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…

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…

Maitake Tempura Soba

Happened upon a busy soba and udon shop in the basement of the Shinbashi Eki Mae Building #1. The kissaten that I wanted to go to wasn’t open. This shop was busy with salarymen headed to work slurping noodles while standing for breakfast. I ordered a bowl of cold soba buckwheat noodles topped with maitake…

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…

Parlour Kimuraya Kissaten

The morning coffee set at Kimuraya kissaten in the Shinbashi Building near Shinbashi station. Thick toast, boiled egg, and coffee for 490 yen ($3.50). I added a salad and was tickled. Fun presentation – and pineapples! I love these retro coffee shops. The music playing was from when I lived in Japan in the 80s…

Shinbashi Tsurumaru Udon 新橋つるまる饂飩

Tsurumaru is a chain of udon restaurants that I love when I need to grab a quick bite. I find myself often going to the Shinbashi branch as they are open early in the morning, from 7 a.m. It’s a great spot for a quick meal anytime of the day. The flour for the udon…

Ikinari Steak

Where to go for steak in Tokyo? If our clients ask I suggest great steakhouses like the New York Grill at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. Especially now as an Argentine executive chef, Federico Heinzmann, is overseeing the kitchen. Ukai-tei in Ginza or Omotesando also is a crowd-pleaser. These are restaurants that we save for a…

Gyūkatsu Okada in Shinbashi 牛かつおか田

Gyū Katsu Okada is a restaurant that has been on my Go List for about a decade. It opened in 1998 and the signature dish is Australian wagyū that is breaded and deep-fried. It is a classic restaurant that has been mentioned in many food magazines over the years. The meat is cooked in 210…