Ohh, yesterday we faced low quality restaurant. You might have it at bustling streets. So please select restaurant carefully.

Yesterday night we would like to have "Oknomiyaki" (a thin, flat cake of unsweetened batter fried with various ingredients) in Yurakucho town just next to Ginza which is the most highest quality streets in Tokyo. And we searched if there were any good restaurants in internet in Japanese and found it with good rating then went there.  

The restaurant was typical Okonomiyaki restaurant style with large teppan, steel plate and we expected good Okonomiyaki but unfortunately the Okonomiyaki served was not good with small volume then we noticed it was a kind of typical bad restaurant existing especially at bustling streets.

In Famous busy area in Tokyo like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ginza it is true that many bad restaurants are available with low quality unfortunately. Because a lot of people visit those areas everyday and it is easy for restaurants to have customers, somehow they can manage their business not having higher quality. Most of customers visit the restaurant first time and would never visit again so they do not need to have good quality. It happens especially at main street.

So please decide where you would have foods carefully if you need to have at bustling streets. If you are a tourist, your time is limited so you can not miss the opportunity.

Enjoy Tonkatsu in Ueno, Ameyoko during visiting museums, zoo, parks or market.

Yesterday I went to Ueno town in Tokyo to see art an exhibition of Indian Buddah arts in Tokyo national museum and another exhibition. Also an exhibition of national treasure "Chou jyu giga" which is old comical drawing of birds and animals is available in the national museum but it was very busy even in weekday so I did not join it. It is OK for me because I saw it in Kyoto national museum last year although it was very crowded as well. I do not know why but yesterday's Ueno park was busy with many young children but because of clear weather it was nice atmosphere and I was very comfortable.

As I wrote before at other blog on Aug 15.2014, there are many good Tonkatsu restaurants. So there was no reason not to have Tonkatsu yesterday. I went to "Tonpachi tei" located at narrow array in Ameyoko town which is famous as market town between Ueno and Okachimachi station of JR yamanote line.

It was very small restaurant and seems only one senior pair operates it. I heard it has been established since 60 years ago.

I ordered Rohs katsu teishoku(ロースカツ定食). The pork was thick and outside looks light yellow which means it was deep fried with low temperature oil. It was very juicy and tasty. I like it. If you go to Ueno or Ameyoko, please try Tonkatsu.

narrow allay where the restaurant is located.

The allay is called "Tanuki koji(たぬき小路)"

Busy Ameyoko market

Fish store in the market

Tonpachi tei (とん八亭)  

Address: 4-3-4 Ueno Taito ku, Tokyo  

Telephone:+81-(0)3-3831-4209

Close train station:

       5min. walk from Okachimachi station,

       10min. walk from Ueno station, Yamanote line, JR

Open from 1130 to 1430, 1700 to 2000 on week days

     from 1130 to 1500 ( Last order until 2130) on Saturday, Sunday, National holidays

Close on Monday

Credit card is not acceptable.

*Aug.05.2014 blog:

http://deeprealj.blogspot.jp/2014/08/recommended-tonkatsu-restaurants-1.html

Traditional good ramen noodles and gyoza in Asakusa where you might visit at first when you arrive in Tokyo.

Asakusa is very famous sight seeing place to see temple and shrine and feel Japan traditional culture at first when you arrive in Tokyo. I visited one ramen restaurant called "Yoroi ya ( 与ろゐ屋 )" and had nice a ramen noodle bowl and gyoza. I ordered  "wafu shoyu ramen(和風醤油らーめん)" ,soy sauce based soup which had traditional and a bit nostalgic taste and style. It was different from recent newer ramen taste. Also good thing of the soup for senior people like me was it was not so heavy oily but light.

Ramen with soy sauce based soup

The gyoza was unique since it was cooked with chicken meat although usually it was cooked with pork. a bit large sized and the taste was very good. 

Large Gyoza with chicken meats

The restaurant is located just next to Sensou ji (main temple) so please try the ramen.

Yoroi ya ( 与ろゐ屋 ) 

Address: 1-36-7 Asakusa Taito ku, Tokyo  

Telephone:+81-(0)3-3845-4618

Close train station:

       5min. walk from Asakusa station, Ginza line, Tokyo metro, Toei Asakusa line

Open from 1100 to 2030

     from 1100 to 2200 ( Last order until 2130) on Sunday

Credit card is not acceptable.

They have not only soy sauce based but also salt based soup for ramen. Please try it as well.

The restaurant URL ( it seems English site is not working.) http://www.yoroiya.jp/

Kimono ladies 

The sign of the restaurant

Deep Izakaya, Motsuyaki "Den" in Nakameguro

Nakameguro is recently very popular for enjoying lunch, tea or coffee and dinner and also for living. Also "Hanami" , seeing beautiful cherry blossom along meguro river become very famous in Spring time. It is just 5 min by train, Tokyu Tokyoko line  from Shibuya and also walking distance from Ebisu station, JR or Tokyo metro.

