After such a long delay, the Japan EATS blog is finally here. Thank you for your patience!!
This blog is super photo-heavy since it is covering all the foods I had while in Japan. Sadly I missed taking some photos, but it is still a lot. I didn't really cover much of what my boyfriend ate, but some of his meals and opinions pop up at places.
Just like with my previous Japan EATS entries, I've organized the places by region. Some of the places were re-visits so there won't be much on them if my impression hasn't changed. For more info on those places and about other foods I've had while in Japan, below are my Japan EATS entries from my last trips:
2018 Japan EATS
2016 Japan EATS
2014 Japan EATS
I've added a Tokyo and Osaka header to try making it easier to navigate between places. Do a search for "--TOKYO--" or "--Osaka--" without the quotation marks to jump to those sections.
2016 Japan EATS
2014 Japan EATS
I've added a Tokyo and Osaka header to try making it easier to navigate between places. Do a search for "--TOKYO--" or "--Osaka--" without the quotation marks to jump to those sections.
This year I was a bit more adventurous. We tried a variety of places. As such, we got exposed to some really good places, some decent places, and some... not-so-good places.
Also, just to note that since I covered so many places this year, I've forgotten the ordering process for a few places. I'll make more effort to keep track of everything the next time.
I'm just keeping this here because it is useful: One thing to note is that when ordering foods in Japan, if you don't know Japanese or enough Japanese, you can often point to what you want on the menu and show with your fingers how many of that item you want. Even though I was prepped beforehand how to order in Japanese, I would still often end up pointing at the menu and saying how many I'd want.
I'm just keeping this here because it is useful: One thing to note is that when ordering foods in Japan, if you don't know Japanese or enough Japanese, you can often point to what you want on the menu and show with your fingers how many of that item you want. Even though I was prepped beforehand how to order in Japanese, I would still often end up pointing at the menu and saying how many I'd want.
I should have defined this before, but below is my general rating system. Previous entries follow this to an extent:
YES!! -- A must-visit, depending on your food preferences. Near 100% satisfaction from me.
Yes! -- Something on the menu provokes excitement and / or light frothing for me.
Yes -- Chances of finding something delicious or interesting is high.
Standard -- Fine to go if you need your belly filled.
Unsure -- Had a bad first impression but may re-visit to see if I was just unlucky that day.
Umm... -- If it was the last restaurant in the world I might consider going back.
No -- This place does not exist. Would not recommend.
----TOKYO----
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IKEBUKURO
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CAFE ROANAPUR
Type(s) of Cuisine: Variety
Specialty (if any): Black Lagoon-themed
Yen Spent: 2800
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Small
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Standard (it's not there anymore)
Brief Impression
Cafe Roanapur was a collaboration cafe with "and Gallery" that ran from June 9 to July 2. "And Gallery" seems to be a space that does art exhibitions, collaboration cafes, and other events. Being a fan of Black Lagoon, I had to go! After laying out a general itinerary for the trip, there was only one day we could check it out and that was the day before heading off to Osaka.
We got there an hour before the cafe opened, anticipating a line. Surprisingly nobody was there. We ended up roaming around Ikebukuro and came back 10 minutes before open time and still nobody was there. Maybe this is because it was so close to the end of its run? Three more people showed up about five minutes before opening.
The inside looked like a standard cafe but with Black Lagoon decals and posters on the wall and the anime playing on the TVs. The server handed us a paper with a QR code, telling us to scan it to access the menu. There was an option to view the menu in English.
Overall, it was a good experience. The three other people who were at the cafe seemed like they ordered every drink on the menu (there were seven drinks) and were taking pictures. As we were leaving, two other people came in. It's nice to see other Black Lagoon fans. :)
What I Ate / Drank ...
Eda's Wild Pizza (1000 yen) -- This had a decent taste but not worth it for 1000 yen.
Eda's Blue Lychee Soda (800 yen) -- I tasted the lychee. I also tasted some kind of syrupy soda that clashed horribly with it. :s
Roberta's Black Roll Cake (1000 yen) -- This was pretty good. It was much more worth it than the pizza.
The menu and time slots for Cafe Roanapur.
The inside of Cafe Roanapur.
A placemat. I playfully annoyed my boyfriend when he asked me who those characters were and I answered without giving any extra details. For example, he pointed to Roberta (the maid) and asked who she was and I answered, "A maid with a gun." Then he pointed to Eda (the nun) and asked who she was and I answered, "A nun with a gun." :)
A drink coaster.
Roberta's Black Coffee with ice cream. My boyfriend said it was bitter but the sweet ice cream was a good balance.
Eda's Blue Lychee Soda.
Sawyer's Sawa Sawa Sandwich. My boyfriend said it was okay.
Eda's Wild Pizza.
Roberta's Black Roll Cake. I liked this.
The goods shop area. I ended up getting something, but I had to think hard about what to get.
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SHINJUKU
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MCDONALD'S **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Western
Specialty (if any): Fast food
Yen Spent: 1480 (split a meal with my boyfriend)
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier before the food comes
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier before the food comes
Restaurant Size: Not applicable
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
Like what I've said at every Japan Eats blog, McDonald's is McDonald's. The taste for nuggets and burgers are pretty similar to the McDonald's in Canada, but McDonald's in Japan has some items that aren't available in Canada. If you've never had a teriyaki burger before from McDonald's and you are curious to know what it tastes like, look no further.
We tried out locations in Tokyo and Osaka and the cleanliness and service seemed about the same.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Petit Pancakes (240 yen) -- It's similar to the pancakes I've had during previous Japan trips. This means the pancakes are pretty tasteless without some kind of topping or syrup to give it flavour.
Teriyaki Muffin Set (540 yen) -- This set came with drinks and fries, but I just wanted to try out the teriyaki muffin. It wasn't really for me.
Big Breakfast Deluxe Set (780 yen) -- I didn't realize it at the time, but as of this writing, the Big Breakfast is no longer a menu item in Canada. This was decent for its cost.
Chocolate Macaron (190 yen) -- I've had better macarons, but this gets a pass.
The petit pancakes. They are good with the syrup.
The teriyaki muffin. It tasted strange with the muffin.
The Big Breakfast Deluxe. I'm glad I had enough syrup for the big pancake.
MATSUYA **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Various
Specialty (if any): Fast food rice dishes
Yen Spent: 2120
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Yes!
Brief Impression
Matsuya is pretty similar to the last visit. When you enter, you make your order at a vending machine (there is an option to see the menu in English). After paying for your order, a ticket comes out. Then you sit at an empty seat or table and give your ticket. Then your food comes in about 5-10 minutes. During the wait, you can serve yourself some water.
