Tourist visiting or ex-pat living here in Tokyo and sick of guides like Zagat on where to eat? If so, this blog is for you. Check where locals go to eat.
Ever since a former famous comedian became Governor of Miyazaki a couple of years ago, he became a true spokesman for anything out of Miyazaki including its food. Many Miyazaki restaurants have opened in Tokyo since, but probably the most famous one that people from Miyazaki go to is TAMOIYANSE at Shibuya. Miyazaki is known for its seafood, chicken and beef.
So what dishes are Miyasaki food? There are probably 3 dishes that you must have at Tamoiyanse or any Miyazaki restaurant. One is CHICKEN NANBAN (Fried Chicken dipped in a sweat & sour sauce with Tartar Sauce) for 890 yen. Its the soul food of Miyazaki. Chicken thighs cover with a light batter is deep fried and dipped into a sweat & sour sauce for a few seconds and tartar sauce is added on top. From kids to adults everyone loves this.
My favorite is MOMOYAKI (Charcoal grilled chicken thigh) for 1,370 yen. Chicken thigh is cut into pieces cooked directly over a charcoal grill with some salt and butter. This is why its a little black, but its fantastic. The chicken they use is a breed that is only produced in Miyazaki called Jidotko.
The 3rd dish is HIYAJIRU (Cold miso soup over Rice) for 720 yen. This was originally eaten only in the summer when people didn't have much of an appetite because of the extra hot weather in Miyazaki but now they eat it all year around. Whats different from a normal miso soup is that the miso is baked lightly before adding it to the bonito based broth. Once baked miso is added, some grilled semi-dried fish flakes and hand squashed tofu is also added. Once miso soup is cooked sliced cucumbers are added and its put in the refrigerator to be cooled down. And just before serving, some ice is added to make it extra cold. Finally, you pour it over a bowl of rice. Its a great dish to have at the very end of the meal or even after some serious drinking when you are a bit hungry.
Other great dishes at Tamoiyanse are KUROBUTA UMISHIOYAKI (Grilled Black Berkshire Pork) for 1,260 yen,
MIYAZAKI GYU NO TATAKI (Seared Miyazaki Beef) for 990 yen,
KAKUNI (Black Berkshire Pork Ragout) for 1,350 yen,
GYUSUJI TOH DAIKON NO ASSARINI (Beef Gristle & Japanese Radish stew) for 840 yen.
If you want some salad to start out your meal try JAKO TOH MIZUNA NO SALAD (Fried Young Sardines & Potherb Mustard Salad) for 630 yen,
or TAMOIYANSE SALAD (Tamoiyanse's original bitter gourd salad) for 580 yen, if you like bitter gourd.
Miyazaki is also known for bonito and it is in season and available during the summer at Tamoyanse. Dishes like KATSUO NO TATAKI (Seared Bonito) for 840 yen,
KATSUO TATSUTAAGE (Fried Bonito) for 720 yen,
KATSUOMESHI (Bonito sashimi & soup over Rice) for 720 yen.
Taimoyanse is actually an Izakaya. There are other Miyazaki restaurants in Shibuya and I have been to most of them, but Tamoiyanse by far is the best. Unless you are a vegetarian, I can say that you will enjoy at least one dish at Tamoiyanse. Also, they have a wide variety of Shochu from all over Kyushu as well.
TAMOIYANSE （in Japanese, たもいやんせ） Address: 10-10 Shinsen-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都渋谷区神泉町10-10) Nearest train station: JR or Tokyo Metro Shibuya (12 min walk) Tel: 03-3461-4333 Reservations: Yes Website: http://tamoiyanse.com/ (in Japanese only) English menu: Yes (but not every item) Credit Card: Yes Open: Monday-Friday 11:30am-2pm, 6pm-2am Saturday, Sunday & Holiday 5pm-1am Closed: None
Prices: Chicken Nanban (Fried Chicken with Tartar Sauce) 890 yen Momoyaki (Charcoal grilled chicken thigh) 1,370 yen Hiyajiru (Miso based sauce over Rice) 720 yen Kurobuta Umishioyaki (Grilled Black Berkshire Pork) 1,260 yen Miyazaki Gyu No Tataki (Seared Miyazaki Beef) 990 yen Katsuo No Sashimi (Bonito sashimi) 840 yen Katsuo No Tataki (Seared Bonito) 840 yen Katsuo Tatsutaage (Fried Bonito) 720 yen Katsuomeshi (Bonito sashimi & soup over Rice) 720 yen Kakuni (Black Berkshire Pork Ragout) 1,350 yen Gyushuji Toh Daikon No Assarini (Beef Gristle & Japanese Radish stew) 840 yen Tamoiyanse Salad (Tamoiyanse's original bitter gourd salad) 580 yen Jako Toh Mizuna No Salad (Fried young Sardines & Potherb Mustard Salad) 630 yen Other dishes from 530-1,580 yen
Author:Tokyo Joe
Food, music, and sports is my princess.
Favorite food: Almost anything in Tokyo, Beef in Kobe, Kaiseki/Kappo in Kyoto, Seafood in Hokkaido & Northern Japan, Aranabe in Fukuoka, Udon in Kagawa, Korean in Korea, Thai in Bangkok, Cantonese in Hong Kong, Fishhead Curry & Chicken Rice in Singapore, French in Paris & Lyon, Italian in Napoli & Toscana, Spanish in Madrid & Basque, Brazilian in Sao Paolo, Cuban in Havana, Indian in Dehli, Mexican in Mexico City, and Junk food in States
Dislike: most of the food/restos in the UK, glass of milk, cooked chunks of liver, hoya, Korean dog stew, balut, cow & pork blood, bugs and funky Chinese dishes.
