Near Tokyo Station on the Yaesu side is Tsubakiya kissaten. Siphon brewed coffee and this morning set for only ¥1,380 ($10). Service included! Tsubakiya Chūō-ku, Nihonbashi 3-4-16
Month: November 2023
Ginza Maru
Ginza Maru is a kappō restaurant that serves lovely grilled fish lunch sets in the heart of Ginza. Kappō is like a kaiseki restaurant but a bit more casual and with a counter where diners can talk to the chef preparing some of the dishes. On this day the options were miso gindara black cod…
Tsukiji Kitsuneya
The niku dōfu beef and tōfu stew with rice and sour tsukémono napa cabbage pickles (0shinko) at Kitsuneya. The shop is famous for its offal stew, which smells like a rich beef stew when one walks by the tiny stall. My favorite is the sukiyaki-like tōfu with meat in a sweet soy sauce broth. The…
Washoku
Washoku, traditional Japanese cuisine, was designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage ten years ago. To commemorate this there is a fabulous exhibit at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo in Ueno. The exhibit covers a wide variety of topics including seafood and sea vegetables, produce, regional cuisine, fermented foods, the history…
Ginza Sweets
If you have a sweet tooth think about spending an afternoon in the Ginza area carefully perusing sweets shops – both Western and Japanese. Here is a list of boutiques and shops featuring cakes, gelato, roasted sweet potatoes, cookies, and more. If you have limited time I would spend most of my time at Ginza…
Nishihara High Street
Nishihara High Street near Hatagaya Station is filled with so many cool shops. I used to live in this neighborhood 20 years ago. It was not this hip back then. Katane Bakery Cafe. Indulged in a basket of breads, salad, and latte. 1,210 yen (only $8). All of the breads are delicious. Picked up some…
Wagashi Kunpu
I am enamored with namagashi Japanese confectionaries often served with matcha tea. These handmade sweets change with the seasons, often reflecting nature – maple leaves in autumn or hydrangeas in early summer. Sachiko Tsuda of Wagashi Kunpu offers hands on classes out of her retail space in the historic Yanaka district of Tokyo. My friends…
Shinbashi Isehiro
I have long been a customer at Isehiro yakitori in Kyōbashi since my days working as a sommelier at Takashimaya depachika. The original shop dates to 1921. Only recently did I discover that Isehiro has a branch in the basement of the Shinbashi Daiichi Hotel. I stopped by and the third-generation son said that his…
est
Contemporary French cuisine made in Japan is always fascinating as I love to see how the chef incorporates local ingredients. The menu at est at the Four Seasons Tokyo at Otemachi includes a map of Japan referencing where produce, meat, milk, cheese, honey, and more come from. Even the tableware artisans are included on the…
Anzu Tonkatsu
Excellent tonkatsu at Anzu in the Ginza Mitsukoshi department store. Department store restaurants often have English menus and are kid-friendly. All-you-can-eat salad and refills on rice. The katsu curry here is a dark spicy curry. Ginza Mitsukoshi restaurant floor 11th floor Anzu Chūō-ku, Ginza 4-6-16 https://anzu-brand.com
Fukui Lacquerware
Lacquerware is a beautiful way to present dishes. This gorgeous red lacquer bowl is from Shitsurindō. In Tōkyō the lovely Fukui antenna shop in Ginza sells this Shitsurindō bowl. This bowl feels silky soft and is big enough to use as a donburi rice bowl, but also for noodles, miso soup, or for snacks. As…
Parklet
Parklet Bakery has so many delicious baked goods. I love the cheese scones and the avocado toast. It’s all good here. It’s no surprise as the baker comes from Tartine in San Francisco. Breakfast is the best time to come as hopefully you can get a seat. I’ve stopped by in the afternoon and it’s…
Nihonbashi Yukari
Nihonbashi Yukari is a third-generation kaiseki restaurant near Tokyo Station. Iron Chef Kimio Nonaga was a champion of the original popular cooking competition. The first photo is the Yukari Shōkadō Bentō lunch. It is packed with a variety of traditional Japanese dishes including tempura, sashimi, simmered pork belly, and many other small bites. The bentō…
Food Sake Tokyo 