Not every dish is great, but with price factored in you can't really go wrong with many of them. We visited one location in Shinjuku and one in Osaka. The one in Osaka was smaller but the service seemed the same.
On one of the days we visited Matsuya, I got sick later on. We suspect it was either a dish I ordered from Matsuya or a dish I ordered from another place. My reasoning for suspecting Matsuya is because I ordered a curry dish for breakfast. I received the dish within minutes. What are the odds that a big batch of curry would be ready just as I ordered it? For breakfast? If eating curry for breakfast is actually a common thing in Japan, please let me know!
Regardless, I'd visit Matsuya again. All the other dishes I had were fine.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Chicken Tomato Curry (half) (580 yen) + Salad (130 yen) -- The salad wasn't anything to write home about, but I enjoyed the tomato curry. The spiciness was just right for me.
Beef Strips [forgot the actual menu item name] (530 yen) -- This is one of my favourite things to eat at Matsuya so I had to eat it once, even if by itself.
Beef Curry (880 yen) -- It was a lot to eat for breakfast, but I overall enjoyed it.
The chicken tomato curry and salad. I tend to like tomato flavours.
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ODAIBA
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TEPPAN YATAI (IN DIVER CITY FOOD COURT) **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Yakisoba
Yen Spent: 968 (Yakisoba with an egg)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: N/A
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
I called this the "Yakisoba Place" in my last Japan EATS blog. The above pic is re-used from that time, too, since I forgot to take a picture. The layout did look the same and the process of ordering was the same, too. This place serves pretty good yakisoba. Even though there is often a line, the line goes pretty quickly. As mentioned before, even though the menu on the board was all in Japanese, there was an English menu at the counter where you place your order.
I've mentioned this in my last Japan EATS blog, but I'll mention it again:
1. If you are dining in, each food stall provides their own tray and dishes. When you are done eating, you return the dishes and tray back to the stall you ordered food from.
2. In the center area of the food court were a couple stations where you could wash your hands or serve yourself water.
I've mentioned this in my last Japan EATS blog, but I'll mention it again:
1. If you are dining in, each food stall provides their own tray and dishes. When you are done eating, you return the dishes and tray back to the stall you ordered food from.
2. In the center area of the food court were a couple stations where you could wash your hands or serve yourself water.
My yakisoba with egg. It tasted the same as before, which was yummy.
TAKOYAKI MUSEUM **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Takoyaki
Yen Spent: 670
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
Restaurant Size: N/A
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
The takoyaki museum is at the end of DECKS Tokyo Beach. It looks the same as last time. We were both pretty full from an earlier meal so we didn't order much.
The below is lifted from the previous blog:
There are a bunch of stalls that sell different flavoured takoyaki. All the ordering is done via vending machine. Each stall has their own machine for you to select what you want. Once you put the money into the vending machine, you get a ticket to hand off to the person at the counter. You will then be handed a buzzer with a number. When your order is ready, the buzzer will vibrate and you go to pick up your order.
Since I love takoyaki, I would totally go back again!
There are a bunch of stalls that sell different flavoured takoyaki. All the ordering is done via vending machine. Each stall has their own machine for you to select what you want. Once you put the money into the vending machine, you get a ticket to hand off to the person at the counter. You will then be handed a buzzer with a number. When your order is ready, the buzzer will vibrate and you go to pick up your order.
Since I love takoyaki, I would totally go back again!
I got some regular takoyaki. My boyfriend liked the slight crunchiness.
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SHIBUYA
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SUSHI NO MIDORI **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Sushi
Yen Spent: 0 (my boyfriend paid for both our meals -- he paid 6160 in total)
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter after the meal
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? YES!!
Brief Impression
This was my third time visiting Sushi no Midori. I had to show my boyfriend their version of the California Roll. The ticket system was still there (make sure to take a ticket from the machine outside to reserve a seat!). Strangely, the machine was down when we got there (about an hour before opening), so we waited by the bench nearby. About 30 minutes before open, a small line formed. Around 10 minutes before open, an employee came out of the restaurant and booted up the machine. Everybody gathered around the machine. My boyfriend and I went closer to the machine and the person who sat next to us on the bench told everybody else that we were there first, so we got the first ticket (thank you, kind stranger! :)).
At opening time, things were a bit chaotic. Even though my boyfriend and I got the first ticket for seating, other customers were being called by name and were seated first. Checking online afterwards, it seems like Sushi no Midori offers a reservation system now, though I know nothing about it. After all the names were called, my boyfriend and I were finally seated.
Ordering was done through a tablet (a change!), but whenever I tried to send our order, it wouldn't go through due to the system being too busy. A server came by to take our order with a paper and pencil. When we tried to make another order, it took about 30 minutes before another server came to our table, so try to order everything you want at the beginning.
Despite these electronic mishaps, I'd totally go back. The food is still top quality!
What We Ate / Drank ...
California Roll (ordered four times) (2200 yen) -- We ordered a lot of these since they were so good. I still think this version is better than the standard California rolls.
Red Roll (660 yen) -- Quite good.
Norway Roll (550 yen) -- I enjoyed the salmon.
Ootoro Sashimi (2750 yen) -- This was quite pricey but I wanted to splurge a bit since I wasn't paying, hehe. ;)
Norway Roll. I probably could have done without the mayo on top.
Red Roll!
California Roll. This is still my favourite.
Ootoro Sashimi. Yum!
KRISPY KREME **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Western
Specialty (if any): Donuts (Japanese style)
Yen Spent: 950 (split a three-donut box with my boyfriend)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
We visited a Krispy Kreme in Osaka and in Shibuya. The Osaka location was take-out only and we bought a box of three. The location in Shibuya is still cozy and inviting, but it can get pretty busy. Something interesting was seeing "non-donut" menu items. Or rather, they were "donut burgers". If I wasn't already full at that time, I would have tried one of those "donut burgers".
What I Ate / Drank ...
Peach Lemonade (540 yen) -- I'll try any kind of peachy drink. It was good!
Box of Three Donuts (820 yen) -- We got a Chocolate & Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Crunch, and New York Chocolate Chip Brownie. They were all quite chocolatey.
An ad for the "donut burgers" (spelled "doughnut burger"). I would try the pastrami beef & potato.
When I saw the peach drink, I had to have it.
