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.
MONJIRO at Roppongi became known after a famous Korean actor dined here whenever he visited Tokyo. But to foodies, Monjiro has always been one of the reasonable restaurants to dine in Roppongi.
To start your meal, you want to order HIYASHI TOFU (Cold tofu),
IBURIGAKKO (Pickled and smoked Japanese radish),which is a dish from the north of Japan and hard to find in Tokyo
ANAGO SHIRAYAKI (Broiled Sea eel with wasabi),
ANKIMO (Steamed monkfish liver), which is a seafood version of foie gras, extra rich and creamy
Like most izakaya kind of restaurants, they have various YAKITORI
and SASHIMI, which are way better than most izakaya's.
Also, YONEZAWA GYU BOKUJYO SHIMOFURI NIKU (Broiled Yonezawa prime sirloin beef) for 4,800 yen is also delicious. Its basically a steak, but not your average steak.
KUROBUTA SHABU SHABU (Black pork shabu shabu) for 2,600 yen is popular and many customers order it. The pork is extra tender and the sesame dipping sauce is rich and thick compared to other sesame shabu shabu sauces. Add some rahyu (Chinese chili oil) and your chopsticks won't stop. Its one of the best sesame sauce I ever had.
If you just happen to be dining her during the winter, try their BURI SHABU SHABU (Yellowtail Shabu Shabu), which is one of the best you can have in Tokyo.
It comes with various vegetables just like Kurobuta Shabu Shabu.
Their menu changes by season and also what was available at the market that day. Ask for specials and the chef's wife, who is the waitress will give you recommendations. Depending on what you order and drink, your bill can be reasonable to a little expensive, but value wise its one the best places to eat at Roppongi. Make sure you make a reservation at least a few days in advance.
MONJIRO （in Japanese, 門次郎） Address: 4-11-9 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Mikado Bldg 2nd floor) (in Japanese, 東京都港区六本木4-11-9 ミカドビル 2F) Nearest train station: Tokyo Metro or Toei Subway Roppongi (1 min walk) Tel: 03-3475-1555 Reservations: Yes Website: None English menu: None Credit Card: Yes Open: Monday-Wednesday 5pm-1am Thursday-Friday 5pm-5am Saturday 5pm-11pm Closed: Sunday & Holiday
Prices: Kurobuta Shabu Shabu (Black pork shabu shabu) 2,600 yen Anago Shirayaki (Broiled Sea eel with wasabi) 1,200 yen Yonezawa Gyu Gokujyo Shimofuri Niku (Broiled Yonezawa sirloin beef) 4,800 yen Yakitori 500 yen Other dishes from 300-4,000 yen
Tokyo is a bar heaven for people who enjoy drinking. There are tons of cool bars, but the real in places aren't usually introduced on magazines or internet. If you see too many foreigners at a bar, its either a losers joint or meat market from the hip local crowd of Tokyo. One of the relaxing bars with a private atmosphere is CITABRIA BAR, where many people from the fashion, entertainment, and media industry go to.
The doors at Citabria Bar aren't open. You will need to enter a four digit number to open it. Therefore, you need to make a reservation in advance and ask for the four digit number of that night. The number changes every night, so whether you are a regular or not, you will need to called them to get it in.
Here are some of pictures of what it looks like inside. 1st floor
1st floor
2nd floor
2nd floor
Roof top.
They do have a good food menu as well whether you want to have a full dinner or just some light appetizers with your drinks.
They also have a 3rd floor with private rooms, but if its your first time here I would suggest to get a table on the 1st floor. Its not a bar to go wild or crazy, but for mature adults to enjoy chatting with your friends or partner. There is a cover charge of 1,000 yen per person and most drinks are around 1,500 yen. This may seem expensive, but its actually reasonable for such a top quality private bar.
CITABRIA BAR （in Japanese, サイタブリア バー） Address: 2-26-4 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都港区西麻布2-26-4) Nearest train station: Tokyo Metro Omotesando (15 min walk) Tel: 03-5469-5777 Reservations: Yes (must) Website: http://www.citabria.co.jp/citabriabar/citabriabar.html English menu: No Credit Card: Yes Open: 8pm-4am Closed: Saturday, Sunday
Prices: Glass of wine from 1,100 yen Glass of Champagne from 1,600 yen Cocktails from 1,000 yen Food from 800 yen Cover charge 1,000 yen per person
For some reason, there are many Italian restaurants in Azabu Juban area. Most of them are expensive and for special use, but one of the reasonable and probably the most popular Italian restaurant in Azabu Juban is PICCOLO GRANDE.
