The melon pancake (1,400 yen) at Kissaten Bridge is over the top. A thick hot cake is wrapped around fresh cantelope and ice cream. This is then covered with a sweet honeydew flavored cream. This dish is the signature sweet at this quiet old school coffee shop in the basement of the Nishi-Ginza department store….
Month: September 2024
Maruichi Bagel
Big fan of @maruichi_bagel. Miho Inagi moved her #bagel shop from Shirogane to the Shinbashi and Toranomon area four months ago. Maruichi is about ten minutes from Shinbashi Station and it’s been too hot 🥵 and humid for me to make the trek. Maruichi opens at 7 a.m. with sandwiches starting at 8 a.m. It…
Tsukishima Monjayaki
Most people are familiar with okonomiyaki, the savory cabbage pancake from Osaka. Tokyo’s version is called monjayaki, which is similar that it is also cooked on an iron plate. Monjayaki has much more liquid and I prefer this one as it can be cooked into thin and crispy bits. The Tsukishima neighborhood is ground central…
Shabusen
Cool spot in the heart of Ginza for shabu-shabu or sukiyaki. My heart skipped a beat when I first saw Shabusen. Such a cool concept. Diners seated at a counter. Staff behind the counter bringing refills of rice and green onions or topping up my tea cup. Lunch starts at 2,200 yen ($15) for the…
God Bless Butter
God Bless Butter. 🧈 Brilliant branding by this sweets shop at Tokyo Station. Looove the gaudy gold. The package says: “The best butter confectionery ever created, supervised by an expert with God’s perspective, has been created. Enjoy the supreme taste.”🤣 Usually impossible to purchase without queuing. Got lucky the morning of a typhoon. 🌀 Even…
Tamai
Chirashizushi, scattered sushi, at Tamai in Nihonbashi. This is an old school version that is on the sweet side. Sweet black beans, candied chestnut 🌰, and sweet kampyo gourd. Mine, the tokujo, had tobiko flying fish roe. My friend ordered the tokutoku with ikura. Reminder to self to order more chirashizushi. The main store is…
Muromachi Toriya
Muromachi Toriya yakitori set lunch. This tiny shop in Nihonbashi has a handful of counter seats and a few table. Right squeeze at the counter. My neighbor kept elbowing me when she picked up her chopsticks. 🥢🤣 Excellent value for ¥1,200 ($8.50). Tsukune meatballs, quail eggs, liver, and more. Popular dishes include #donburi of yakitori…
Izakaya 🏮 Mimasuya
Mimasuya izakaya in Kanda opened in 1905. The fourth-generation shop is one of Tokyo’s oldest izakaya pubs. Long on my radar and have only finally just made it there. On a quiet backstreet in Kanda. Popular shop. We went at 6 p.m. and got some of the last seats. The menu is filled with sake-friendly…
Utsunomiya MinMin
On our way back to Tokyo from Nasu Shiobara in Tochigi we made a last minute decision to stop in #Utsunomiya for #gyoza. The city is famous for potstickers. There are dozens of restaurants in the city. As we didn’t have a lot of time we went to our favorite MinMin. It is connected to…
Tochigi Rengetsu
We had the most fabulous stay at #NasuShiobara @rengetsu_natsu in #Tochigi. My kid has been wanting to stay here for a long time so we booked it way in advance. There is a private onsen bath on our veranda. The property also has a large hot springs area that also includes three private hot springs. I…
Nagano Kissaten
For me nothing beats a #kissaten #Japanesebreakfast when I am traveling in Japan. For the simplicity of the meal, but also for the ambience of these old school #coffee shops. About a ten-minute walk from #Nagano Station is Saramu. The owner said she took it from the Arabic greeting salaam after watching Lawrence of Arabia….
Nagano Chōju Shokudō
Hi When we are traveling and not sure where to eat we often go to station buildings or department stores. These areas where people gather are sure to have reputable restaurants, many local. At Nagano Station is Chōju Shokudō, the long life dining hall. It is on the third floor of the MIDORI Nagano mall….
Food Sake Tokyo 