Picture
Caption: FALLIN' JAPAN Part 02 - Tokyo Eats
Picture of Shibuya
Shibuya
Caption: Tokyo is a heaven for travel eaters like me & my family, everything is fresh, clean, and jam packed with umami.
This guide is created from my memories of a 1 month Japan trip I had with my family Nov-Dec 2016.
Hope this guide could be any use to any of you reading, enjoy :)
Picture of Shibuya
Caption: SUSHI
Picture of Shibuya
Caption: There are many other cities in Japan that can provide you with better and (for sure) cheaper sushi options
But if Tokyo is your only spot, here are some of the best sushi place you can get with an affordable price tag
Picture of Shibuya
Caption: TSUKIJI
Picture of Shibuya
Caption: One of Tokyo's most successful tourist trap, so please beware of overpurchasing random seafood things, or else you will come out from the market feeling robbed
Some of the good buys are the tuna stalls (they're always fresh and good), and during summertime, the scallops and clams are also very fresh
Picture of Shibuya
Picture of Shibuya
Picture of Daiwa Sushi
Caption: SUSHI DAIWA One of the most famous sushi restaurant in Tsukiji is sushi Dai, where people will queue from 4am in the morning just to get a seat.
If you're like me, you will want to go to sushi Daiwa instead! Located just beside the legendary Dai, less queue, similar (or if not better according to many bloggers) flavor, same satisfaction. Long live Daiwa!
Picture of Daiwa Sushi
Picture of Daiwa Sushi
Caption: SUSHI ZANMAI The owner, Zanmai-sama is the richard brandon of japanese sushi society. He rose to fame few decades ago after winning tsukiji tuna auctions for many years in a row.
As the tuna king that he is, he opens many (i mean MAAAYNEEEYY) sushi zanmai restaurants all over Japan, but it all started right here, in Tsukiji.
If you're eating here, obviously order the tuna set, theyre cheap, fresh, and oiishiii!
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Picture of Tokyo
Caption: NOODLE
Picture of Ramen Jiro
Caption: RAMEN JIRO Ramen Jiro for Tokyo people is like KFC for... err wherever KFC comes from. In other word: legen-waitforit-DARYY
It is legendary for its perfect pork broth (not too thick), mountains of crispy beansprouts, and that melt-in-your-mouth roast pork slices, ahhhh Jiro...
Picture of Ramen Jiro
Ramen Jiro
Caption: extra:
SPICY RAMENS I am a sucker for anything spicy, THE SPICIER THE BETTER MUHAHAHAHAHAHA...
So after scouring the city trying 5 different allegedly spicy ramen shops, i came to final two choices that i simply can't choose between them. Thus i'm gonna share both with you
Picture of Rishiri ramen
Caption: RISHIRI RAMEN The first one is Rishiri ramen which has a clear fishy soup that is fully painted red by the use of many dried chilis and spices cooked together in the broth. You can choose how many chilis you want in the broth, i (obviously) chose the maximum, and trust me guys, dont choose maximum...
But anywho, it is still a really delicious noodle with very appetizing spiciness! Beware thou, they come in GIGANTIC portion!
Picture of Rishiri ramen
Picture of Kikanbo
Caption: KIKANBO RAMEN The next one is Kikanbo ramen, where Japanese chili powder meets in perfect marriage (more like purgatory) with sichuan peppercorn. The extreme fire from the chili is mellowed out by the tingles from the sichuan peppercorn, leaving your mouth wanting more and more.
Same with Rishiri, you also can select which level of hell you would like to have.
Picture of Kikanbo
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: ROKURINSHA Now this is not skippable!
Tsukemen has always been the less famous brother of soup ramen, but a restaurant chain Rokurinsha has put some pretty sick spotlights to fully showcase this dryer brother.
Their noodles are chewy and perfect, broths are perfectly fishy in all the right places, their shrimp chili powder are (for me) one of the greatest invention on earth, the only thing not perfect about rokurinsha, is their long queues.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: UDON SHIN For udon in Tokyo (or anywhere really), i really recommend this little hole in the wall. They made their udon by order, so prepare for longer arrival time for your foods. But the wait is so worth it!
The texture of the noodle is thick and chewy, and the selections of toppings this place has are amazing, from its various tempuras (try the bacon tempura!) to modern fancies like ume plums and carbonara.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: KANDA MATSUYA Soba, the bland older brother of ramen, at least for me it is.
But that is until i've tastes the legendary sesame soba from Kanda Matsuya! Every strand is filled with umami, every slurp is filling your memories. Kanda Matsuya has successfully turned the bland old soba, into culinary bonanza. Other menus are also good, but nothing beats the sesame one for me
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: YOMENYA GOEMON Japanese people love their pastas, they also love mixing their traditional flavors into any pasta dish, and Yomenya Goemon does that perfectly well.
