The popularity of Japanese sake has been rising not only in other countries but also in Japan. Also, the restaurants that carry sake not only at casual bars but also at French, Italian and Chinese restaurants is increasing.
It is becoming more standard to enjoy unique Japanese sake with various kinds food but not only Japanese. The popular bar named “Sakaba Soregashi” that you can feel free to enjoy Junmaishu (sake made without added alcohol or sugar) has opened another branch named “Nikuryouri Soregashi” in Gotanda, this March.
There are other branches that serve chicken, but this new branch mainly serves beef dishes. They put more importance on having a variety of kinds of Japanese sake.
The owner, Jun Oyama, said, “Japanese sake is the national beverage that we can be proud of to the world. I want more young people to enjoy their deep tastiness freely.”
If you eat plain red meat, the sake that has rich and strong flavor is going to go with it. If you eat sweeten meat like sukiyaki, the tanrei (crispy and dry) sake is going to go with it.
I would recommend you enjoy finding the best sake to go with their meat. It is also popular to drink their original sake called “Hideo(756yen include tax)” with carbonated water. I bet you are going to get hooked on sake once you find the best one to go with their meat dish even if you are not good at Japanese sake!
■Information
Address：1-4-8 Shuwa Gotanda Ekimae Residence202, Nishi Gotanda Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Tel：03-6420-3092
Hours：［Mon to Thu and Sat］5：00PM to 1：00AM（L.O. 12：00PM）
［Fri]5：00PM to 2：00AM（L.O. 1：00AM）
［Sun]5：00PM to 12：00PM（L.O. 11：00PM）
Holiday：Irregular holidays
RECOMMENDED ENTRIES
-
The Yakiniku (Korean barbeque) restaurants in Tokyo have been changing these days. The casual restaurants have been getting popular, but on the other hand, the restaurant that “they cook the meat for you” is becoming popular recently as well. When thinking about a Yakiniku restaurant, it was standard to grill the food in front of you by yourself. However, because of the popularities of big chunks of meat, the numbers of restaurants that serve thick-cut meat has increased. They want their guests to eat meat cooked the best way. That’s why the yakiniku restaurant which serves cooked meat has been increasing.
The popular restaurants among yakiniku lovers especially are “Onuki” in Shinjuku and “Oniku-ya Keisuke Sannan-bo” in Hiroo. Since Shinjuku is close to Okubo which is said to be one of the leading Korean towns in Tokyo, Shinjuku has been considered to be “Yakiniku barren area.” However, since the opening of the restaurant called “Onuki,” it has become popular among yakiniku fans. They only have three course menus.
The regular meat and innards they serve are remarkably huge, but the most popular thing in this restaurant is the thick beef tongue. This beef tongue grilled by the staff has a great crispy texture even though it is very thick and juicy.
Onuki’s Beef tongue. It appears as the first meal on the course menu. If you are patient and wait for it to cool down, you can taste the prime beef tongue that has rich meat juice. The course starts from 12000yen.
On the other hand, “Onikuya Keisuke Sannan-bo” which opened in last year in the Hiroo Shopping Street only serves Takamori Japanese beef which is a rare brand of meat from Yamaguchi prefecture. They have some entrees, but you should order the course menu so that you can enjoy the exclusive big chunk of steak.
It is great to enjoy looking at the red meat grilled slowly on the special ordered roaster. I bet you won’t be able to suppress a grunt of deliciousness when you chew this big chunk of medium-rare cooked red meat. If you want to enjoy something luxurious, I recommend you to try these new style yakiniku restaurants.
“Onikuya Keisuke Sannan-bo” Takamori Japanese brand, big chunk of prime beef steak.
They serve the best red meat that is fresh daily. It is fun to have a conversation with staff and wait until the meat gets ready. The course starts from 7500yen.
Address: 2-18-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Address: HONGOKU Bldg. B1F, 5-2-25 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Keiko Kodera：Writer
Kayo Sekiguchi：Photographer
−−−
Related article：【TokyoDinner】The food that has been loved with alcohol in old town Tokyo
Related article：Enjoy the authentic taste along on the Chuou railroad line
-
【Tokyo Lunch】 Gorge on the best hamburgers at Michelin-starred restaurant known for its exquisite tasting meat
“UMAMI BURGER” from Los Angels has come to Japan this March, and draws public attention. However, the Japanese hamburger is as good as that. In these days, there are so many restaurants that serve “special hamburger” as good as the ones in hamburger stores. The latest trends of meat dish and casual dining boost the popularity of a gourmet hamburger.