And have it I got. :)
ICHIKAKUYA RAMEN
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Ramen
Yen Spent: 1280 (Rice dish with gyoza)
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
I don't have much to say about this place. The food was okay and the place was clean. There are better ramen places out there, but this can do the job if you are looking for something to fill your stomach.
I saw fries on the menu. The fries were okay.
My rice dish and the gyozas. Both were okay.
ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY
Type(s) of Cuisine: Dessert
Specialty (if any): Rolled ice cream
Yen Spent: 0 (my boyfriend paid 850)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Take-out only (There is a standing table outside)
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
Even though this was across Krispy Kreme, I thought it was just a regular ice cream place. I still didn't think much of it until I watched the staff person make the rolled ice cream. 850 yen is a hefty price for a dessert (in Japan, anyway), but if you want to watch somebody make rolled ice cream and you want to eat a pretty and fun ice cream dessert, I'd recommend checking it out at least once.
I'd probably go back at least one more time to try a different flavour.
Another menu with collaboration-themed menu items. It seems they were doing a collaboration with Attack on Titan at the time this pic was taken.
Some of the flavours.
The rolled ice cream! This is the cookie monster flavour. It was pretty good.
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AKIHABARA
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GINZO
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Sushi
Yen Spent: 1000 (Tempura Udon Sushi Set)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal (I think)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal (I think)
Restaurant Size: Large
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
I've passed by this restaurant multiple times in the past whenever wandering around Akihabara. It's located under one of the bridges and it has a sign saying that English menus are available. Inside was much larger than I expected. There were a lot of wooden tables and wooden chairs and wooden dividers.
My boyfriend enjoyed his food while I thought mine was just okay. Maybe it's a hit or miss depending on what you order. The price seems pretty good for many of the menu items.
My tempura udon sushi set. The tempura was meh, but the sushi was decent. The udon was meh.
My boyfriend's order. It does look quite tasty.
I saw fries on the menu. It was okay, but spend your yen on other things instead.
KFC **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Western
Specialty (if any): Fried chicken
Yen Spent: 1500
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier or kiosk before the food comes
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier or kiosk before the food comes
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
I always like visiting KFC. They usually have new items to try out. Sadly the new items this time were super spicy chicken pieces (no thanks!). We ordered through a kiosk and put coins / money in the machine. I staked out a table while my boyfriend waited for the order.
For some of the people walking in, I noticed one left their hat and another left a water bottle at empty tables before making their order. Is this some kind of etiquette? I'm amazed they weren't worried somebody would take them!
What I Ate / Drank ...
Original Chicken Box (1140 yen) -- This came with fries, chicken pieces, and a drink.
Teriyaki Twister (360 yen) -- The first bite tasted a bit strange but overall I enjoyed it.
Some of the combos on the menu at the time.
My order and my boyfriend's order mixed together. My boyfriend really enjoyed his super spicy chicken pieces.
BURGER KING
Type(s) of Cuisine: Western
Specialty (if any): Burgers
Yen Spent: 230 (5-piece nuggets)
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier or kiosk before the food comes
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier or kiosk before the food comes
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Unsure
Brief Impression
It could have been just this location, but it looked like there was only one staff person handling everything. There was a kiosk to make orders, but it looked like it only took payment electronically so I ordered at the counter. Having no care for any of the special burgers, I ordered some nuggets. The nuggets tasted like the ones back in Canada.
One nice thing was the dining area. The dining area was very huge and my boyfriend and I were able to relax a bit before heading back out to the blazing sun.
My chicken nuggets.
GIGO'S TAIYAKI AKIHABARA
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Taiyaki
Yen Spent: 1000 (2 taiyakis)
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the cashier before the food comes
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the cashier before the food comes
Restaurant Size: Take-out only
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
I only heard about this place 'cuz I came across an article saying that GiGO would be selling Genshin Impact-themed taiyaki for a limited time and each purchase would come with a random character coaster. Getting one of these was my mission!
It wasn't all that difficult to find a GiGO building (they are all over the place), but it was difficult to find one that sold taiyaki. The location I found was in Akihabara. You need to look out for the fish symbol next to GiGO on the banner. Inside, there was a section to line up and buy the taiyaki. At the time, they were doing collaborations for other series, so you have to specify which series for the taiyaki you want. Otherwise, you could receive the coaster for another series. The taiyaki itself was a bit too much for me (eating half would be good portion), but I'd go again if it was doing a collaboration for a series that I liked!
The taiyaki they were selling.
The random coaster I got. It's Yoimiya!
The taiyaki! It was fun watching them make it.
The taiyaki up close. It's supposed to look like either Aether or Lumine (the main character in Genshin Impact). The taiyaki was really hot.
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MEGURO
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GANKODAKO **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Takoyaki
Yen Spent: 572
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Take-out only
Recommend? YES!!
Brief Impression
When I visited place almost 10 years ago, I called it Ganko Danko, 'cuz that's how a guide spelled it. According to Google, it's Gankdako. Back then, it was my favourite place for takoyaki, and after visiting it again, it still is. It was a bit difficult to find. I was looking for a lone takoyaki stand. I had no idea that it was now attached to a building!
When you order, you can choose if you'd like the takoyaki crispy. It's a bit out of the way to get there but I'd say it's worth the walk if you want to experience one of the best takoyaki places out there. I'm so happy that it's still in business after all those years :)
How Gankodako used to look like. This pic was taken back in 2014. Almost 10 years ago!
Part of the menu. Look at all those flavours.
They were very delicious XD
MOS BURGER
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Fast food
Yen Spent: 360 (nuggets)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
I visited Mos Cafe in my last trip so I consider Mos Burger a new entry. The place looked really spacious and had a very family friendly vibe. If I had to compare it to a place in Canada, it may be like an A&W.
The order process was pretty neat. Once you make your order and pay for it, you receive a numbered stand to set at your table. After some time, the order will be served to you. Even though I ordered only some nuggets (I was pretty full at the time), I'd like to visit it again and try something else on their menu.
My order and my boyfriend's order. He ordered a burger and onion rings.
The portions were kinda small for my boyfriend.
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SAITAMA
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SUSHI ZANMAI
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Sushi
Yen Spent: 2600
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter before the meal / Pay at the counter after the meal
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter before the meal / Pay at the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Not applicable / Large
Recommend? Umm...
Brief Impression
I visited two locations for Sushi Zanmai. One in the food court in the Aeon Malls in Saitama and one restaurant location close to our hotel in Asakusa. In my descriptions, the first applies to the food court and the second applies to the restaurant. I tried Sushi Zanmai, because it's a restaurant you can visit in the Yakuza games. My impressions for both were very meh...