Piccolo Grande doesn't specialize in a specific state or area of Italian food like most other newly opened restaurants. They serve dishes which are known to most of us、but some of them with a original twist. One of their most popular antipasto is BAGNA CAUDA for 2,800 yen
Normally with Bagna Cauda, you dip vegetables in the sauce, but at Piccolo Grande, vegetables are cooked in the sauce. I've never seen this at any other restaurant, but its delicious.
Another popular antipasto is MAGURO NAKAOCHI NO TARUTARU GARLIC TOAST ZOE (Tartar tuna with garlic toast) for 1,700 yen.
Or if you want to try various antipastos, there is ZENSAI NO MORIAWASE (Assorted antipasto) for 1,900 yen.
And if you happen to be visiting in the spring, one of my favorites is WHITE ASPARAGUS NO PARMESAN CHEESE YAKI NAMA HAMU NOSE (Baked white asparagus and Parmesan cheese with Prosciutto).
If you want a salad instead of a normal chef's salad, you might wanna try TORI SHIRO LIVER NO ATTAKAI SALAD MARSALA WINE SAUCE FRIED EGG ZOE (Warm white chicken liver salad with fried egg and Marsala wine sauce) for 1,900 yen.
Now for pasta, some people say their SPAGHETTI ARRABBIATA for 1,500 yen is the best in Tokyo.
If you want to have some creamy pasta, ITALIA SAN YON SHURUI NO CHEESE TOH CREAM SAUCE NO PENNE (Penne with 4 cheeses from Italy in a cream sauce) for 1,800 yen. If you like pasta with Goｒgonzola cheese cream sauce, you will enjoy this maybe even more.
They do have pasta of day which is HONOJITSU NO PASTA and it changes by what was available at the market. The above is Tagliatelle Bolognese with spring vegetables.
They also have cold pastas as well like REISEI KARASUMI NO SPAGHETTI (Cold spaghetti Bottarga) for 2,000 yen.
For you main dish, there is AQUAPAZZA,
KAJIKI MAGURO NO GRILL (Grilled swordfish) for 2,000 yen,
TORI NO ISHIGAMA YAKI NINNIKU TOH JYAGAIMO NO ROAST ZOE (Chicken roasted in a brick oven with roasted garlic and potatoes) for 2,800 yen,
TOKYO PORK NO KATSURETU MIRANO FUU (Tokyo pork cutlet Milan style) for 2,600 yen,
and my favorite, KOHITSUJI NO GRILL WINE SAUCE (Grilled lamb chop with wine sauce) for 2,800 yen.
At last they do offer several desserts like BANANA NO MILLE CREPE (Banana mille crepe).
Piccolo Grande has been around since the 80's and is a casual, friendly type Italian restaurant. You probably won't get a table without a reservation, so make sure you do before you go.
PICCOLO GRANDE（in Japanese, ピッコロ・グランデ） Address: 3-7-2 Azabu Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都港区麻布十番3-7-2) Nearest train station: Tokyo Metro Azabu Juban (3 min walk) Tel: 03-3457-0665 Reservations: Yes (must) Website: http://www.piccolo-grande.co.jp/index.html (in Japanese only) English menu: No, but in Italian Credit Card: Yes Open: 11:30am-2pm, 6pm-10:30pm Closed: Tuesday If Tuesday is a holiday, will be closed on Wednesday instead
Prices: Antipasto from 800-2,500 yen Pizza from 2,000-3,000 yen Pasta from 1,600-2,000 yen Seafood from 2,000-3,500 yen Meat from 2,600-5,000 yen Lunch 3 course menus only from 2,800-3,800 yen
Sendai is known for beef tongue and the most famous dish is TANYAKI (Broiled tongue), now there are many Sendai-style beef tongue restaurants, but 10 yrs ago there were only a handful. TANYA SHINOBU at Yotsuya was one of the 1st restaurants to specialize in beef tongue and is still the most popular.
There are three must eats here. Of course, you want to order TANYAKI (Broiled tongue) for 1,100 yen. The sprinkle salt and pepper several hours before they broil it. It is different from beef tongue you have at Korean BBQ. Much tastier and meatier.