Especially, the lunch time only hamburger cooked by the chef who works for restaurants that granted the stars in Michelin Tokyo. In the “Tateru Yoshino Bis” located in “Park Hotel Tokyo,” there is an extreme hamburger created by Takeru Yoshino who is considered to be a French master. It was originally one of the lounge menus in this hotel, but it got very popular so he started serving it in the restaurant only at the lunch time.
The hamburger is considered to be American food, but Yoshino added the basic French cook technique on his hamburger.
The weight of the beef patty is 150g. You can put some ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard just as old American style.
“Bis burger” in Tateru Yoshino Bis
It is has the simple but well-balanced ingredients such as cheddar cheese, lettuce and crispy bacon. Only 15 plates of this is served in a day. It cost 1900yen.
Address: shiodome media tower. 25F, 1-7-1 Higashishinbashi,Minato-ku,Tokyo
Keiko Kodera(Writer)
The hamburger from the restaurant which boasts meat dishes is as good as the one which is made by star chefs. There is a only hamburger in the restaurant on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays called “ruli-ro” located in Mishuku that has a lot of good casual dining.
Not only is the patty grilled over a charcoal fire, but also the combination of ingredients are great. It is great thing for hamburger fans that can enjoy the hamburgers not only in hamburger stores but also some dining restaurants.
“ruli-ro hamburger” in ruli-ro
There is a lot of ingredients such as sunny side egg and smoked bacon. Other than this, ratatouille burger and avocado burger are also popular. It cost 1500yen.
Address: 3-16-3 Ikejiri, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
−−−
Related article：【Tokyo Dinner】The yakiniku restaurants that you want to use for special occasions.
Related article：【TokyoDinner】The food that has been loved with alcohol in old town Tokyo
-
【Tokyo Dinner】The unique “new-drinking place” is becoming popular! Ueno Okachimachi’s bar ” Yang-Shan Aji –bo ” serving delicious Lamb meat
Although there are varieties of pubs and bars in the world, the Japanese gastropub has a very different atmosphere. Some bars in Asakusa or Ueno open from the morning, and recently you can spot foreign tourists in there sometimes. One of the good things about these types of bars is you can stop by there freely without making reservations like other restaurants. Although it is great to drink in the traditional Japanese pub and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere, the unique new types of bars has been becoming popular these days. Young people are fond of their casual yet unique atmosphere.
The bar called “Yang-Shan Aji-bo” which opened last year in Ueno-Okachimachi which is known as the bar sanctuary is one of the bars that you can casually enjoy drinking at lunch time.
As the same bar keeper who is from North East China of the one in Kanda called “Aji-bo” which serves natural wines, they proudly serve lamb meat or appetizers that go with wine or noodles.
lamb skewers(1080yen include tax)
You should order the lamb skewers(1080yen include tax) that is cooked with many parts of lamb to begin with. They have five different kinds of skewers including lamb shoulder and lamb neck, and that goes great with wine(540yen include tax). It is also fun to do bar hopping in two or three different bars around this area, but this place has good food, drinks and comfortable space so that you can’t help staying here for long hours.
■Information
Yang-Shan Aji –bo
Address:3-12-6 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Tel：03-6803-0168
Holiday：Open 7 days a week
Hours：Mon – Fri 7:30AM to 9:30PM , 11:30AM to 11:00PM(L.O)
Sat, Sun,Holidays: 13:00PM to 11:00PM(L.O)
https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131101/13200566/
−−−
Related article：【Tokyo Lunch】 Gorge on the best hamburgers at Michelin-starred restaurant known for its exquisite tasting meat
Related article：【Tokyo Dinner】The yakiniku restaurants that you want to use for special occasions.
RELATED ENTRIES
-
Those passing through Gotanda Station in Tokyo might want to keep an eye out for some tasty treats on sale for a limited time. Patisserie Giraud has opened a limited-time pop-up location inside the aptly-named shop Have You Eaten This Before? The pop-up will be open until May 31, 2022. Have You Eaten This Before? features a rotating selection of products perfect as gifts, souvenirs, or as a treat for yourself. Along with six cakes made to look just like fruits, a selection of other baked goods will also be available.