This chain pasta house marries Japanese ingredients like mentaiko and wafu dressing with al dente Italian pasta. They also have some classic pasta dishes like carbonara and stuffs, but people are here for their fusion ones.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: RICE DISHES
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: NEGISHI GYUTAN Gyutan (beef tongue) is apparently very traditional to Japanese, especially for the poor during wartimes. It is a cheaper cut that when cooked right, can give even more meaty satisfaction than the cow meats.
This chain restaurant conveniently makes one of the best version of traditional grilled gyutan with rice. You can choose either the thicker or the thinner parts of the tongue, or if you like me... just order both.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: GYUKATSU MOTOMURA One of Tokyo's most famous lunch place, so it will be better to come at weird hours (3-4 o clock)
They serve only one type of food, quality wagyu meats of your choice, breaded and then quick-fried, leaving the center part still rare. These are then served in front of you with hot stones and rice, so if you feel the need, you can cook the meat some more before you enjoy it with that steaming white rice. Yum.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: MAISEN TONKATSU The most famous tonkatsu in Tokyo and it doesnt disappoint! Their selections of pork changes every few weeks but even the standard ones are good, no need to choose the expensive ones, but when you do want to splurge on some black pig goodness, then you should do it here.
Other than tonkatsu, the menus have pork meats cooked in many different ways, and they're all excellent!
Get some tonkatsu of your choice, smother it with sauce of your choice, eat it with hot rice, and after every few spoonfuls, get a crispy bite of the refillable cabbage slaw, so good!
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: DASHI CHAZUKE For the best breakfast spot in Tokyo, try this chain restaurant that serves rice bowl with your choices of toppings which you'll then pour some dashi broth onto.
My personal fave is the rice with assorted pickles, but their rice and sashimi menus are also. This is such a perfect spoon of umami to get you ready for the day ahead!
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: IZUEI HONTEN I usually hate unagi. Its the sweet sticky sauce that just turns me off everytime. Thats why when my dad's colleague was taking us to eat in an unagi place, i was not excited at all but too polite to refuse.
To my pleasant surprise, this famous restaurant in posh Ueno area changed my mind! The unagis were soft as clouds, and the sauce was the perfect blend of sweet and savory. In short, i am converted! Aniway, try to come here for lunch as they have special prices during afternoon.
Address
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: BUTAYARO Hot Japanese rice topped with a tsunami of perfectly grilled pork, all of that for a very cheap price, how can it go wrong?
If you come during busy hours, the space is so small and the queueing area is not comfortable at all, so dont ruin the experience, come at weird hours.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: THE BEST MEAL:
JIROMARU Now this is THE BEST meal i've had in Tokyo.
Its a very small standing-only yakiniku place in shinjuku. Here you come in and eat as pairs, so try to come as such.
When you come in, you will be surprised as the place is basically just one narrow house with glass counters and a very narrow beam of table.
You will then need to select your meat, or if you dont know what to pick, as the chef to select some for you. Dont forget to ask for gyutan and pork neck!
Then you grill the meat on a little stove in front of you, and when its done, enjoy.
I guess this is what heaven tastes like.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: MOST DEPENDABLE:
GOGO CURRY Whenever you find yourself in Tokyo, not knowing what to eat, and having a very small amount of money, come to the closest gogo curry and all your troubles will just simply go away.
This fastfood chain serves up (for me personally) the best curry in the country, topped with perfect tonkatsu, tangy red ginger, and warm rice. This is soul-filling, heart-warming, head-calming, and most importantly, trip-saving food. One word: DEPENDABLE
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: OTHERS
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: ODEN FUKUSHIMA One of the oldest oden shop in Tokyo, the most famous snack during fall & winter time, probably has one of the best daikon on the whole country.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: TORITAKE SHIBUYA One of the oldest yakitori bar in Tokyo, they serve up one of the most complete and reliable choices of various chicken parts on skewers. Their menu also covers a whole range of delicious small plates.
Try not to come too late at night, as this place gets very busy at those times.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: PIZZA SPONTINI Now this is your perfect snack during your shibuya shopping spree.
Why eat pizza in Tokyo? Just trust me and try this, you'll know why.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Caption: AOYAMA FLOWER MARKET TEAHOUSE This fusion shop between a florist and a teahouse is the perfect oasis after your hectic harajuku venture.
They serve up some unique blends of tea and flowers, flowery desserts, and some main dishes.
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Picture of Rokurinsha
Rokurinsha
Caption: So that's it folks! I hope this will help you to decide what to eat when you're in Tokyo.
Please visit my page for more Guide on what to eat in other cities in Japan!
Thanks
#steller #stellerstories #stellertravel #stellerfood #food #travel #japan #tokyo
Picture of Rokurinsha