YOUDE TAN (Boiled tongue) for 980 yen. It is boiled in a clear beef and vegetable soup for several hours. Add some wasabi on top and it is just super tender. My favorite dish by far here.
Then TAN STEW (Tongue stew) for 1,100 yen, which is also extra tender cooked in a demi-glace sauce.
Other beef tongue dishes they have are MISOZUKE TAN (Tongue marinated in miso) for 1,100 yen,
TAN NO DOTENI (Tongue miso stew) for 680 yen,
TAN NO SHOGANI (Tongue ginger stew) for 680 yen,
and at the end of your meal, you want to order TAN ZOUSUI (Rice porridge with tongue),
There are many other dishes besides the above beef tongue dishes like OHITASHI (Boiled vegetables in season) for 420 yen,
YAMAIMO PONZUZUKE (Ponzu sauce pickled mountain potato) for 560 yen,
and KYURI NO NINNIKU SHOYU ZUKE (Cucumbers pickled with garlic soy sauce) for 600 yen.
Make sure you make a reservation before dining here and even if you do, they will make you wait outside for a couple of minutes. And if you don't, you can be waiting for a couple of hours. This place is more like an izakaya and its not a fancy restaurant at all. Tables are right next to each other and service isn't the best, but if you enjoy beef tongue, I'm sure you will enjoy their food.
TANYAKI SHINOBU （in Japanese, たん焼 忍） Address: 16 Saneicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都新宿区三栄町16) Nearest train station: JR Yotsuya (7 min walk) or Tokyo Metro Yotsuya-Sanchome (7 min walk) Tel: 03-3355-6338 Reservations: Yes (must) Website: http://www.tanyaki-shinobu.com (in Japanese only) English menu: No Credit Card: No Open: Monday-Friday 5pm-11:20pm Saturday 5pm-10pm Closed: Sunday & Holiday
Prices: Yudetan (Boiled tongue) 980 yen Tan Stew (Tongue stew) 1,100 yen Tanyaki (Broiled tongue) 1,100 yen Misozuke Tan (Tongue marinated in miso) 1,100 yen Doteni (Tongue miso stew) 680 yen Tan Shogani (Tongue ginger stew) 680 yen Ohitashi (Boiled vegetables in season) 420 yen Yamaimo Ponzuzuke (Ponzu sauce pickled mountain potato) 560 yen Other dishes from 420-980 yen
When you think of food from Kyoto, most Japanese people think that its light and not salty, but when it comes to ramen its totally the opposite. Its heavy, oily and tasty. A ramen shop from Kyoto opened in Tokyo a couple of years ago and it has gotten many people addicted. This ramen shop is MUTEPPOU at Numabukuro.
Muteppou's broth is made of pork bones and water only. It is boiled until the bones are completely crushed and the chef is constantly mixing the bones or broth using a huge stainless steel stick.
The regular ramen and most popular one is TONKOTSU RAMEN (Pork bone broth ramen) for 750 yen. It has couple of slices of chashu (boiled pork) and large portion of Kujyonegi (Spring onions of Kujyo, Kyoto) on top. The broth is extra thick and rich and different from Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen.
Noodles are medium thick and wavy, and just like Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen,
you can have KAEDAMA (Extra noodles) for 100 yen, but this time the noodles are thin like Hakata-style tonokotsu ramen
When you are done eating your noodles, you can add either ASSARI SAKANA SOUP (clear fish soup) which makes the broth milder
or more TONKOTSU SOUP (Pork bone broth) to your broth. This additional broth is an original of Mutteppou.
Some people add rice to the broth and make rice gruel to enjoy all of the soup.
Just like Hakata-style tonokotsu ramen, you can add roasted sesame, benishoga (pickled ginger), karashi takana(spicy takana pickles) and soy sauce, if you like to your ramen
You can also order addtional Kujyonegi (Spring onions of Kujyo, Kyoto) for 200 yen. Kujyonegi is sweeter than regular spring onions, which makes the broth mild as well.
If Tonkotsu ramen is too heavy for you, they also have lighter ramen, SAKANA SHOYU RAMEN (Pork bone & fish broth ramen) for 750 yen. The broth is a mix of pork and clear fish broth.
If you want to order any side dishes, their GYOZA for 400 yen are pretty good as well.
