Tokyo Eat List ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Published on Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, August 20, 2015

Book Now, Thank Me Later!

Seven restaurants you should try when in Tokyo

In case you haven’t checked Instagram lately, Japan has become the new Hong Kong. With reasonable airfares, easier travel requirements, and the Japanese yen at a record low, more and more people have been vacationing in the land of the rising sun, and the bustling city of Tokyo is always the first destination.

People travel to the Japanese capital for several reasons: cherry blossoms, Disneyland, fashion, the energy, or like me, fabulous food, food, and food. It is not true you can get great meals anywhere in Tokyo. Trust me, I wish I skipped a few. For a 100 percent foolproof gastronomic trip, exercise prudence in making restaurant choices, or just trust me when I share my list of favorites. Book them now, thank me later.

TSUKEMEN AT FUUNJI

Come early or be prepared to wait in line (but it’s worth every second) for the best tsukemen, with noodles so perfect and dipping broth so addictive. I can only imagine how long the simmering process was to bring the chicken and fish broth to that level of depth and richness. Multiple layers of flavors cling to each fat strand of the chewy, bouncy noodle. Fuunji is not for the faint of heart as there is just too much sensuality and satisfaction in every slurp.

Fuunji is located at 2 Chome-14 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; 03 6413 8480
See detailed post on Fuunji here.

SUKIYAKI AT IMAHAN

Unlike the sukiyaki places you are familiar with, where the staff dump everything into a pot, at Imahan, they do things slowly but surely, and ever so gently. My server waited for me to finish my first piece of perfectly marbled meat before he started cooking the next, always making sure to give me a fresh bowl of raw egg to dip each new slice of Japanese beef. After I had consumed all the meat, he prepared the fluffiest, runniest scrambled egg in the same pot, the yellow goop soaking up all the precious beef sukiyaki essence.

Imahan is located at Odakyu Daiichi Life Building 1F, 2-7-1 Nishishinju-ku, Shinjuku, Tokyo; 81 3 3345 1470
See detailed post on Imahan here.

TEPPANYAKI AT UKAI-TEI

Go ahead, order the signature eight-course abalone and Ukai beef set and indulge in one of the best meals of your life, starting with a shrimp cocktail in avocado mousse, masterfully cooked fish, foie gras topped with black truffle (Wow!), chilled onion cream soup, tender abalone in seaweed butter sauce, and the main event–tremendously rich, flavorful, fatty ukai beef. Finish off the extravagant meal with dessert in the tearoom. I highly recommend the velvety, luxurious chocolate cake.

Ukai-tei is located at 5-10-1 Omotesando Gyre 5/F, Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo; 81 3 5467 5252
See detailed post on Ukai-tei here.

TONKATSU AT BUTAGUMI

Located at a quiet residential area, Butagumi is not the easiest place to find, but the search for it will end your search for the best tonkatsu in the city. The restaurant carries around 40 varieties of pork. I decided on trying the Hakkin-Ton sirloin from Iwate Prefecture. It is said that this pig’s parents have kurobuta blood. “Like royal family,” my server said. I was sold. Baby soft, delicate, tender, supple, porky, meaty, and rosy, it was unlike any other fried pork I’ve had before.

Butagumi is located at 2-24-9 Nishiazabu, Minato, Tokyo; 81 3 5466 6775
See detailed post on Butagumi here.

YAKITORI AT TORISHIGE

I wish I could insert the intoxicating aroma of grilled meats here so you can experience the magic that happens in this place. The menu at Torishige is in Japanese so I had no choice but to put my trust in Chef Sakamaki, who wowed me, stick after stick, with pork tongue, pork intestines, pork tsukene, and large intestines. Grab a seat at the bar to enjoy the kitchen action and don’t forget to treat yourself to that amazing Japanese beef topped with uni and caviar. 

Torishige is located at 2-6-5 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; 81 3 3379 5188

See detailed post on Torishige here.

SUSHI AT SUSHI YOSHITAKE

Book early at this no-menu, seven-seater sushi bar and let Chef Masahiro Yoshitake take you on a sublime sushi journey. Expect a beautiful progression of sashimi, sushi, rolls, tamago, and soup, each piece showcasing the outstanding knife skills of the chef, his creativity, and his meticulous attention to detail. To this day, I still think about the abalone served in thick and creamy abalone liver sauce. It was like nothing I’ve ever had before, I wanted to hold the plate up and lick it clean.

Sushi Yoshitake is located at 8-7-19 Ginza, 3/F SuzuryuBuilding, Chuo, Tokyo; 81 3 6253 7331
See detailed post on Yoshitake here.

YAKINIKU AT YORONIKU

Go for the tasting menu and be ready to sample different cuts of meat—yes, including the male genital organ! My server spoke perfect English and pointed to the corresponding body part of the cow before she cooked each piece of the heart-wrenchingly tender meat, tableside. On her third reminder to eat the beef folded, I asked her why. She explained that because the meat is so fatty and marbled, if I ate it in one single layer, it would just melt, within seconds, in my mouth. Enough said.

Yoroniku is located at B1F Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; 03 3498 4629
See detailed post on Yoroniku here.

Yoroniku よろにく ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

 

Today I had breakfast at Be A Good Neighbor, lunch at Butagumi, dessert at Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki, dessert again at Kyo Hayashiya, coffee at The Roastery, coffee again at Coutume Cafe.

Good thing my dinner reservation was not until 9:45pm or my stomach would have exploded on me.