We found very good Motsuyaki izakaya (casual pub, bar ) called "Den" and newly opened there.

"Motsu" means entrails and "yaki" means roasted, grilled so "Motsuyaki" means roasted entrails and it is spit‐roasted .

The "Den" has only counter table as usual style of small deep izakaya and unfortunately menu display is only in Japanese but you can feel real local izakaya. Also assorted "Motsuyaki" are available which should be good to order easily. The taste was very good.

Motsuyaki Den, nakameguro restaurant

Address: 1F Yamaguchi building, 1-30-14 Aoabadai, Meguro ku, Toktyo 

Telephone:+81-(0)3-6303-4471

Close train station:

       5min. walk from Nakameguro station, Tokyu Toyoko line, Hibiya line, Tokyo metro

Open from 1600 to 2330 (last order until 2230)

*Also we heard they have another restaurant in Suidobashi, Tokyo.

Good cafe to have a rest in busy Harajuku town

Harajuku is famous as young fashion town and always very crowded and busy with many people. So you might be tired if you walk around. But we found a good place to have a rest and to be relaxed, which is a cafe called "Blue Garden". It is located an allay just next to Takeshita street. 

Busy Takeshita street in Harajuku

Blue Garden

Address: 1-15-4 Jungumae Shibuya ku, Tokyo 

Telephone:+81-(0)3-5772-3770 

Close train station:

       3min. walk from Harajuku station, JR Yamanote line

                  from Meiji jingu mae , Chiyoda line, Tokyo metro

Open from 1100 to 2300 (last order until 2230)

Good Tonaktsu restaurant in Ryogoku, Sumo town in Tokyo.

Today I visited Ryogoku where the Kogugikan, sumo stadium is located.  There I had very nice Tonkatsu(Deep fried pork). The restaurant's name is "Hasegawa (はせ川 )".   I visited the restaurant for lunch. When arrived it was occupied so I needed to wait for a while for seating but it's just around a few min. 

They offer many types of Tonkatsu and other dishes and I ordered gokujyo rohs katsu teishoku (special highest grade deep fried pork loin with rice and miso soup) as the highest grade of Tonkatsu. The price was JPY 2800 (w/o VAT). If you feel it is expensive, they have also JPY1000 lunch tonkatsu.

Served with rice and miso-soup

Thick jucy pork meat

They showed raw meat before cooking and it was very thick. Because of the thickness I needed to wait for more time than other guests, which was around 15 min.

They recommended to put just only wasabi and salt because the meat itself had nice taste.Yes, it was true that the pork meat was very soft, jucy and tasty. Also it was good putting sauce and mustard.  According to the restaurant the pork is high quality famous Sanegen ton ( mixed of three kinds of pigs) from Hirata pasture. 

Sangen ton explanation

In Ryogoku also there is the Edo Tokyo Museum so if you visit there , also it should be good to have the Tonkatsu.

- Hasegawa (はせ川)  

Address: 103 Ryogoku ozaki building 3-24-1 Ryogoku, Sumida ku, Tokyo

Telephone:+81-(0)3-5625-2929 

Close train station:

       3min. walk from Keihan Sanjyo station, Tozai line, Kyoto subway

       1min. walk from Sanjyo Keihan station, Keihan honsen line

Open from 1130 to 1500 (last order until 1430)

     from 1700 to 2200 (last order until 2200)

Credit cards is accepted only for dinner time

Prior reservation is available only for dinner time

the Edo Tokyo Museum site URL

http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/en/

Nice ramen in Gotanda, Tokyo

Yesterday it was cold and I liked to have hot noodles and went to ramen noodle restaurant called Kimihan and located under railway just next to Gotanda station. It was so nice with fish based stock and thin noodles. I chose salt based taste but also soy-source based one is available.

Soup stock for ramen varies depends on restaurant and also usually soup is based on mixed stock. For main stock chicken and pork are popular but recently fish stock  become popular. Also noodle thickness is a key element so matrix of stock and noodle thickness can clarify positioning of each ramen. Please enjoy ramen tasting and checking soup taste and noodle thickness.

Kimihan, edomae niboshi chuka soba, Gotanda restaurant

Address: 2-1-1, Higashi gotanda, Shinagawa ku, Tokyo

Telephone:+81-(0)3-3491-2005 

Close train station:

       2min. walk from Gotanda station Yamanote line JR & Tokyu Ikegami line 

Open from 1100 to 0400 

Credit cards is not accepted

Prior reservation is not available

Tonkatsu restaurant in Yotsuya town, Shinjuku

Yesterday I went to see my friend's music performance in music club in Yotsuya town which is famous as State Guest Houses and Sophia (Jyochi) university is located across along the river. I was not so familiar with this town but I found nice street with many Izakaya restaurants and also nice Tonkatsu restaurant. 