Sadly, the taste was either just fine or mediocre. For the cost, I was expecting higher quality. The restaurant experience in Asakusa wasn't that satisfactory, either. It felt like a fast food sushi joint. Our food was served within minutes of making our order, which made me question how much care was actually put into making the food. Much of the food didn't look appetizing either. Our dine-in experience lasted 15 minutes and we were still hungry.
Maybe I'm being really harsh... but out of all the sushi places I visited, Sushi Zanmai ranked the lowest for me. I personally would not recommend Sushi Zanmai, but apparently the Google review ratings tend toward the higher side, so... maybe it's just the luck of the draw what experience you'll get.
I may give it one more chance in the future. One more strike and it'll be out!
What I Ate / Drank ...
Salmon Donburi (660 yen) -- This was what I got at the food court. The salmon didn't taste all that fresh.
California Roll (968 yen) -- There was too much mayo.
Salmon Roll (902 yen) -- This also had way too much mayo.
Salmon Sashimi (486 yen) -- Not the best quality.
This is the salmon donburi. Does the salmon look fresh?
The california rolls. It costed 968 yen for four rolls.
The salmon roll. It looked like a tornado came through this dish.
STARBUCKS **RE-VISIT**
Type(s) of Cuisine: Western
Specialty (if any): Coffee
Yen Spent: 637 (Peach Gaburi)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the food
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the food
Restaurant Size: Varies
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
Starbucks is Starbucks. My boyfriend drinks coffee so we visited multiple Starbucks during our trip. Me being somebody who doesn't drink coffee, often I'd get nothing, unsure what menu items would be unique to Starbucks in Japan. When I saw a new drink coming out and it was peach-flavoured, I decided to try that.
Starbucks in Japan didn't really seem all that different from Starbucks in Canada, aside from certain Starbucks locations being really crowded almost all the time. I'm looking at you, Starbucks overlooking the Shibuya Crossing! >_>
The new drink! It tasted pretty good, but I was not a fan of the paper straw. It made it hard to sip up the cream.
CHIBO
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Okonomiyaki
Yen Spent: 2255 (I split one dish with my boyfriend)
When/Where to Pay: At the table after the meal (I think)
When/Where to Pay: At the table after the meal (I think)
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
We came upon this randomly while looking for a place to eat in Aeon Laketown Mori (the giant mall where we spent one full day hanging about). I had wanted to eat some okonomiyaki at least once in Japan so we dined in. The staff were very nice and attentive.
It was my boyfriend's first time eating okonomiyaki and unfortunately he didn't enjoy what he ordered (he ordered something more adventurous that had a strong seafood taste). My okonomiyaki tasted pretty good, but I made a bad judgement call and ordered two okonomiyaki for myself. I was getting full before starting the second one! D:
Somehow we finished eating our meals, and the staff bowed and thanked us as we headed out.
If I come here again, I'll make sure to order just enough.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Regular Okonomiyaki (1580 yen) -- This was pretty good.
Pizza-La Margherita Okonomiyaki (1350 yen) -- I tried this because I was curious why Pizza-La was mentioned (Pizza-La is a pizza place in Japan). It turns out it was an okonomiyaki made to look like a margherita pizza.
Part of the menu for Chibo.
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TOKYO
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TEMPURA TENDON TENYA
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Tempura
Yen Spent: 870
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter after the meal
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
We came upon this place randomly after passing on dining at the Tokyo Ramen Street (due to all the lines). The menu was completely in Japanese but there was a picture next to each menu item. Overall, this place was fine and the food was decent. Not too much else to say.
Part of the menu. Can you read any of it? :)
My order. It was some kind of meat tempura on rice.
GODIVA CAFE
Type(s) of Cuisine: Chocolate
Specialty (if any): Chocolate
Yen Spent: 1700
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the food comes
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the food comes
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
As far as I know, there are no Godiva Cafes in Canada. The atmosphere gave a mix of sophistication, high quality, and comfort. The food items were on the pricier side, but the quality justified it somewhat. If you feel like spoiling yourself to a delicious chocolate treat, check this place out!
After checking online, it looks like Godiva Cafe also serves some non-dessert items.
The atmosphere feels sophisticated and inviting.
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NAKANO
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UMEMOTO
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Not sure
Yen Spent: 590
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Unsure
Brief Impression
We randomly visited this place for lunch. The vending machine was all in Japanese. I was able to read some of the katakana and hiragana but we mainly relied on the pictures. Since there was only one vending machine, I didn't want to hold up any lines.
Inside it kinda made me think of a discount Matsuya. You hand your ticket to the staff and you can sit wherever you like. You can also serve yourself water. The food was cheap enough but it didn't taste that delicious. I'm not sure if I would visit again.
The vending machine. It's all in Japanese.
My meal -- curry with pork cutlet (I think it was pork). It tasted kinda bland.
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ASAKUSA
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YOSHINOYA
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Rice bowls
Yen Spent: 712 (Meat with rice set)
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter after the meal
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
Yoshinoya is like another Matsuya -- it specializes in rice bowls. A couple differences include being seated first and making your order from a menu (Yoshinoya) instead of making your order at a vending machine and then seating yourself (Matsuya). Like Matsuya, Yoshinoya offers cheaply-priced foods. And like Matsuya, the food is decent.
Between the two I currently prefer Matsuya but that could be my bias talking. I'd be up for re-visiting Yoshinoya to see if my impression changes.
The dining area for Yoshinoya. It reminds me of Matsuya.
My meal. For 712 yen, this is a lot to eat!
EDO TAIYAKI ASAKUSA HONTEN
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Taiyaki, Ice Cream
Yen Spent: 250
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Take-out only (there is one standing table)
Recommend? Unsure
Brief Impression
We noticed this while place randomly walking around Asakusa. Unfortunately the taste was kinda burnt. I had the original custard filling, but would be willing to try another flavour. According to the sign in the picture above, other fillings included: bacon and eggs, roasted pork fillet, chocolate, strawberry, ogura (red bean?), and cheese.
My taiyaki. It's a bit burnt on the outside.
ASAKUSA CHICKEN
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Fried chicken (karaage)
Yen Spent: 680 (fried chicken bento box 3-piece)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Take-out only (There are a couple benches)
Recommend? Yes!