Lineup
StrawberryOrange Lemon Red Apple Green Apple Melon While it might be difficult to eat these beautiful cakes, you’ll never forget the way the juice-filled mousse and crispy pastry fill your mouth. Which one would you like to bring home? Information
Patisserie Giraud Limited-Time Shop
Open: May 16 – May 31, 2022
Hours: Weekdays 10:00-22:00 / Weekends & Holidays 10:00-21:00
Location: JR East Gotanda StationOfficial Site: https://www.giraud.co.jp
-
Rinko Murata loves all types of curry. In this edition of Tokyo Dinner, she invites the person she wants to meet up with the most to eat the curry she’s been wanting to eat the most. This month’s notable restaurant she stopped by was HEIJITSU HIRU DAKE in Kōenji, Tokyo. Their curry portions are generous and are good for the stomach and satiety center. They serve a curry flavoured with Japanese dashi, or ‘stock.’ How do you spend your early afternoons when you have time off? Lounging around at home with quality time to yourself sounds like a good plan. Definitely appealing. But this is a rare opportunity. How about going on a little adventure to try something you can get a kick out of because it’s midday and a weekday? I know the perfect curry house for your hungry selves. HEIJITSU HIRU DAKE. As the Japanese name suggests, it’s a curry that can only be eaten at lunchtime, a mysterious dish that doesn’t appear on regular days off. I land in Kōenji, a place I love the most. Even though iKōenji is Kōenji, the closest station to the restaurant is Higashi-Kōenji Station.
My vision is filled with all kinds of sights. It’s like being lost in a treasure chest. This place is actually normally a café and goes by the name Schwarze Katze. It’s open mainly on Friday night, weekends and holidays. “HEIJITSU HIRU DAKE” runs in a rented room in the café and and is open when the café is. It’s kind of luxurious to have the chance to eat my favourite food (curry!) in a place like this. My heart desires the Wadashi Soboro Curry (¥980) that I mentioned earlier. It also comes with self-service coffee for after your meal. For toppings you can choose whatever you like. Since I was there and didn’t want to get lost on what to pick, I went for all the toppings (¥300). The water I ordered comes in a plastic bottle. The tables have antique displays. Everything on them was wonderful. The air was clad in that rich, familiar scent of curry, a special one that I would never get to eat had I not come here. The instant I hold the curry in my mouth the delicious flavour of the dashi sparks in my mouth like fireworks. The broth has a slight thickness to it and a strong, deep flavour that fades into a soft aftertaste on the tip of your tongue. It’s not at all spicy, and the goodness of the dashi is luxurious like being escorted by a gentleman. And I can’t forget the smell. My taste buds throb at this new sensation. Like its name suggests, this is a dish where the Japanese dashi stands out above the ingredient crowd. The restaurant owner has gathered much experience in the kitchen from traditional Japanese cuisine to sushi, ramen, yakiniku, izakaya style and so on. He encountered this place by chance, and with one look he said to himself, “I want to try doing curry.” The Wadashi Soboro Curry came about through his gained culinary experience combined with the aesthetics of the café. To bring out the full flavour of the dashi so it isn’t drowned out by the curry spices, the owner uses two types of skipjack tuna, kombu, dark sleeper, and dried sea slug, as well as a type of soy sauce called Kaeshi. 15 more ingredients are blended together to create the spices, creating deep and delicate flavours. Now it’s time for a session with the mountain of ingredients I greedily asked for. It’s enshrined with classics like meat soboro, beefsteak, agedama, bonito flakes, and dried plum in addition to pickled daikon radish, crushed natto, Japanese ginger, and okra. The spinach and onsen tamago egg sit at the foot of the mountain and create a new culinary sight. The base of the dashi is mobilized with a force of Japanese ingredients with a smell and flavour and that comes together harmoniously in your mouth. I’m spellbound by the flavours that stand out coupled with the pleasant textures of the agedama, daikon and ginger. Hey, I must have hit every ingredient in there. All correct. I added a sprinkle of pepper that was on the table and create yet another refreshing aromatic veil. The compatibility of the pepper with the dish works so well precisely because it uses a Japanese dashi. Wadashi, or Japanese broth, is a staple of Japanese cuisine. The curry and Japanese soul carved into this dish resonates with me. It’s my first time eating it, yet I’m still filled with a sort of nostalgia―a warm embrace. I also understand why when the shop opens, the customers in the café stand up and change with the next line of customers. The owner has a wonderful sensitivity, and has worked out a way to put his own matchless warmth into each and every bowl. I caught sight of his gentle smile as he was cooking in the kitchen. It left an impression on me. What a delicious curry to enjoy in such a wonderful place. All five of my senses have reached peak happiness. I grab my post-meal coffee and head onto the streets of Kōenji. What a wonderful weekday afternoon. Text:Rinko Murata Photo:Kayo Sekiguchi Edit:Miiki Sugita Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga Information
HEIJITSU HIRU DAKE
Address: 1-21-21 Umezato, Suginami, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 11:30-15:00 (Weekdays Only)Official Twitter: @Heijitsuhirudake
-
Japanese sake bar “SAKE Okawari” in Gotanda will hold a rooftop disco on February 4th.
