. Daiki was good for kaitenzushi. A…
Osaka Lamu Supermarket
One of my favorite things to do while visiting new cities anywhere in the world is to seek out local supermarkets. Especially in Japan. Not big chains that I also have in Tokyo but local markets. In Osaka we checked out the mega discount Lamu. Outside of the supermarket this branch was selling six takoyaki…
Osaka Aloft Dojima
Aloft in the Marriott chain has a hotel in Osaka in Dojima. It’s a short walk from Osaka station. There is an underground mall that takes you about 50 steps from the front door of the hotel. It helped as it was raining on our departure day from Osaka so the underground passage was helpful….
Osaka Horai 551
One of my favorite Osaka rituals is to dine at Horai 551, a popular casual Chinese restaurant. The butaman pork buns are handmade. These are also sold to-go and are often brought back as omiyage gifts for family and friends. The menu selection is lean but includes many of the greatest hits including sweet and…
Osaka Dotonbori
Dotonbori area in Osaka is a great part of the city to visit. It’s along a river and at night the city lights up. Jyuu en pan is a hot pancake like bread that is filled with cheese. It is shaped like a ten yen coin, hence the name jyuu en (ten yen) pan (bread)….
Osaka Kushikatsu
Kushi katsu 串かつ is a popular local dish in Osaka. Vegetables, meat, and seafood are skewered, breaded, and deep-fried. Kushi means skewer and katsu comes from the word cutlets for anything breaded and deep-fried. Kushi katsu is traditionally served with a sauce that is sweet and salty. Rampuya is a charming kushikatsu shop near the…
Osaka Tenjinbashi
I have family in Osaka and love visiting for seeing my loved ones, but also for the fun food culture. Osaka has many shōtengai shopping arcades, many of them covered, so even if it’s raining a visit won’t be dampened. Many of these arcades have street food. Tip – don’t eat and walk. Purchase your…
Food Sake Tokyo 