Brief Impression
We came upon this place randomly while walking around Asakusa. The skies were starting to get darker and the red and white paper lanterns caught our eye. According to one signage, Asakusa Chicken won the 2023 Karaage Grand Prix Gold Medal. After receiving our food, my boyfriend and I decided to sit on the bench nearby and eat. After dying in the heat all morning and afternoon, it was nice to sit back and enjoy the cool evening air.
Was Asakusa Chicken worthy of the 2023 Karaage Grand Prix Gold Medal? Yes, I think it was. When I took a bite, I knew there was something about this karaage that was different from other karaage I've had in the past. Was it the crunchy outside? The firm but juicy inside? Was it the seasoning? I'm not all that sure. What I do know is that Asakusa Chicken is worth checking out for karaage lovers!
What it looks like under the cover. This is actually my boyfriend's meal, but we ordered pretty much the same thing.
The view from the bench.
My meal. I like the handwritten "Thank you" note and smiley face. :)
DENNY'S
Type(s) of Cuisine: Western
Specialty (if any): Not sure
Yen Spent: 690 (my boyfriend paid 1470 for one of my meals)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Large
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
Would you believe me if I said I've never been to a Denny's before, even back in Canada? When I told my boyfriend that, he said "Let's go to Denny's!" We visited the Denny's close to the Asakusa hotel two times -- once for dinner and the next morning for early breakfast. The first time the food was just okay to sub-par. The second time the food was slightly better.
What surprised me was the crowd. Denny's was pretty busy both times we visited. I thought with all the other food places around, there wouldn't be many dining at Denny's. How wrong I was.
Ordering was done through a tablet menu that had an English option. When we visited for breakfast, the tablets were down and we were handed an English menu. At first glance the menu was confusing. There were multiple pages, listing items that could be ordered at different times of the day. We figured it out eventually but it took us some time.
Right now, Denny's seems to an okay place to check out if you need something to eat.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Fries with Cod Roe Dip (440 yen) -- This tasted okay. The cod roe dip was a bit tangy and spicy.
Shrimp Tempura (540 yen) -- This was okay as well.
Peach Chocolate Parfait (490 yen) -- I don't know what was up with this, but the parfait tasted horrible. The fruit slices tasted stale and the flavours clashed with the ice cream.
B Set (690 yen) -- This was fairly decent.
The fries and the shrimp tempura.
The horrible-tasting parfait.
The b set. The pancakes weren't bad.
MCLEAN
Type(s) of Cuisine: Western
Specialty (if any): Burgers
Yen Spent: 1700 (Burger with avocado and ginger ale)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Yes!
Brief Impression
We came upon this while on the way to the Japanese Sword Museum. As we looked at the menu posted outside, the server spoke to us in English, telling us if we wanted to order take-out, we'd order from the window, but if we wanted to order to dine-in on the 2nd floor, we'd order inside. Impressed with the guy's salesmanship, we went inside.
The inside was super small, but had the same old school style as outside. I ordered the avocado cheeseburger without the cheese and the server suggested that I order a regular hamburger with avocado as that would be cheaper (smart!). I also ordered a ginger ale. We were told to wait on the 2nd floor and our order would be brought up to us when they were ready.
The 2nd floor was just as tiny as the 1st floor, with a small number of seating areas. My boyfriend and I sat by the window. Along the walls were random old American knicknacks. It gave a relaxing and cozy vibe.
After about 15 minutes of waiting, our orders were served. It was a mistake to get the ginger ale because it tasted like actual ginger (bleh XP). The burger, though -- it was larger than I expected and tasted very good. The toppings tasted fresh and it looked like it was put together with care.
If you enjoy eating burgers and are around Asakusa, this would be worth checking out.
The burger menu. I like that some of their burgers look unique.
The 2nd floor dining space.
My burger on some thick wooden chopping board. It was delicious. You see how many avocado slices I got?! *drools* <3
MAGUROBITO KAMINARIMON BRANCH
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Sushi
Yen Spent: 7140 (Total between both of us)
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter after the meal
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Super small
Recommend? Yes!
Brief Impression
This is a standing sushi bar. We mainly checked it out 'cuz a friend recommended that I try one out. It was our first time visiting a standing sushi bar. It is different from a regular sushi place because 1) you are standing, and 2) when you make your order, the food is prepared pretty quickly. We were the only ones there at the time, so the chef was waiting attentively.
Every time I made an order, the chef would keep track with an abacus. I can't recall all the sushi we tried, but I remember my last order being 12 pieces of salmon rolls (that order alone totaled 2400 yen). The sushi was great! Everything tasted so fresh. I wasn't keeping track of how many pieces we ordered so the bill ended up being pretty high. I have no regrets, though, 'cuz the food quality was so good.
We tried to visit another night, but a few customers were already there and the chef said in English that service was done for tonight and to come back the next day. We got there about an hour before closing so be mindful of what time you go. Maybe they had enough stock just for the customers who were already there. That was our last night before the flight back home so we couldn't go back. T_T
If you decide to check out a standing sushi bar, I'd recommend trying to keep track of how much you order, just so you're not too surprised by the final bill!
A menu of what you can order. I wish I wasn't so sucky with taking pictures.
The dining area and the chef's prep area.
The salmon sushi. It tasted so fresh! I would have taken more pictures, but the food kept coming so quickly I felt I'd be holding things up if I took a picture for each order.
ASAKUSA-GYUKATSU
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Beef cutlets
Yen Spent: 5520 (Total for both our meals)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Super small
Recommend? YES!!
Brief Impression
This place piqued my interest. Every time we passed this restaurant -- whether it was the morning, afternoon, or evening -- there would always be a super lonnng line. And we always passed this restaurant everyday while we stayed in Asakusa. Why did this place always have a line? Was the food that good? What happened inside (the only visibility inside is through that one window next to the front doors)? It got to a point where I had to satiate my curiosity.
The place opened at 11 AM so my boyfriend and I got there around 10 AM. I often figure that lining up before opening has the best chance of a smaller line -- or at least a higher chance that you get there before everybody else. We were the first in line. From that point, I took out my notebook and recorded how many more people lined up behind us and around what time (because I'm weird). Below were my notes:
10 AM -- Us (2)
10:15 AM -- 4 more
10:20 AM -- 3 more
10:24 AM -- 2 more
10:27 AM -- 2 more
So by around 10:30 AM, 13 people were already waiting to get in. By that time, somebody came out of the restaurant and took each person's order. The menu was a choice of three beef cutlet meal sets, where the price was based on the number of beef cutlets (1, 1.5, or 2). I think there was also the option to order the beef cutlets but without all the seasonings if you wanted to pay a little less. Unsure when we'd visit this place again (my boyfriend really hates long lines), we both ordered the two cutlet meal set with all the seasonings.
