Tokyo for Happy Palates (part 3)

Shibuya is probably the hippest and most vibrant place in Tokyo. It's here where lots of people, mostly young but yes, some elderly people too, hang out, meet each other, shop, and eat. A very famous landmark where people would usually meet each other is the Hachiko exit where one would find a statue of the dog known for his unwavering loyalty named Hachiko as well as murals of the animal.

Just a stone's throw away from the Hachiko exit is the bustling Shibuya Marks Square. A lot of restaurants can be had here, including the famous Midori Sushi-ya, which unfortunately will not be featured here because of the long queue and the fennel bulbs' unbearable pangs of hunger. 

Failing to eat legendary sushi brought them to Brasserie Ginza Lions, which turns out to be a discovery worth noting. The restaurant serves some Japanese dishes and some continental dishes, with a Japanese take on Western cuisine, known as Yoshoku (洋食). 

Above is a picture of a sizzling plate of sausages, potatoes, bell pepper, and onions (~Y800). Some spring onions are sprinkled on top which is quite a Japanese touch. The dish is just as hearty as it seems to be. 

Next is a slender (but still quite for the hefty appetite) plateful of seasoned rice topped with tender garlic beef (~Y1400). The taste is reminiscent of beef teppanyaki, with the typical seasonings of soy sauce and sesame muted a bit giving the garlic more authority over the flavor of the dish. 

Lastly are oyster croquettes (かきコロッケ, ~Y1000 with rice and soup). Croquettes are quite a simple dish, but the quality of ingredients can turn the otherwise taken-for-granted croquette into an exquisite piece. The oysters are fresh, tender, almost purifying in its flavor. The croquettes are fried perfectly without burning the oysters inside. 

After a day soaking the sounds and bustle of Shibuya, it would be lovely to have a dinner in a bit more upscale place. Still part of the Tokyo metropolitan area, the city of Kawasaki offers a lot to those looking for electronics and is only a short train ride away from the port city of Yokohama. La Zona is a sprawling (and very nice) mall located next to Kawasaki station, and has a lot of culinary delights to offer with its restaurants. 

A place the fennel bulbs would love to recommend to those looking for a very nice (rather chic) place, and to those who are not in a very tight budget, is S teppanyaki, located on the top floor of the mall. This restaurant has dim and understated interiors and would be perfect for those on a date. 

A quaint appetizer that would get one going is a small rice bowl topped with rarely-cooked and seasoned Wagyu beef (Y900). Yes, this is just an appetizer as the servings are indeed, meant just to put something into an empty belly. The beef is perfect and melts in the mouth. The spring onions add a bit of tanginess to the dish. 

The piece de resistance for the evening was King Crab teppan (Y2600). The crab is fresh as it can get, and the meat from the thighs and the claws is just delicious. The seasonings, which seem to be limited to salt and pepper, are minimal, and all there is to taste is pure luscious crab. 

S Teppanyaki also serves dessert, which is by no means of negligible quality. Set on a frosted glass dish is strawberry tiramisu (Y650), which made the fennel bulbs very happy. 

Tokyo for Happy Palates (part 2)

Tokyo is such a varied city that one never fails to find new innovative ideas - from fashion to technology to cuisine. A Tokyo chain of restaurants that has recently caught the eye of lifestyle, culture, and travel magazine Monocle is Soup Stock Tokyo. Soup Stock Tokyo was mentioned by the UK publication as an innovative brand upholding a novel concept worth sharing the world. 

And the fennel bulbs guess here's the reason why: 

A set menu comprising 2 bowls of soup of your own choosing plus sesame seed rice. On this tray is a bowl of lobster bisque and cream of leeks. Both are just amazing, both bursting with flavor. At first the thought of having soup and rice for dinner is a bit weird, but it's just very comforting, especially on a chilly evening. This set costs Y990. Soup Stock has branches all over Tokyo, including this one in Fuchu-shi. 

Another remarkable restaurant chain that's worth sharing is Freshness Burger. Founded in 1992, Freshness Burger sells burgers made from fresh and organic ingredients. Even the menu indicates where the beef and the vegetables come from. Another interesting thing to note about this chain is that its branches have a very homely ambience, resembling a coffee shop more than a burger shop. This was taken in a shop at Inagi-shi, just a few steps away from the Keio line Inadazutsumi station. 

And true it is to its mission, the burgers are just the best the fennel bulbs have ever tasted. The lettuce was all green and spotless and the beef was soft, juicy, and just utterly tasteful. The cheese and the onions were also delightful. It was just blissful. Burgers cost anywhere between Y500 - Y700. 

And care to have some hot cocoa (Y250) after those really delicious burgers? 

Tokyo for Happy Palates (part 1)

Tokyo and its consolidated metropolitan area is home to almost 30 million people. It is the world's largest city in terms of population, and also is the world's richest. This city is just remarkable, beating with an energy and drive so palpable and restless. And the fennel bulbs definitely love this beautiful and dynamic city. 


With its position as one of the planet's most global of cities, the dining scene in Tokyo is one that a lot of other cities also look up to. The best of Japanese cuisine can be had in Tokyo, and some of Europe's best chefs have opened up restaurants in the city whipping up the best of international cuisine. 

The best of Japanese ramen in Tokyo is served in Ippudo. This restaurant chain has dozens of stores in Tokyo, and has achieved much renown for the savory broth and its noodles which are hand-pulled inside the restaurant's kitchens (separated by glass, one can just watch how the best ramen is spurned). Ippudo already has branches in New York and Singapore. 

The picture above is a bowl of luscious Akamaru Ramen (赤丸ラーメン). It literally means "red bowl ramen" and is tastier and the broth is denser than its white bowl counterpart. A rich mixture of possibly boiled pork and duck bones and miso characterize the soup. Light soy is added as a contrast to the light colour of the miso, and a rich paste of sesame adds a dimension of nuttiness to the dish. 

Accompanying the ramen are 10 pieces of Hakata-style dumplings, also known as gyoza. These gyozas are a bit smaller than the usual ones you'd find in normal Japanese restaurants, but the filling is just bursting with flavour. Together with the ramen, an unforgettable meal at Ippudo that would most likely fill the belly costs around Y1100, and not pricey at all. 

A popular Japanese food that has enamored people around the world and has become almost synonymously associated with Japanese cuisine is tempura. Affordable tempura with high quality ingredients can be had at Tenya (てにゃ). This restaurant chain has a lot of stores within the Tokyo Metropolitan area. 

On the picture above is a tempura rice bowl with the addition of lotus and moriatake mushrooms. One set comprises the bowl with a smaller bowl of miso soup. At Y680, it is reasonable enough. And the freshness of the ingredients just reveals itself within the deep-fried layers of batter which are crisp and delicious. 

(to be continued...)