 

 

Yoroniku is not the easiest to find. The yakiniku restaurant is hidden in a quiet alley about 
ten minutes away from Omotesando Station

 

 

Look for this sign

 

 

Then take the stairs down to the basement

 

 

The bar greets you as you enter the restaurant

 

 

Dining room

 

 

Once seated, I was given the menu and this paper illustrating the anatomy of a cow. 
Different parts are labeled along with their corresponding prices.

 

 

To keep things simple, I ordered the tasting menu so I could try as many different cuts.

My set came with a welcome snack, an assortment of kimchi, green salad, 9 pieces of meat, noodles, and dessert.

 

 

Welcome snack of tofu topped with caviar

 

 

Kimchi

 

 

Appetizers of shredded tripe, penis (I am not kidding), and beef tartare

 

 

Salad 

 

 

Meats

 

 

More meat

 

 

When I was done taking photos of everything, my table looked like this. So please forgive me
for not taking down notes. I was too busy living and eating the moment. 

 

 

My server cooked everything for me. Very patiently, one piece at a time.

 

 

Before she put each piece on the grill, she would point to my macho buddy here 
to show me which part of it the meat came from 

 

 

The tongue. And this is all I could recall.

 

 

I don't remember which beef part the succeeding pieces were, but what I still remember is how heart-wrenchingly tender and delicious each one of them was. 

You just have to trust me on this.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

By now I noticed that my server kept reminding me to eat the meat folded, so I asked her why.

She explained that because the beef is so fatty and well-marbled, if you eat it in one single layer, it will just melt within seconds in your mouth! WOW!!!

 

 

The next piece came with a tiny ball of rice

 

 

She asked me to wrap the beef around the rice and eat the whole thing in one go.
That was fun! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one was to be dipped in the yolk, like sukiyaki 

 

 

The cold noodle dish in light dashi sauce was so refreshing and springy

 

 

Black sesame ice cream for a sweet ending

 

 

Thank you to my server who was so painstakingly patient with me, 
who speaks excellent English and is so pretty, too!  

 

 

Yoroniku gives you mints after the incredible meal to keep your breath fresh 

 

 

You can also freshen up more in the restroom which is complete with mouthwash, cotton buds,
dental floss, and oil-absorbing paper!

 

 

Our first couple photo! Moo! :D 

   

Yoroniku よろにく: 6-6-22 B1F Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: 03-3498-4629

Gyumon, A Third Time ♥ ♥ ♥

 

Gyumon in Pan Pacific Hotel is our go-to restaurant when we crave beef

 

 

The only thing I don't like about the Japanese yakiniku restaurant
is its silly rule that the shredded cabbage is not refillable. Grrrrrr.

 

 

Other than that, eating at Gyumon is really simple and very enjoyable.

You need 5 things only.

 

1. Jo Karubi or Beef Short Rib

 

 

2. Beef Tongue

 

 

3. Dipping Sauces
I love sprinkling salt and pepper on my sesame oil 

 

 

4. Japanese Rice

 

 

5. A Pretty Cook ;)

 

 

We finished 6 plates of meat amongst us 3 ladies

 

 

And therefore, it was necessary to reward our group effort with
mango and banana crepes

 

See my previous Gyumon posts:
Gyumon
Gyumon, Revisited 

Gyumon: Ground Floor and 5th Floor, Pan Pacific Manila, M. Adriatico corner Gen Malvar Street, Malate, Manila.
Tel: +632 318-0788

Sariwon ♥ ♥ ♥

I think I am the last person in the world to ever try Sariwon. I am on a diet (PROMISE!!!)
but changed my mind immediately when Auntie Judy suggested the place for dinner.
I just love my family that much. :P

 

We arrived at 7pm without reservations and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table.
Not bad business for a Wednesday night! 

 

Can I just say, I hate Korean chopsticks!!! My chopstick skills are bad enough, but when it
comes to these flat and heavy Korean metal utensils, my skills become totally non-existent.
I was dropping kimchi all over the place. 

 

 

 

Magic Towels!

 

 

I had so much fun watching the towels grow I asked our sever to do it again.
That explains the second set. :)

 

Eat-all-you-can banchan party

 

And boy, did we eat all we could! Obviously, these were our favorites.

 

 

Haemul Pajeon - I liked the crispy edges but stayed away from the starchy center

 

We had two orders of the Chesanggeup Yangnyeom Galbisal.
This was easier to eat than to pronounce.

 

In simple English, boneless USDA prime beef short ribs marinated in sea salt and other spices

 

 

Our server did all the hard labor for us. We just sat back and enjoyed the tender and tasty
barbecued meats like royal princesses. Thank you, Joey!

 

 

Korean barbecue essentials

 

 

This is how sissies assemble their wraps

 

 

This is how jinlovestoeat assemble hers. DOUBLE BEEF IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO!

 

 

Still feeling hungry, we asked for an order of Sariwon Bulgogi.
Silky thin slices of fresh USDA choice beef grilled with broth at the table. Served with
sariwon sauce and freshly made sweet potato noodles. 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, Joey did all the dirty work

 

 

 

 

Before

 

After
We found the bulgogi beef quite dry. Next time we'll stick to the wonderful galbis. 

 

 

Before

 

After
I had to switch places to hide the protruding evidence of the food massacre.

 

 

Sexy glasses for sexy ladies! ;)
(I had hot tea in a chunky tea cup) 

 

Complimentary Sikhye for dessert. Thank you Auntie PinPin for dinner! :) 

Sariwon: Upper Ground Floor, Bonifacio High Street Central, West Superblock, 7th Avenue corner 29th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Tel: +632 621-3205, +63915-9009272

Sariwon Facebook Page