Look forward to drinks, food and dancing on rooftops accompanied by disco music to party you deep into the night.
The disco will be spearheaded by a host of DJs who will trailblaze the way for a riotous discotheque steered by rhythmic dance music on one rooftop, while another will serve up goodies on food carts. The bar itself has over 100 varieties of Japanese alcohol.
The DJ show will make use of a wireless headphone system used at the unique Silent Fest™, so the floor will always be quiet enough for you to talk with people.
The “rooftop culture” is dying out, so this special occasion offers a contemporary revival using music where you can drink and make friends with new people in a social atmosphere.
Don’t miss out on this special occasion to enjoy a drink, oden food stalls and DJs at a rooftop disco!
◼︎InformationYatai Disco (Rooftop Disco)
Location: SAKE Okawari 2F, KB Gotanda Bldg., 1-19-7 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Date/Time: February 4, 2018 at 18:00-22:00
Access: 5-minutes’ by foot form Gotanda Station
DJ Line-up: Silent it / djbkicki / 炙 / Chigusa / しじまーる (Shijimaaru)
Price: ￥3,000 (comes with 1 drink)
*same-day payment with Ethereum is possible
*depending on rates on the day, the price may fluctuate
How to Participate:
Please apply via the Peatix link below.
http://silentfes44.peatix.com/
*Places are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Official Homepage: http://silentfes44.peatix.com
-
The orange Chuo line of the station can be seen from the large window on the wall. Sometimes it's the yellow Sobu line. Without having even left the ticket barriers, you can catch a glimpse of it from the platform. When night descends over the district, the window frames light up with illumination. Welcome to Yonchome cafe in Kouenji. I can't believe it's been 7 years that I’ve wandered up and down these streets! Today we are going to introduce the one place I can't stop loving. It is located in the charming Kouenji and is the home of this wonderful window view.
Leave the south exit, walk along the rotary and you will eventually arrive at Yonchome cafe, which is on the 2nd floor of the building. What a fitting name for a cafe located in Yonchome, Kouenji!
Open the thick wooden door and you will discover a cafe with an interior bigger than you imagined. With 100 seats, the atmosphere of the cafe is moderate and spacious, with a good distance between the tables and an overall calm feel. Sit here and you will easily lose track of time. Amongst the mood lights and glistening stain glass windows, of course the seat of your choice would be next to the window, where the evening light entwines with the ambient glow that radiates from the Chuo line.
However, when the weather is fine or when a mild midday breeze rolls in, it's hard to resist a seat on the terrace! A book in one hand and coffee in the other, or raising a toast with beers, watching the busy people walking the steers below. What's your style?
The heartily portioned lunch sets are reasonably priced and delicious, making this restaurant really stand out. The regular menu includes generous portions that are ideal for sharing. Happy hour runs on the weekdays from 17:00 〜 21:00, during which time draft beers and the house wine sells for just ￥230! The main charm of Yonchome is its value for time and money.
The deluxe taco-rice with soft boiled egg （デラックスタコライス 半熟卵添え） costs ￥1,000. As the name implies, it is an extravagant and luxurious dish. No matter how hungry you are or how many people are in your group, this meal is the perfect size to share or devour solely to yourself. The dish is packed with a variety of ingredients such as vegetables, meat and cheese. The spicy sauce packs the perfect punch to balance out the mild egg. Order a beer for the perfect finish to your feast.
Speaking of beer, the anchovy potatoes (￥500) make for the perfect accompaniment. Although the potatoes are quite large, the crispy skin, tempting aroma, and creamy and salty anchovy butter enhance its wow-factor. This is the ultimate combination of flavours! Although this is quite a quirky dish to single out, I must say out of all the potato dishes I have ever had in my life, this was the best!
Whether you drink alcohol or steer clear of it, there is something for everyone at Yonchome Café. The coffee, alcohol and soft drinks range is particularly large. They also sell special summer homemade lemonade for ￥630, which is the perfect way to refresh yourself and quench your dry days against the heat of summer.