Right at 11 AM, we were let in. Upon entering the restaurant, I immediately counted the chairs (this layout could be different in the future):
-2 chairs along the front
-5 chairs along the side
-one table with 4 chairs
From what I counted, this restaurant only seated 11 customers. It was sooo tiny!! The two people who lined up at 10:27 AM and everybody else who lined up afterwards would have to wait. O_O
From what I counted, this restaurant only seated 11 customers. It was sooo tiny!! The two people who lined up at 10:27 AM and everybody else who lined up afterwards would have to wait. O_O
After everybody was seated, each of us were provided with instructions on how to cook the meat (I didn't know we would be cooking the meat!). Each of us were also provided a small stone griller. The staff stressed that the meat was already cooked so using the grill was more like a finishing touch. It was my first time using a stone griller and it was quite fun.
The beef cutlet was DIVINE! I have eaten beef cutlets before but nothing like this! The skin was crispy and the meat was soft and flavourful. I tried different methods of cooking the meat -- coating the meat with seasoning after cooking; coating the meat with seasoning before cooking; I even cooked it and ate the meat without any seasoning -- and they were all delicious!
One unfortunate thing for me was... eating two beef cutlets (my order) was too much for me! I got pretty full with about a quarter of the beef cutlets left. I still continued to eat and my boyfriend helped, too, but my enjoyment at the end waned a bit just because of it. Next time I'll order 1.5 beef cutlets.
If you enjoy beef cutlets and you can put up with long lines, this place is a must-visit. Even now as I write about this place and think of the beef cutlets, I long for it so badly!!!!
My order. Those two beef cutlets don't look like much, but believe me -- it was more than enough.
The inside of the restaurant. It is very tiny!
Instructions on how to cook the meat.
The stone griller.
A video of me grilling the meat.
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NARITA AIRPORT
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KEISEI YUZEN
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Unsure
Yen Spent: 2030
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal (I think)
Restaurant Size: LargeRecommend? Standard
Brief Impression
At Narita airport, I wanted to try eating some kind of meal. Sadly, most of the restaurants were on the pricey side. Keisei Yuzen was also a bit pricey but not as bad as other places. It also advertised a variety of menu items.
We used tablets to order and the wait time was about 20-30 minutes. The food I ordered was just okay, but my boyfriend enjoyed what he had. I would imagine that with such a large menu, it'd be a hit or miss on quality and taste.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Fried Chicken and Sashimi Set (1530 yen) -- Nothing to write home about.
Fries (500 yen) -- This wasn't very good.
Our orders. My order is on the left. It looks appetizing, but taste-wise it was meh.
----OSAKA----
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IKEDA
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CAFE RESTAURANT GUSTO
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Not sure
Yen Spent: 1000
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Medium
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
I saw this restaurant at many places. For some reason, I never thought we would end up checking one out. The atmosphere was family-friendly and laidback. Ordering was done on a tablet, and the menu was quite large and varied. The prices tended towards the cheaper side.
After making our orders and waiting about 15-20 minutes, a robot server with cat ears came by and stopped by our table. It had our orders on one of its levels. It was an interesting surprise. The food was fine for me, but it wasn't for my boyfriend.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Pasta with Meat Sauce (half) (450 yen) -- This was decent.
Mini Rice Bowl with Pork Cutlet (450 yen) + Mini-Hamburg (100 yen) -- This was also decent.
A robot server going about.
The mini rice bowl with pork cutlet and a spicy cod roe toast. The toast wasn't spicy at all.
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UMEDA
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ST. MARC CAFE
Type(s) of Cuisine: Western
Specialty (if any): Croissants
Yen Spent: 200 (Chocolate croissant)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Large
Restaurant Size: Large
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
We stopped here because my boyfriend wanted to a quick snack. We both also wanted to rest a bit before continuing with the day (we were up since 5:30 AM that day). I was still pretty full from breakfast, so I wasn't going to order anything, but one of the staff people said in English that each of us have to be a paying customer for us to both sit in their lounge area. Although I understand the logic, something about how it was said after my boyfriend finished ordering rubbed me the wrong way.
The lounge was large and relaxing. It was also pretty empty when we were there (around 8 AM on a Saturday). The food we had was okay, but I'll not dine in if I'm with somebody and only one of us wants to order something.
The croissants. The matcha one tasted better than the chocolate one.
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SHIN-OSAKA
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KEITAROU
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Bento boxes with fried chicken
Yen Spent: 330 (fried chicken pieces)
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: Pay at the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Take-out only
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
This place was in Shin-Osaka station. It sold various bento boxes and meat sticks. Most of the labels have English translations. There's not too much to say here, but it's worth checking out if you find yourself in Shin-Osaka station and you want a meal or snack on the go.
My fried chicken pieces. It was a bit dry and salty but with a decent flavour.
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KYOTO
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OBUYA
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Chazuke (tea over rice)
Yen Spent: 1100
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier before the meal
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? YES!!
Brief Impression
Finding this place was confusing. There were multiple dining areas in Kyoto station. Google Maps kept pointing to a location inside Takashimaya, a department store that had two different dining areas. Obuya was not there. To get to Obuya, take the escalator close to one of the station exits (I forget which one). If you took the right escalator, Obuya would be easy to spot once you reach the top.
Thankfully, the frustration of finding Obuya was made up with a relaxing atmosphere and delicious food. Before sitting, we had to make our order at the cashier first. The menu was in Japanese, but each dish had a picture.
When we sat down, we were handed English instructions on how to eat dashi chazuke. Pretty much, pour the provided tea over the rice and mix other ingredients in if you like. If I'm in the Osaka area again, I would definitely come back.
The kitchen area. It looks really clean.
Instructions on how to eat dashi chazuke.
My order. It was really good. Totally worth 1100 yen.
My boyfriend's order. He really enjoyed his food.
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NIPPONBASHI / DEN DEN TOWN
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KITAKATA RAMEN BAN NAI
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Ramen
Yen Spent: 860 (Cold ramen)
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Unsure
Brief Impression
As we were about to pass by this place, I saw a sign advertising cold ramen -- a limited item. Curious how that would taste, we walked in.
The inside looked a bit run-down. We made our order from a vending machine and then we sat down. The cold ramen looked interesting. There were three ice cubes in the broth and the meat pieces were on a separate plate. The noodles themselves were thick. It felt like I was eating candy noodles. The taste itself was okay.