Muteppou is located at Numabukuro, which you take the Seibu Shinjuku line from Shinjuku and once getting off the train its still a good 8 minute walk from the station. When famous ramen shops outside of Tokyo open a shop in Tokyo, they usually open one at or near a big train station. But Muteppou decided to open it in a middle class residential area far away from the nearest train station, and even without any publicity it still became one of the busiest ramen shops in Tokyo. Since its heavy and oily this ramen is not for everyone, but if you wanna try something different, check Muteppou out.
MUTEPPOU （in Japanese, 無鉄砲) Address: 4-5-1 Ekoda, Nakano-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都中野区江古田4-5-1) Nearest train station: Seibu Shinjuku Line Numabukuro (8 min walk) Tel: 03-5380-6886 Reservations: No Website: http://www.muteppou.com/ (in Japanese only) English menu: No Credit Card: No Open: 11am-3pm, 6pm-11pm (will closed early when sold out) Closed: Monday
Prices: Tonkotsu Ramen (Pork bone broth ramen) 750 yen Sakana Shoyu Ramen (Pork bone & fish broth ramen) 750 yen Tonkotsu Chashumen (Pork Bone Broth Ramen with extra chashu) 1,000 yen Gyoza 400 yen Other Ramens & Tsukemens from 680 yen Ohmori (Large noodele) 100 yen Kaedama (Extra noodle) 100 yen Rice 250 yen Rice Chu (Medium size rice) 100 yen
Its hard to say which sushi restaurant is the best in Tokyo, but when it comes down just to maguro (tuna) no one will argue that IRIFUNE at Okusawa serves the best maguro in Tokyo or in the world.
At Tsukiji fish market regarding maguro there is one rule. When chef/owner Honda places an order at the most famous intermediate wholesaler, the best maguro goes to Irifune. Whatever the price is, he has been purchasing the very best maguro ever since he opened his restaurant.
You want to have every part of maguro you can at Irifune, but you do want to start out with least fatty part, Akami (red part of tuna). Even though its the least fattiest part, it will be the richest akami in flavor you ever had. Most people enjoy toro (fatty tuna) more than akami, but I like akami more in general and their akami just knocks me out whenever I dine here.
Then you might want to try CHUTORO (Medium-fatty tuna), which will be considered regular ootoro (fatty tuna) at other restaurants. If they have a chutoro part called wakaremi, its the most delicious part of chutoro. Just ask the chef if they have it or not.
And of course, OOTORO (Fatty tuna), the most expensive part of Tuna,
but their most famous maguro sushi of all is ABURI (Broiled fatty tuna), which Chef Honda invented and available at most sushi restaurants around the world. It just melts in your month.
If you want to enjoy ootoro in a different way, they can add a slice of garlic which is dipped for awhile in soy sauce called OOTORO NO SHOYU ZUKE.
Other must eats are TOROTAKU (Fatty tuna & pickled Japanese radish roll),
KAWAGISHI NO GUNKANMAKI (Tuna left neared the skin scraped by spoon)
and ZUKE (Akami marinated in soy sauce).
Also, they have various maguro donburi's (rice bowl) which will probably be the most expensive donburi you ever have like MAGURO ZUKUSHI DON (Various parts of tuna over rice) for 10,500 yen,
or OOTORO ABURI DON (Broiled fatty tuna over rice) for 10,500 yen.
Other fishes are just a little above average and there are tons of better sushi restaurants to dine at if you want other top quality fish. But if you want maguro, this is the go to place in the world. Prices are reasonable compared to other top sushi restaurants and it is located in a residential area of Tokyo. Their interior is old style and not fancy or modern like other top sushi restaurants and probably has been the same since it opened in the 70's, My brother who is a sushi chef in Houston, dreamed about dining at Irifune for years and when he visited us for the first time in 15 yrs and found out it that it was only minutes away from our house, his dream finally became true. He had nothing but a big smile on his face and I'm sure you will too, if you love maguro. Also, best season for maguro is from November to February, so if you can try to dine during this period.
IRIFUNE （in Japanese, 入船） Address: 3-31-7 Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都世田谷区奥沢3-31-7) Nearest train station: Tokyu Meguro Line (1 min walk) or Tokyu Toyoko or Ohimachi Line Jiyugaoka (10 min walk) Tel: 03-3720-1212 Reservations: Yes (must) Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g519600/ (in Japanese only) English menu: None Credit Card: Yes, but will charge 5% extra Open: 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm Closed: None
Prices: Sushi 10,000-25,000 yen Maguro Zukushi Don (Various parts of tuna over rice) 10,500 yen Ootoro Aburi Don (Broiled fatty tuna over rice) 10,500 yen
Ginza has many restaurants which have been open for over 50 years and considered well-established restaurants. One of my favorite restaurants in Ginza for lunch is GINNOTOU, which specializes in authentic beef and tongue stew.
