This time of year we are starting to see the early blossoming sakura cherry blossoms. The wagashi confectionary shops are starting to offer sakura mochi. There are many variations. Ginza Akebono’s sakura mochi is a sweet azuki red bean paste surrounded by a thin cherry colored pancake wrapped in an edible salted cherry tree leaf…
Amanoya Tamago Sando
Aiste Miseviciute of Luxeat introduced me to Amanoya tamago sando in Azabu Jūban. I visited the shop with her and she placed orders for their saké cake to bring back home as omiyage gifts. https://www.luxeat.com/ The egg sandwich is not the Tokyo style of boiled eggs with mayonnaise but the Kansai style of dashimaki tamago,…
Izakaya 101 Yama-chan
Yama-chan is a kid-friendly izakaya chain that specializes in tebasaki chicken wings. We went for an early dinner and there were about a half dozen kids, elementary age and younger in the restaurant with their families. The menu is filled with photos so just point if you don’t read Japanese. The drinks menu includes beer,…
Yamamotoyama Tea and Nori
When I worked at Nihonbashi Takashimaya twenty-some years ago I loved exploring the neighborhood. Lunch breaks. After work. Nihonbashi in the 17th Century was the merchants district of Tokyo, called Edo in those days. The first seafood market was here, before it moved to Tsukiji. Shops were concentrated here near the fish market. To this…
Chirashizushi and Inarizushi
Today is Girls Day, Hina Matsuri in Japan. A festival that families with young girls celebrate. Many homes will eat chirashi zushi, scattered sushi, this evening. Wagashi traditional confectionary sweets are also part of the festivities. We don’t have a girl at home, but are happy to enjoy sushi. Supermarkets and depachika are filled with…
Tsukiji Hoshino Coffee
My go-to Tsukiji coffee shop is Turret Coffee. Recently had a client who drinks tea so went instead to Hoshino Coffee. The morning service options includes coffee with a ham and cheese #toast for ¥730 ($5.40). The kissaten overlooks the main Tsukiji intersection. https://www.hoshinocoffee.com Tsukiji 4-7-5 Hoshino Coffee is located next to the Tokyo Sushi…
$3 Soba Noodles
It’s not unusual to find soba shops inside of stations in Japan. Many of them are tachigui stand-and-slurp styles as these are very quick meals. This shop, Irorian Kiraku, is in Yotsuya station. This shop had seats. Only 420 yen ($3) for a bowl of noodles for the morning special. sansai mountain vegetables wakamé sea…
Ginza Vomero Pizza
The lunch set at Ginza Vomero is a selection of pastas and pizzas, appetizer plate, and coffee. A great value at ¥1430 ($10.50). Vomero is located behind the Kabukiza theater. It is between Tsukiji and the main Ginza shopping street. Vomero is a popular restaurant so avoid the main noon dining time. Several vegetarian options….
Okonomiyaki and Monjayaki
Okonomiyaki is the savory pancake that Osaka is famous for. The Tokyo version is called monjayaki and it’s the style I prefer. Not as much flour in the batter so parts of it are crispier. Konaya is a chain of restaurants where most diners do an all-you-can-eat plan. On weekends 1880 for 90 minutes ($14)….
Taiwan Dumplings in Kichijōji
Taiwanese food is trendy in Japan. In Kichijōji is an addictive roasted dumpling filled with beef and pepper (I think it was beef) at Roryu Koshi Mochi. The meat is highly seasoned with spices and pepper. The leeks are sweet and I think the dough was a little sweet. The dumplings are cooked like Indian…
Marunouchi Tsutaya Share Lounge
There is a new two-story Tsutaya bookstore just in front of Tokyo Station at the Marunouchi Building. On the fourth floor is a Starbucks inside the bookstore. On the third floor is a Share Lounge which has a buffet of snacks, breads, yogurt, juices, and beverages. There is also beer, wine, and canned cocktails. When…
Ercole Moretti
There are some tableware that I come across at restaurants that are so beautiful that it’s fun to add them to my home collection. I first came across Ercole Moretti while dining at Tsuru to Kame restaurant. However the restaurant was unable to tell me the name of who made the colorful glassware. They did…
Cold Sesame Ramen at Nihonbashi Sapporoya
The creamy sesame cold ramen at Nihonbashi Sapporoya. Close to Tokyo Station. So good I even order it in winter. 🥰🤣 Details from my book, Food Saké Tokyo.
Sushiro Conveyor-belt Sushi
Sushiro is our local kaitenzushi, conveyor belt sushi shop. It’s a fun sushi meal that starts at about $1 per plate (often with two sushi). The color of the plate determines the price. At the end of the meal staff will count up how many plates are on the table. Sushi is also fun as…
Shinbashi Oniyanma Udon
Bowl of cold handmade udon noodles topped with tempura of chicken and chikuwa grilled fish cake at Shinbashi Oniyanma. Oniyanma is from Shikoku known for udon noodles. We’re lucky to have this in Tokyo. This casual tachigui stand-and-eat shop is near Shinbashi station. There is a vending machine in front of the shop. This is…
Okutama Tamagoyaki Omelet
Ranway near Okutama station in Western Tokyo serves dashimaki tamago made with so much dashi that the savory omelet is juicy. The menu is simple. Select from three types of eggs. We did ukokkei (Gallus gallus) red junglefowl chicken eggs (1,700 yen) and the white eggs (1,300 yen). The ukokkei set lunch comes with a…
Odamusubi Breakfast in Shinjuku Station
新宿駅のおにぎりモーニング。 Onigiri breakfast at Shinjuku station. Odamusubi is part of Odakyu department store. Diners have a selection of onigiri filled with tart umeboshi, pickled takana greens, spicy mentaiko cod roe, and more. The breakfast is rounded out with three small dishes and miso soup. I love that some of the onigiri is made with rice…
Handmade Soba at Akatsukian
Soba is handmade daily at Akatsukian noodle shop in Ginza Mitsukoshi. A Tokyo travel tip is to check out the restaurants in department stores. These are typically located on the top floors of the department store. Akatsukian is a famous soba shop in Hakone, an onsen hot springs resort town south of Tokyo. Akatsukian has…
Nihonbashi Takashimaya Katsukichi Fried Oysters
My favorite fried oysters, kaki furai, in Tokyo is at Katsukichi. Katsukichi puts a few oysters in each fried oyster (at least two, maybe three or even four). A bit unwieldy at first, as I am used to eating much smaller ones, but it’s so delicious. I also love Katsukichi because diners can select white…
Food Sake Tokyo 