I was walking in a new part of Shinjuku and happened upon a nice soba restaurant. On the menu was a black soba made from black beans, black rice, black sesame seeds, and buckwheat. It is a seasonal menu item. Tip: always inquire if there is a seasonal soba. Fumotoya is in the basement of…
Tag: Shinjuku
Toraya Shave Ice
Toraya Japanese confectionary wagashi shop’s rich history can be traced back to the 1600s. While it is a traditional sweets shop I love the modern café serving matcha latté and in summertime kakigōri 氷 shave ice. Here is natsu mikan 夏みかん, a tart and sweet summer citrus and renyū 練乳 sweetened condensed milk. There is…
Acacia
Shinjuku Acacia is a famous yōshoku restaurant serving Western-style dishes since 1963. Acacia serves classic dishes like omuraisu – omelet over ketchup rice, curry rice, croquettes, and more. The signature dish is rolled cabbage which is delicious and made without milk, yet is creamy. The hayashi rice made with beef and a dark stew was…
Ueshima
The morning sets at Ueshima Kissaten. The coffee shops are quiet spots to enjoy coffee or get some work done. I love the small fresh salad, thick toast and egg dishes. The Toranomon shop plays jazz in the background. Japanese kissaten coffee shops often have morning sets of coffee and toast and a boiled egg,…
Onigiri
The famous onigiri (or omusubi) restaurant Bongo has opened a sister shop in Shinjuku called Manma @onigiri_manma. We loved the onigiri. Mentaiko & cream cheese. Seasoned meat with a soy sauce-cured egg. Grilled salmon & sujiko salmon roe. My favorite was the bacon & cheese. The only side dishes are miso soup and tsukemono pickles….
Cafe Haiti
Café Haiti has been serving dry curry since 1974. The shop is located in a basement mall near Shinjuku Station called Subnade. Cafe Haiti specializes in coffee and this dry curry dish. The curry is made with minced meat and finely chopped vegetables and is rich with spices. It is served over a bed of…
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…
Park Hyatt Tokyo Valentine’s Day Chocolates
These chocolates are from chef Julien Pertinet of the Park Hyatt Tokyo. Valentine chocolates this year comes in three unique flavors that will be fun to pair with wine (or even saké). The chocolates are available through March 14th, White Day, at the hotel’s Pastry Boutique. 1. wine and figs with cheese and vanilla 2….
Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich
Shinjuku Station’s NEWoMaN area at the South Exit, inside of the JR station, has the only branch of Wa’s Sandwich. Wa’s Sandwich’s egg salad is made with mayonnaise, shio kōji, and sweet Saikyō miso, perhaps Japan most Japanese sandwich? The seasonings are light, so it’s hard to perceive. But, the bread is a very good…
Le Pain de Joel Robuchon
One of my favorite bakeries in Tokyo is from the famous chef Joel Robuchon, for savory breads made with excellent ingredients. Le Pain de Joel Robuchon has recently opened near Shinjuku station in the NEWoMaN mall. Imagine one of France’s top chefs creating breads and sweets using French and Japanese ingredients? I love the l’Atelier…
Japanese Curry with Some Fried Pork
Tonkatsu on its own is a great dish, as is curry, but combined as katsu curry is a great way to hit two sweet spots in one dish. Ouroji 王ろじ is a tonkatsu shop on a quiet back street near Shinjuku Isetan. Katsu curry here is served in a bowl and is called tondon (tonkatsu donburi). The…
Dinner after Ben Fiddich
Just around the corner from Bar Ben Fiddich on a quiet pedestrian side street is a local tonkatsu-ya, Tonchinkan 豚珍館。The assistant bartender at Ben Fiddich had recommended it for “good tonkatsu and bad service”. He also warned us that there most likely would be a line. We didn’t see a line when we turned the…
Craft Beer – Yoyogi Watering Hole
Watering Hole near Yoyogi station is a great spot to try Japanese and imported craft beer. I felt like I was back in the US with the stickers on the wall and refrigerator. The menu is basic, fish and chips, mac n’ cheese, seasonal pickles, and rice crackers. Sadly, I believe the sweet potato chips…
Shinjuku Kaijin 海神
Kaijin literally means the God of the Seas, a perfect name for this ramen shop that does not use meat. The seafood soup at Shinjuku Kaijin changes daily based on what seafood is in season. The broth, while rich in flavor, is light and refreshing on the palate. The fish that goes into the broth is…
Sarabeth’s
Sarabeth’s, a restaurant from New York City that serves classic American breakfast dishes like French toast, eggs Benedict, and yogurt with granola and fruit. After breakfast the menu features salads and sandwiches. There are a few branches in Tokyo as well as a shop in Osaka. The Japanese are crazy for pancakes, so Sarabeth’s is often…
Maison Kayser Kouign Amann
Kouign amann is a butter pastry that is rich with a caramel like crust that can be both crunchy and chewy. If you’ve been to Bretagne in France, you will know that it is famous for butter, a key ingredient in this decadent sweet. My favorite kouign amann in Tokyo is at Dominique Ansel Bakery…
Sardine Lovers’ Lunch 新宿割烹中嶋
Chef Nakajima of Shinjuku Kappō Nakajima is often on television on a morning cooking show. His restaurant serves a multi-course kaiseki meal in the evening, but the lunch is a set lunch based on iwashi sardines. For less than $10 USD (800 or 900 JPY), the menu options are sashimi, furai (breaded and deep-fried), nimono (simmered in a sweet soy sauce),…
Gotta Get – Tomizawa Dried Mikan
A friend who is the editor of a food magazine introduced me to these addictive dried mikan. These are sweet and tart at the same time. Tomizawa is a chain found throughout Tokyo. I come here to buy nuts, flour, dried fruit, and much more. If I am baking this is the first shop I…
Food Sake Tokyo Radar
To keep our readers up-to-date with the Tokyo food scene, I will post from time to time some news about what’s happening in the metropolis. Keeping a finger on the pulse of cuisine here is hard, so I hope this helps you to know what you should have on your food radar. Takashi Saito will be…
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…
Food Sake Tokyo 