Ginnotou's menu is pretty simple. They only offer four dishes. First is BEEF STEW for 2,500 yen , which is extra tender and rich in flavor, but not oily at all.
Second is YASAI STEW (Vegetable stew) for 2,500 yen. No meat, just boiled vegetables.
Third is MIX STEW (Beef & vegetable stew) for 2,500 yen.
Four is TONGUE STEW for 3,500 yen, which is more popular than beef stew to regulars. They also have mix of tongue and vegetable stew for 3,500 yen.
There only none stew dish is GRATIN for 1,800 yen. This is another classic yoshoku dish with macaroni, shrimp and mushrooms.
And if you want both stew and gratin, there is STEW GRATIN MINI SET (Regular size beef, vegetable or mix stew & small size gratin) for 3,700 yen. Most customers order stew gratin mini set, not just the stew. If you want tongue instead of beef, its 1,000 yen more. All the stews come with rice and oshinko (pickled vegetables).
and the stew goes great with rice.
There are actually two famous stew restaurants in Ginza, but since Ginnotou does delivery for the kabuki actors who perform at the kabuki theater near by it is better known to the public. I personally enjoy both restaurants, but since Ginnotou offers gratin and the other doesn't, I end up going to Ginnotou more. Its a little expensive for lunch, but if you are in Ginza and want to have something authentic which stood the test of time, try stew and gratin at Ginnotou.
GINNOTOU （in Japanese, 銀之塔） Address: 4-13-6 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都中央区銀座4-13-6) Nearest train station: Tokyo Metro Higashi-Ginza (2 min walk) or Ginza (10 min walk) Tel: 03-5524-8868 Reservations: Yes Website: http://www.ginnotou.shop-site.jp/index.html (in Japanese only) English menu: None Credit Card: No Open: 11:30am-8:30pm Closed: December 29th to January 3rd only
Prices: Beef, Yasai (Vegetable) or Mix Stew 2,500 yen Tongue Stew 3,500 yen Gratin 1,800 yen Stew Gratin Mini Set (Regular size beef, vegeatable or mix stew & small size gratin) 3,700 yen 1,000 yen more if you want Tongue stew for Stew Gratin Mini Set
Many of my friends from the states have asked me where they could get some doughnuts for breakfast. There are American doughnut shops like Krispy Kreme, Doughnut Plant in Tokyo now, but a shop which originally from Boston and no longer exists in the states is MISTER DONUT at Shinjuku. They have over 1,300 locations throughout Japan.
Mister Donut is the first major doughnut shop which came to Japan in 1971. Its originally from Boston, the owner was actually related to the owner of Dunkin' Dounts. Dunkin' Donuts eventually bought Mister Donuts in 1990 and it disappeared from the states. But since Dunkin' Donuts business failed in Japan long before they bought Mister Donut, the company which had the franchise license for Japan bought trademark of Mister Donut from Dunkin' Donuts.
Originally, they served the same doughnuts which were sold in the states, but after purchasing trademark, they started to create original doughnuts for Japanese consumers. The most famous one and No.1 selling donut is PON DE RING. It is extra chewy and fluffy. It comes in glazed, brown sugar, chocolate frosting, chocolate frosting with chocolate doe.
They do have regular donuts like SUGAR RAISED, CHOCO RING (Chocolate frosted), STRAWBERRY RING (Strawberry frosting),
HONEY DIP (Glazed) and many more.
For small children, mini doughnuts called D-POP are available.
Their French Cruller comes in various flavors and fillings like ANGEL FRENCH (French Cruller covered with chocolate, filled with whipped cream),
ANGEL CHOCOLAT (Chocolate French Cruller covered with chocolate, filled with whipped cream), CUSTARD CHOCOLAT (Chocolate French Cruller covered with chocolate, filled with custard cream).
They have pies as well like FRANK PIE (Sausage pie), STICK PIE APPLE (Apple pie), HAMBURG PIE (Minced meat patty pie), and EBI GRATIN PIE (Shrimp gratin pie).
Recently doughnuts made out of rice flour was created for children who are allergic to normal flour or eggs. These are called KOMEKO DOUGHNUT and they come in various favors.