Unfortunately, the day we visited this place was also the day I became feverish and sick later on -- so I'm unsure if the cold ramen was the culprit or not. When we got back to Toronto, I read online that ice could be a factor for getting sick in foreign places, as tap water could be used to make the ice. Japan is generally known for having clean water, but there's no telling what water was used to make that ice. Also, giving this another thought -- was it safe to prepare ramen cold this way?
Unfortunately, the day we visited this place was also the day I became feverish and sick later on -- so I'm unsure if the cold ramen was the culprit or not. When we got back to Toronto, I read online that ice could be a factor for getting sick in foreign places, as tap water could be used to make the ice. Japan is generally known for having clean water, but there's no telling what water was used to make that ice. Also, giving this another thought -- was it safe to prepare ramen cold this way?
My cold ramen. The ice cubes look fun.
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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
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KINOPIO'S CAFE (TOAD CAFE)
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Super Mario-themed
Yen Spent: 0 (my boyfriend paid 3750 yen for me)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter before the meal
Restaurant Size: Large
Recommend? Yes!
Brief Impression
Dining at the Toad Cafe was a process. As mentioned in an earlier blog, we grabbed the earliest time slip from the staff person. It was around 11:20 AM, and the time slip was for 1:45 PM. This tells me that to dine at the Toad Cafe in Universal Studios Japan at a reasonable time, prioritize it over everything else. If anything, to get a time slip for as early as possible.
Close to 1:45 PM, there was a long line to get inside. It may be worth it to line up some time earlier to be closer to the front when the allotted time comes up. When we stepped into the Toad Cafe, we were still in the line and it snaked its way to the counters. It took about 40 minutes from being in line at 1:45 PM to reaching the counter and making our orders.
The Toad Cafe looked pretty tiny from the outside but the dining area was huge. The atmosphere was great for any Super Mario fan. It was very fun, cozy, and relaxing. The food was hit-or-miss on taste and the pricing was... well, it was pricey. If you are a Super Mario fan and want to surround yourself with a Super Mario atmosphere, check this out. I'd probably check it out again if I went to Universal Studios Japan for a second time.
Chicken & Star Rice (2300 yen) -- This was really good.
Tiramisu Box (800 yen) -- It didn't really taste like tiramisu to me. Not worth it for 800 yen.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Lemon Drink (650 yen) -- It tasted like a carbonated lemon drink but not worth it for 600 yen.
Chicken & Star Rice (2300 yen) -- This was really good.
Tiramisu Box (800 yen) -- It didn't really taste like tiramisu to me. Not worth it for 800 yen.
Where to make your order. The power-up items are so cute and nostalgic!
The dining area. It's so huge.
My lemon drink. It tasted lemony but I could have done without.
The chicken & star rice. It tasted really good.
The tiramisu box. It looked cute, but it didn't taste like the tiramisu I was used to.
My boyfriend's order. He enjoyed it.
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NAMBA
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NIBOSHI-RAMEN TAMAGORO
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Ramen
Yen Spent: 1270
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Standard
Brief Impression
We came upon this randomly while looking for a place to have dinner. The vending machine was completely in Japanese. Some buttons had pictures next to the text while some didn't. My hiragana / katakana-reading skills came in handy somewhat.
In the beginning, it looked like our order would get messed up because I was served an egg, but it was my boyfriend who ordered that. Normally I wouldn't care much except that my boyfriend ordered spicy ramen. I definitely wouldn't want to be served his bowl instead of mine! D:
Thankfully, we were served the correct ramen. Overall, the taste was fine, but with the vending machine not being friendly to foreigners, it's something to consider.
My order. It was a bit too oily for my liking but overall it was okay.
COOK DELI GOZEN
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Bento boxes
Yen Spent: 499
When/Where to Pay: Grab what you want and pay at the counter
When/Where to Pay: Grab what you want and pay at the counter
Restaurant Size: Take-out only
Recommend? Yes!
Brief Impression
We passed by this place while walking underground to Namba station. It sold a variety of bento boxes, onigiri, and sides and at decent prices. It is definitely worth checking out.
What I bought. Delicious!
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DOTONBORI
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KUKURU
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Takoyaki
Yen Spent: 961 (8 pieces)
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier before the food comes
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier before the food comes
Restaurant Size: Unsure
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
I just had to try out the takoyaki that was featured in the Yakuza games (this is located very close to the location in the Yakuza games!). There were two line-ups. One line-up was for take-out, and another line-up was to dine in. We went into the take-out line.
The takoyaki was pretty good. There was a bit of crunchiness when biting in, which doesn't happen often with takoyaki.
The takoyaki. It is now my second favourite takoyaki place.
GENROKUZUSHI DOTONBORI
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Sushi (conveyor belt style)
Yen Spent: 1456 (886 for the plates; 570 for the beer)
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal
When/Where to Pay: At the counter after the meal
Restaurant Size: Medium
Recommend? Yes
Brief Impression
This was the first conveyor belt sushi place I've ever been to. Similar to Kukuru, there was a line for take-out, and a line to dine in. Inside, we were seated and the fun of grabbing plates began. A conveyor belt sushi place pretty much has plates of sushi on a conveyor belt that winds throughout the restaurant, passing each seat or table. Customers grab plates that interest them as they go by. The plates are usually colour-coded according to price.
The atmosphere was casual and relaxing. We grabbed a fair amount of plates, my favourites being the salmon sushi and some kind of seasoned potato sticks. We ordered a couple of beers, and while they went well with the sushi, price-wise it might be better to stick with just the sushi.
This was my first time trying out a conveyor belt sushi so I have nothing to compare against. It was a decent experience so I'd say it's worth checking out.
The menu. They served some plates that weren't on this menu (like the seasoned potato sticks).
A video of the sushi moving on the conveyor belt.
ICHIRAN
Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Tonkotsu ramen (pork-based ramen)
Yen Spent: 980
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
When/Where to Pay: Pay via the vending machine
Restaurant Size: Small
Recommend? Yes!
Brief Impression
I had never waited this long for ramen! My boyfriend really wanted to try it out so we did (even though he really hates lines). The front was a gift shop for Ichiran. To dine we had to get in line at the back and what a long line it was!
While in line, we were each handed an order sheet and we had to circle what we wanted for our ramen. The long line eventually led to a couple vending machines where we ordered and paid for our ramen. The vending machine confused me since we already had an order sheet. I guess the vending machine is good for ordering any sides. After ordering from the vending machine, the long line continued down the hallway... and up two flights of stairs. After 58 long minutes, we were led into the dining area and were seated.
