Robb S's Profile
Food Alleys/Night Markets and Food Courts?
Food stalls, night markets, street food - these aren't really a thing in Tokyo, although you might run into a few stalls at the big temple in Asakusa.
Instead we have izakaya, where you can order lots of small individual food items from the menu along with your drinks. It's true that there are some alleyways filled with small izakaya, but even there you tend to settle in at one place for at least a drink and a few dishes before moving on.
Hot in Tokyo
Does anyone have any recommendations for their favorite pepper sauces that are available in Tokyo? I tried Marie Sharp's, but I found it kind of underwhelming.
Here it is, my Tokyo and Kyoto selection - Final advices welcomed
I think 511 has good lunch deals - that might be where you can save the most by going at lunchtime. Nodaiwa might also be a better deal at lunchtime, but check the online menu prices to confirm that.
I would avoid the yakitori places at lunchtime (if they're even open for lunch).
Dinner party activities?
The idea is to allow the guests to enjoy themselves, not to have to endure an amateur performance just out of politeness.
Here it is, my Tokyo and Kyoto selection - Final advices welcomed
You might mention that your suggested tempura restaurant is around five or ten times more expensive than OP's original choice.
Here it is, my Tokyo and Kyoto selection - Final advices welcomed
One or two days for reservations might be pushing it for some of these places - I'd ask your hotel to reserve a week in advance if possible. Especially for Fridays at dinnertime, which tend to be full just about everywhere.
Tipping [moved from China/Southeast Asia]
In Tokyo, there's flat-out no tipping in restaurants.
Tapas Molecular Bar in Mandarin Oriental Hotel
His website says he's available for private bookings.
Tapas Molecular Bar in Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Tapas Molecutar Bar has announced a new chef - Koichi Hashimoto. He was the "right-hand man" of the previous chef, and worked at El Bulli before coming to the Mandarin Oriental.
Upcoming trip to Tokyo/Kyoto
When you eat sushi with your hands, you can wipe your fingers on your oshibori after each piece.
Upcoming trip to Tokyo/Kyoto
When you get a bento it just means that it's served in a box (or boxes), and served all at once rather than as a multi-course affair.
phony "Kobe beef" on US menus (Forbes magazine)
The real stuff is quite nice! (Although it's much better as a steak than as a burger IMHO.)
phony "Kobe beef" on US menus (Forbes magazine)
Kobe beef is from the breed Tajima-gyu, a specific type of wagyu ("wagyu" just means "Japanese beef" and covers several breeds). I'm not sure you can even find pure Tajima beef in the US - in general you find cross-breeds that are easier to raise and more in line with American tastes.
phony "Kobe beef" on US menus (Forbes magazine)
Actually I think all Japanese beef has been banned for the past few years. Apparently (according to the article, or maybe the follow-up article), there are no slaughterhouses in Hyogo Prefecture that are licensed to export to the US.
Is American Kobe REAL Kobe??
There are around a dozen premium regional brands of beef in Japan, all with their own fans and specialty restaurants. The "big three" are Matsusaka, Ohmi and Kobe beef. [Others are Hida, Miyazaki, Tajima, Yonezawa, Yamagata, Maezawa, Iwate, and Sendai.]
A lot of people prefer Matsusaka beef, but Kobe beef is still popular.
phony "Kobe beef" on US menus (Forbes magazine)
"You cannot buy Japanese Kobe beef in this country. Not in stores, not by mail, and certainly not in restaurants. No matter how much you have spent, how fancy a steakhouse you went to, or which of the many celebrity chefs who regularly feature “Kobe beef” on their menus you believed, you were duped. I’m really sorry to have to be the one telling you this, but no matter how much you would like to believe you have tasted it, if it wasn’t in Asia you almost certainly have never had Japan’s famous Kobe beef."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/04/12/foods-biggest-scam-the-great-kobe-beef-lie/
Tokyo, Shinjuku - Tatsukichi [Kushiage]
I think they do have a menu if you ask for it. ISTR I saw some people ordering a la carte after they had gone through several rounds of omakase sticks.
Tokyo - last min planning
I would strongly recommend going to a sushi shop where someone (preferably the chef) speaks English - the back and forth conversation with the chef is a big part of the experience at a sushi counter.
Tokyo - last min planning
Kyubei in Ginza is big enough that you might be able to get a last-minute reservation.
Kaiseki in Kyoto
Dinners at Roan Kikunoi start at Y10,000, and at Kinmata they start at Y16,000. The branch of Kitcho in Kyoto station starts at Y10,000 I think. Lunches are even less expensive. (http://www.bento.com/kansai/kc-kyoryori.html )
24-hour restaurants in Tokyo
Interesting - I don't remember ever seeing that usage in Tokyo. I see "24 hour" signs a lot, but usually on McDonald's or family restaurants.
Anyway she says "I can show good sushi, ramen and any kind of restaurants that work 24hrs" so I assumed that that's what she meant.
3 days in Tokyo - where to eat?
You're right of course, but they've been opening a lot of new branches lately, and most of the new ones are open 24 hours. According to their website they have 22 branches that are open 24 hours a day.
24-hour restaurants in Tokyo
Kaori, thanks for that, but I'm more curious about genuine 24-hour restaurants, as opposed to places that are open until 2am or whatever. The only one on that list that I know was 24 hours was the American pie specialist Anna Miller's, and that branch has been out of business for years now.
24-hour restaurants in Tokyo
Does anyone have any favorite 24-hour restaurants in Tokyo?
I like Myondon Norimaki in Okubo - Korean futomaki sushi rolls and great spicy stir-fried pork.
And of course the Peking Duck and phenomenally cheap gyoza at the four branches of Chinese Cafe Eight.
3 days in Tokyo - where to eat?
Well you said: "most basic restaurants in Tokyo are 24 hrs open" which simply doesn't make sense.
If you meant that you can find most basic Japanese cuisines at some Tokyo restaurant that's open 24 hours, I would still doubt that. Please show me good kaiseki at 5am, or good teppanyaki or tempura in a 24-hour restaurant. I would be delighted to find such a thing.
Or anything really - perhaps you could share with us some of your favorite 24-hour restaurants in Tokyo? (I even started a new thread for it.)
3 days in Tokyo - where to eat?
I guess the 24-hour Zanmai sushi chain does okay....
Sushi Saito: Wait List & Walk Ins?
Actually (not to nitpick but) I think it's Bassanova's Thai green-curry ramen that's raved about (by me at least). The Thai-soup ramen isn't nearly as good IMHO.
3 days in Tokyo - where to eat?
"One important thing is most basic restaurants in Tokyo are 24 hrs open. "
What a weird bit of advice. Places like Denny's and McDonald's are open 24 hours, not "most basic restaurants.| Is that the kind of restaurant recommendation you'd make for a a visitor to Tokyo?
Food trip to fukuoka and tokyo
Sorry, no I didn't; perhaps someone else here will have a suggestion....