Seasonal donuts are available as well like donuts with green tea mixed in the flour or green tea frosting.
For people who want to eat something besides doughnuts or even lunch, dim sum and Chinese noodle is available as well.
Many of my friends who left Japan and went back to their country talk about having donuts from Mister Donut one day again. It is less sweeter than other doughnut shops like Dunkin' Donuts. The only thing that is missing from Mister Donut is they stopped selling jelly filled doughnuts in the 90's, but even if they don't I'm sure you would enjoy other doughnuts offered by them. Like I mentioned before they have over 1,300 shops throughout Japan, so you should be able to find one near by where ever you are.
MISTER DONUT （in Japanese, ミスタードーナツ） Address: 1-2-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-2-1) Nearest train station: JR, Tokyo Metro or Toei Subway Shinjuku (5 min walk) Tel: 03-3208-0160 Reservations: No Website: http://www.misterdonut.jp/ (in Japanese only) English menu: None Credit Card: No Open: 6am-2am Closed: None
Prices: Donuts from 115-147 yen Pies from 147-168 yen Noodles from 315-420 yen Dim Sum from 157-273 yen Drinks from 189-315 yen
Most people have a favorite yakiniku (Japanese style Korean BBQ) restaurant in their neighborhood. These restaurants are focused on family, not businessmen after work and ours is ICHIRYU at Komazawa.
Ichiryu's meat is top quality meat, but not the finest. They don't have any specialties and their menu is just like any other yakinuku restaurant, but their KAKUTEKI (Japanese radish kimchi) for 500 yen is different from others and its probably why I keep going here. Usually, Kakuteki is just spicy and sour, but Ichiryu's uses dried kelp when they pickle it. This brings out additional sweetness and makes it slimy as well. There is nothing special about their regular Chinese cabbage kimichi, but almost every customer orders kakuteki,
Their house salad, MUNCHU for 1,200 yen is a must as well. Its in a soy sauce & sesame oil based dressing.
And just like any other good yakiniku restaurant, you want to order KALBI (Marinated or salted short ribs),
HARAMI (Marinated or salted beef skirt),
ROSU (Marinated or salted sirloin),
MINO (Marinated or salted rumen) , which all come in various grades. The higher the grade of the meat, the higher the price.
If you want some pork, there is TON TORO (Marinated or salted pork cheek), which is extra juicy and tender.
If you like raw meet, their NAMA LIVER (Raw beef liver) for 1,250 yen is always extra fresh and delicious.
Their soups are delicious as well and many customers order TEGUTAN SOUP (Spicy beef brisket soup),
When you are done with your meal, they will serve either ice cream or sherbet for free.
If you just happened to be in the neighborhood and looking for a reasonable and delicious yakiniku restaurant do try Ichiryu. Do note that Ichiryu is a common name used for a yakiniku restaurant and there are at least 20 with the same in Tokyo.
ICHIRYU （in Japanese, 一龍） Address: 2-1-4 Nozawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo (in Japanese, 東京都世田谷区野沢2-1-4) Nearest train station: Tokyu Denentoshi line Komazawa (10 min walk) Tel: 03-3421-2638 Reservations: Yes Website: None English menu: None Credit Card: Yes Open: 5pm-3am Closed: Tuesday
Prices: Jyo Calbi (Special Calbi) 2,500 yen Calbi (Short rib) 1,300 yen Harami (Skirt) 1,450 yen Jyo Tongue (Special Tongue) 1,870 yen Toro Buta (Extra tender pork) 920 yen Jyo Mino (Special Rumen) 1,290 yen Leba Sashi (Liver Sashimi) 1,250 yen Kakuteki (Spicy pickled Japanese radish) 500 yen Munchu (Original Salad) 1,200 yen Other dishes from 400-5,000 yen
Okinawa food is completely different from mainland Japanese food. It has become popular in the last 10 years or so, but if you haven't been to Okinawa and not eaten the real thing, you probably don't know what Okinawa food tastes like. A couple of years ago, a famous Okinawa restaurant in Naha, Okinawa opened a branch in Tokyo. If you want to try real good Okinawa food, TOKYO URIZUN at Marunouchi/Tokyo is one of the few places to go.
Okinawa has its own food culture and it was even a country centuries ago. Urizun provides typical Okinawa dishes like, but one of the items they invented and almost everyone order is DOORUTEN (Deep fried paste of taro, pork, fishcake and shiitake mushroom). This dish has become so popular that many restaurants in Okinawa serve it as well.
