Category Archives: Foodie

Another restaurant we tried under the railroad!  This poster caught our attention!

I was so excited to try Japanese cuisine just so we can try new dishes out of the usual Japanese food that we have.  It was New Years Day and it seemed the restaurant was not prepared to serve all our orders so we missed out on a lot of dishes.  We enjoyed most of the dishes we had!

The cream pasta with Black truffle never arrived

The Grilled Foie Gras with Teriyaki and cheese risotto did not arrive too

Mozzarella Cheese Fritters in “Dashi” Japanese Soup Stock – Yum!

It’s a good thing they had the risotto

 Sea Urchin ( uni ) Risotto.  It was very good, it needed a little more salt but all in all it was good

Truffle and Porcini Risotto

[wp_youtube]V3HXb561V5U[/wp_youtube]

We did not insist on dessert anymore because it would have taken a long time for them to serve it – but the menu looked good!

[email_link]

We could not get a reservation in any of the restaurants we wanted for New Year’s Eve, so James walked near the hotel and found this restaurant and reserved.  It was under the railways again 🙂  And we were all very happy to have eaten here  

It’s a small place we took the whole wall 🙂

Loved the wall which had wine labels on it

The fresh oysters were more popular than the baked ones.  The oyster lovers enjoyed it very much

Shrimps ajillo – some Spanish fusion in many of the dishes

Grilled Iberico Pork – Yum!

The seafood paella was so good!!

Some specials of the day which we only discovered at the end of the meal when we asked about the japanese writing on the board!

Whipped cheese with caviar and truffle oil

Foie Gras with oysters and Onigiri ( Risotto ) – Super Yum!

[email_link]

Back again to one of our favorite places – Kani Doraku!  The branch a block away from Dai Ichi hotel was full we could not reserve so we had to go to the branch in Shinjuku – they have two in Shinjuku which confused some of us

Previous entry:  Kani Doraku January 7, 2010 

The kids like the gratin

and croquettes which should be eaten with the sauce or else there’s not much taste

James ordered the grilled crab legs

Crab Sushi

Crab tempura

The broth is made into soup!  They add rice and it’s so good

Our funny server 🙂  

Yum!

[email_link]

 We originally wanted to go to Ten-Ichi for tempura but we could not get a booking.  But Paul was able to get us a reservation for one of our last lunched during the trip when he entered and talked to them!  

This may be the best way to have tempura in Japan – where they cook the tempura right in front of you and you order as you finish and are ready to eat

There were two chefs there cooking

Fresh Ingredients ready to be cooked 🙂

What we did since we were quite a big group – we started per kind – we went through the menu and went one by one and it worked out very well

The anago was very good! They did not have scallops which I really wanted

Kakiage which is small shrimps unlike what we know that is mixed vegetables.  Crab legs and eggplant

Click below to go to their website

[email_link]

We like having Italian food in Tokyo because the Japanese like Italian food so for sure there are quite a number of good Italian places around.  We went to Antonio’s which was recommended by my sister’s friend who lives in Tokyo.  Not Antonio’s in Tagaytay 🙂

We met the children of Antonio who now run the restaurant and cafe.  The son, Antonio ( also an Antonio ) took care of us the whole evening.  He told us the story of their father who studied in the Mussolini Cooking school.  He became the chef of the Navy General which was why he came to Japan.  He opened the first Italian restaurant in Japan in Kobe in 1944.  He cooked for General Mac Arthur and because he liked him, he took Antonio to Tokyo.  He now has 14 delis and 4 Cafe Restaurants.  

It is classic Italian food.  No frills but very good Italian food.  We loved the bolognese and risotto.  We like eating bolognese in Japan.  The lettuce was ceasar salad – it looks very plain but when you eat it, it tastes very good.

I think we ordered just as many desserts as the main dishes! 🙂

Click below to go to their website

[email_link]

Another recommendation by Chef Jay Gamboa!  We loved it!!  It’s a chain so there are several branches – and there was one near the hotel under the railroad 🙂

They cover your jackets so it won’t smell 🙂 from the barbecuing / grill

Deluxe Beef ribs – this is 2 orders 

Deluxe Sirloin

Marinated beef ribs!  Interesting one!  We thought the waiter made a mistake but when he opened the top, the beef ribs was inside 🙂

Salted ox tongue

The pork dishes were very fatty but good of course

Pork Back ribs ( Berkshire pork )

Fatty Pork

Assorted seafood

Scallop

Everyone gets a dessert included with the meals we ordered – Almond pudding

Click below to go to their website

[email_link]

A Japanese friend of Dad and Mom, Kawahara San, took us to a Sushi place in the top floor of Isetan department store in the Tokyo Station!

The sushi Chef is a good friend of Kawahara

Hot towel for wiping your hands

Our first plate

Our favorite 🙂  Chu Toro

Non stop sashimi and sushi coming

I liked the anago!

[email_link]

One of the places they made sure they went to for Ramen was Rokurinsha in the Tokyo Station.  

Previous entry:  Ramen Boys Snacking in Tokyo  

In the Tokyo Station there is a placed called Tokyo Ramen street which is a hallway of all ramen restaurants.  

The most popular is Rokurinsha

A long long line! The ramen boys waited for an hour and a half!

They say it’s very good but were surprised that the other ramen places they went to near the hotel were just as good.  So maybe you do not really have to line up so long to find a good ramen in Tokyo!

 The Ramen boys were so busy this trip snacking around Tokyo!  They would snack a little before lunch, have a little snack again after lunch/before dinner.  Their logic is to eat many small meals within the day.

Their most favorite of course were the Ramen places.  There are many all over the city.  Near the hotel there were several in every block in all directions!  The names are in Japanese so we do not know the names.  I did not go anymore with them but I asked them to take photos 🙂  

Takoyaki balls

They usually order one and just share so they won’t get too full and won’t rack up too much calories 🙂  It’s also their bonding time 🙂

Ramen

 This Ramen place had cubicles where you eat independently

Sashimi and Sushi in Matsuya department store before eating in Tsunahachi

Their favorite sashimi – Toro ( tuna belly )

Manneken waffles as recommended by Chef Jay Gamboa.  There was a line 🙂  This was outside near the Torigin we ate in

[email_link]