The Tokatsu restaurant called "Katsuretsu Yostuya Takeda"  seems very popular so the seats were occupied and I waited around 20 min. It was small individual restaurant with just 13 seats.  The restaurant style is not traditional Japan Tonkatsu restaurant and nearly Yoshoku ( western style Japan food ) style and they serve not only Tonkatsu but also curry rice, deep fried beef and other dishes. I tried special pork loin called "Tokusen mochi buta rohs katsu teishoku(特選もちぶたロースカツ定食)" (JPY 1,350) which was tasty and juicy although thickness was not so thick. I was very happy to find another good restaurant yesterday. 

Katsuretsu Yostuya Takeda (かつれつ四谷たけだ)

Address: 1F, Minemura building, 1-4-2 Yotsuya, Shinjuku ku, Tokyo 

Telephone:+81-(0)3-3357-6004 

Close train station:

       3min. walk from Yotsuya station Chuo line JR, Marunouchi line, Nanboku line Tokyo metro 

Open from 1100 to 1500 and from 1700 to 2100 on week days

     from 1100 to 1500 on Saturday

Close Sunday and national holidays  

Credit cards is not accepted

Prior reservation is not available

Squids swam in other restaurant

Snowing even after blooming cherry blossom in Tokyo.

 Yesterday we had snowing in Tokyo surprisingly!  As long as I remember it was first time for me to see such heavy snowing after blooming cherry blossom in Tokyo. Also it was so cold that we need to wear coat or heavy jacket. Still it is cold today and according to a weather report it continue cold until this weekend, 

Last week we enjoyed watching cherry blossom ( Hanami, 花見) but because we had snow and rain and it took time, the blossom has finished almost in Tokyo.  If you would like to see this time, please visit mountain area or north area.  I heard it should be good in May in Hokkaido.

Okonomiyaki restaurants in Shinjuku

As you may know, Shinjuku is the busiest town in Tokyo and there are too many restaurants so sometime it is very difficult to find good restaurants even for local Tokyo people. We face bad restaurants serving small and expensive plate. One of easy and safe way is to visit chain restaurants but it is not way for food lovers If you are food lover and need to have lunch or dinner in Shinjuku, we recommend you to look for restaurant carefully seeing suggestions, recommendations from your friends.

Last time we found good Okonomiyaki restaurants in Shinjuku.

1. Tanba tei (丹波亭)

This small restaurant has typical western , Osaka's style and you can enjoy local soul food atmosphere. We heard they cook using Kyoto vegetables. Although the location is not center of the town, it is valuable to visit there. 

Tanba te i(丹波亭)

Address: 7-14-9 Nishi shinjuku, Shinjuku ku, Tokyo 

Telephone:+81-(0)3-3227-1570 

Close train station:

       10min. walk from west gate of Shinjuku station

Open from 1130 to 1330

     from 1700 to 2400 (Last order 2300) on week days, Saturday

     from 1700 to 2230 (Last order 2200) on national holidays

Close on Sunday 

Topei yaki
an omelet filled with shredded cabbage and sliced pork
one of popular dish in Osaka style Okonomiyaki restaurants

Teppan ( steel plate to bake )

Also there are nice restaurants for Hiroshima style in Shinjuku.

2. Ichiko  (いち香)

There is large teppan and if you sit on the counter, you can see how to cook Hiroshima style okonomiyaki.It is located close to electronic and camera shops of Yodobashi cameras so it is a good way to have lunch during shopping.

Ichiko (いち香)

Address: B1F, Kouno building, 1-11-11 Nishi shinjuku, Shinjuku ku, Tokyo 

Telephone:+81-(0)3-6302-0147 

Close train station:

       5min. walk from west gate of Shinjuku station

Open from 1100 to 1500 and from 1700 to 2400 (Last order 2315) on week days

     from 1100 to 2400 (Last order 2315) on Saturday

     from 1100 to 2300 (Last order 2215) on Sunday 

Also there is brother restaurant called "Asuka" close to the "Ichiko".

3. Asuka  (あす香)

Asuka  (あす香)

Address: B1F, Kasai building, 1-12-12 Nishi shinjuku, Shinjuku ku, Tokyo 

Telephone:+81-(0)3-3343-1717 

Close train station:

       5min. walk from west gate of Shinjuku station

Open from 1100 to 1500 and from 1700 to 2400 on week days

     from 1100 to 2400 on Saturday

     from 1100 to 2300 on Sunday, national holidays