Another typical Okinawa dish would be GOYA CHANPURU (Stir fried bitter melon, tofu, spam and egg) for 840 yen. Bitter melon and spam is commonly used for many Okinawa dishes. It is a bit bitter, but the dashi (dried kelp & bonito broth) used to season it makes it mild, which goes well with the other ingredients.
RAFUTEI (Simmered pork belly) for 1,050 yen is another famous Okinawa dish, It looks exactly like Kakuni, which we eat in the mainland, but instead of using sake to simmer it, awamori (Okinawa millet brandy) is used instead. The pork belly is sweet and extra tender.
JIMAHMI TOFU (Peanut tofu) for 525 yen is another Okinawa dish, which is a must at any Okinawa restaurant. Unlike soybean tofu, its sweet and jelly like texture.
UMIBUDOH (Sea grapes or green caviar) for 840 yen only comes from the sea of Okinawa in Japan and you dip it into a soy sauce citrus sauce. There is no taste to it. You enjoy the texture or crunchiness of it.
HIYAHRAHCHI (Okinawa pancake) for 735 yen is another dish which is popular to people who never ate Okinawa food.
FUCHANPURU (Stir fried wheat-gluten bread) for 840 yen is another dish you won't find in the mainland, since we don't stir-fry Fu (wheat-gluten bread). It is main used for osuimono (clear broth) in the mainland.
SASHIMI MORIAWASE (Assorted sashimi) is available as well, but most of the fishes used are tropical fish from Okinawa.
If you need a potato chips like snack with your beer or beverages, GOYA CHIPS (Deep fried bitter melon) for 840 yen is a good choice.
Also, TOHFUYOH (Pickled tofu) for 480 yen is tastes like goat cheese. It goes great with awamori.
OKINAWA SOBA for 840 yen, where the noodles are somewhere between ramen and udon noodles since its made out of regular floor, not buckwheat like normal soba noodles. The broth is made out of dried bonito flakes and pork bones.
Now for the following dishes, it won't be for everyone to eat. Even mainland Japanese people dislike most of these dishes, but they are authentic Okinawa food. MIMIGAH SASHIMI (Boiled pork ear with vegetables) for 735 yen. You dip in sanbaizu (vinegar sauce). It is crunchy with really no taste to it.
SUGARASU TOFU (Tofu with salted small fish) for 525 yen is another item you will never see in the mainland.
NAMAKO NO SUNOMONO (Vine grated sea cucumber) for 630 yen is a common dish in the mainland as well, but vinegar sauce they use is a little different.
And the most uncommon dish that even many people from Okinawa dislike is YAGI NO SASHIMI (Raw goat sashimi) for 1,050 yen. Goat meat is used for many dishes in Okinawa, but if you are not use to the smell of it, don't even think of trying any goat dishes.
If its your first time to have Okinawa food, do consider Tokyo Urizun since they do provided authentic Okinawa food. Most Okinawa restaurants in Tokyo, arrange the taste so mainland people can enjoy it, but its not the real deal. As long as you order the dishes, I recommended you will enjoy food at Urizun. Also, its very healthy since they use limited amount of salt compared to normal Japanese food.
TOKYO URIZUN （in Japanese, 東京うりずん） Address: 1-5-1 Marunochi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Shin Marunouchi Bldg 5th Floor) (in Japanese, 東京都千代田区丸の内1-5-1 新丸ビル 5F) Nearest train station: JR or Tokyo Metro Tokyo (2 min walk) Tel: 03-5224-8040 Reservations: Yes Website: http://www.urizn.gr.jp/urizntokyo (in Japanese only) English menu: No Credit Card: Yes Open: Weekdays 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-4am Sunday 11am-3pm, 5pm-11pm Closed: When Shin Marunouchi Bldg is closed
Prices: Mix (Minced Beef/Pork & Mashed Potato Croquette) 950 yen Mimiga Sashimi (Boiled pork ear & face with vinegar sauce ) 735 yen Umi Budoh (Green Caviar) 840 yen Tofuyo (Fermented tofu) 480 yen Okinawa Soba 840 yen Goyachanpuru (Stir fried bitter gourd, tofu, & pork) 1,050 yen Rafutei (Sweet and tender simmered pork) 1,050 yen Other dishes 480-1,600 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.