Light pours passionately into the café, yet the atmosphere is calm. No matter when the food arrives, it is always delicious. No matter what time you arrive, you will be greeted by comfort. Whether it be afternoon or evening, whether you come alone or in a crowd, you will always feel welcome.
Like the view outside your window, our feelings change every day. However, you can always count on this café to always be here, unchanged. You can return to your favourite spot, your favourite seat and enjoy your favourite meal.
As the day winds down and the night time illumination lights up, the Chuo line is still running. Seated next to the window that exposes the Chuo line in operation, I thought to myself that maybe, this is my favourite spot.
Photo：Kayo Sekiguchi
Editor：Namiko Azuma
Original text by：Miiki SugitaTranslated by: Samantha Fernandes
Source：She magazine
■ Information:
Yonchome Café
Address：2nd floor, 4-28-10, Kouenji, Suginami
Telephone number：050-5592-9317
Opening hours：11:30-15:00（lunch menu: 11:30-15:00、Happy Hour: weekdays 17:00-21:00）
Fixed closing days：NoneRelated article：【Tokyo Cafe】Enjoy a calm and relaxed time at “Café SOROR” in Ōtsuka
Related article：【Tokyo Cafe】Visit the café which has a menu that gives you great impact Vol,6 “Kissa Housekibako”
-
The good old days food such as spaghetti Neapolitan, shaved ice cream, hot cake, and yakisoba has been becoming popular again. These are nostalgic foods for looking back at good old memories for people who are born in Showa era(1926~1989), and it also is kind of new food for people who are born in Heisei era(1989~).
I would like to focus on “Monja-yaki” as the next Showa gourmet trend. People who are living in other than Kanto area may not be familiar with this food. There are two different ways to cook Monja-yaki in Tokyo; Asakusa way and Tsukishima way. The big difference is to make the base or not. The base is like building a breakwater not to spread dough on the pan. Tsukishima way is to make a base with ingredients such as cabbage at first and then pour the dough on to it. On the other hand, Asakusa way is to make the thin crust with dough at first and then eat it with chopped ingredients on the pan. Sato Koji who manages unique restaurants such as “Cristiano’s” in Yoyogi-uehara and “Pappon Kitchen” in Shibuya opened the new restaurant called “Osozai to Senbei-Monja Sato” this year. As a lot of experienced chefs who learns a lot about multi cultural food, he prepared from standard Monja-Yaki to unique ones such as Russian style ones(1620yen include tax) which has beets and sour cream and Thailand’s style(1620yen include tax) which has fish sauce. Asakusa style thin crust type Monja is the one which Mr.Sato has been eating since he was little. I highly recommend you to enjoy the nostalgic food in this at home restaurant. ■Information Osozai to Senbei-Monja Sato Address：1-9-22 Moritomo Building 1F, Tomigaya Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Tel：03-6804-9703 Hours：［Monja］11:00AM to 3:00PM（Lunch time）／6:00PM to 10:00PM（Dinner time） Holiday：Monday -
Gyoza is a representative popular food that is loved by many people. Recently, even “gyojo (Gyoza girl)” who call them self gyoza lover has appeared. The bar style gyoza store that you can eat gyoza with champagne or wine is especially popular among ladies.
“GYOZA BAR Comme a Paris” in Aoyama is a new style Gyoza store that you can enjoy gyoza with natural wine or champagne. It is also known as the restaurant that Masakazu Narukami from restaurant called “Narukami” which received one star in Michelin guide book is being in charge of creating menu, so their side dishes and sauce have his own uniqueness. Chef Narukami said, “I had heard that the gyoza and champagne store is getting really popular in Paris, so I actually visited there. When I saw French people eating gyoza like as a patty, I thought that Japanese is going to like it for sure as well.” Cilantro, gyoza(680yen include tax) and Onion gratin gyoza(920 yen include tax) are popular other than standard menu such as vegetable gyoza(520yen include tax) or pork gyoza(550yen include tax). Especially, onion gratin gyoza has a great combination of chewy texture of wrap taste like boiled gyoza and rich onion gratin’s flavor. These are good to eat as an appetizer or to eat to finish up the meal. I bet you are going to like this surprisingly good combination of gyoza and wine once you eat it! ■Information GYOZA BAR Comme a paris Address：2-2-4 Aoyama Alcoop205, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Tel：03-6427-6116 Hours：5:00PM to 11:45PM(L.O.11:30PM) Holiday：Sunday
