Tokyo, Japan + Add a trip

D & Department

Off the beaten track store & cafe selling new and used contemporary Japanese furniture and household products.

French Pastry Heaven 1

Pierre Hermé of Parisian and Ladurée fame opened several locations in Tokyo. The macarons and chocolates and other pastries are uniformly yumtastic and not to be missed. The store at Aoyama is designed by Wonderwall; should be an event in itself just to visit.

Great Bars, Cheap price

Tokyo has many cheap bars that offer decent beer prices between 6-9. Usually Y200 is all a beer costs. Having lived in Tokyo for a year, I can highly recommend Standing Bar O. An underground bar with cool decor and friendlym english speaking staff. Happy hour is from 5-9 and all drinks are half price.

Head past McDonalds in Shibuya and it's opposite Tasu-ichi in the basement.

Nice and inexpensive sushi and sashimi

If you want to eat a really good sushi and sashimi and do not expend a fortune try Sushi-Zanmai.

Umenohana Tofu Restaurants

Umenohana is a chain of restaurants specializing in dishes made from Tofu (bean curd). There are several central locations within Tokyo (refer website) and the lunchtime set menus are recommended as the best way of being introduced to the versatility of this important ingredient in Japanese cuisine.

Daidai-ya

Daidai-ya, although mildly expensive, is a really pleasant dining experience. The establishment is in a large space on the top floor of a building, with lots of cosy, private spaces. The servers are young and friendly and the food is delicious!

It bills itself as a "fusion" restaurant, and indeed, there are some--fairly subtle, I thought--departures from traditional Japanese cuisine.

There are also branches in Shinjuku and Ginza (or near to Ginza).

For all the expats and business visitors hanging around Shinagawa, there's Tofuro izakaya in the Shinagawa complex (although Tofuro is a chain, so you can find it elsewhere). It's middle priced, but really good food. Fresh tofu every half an hour and I must say the creamy one is absolutely delicious!! Besides the good food, and village-style interior, there's also electronic fireworks =.)

Here's a pic I took on one of my trips to Tokyo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/freckle_m/512090752/

More about Tofuro here: http://www.tofuro.jp/tofuro/english.html

Enjoy!

I would recommend Elephant Café in Harajuku, opposite of Laforet and next to GAP. It has an amazing interior and really cheap and tasty food. We usually came here as a group of 4-6 people a bit later in the evening, ordered a lot of different dishes which we all shared and tasted. The food is asian, kind of thai-style. We went here many times and also had a party here. Don't miss it!

http://www.bento.com/rev/0337.html

Jyangara ya. One in Akasaka has moved to smaller place, it's rare, popular ramen restaurant to move to smaller place.

oh btw you wont find Jyangara here anymore. I forgot the exact location, someone needs to update this map.

Gonpachi is overrated.

An excellent little ramen shop in Akiba. The miso tsuke-men was awesome!

This is simply a wonderful place to eat. Probably the best Japanese meal I've ever had. The guys who run the restaurant are young, passionate about what they do, friendly and very, very, very skilled. Images and a little more here: http://www.guidebook.se/?p=665

:: h ::

Below, you'll find the Japanese address – print it out and hand it to your cabbie!

Higashi-Yama Tokyo 日本 東京都目黒区東山１丁目２１−２５ 03-5720-1300simplicity.co.jp‎

Great Italian restaurant, ideal for taking a date, and going for the chef's omakase set with copious amounts of excellent wine.

Mosburger!

Yes, I'm talking about the Japanese hamburger restaurant chain. Their chicken teriyaki burger is pretty awesome and should be experienced at least once in between all the sashimi you'll get in Tokyo anyway. Besides, unlike the western equivalents, their portions are nicely snack-sized for most western folks.

Curiosity: IF you happen to go there hungry and in a company, be aware that the clerks probably won't believe you if you order more than three burgers at once. Happened to us on all three times we went:)

Good food, good beer, free wifi, lovely atmosphere, books, magazines... fab.

I always eat at Umenohana.

One of my favourite places in town. Love going there with my friends or on my own. Good food, excellent team of staff, lovely atmosphere surrounded by lots of books and music.

A Bathing Ape's Nigo last restaurant project. Designed by Wonderwall's Katayama. Something like 5 sorts of curries (beef, chicken, vegetarian...). Delicious indian rose lassy. About 1000yens a meal.

Contemporary wine bar and seasonal dining in Tokyo Midtown centre.

See photos at link below-

http://www.asia-bars.com/2010/08/yao-establish-tokyo-midtown-roppongi/

Definitely try out their naan variations! They're fantastic!

Vegetable based Japanese cuisine

Sushi-bun Tsukiji Shijo 5-2-1 Tsukiji Chuo-ku It's located in the inner market (jonai-shijo). Anago (seawater eel) is a speciality at bushi-bun