I couldn't see everything, but the dining area looked pretty small. The atmosphere also had an authentic feel. Each person was seated in their own cubicle with wooden dividers between each customer. It had a hint of isolation but also a hint of intimacy and privacy. Almost like you were free to enjoy the ramen as you wished, without any judging eyes from anybody else.
In front was a bamboo mesh where the server would bring the ramen and could communicate if needed. On one side of the wall were wooden paddles with instructions or phrases if you needed to talk to the server. One side of the paddle was in Japanese while the other side was in English. There were also extra order sheets if you wanted to order extra things.
Overall, it was a unique experience. The ramen -- it had a really smooth taste. I'm personally not too big on pork-based ramen, but I could understand lovers of pork-based ramen loving Ichiran. It was probably the best pork-based ramen I've ever had. My boyfriend said it was his favourite. It was worth the long line.
My order sheet.
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SNACKS & VENDING DRINKS
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This section is just to list what miscellaneous snacks / foods and flavoured vending machine drinks that I bought or got and ate while in Japan. Some of the photos might not correspond with what I listed because my boyfriend bought them or I got them as souvenirs.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Pork cutlet sandwich (from shinkansen) (780 yen) -- It was fine.
Melon bread with chocolate ice cream (600 yen) -- There was so much ice cream in my melon bread.
Cupnoodles Museum My Cupnoodles Factory (500 yen) -- I had this listed as a food place in a previous blog, but I think this is better place for it. This tasted great.
Melon bread with chocolate ice cream (600 yen) -- There was so much ice cream in my melon bread.
Cupnoodles Museum My Cupnoodles Factory (500 yen) -- I had this listed as a food place in a previous blog, but I think this is better place for it. This tasted great.
Melon cream bun (122 yen) -- It was delicious.
Strawberry jam bun (102 yen) -- This was also delicious.
Pretz 6-pack (861 yen) -- I like its saltiness and firmness.
Tsukigesho Assorted 20-pack milk manju (3300 yen) -- This was my most favourite snack. If you find yourself in Dotonbori, find the shop that sells this!
Yakisoba from the Hozuki Market street vendor (500 yen) -- I could do without the ginger pieces but overall it was tasty.
BBQ-seasoned Potato stick from the Hozuki Market street vendor (300 yen) -- This was fun to eat.
Hello Kitty mini sponge cakes (10) (600 yen) -- Very delicious and soft.
Beard Papa's white peach cream puff (250 yen) -- It was okay.
Tokyo Banana (1080 yen) -- I got this mainly for my boyfriend to try out. The first bite is always a bit weird for me because of the clash of textures and taste. It's good, though.
Matcha bun (510 yen) -- This was super matcha. If you love matcha, this is a must-try.
Calbee+ shrimp chips (138 yen) -- It was great. It was crunchy and the shrimp flavour was strong.
Calbee+ mango chips (192 yen) -- This tasted like mango. I don't know if I would eat it again in chip form.
Beef-flavoured potato chips (98 yen) -- This was okay.
1-Up chocolate tin (1900 yen) -- It tasted like regular chocolate if regular chocolate tasted like soap.
Butterbeer (1200 yen) -- This was good. It tasted like light caramel.
Calbee+ shrimp chips (138 yen) -- It was great. It was crunchy and the shrimp flavour was strong.
Calbee+ mango chips (192 yen) -- This tasted like mango. I don't know if I would eat it again in chip form.
Beef-flavoured potato chips (98 yen) -- This was okay.
1-Up chocolate tin (1900 yen) -- It tasted like regular chocolate if regular chocolate tasted like soap.
Butterbeer (1200 yen) -- This was good. It tasted like light caramel.
Drink from Ikea (100 yen) -- I drank something melon-flavoured. It was pretty good.
Vending machine drink: Peach-flavoured (190 yen) -- I do like my peach-flavoured things.
Vending machine drink: Lychee-flavoured (160 yen) -- This is probably one of my favourite vending machine drinks so far.
Vending machine drink: Peach-flavoured (190 yen) -- I do like my peach-flavoured things.
Vending machine drink: Lychee-flavoured (160 yen) -- This is probably one of my favourite vending machine drinks so far.
Vending machine drink: Bottled water x2 (220 yen) -- Water is great on hot days.
Mango-flavoured shaved ice. We had it in Asakusa. This had a strong mango flavour.
This was some snack we had at Nakamise Shopping Street. It tasted like a Korean walnut cake.
This is a cheesy curry bun my boyfriend tried from this place called Giraffa. He enjoyed it so much he went back a couple more times during our trip.
The matcha bun. It was a bit too matcha for me, but your mileage may vary.
The BBQ-seasoned potato sticks and the yakisoba from the Hozuki market. I hope I get to attend another festival in the future.
The beef-flavoured chips and some Sakeru gummy for my sister.
The Pretz was okonomiyaki-flavoured. The Tsukigesho milk manju were so delicious, and they could only be found in Osaka. We looked in so many shops in Tokyo but didn't find them.
This was a box of pastries from Godiva. They sell more than chocolate in Japan.
One of the coffees my boyfriend tried from a vending machine. He had this a few times.
And another one.
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SUPERMARKETS
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Type(s) of Cuisine: Various
Specialty (if any): Unsure
Yen Spent: 4417 (breakdown below)
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier
When/Where to Pay: At the cashier
Restaurant Size: Not applicable
Recommend? YES!!
Brief Impression
My boyfriend and I visited many supermarkets. They tend to be cheaper most of the time, but food / snack selection will vary from place to place. Pre-made meals will also vary from place to place (though I still prefer the convenience store meals more). There was one small supermarket that barely had any pre-made meals -- most likely catering to those who cook at home.
If you come across a supermarket, consider checking it out to see what it has. If anything, to see the colourful beer shelf.
Just to note that you have to pay for plastic bags now :(
What I Ate / Drank ...
Banana (99 yen) -- It tasted like a banana.
Calorie Mate (198 yen) -- I like getting these.
Fruit Sandwich (358 yen) -- This was okay.
Calorie Mate (198 yen) -- I like getting these.
Fruit Sandwich (358 yen) -- This was okay.
Dango (88 yen) -- This was yummy.
Melon bread (108 yen) -- This was okay.
Peach jelly (108 yen) -- I got this because it was on sale. What surprised me was that each packet was completely filled with jelly. The only way I could eat it was to snip off the top and squeeze the jelly out.
Assorted rice balls (4) (298 yen) -- This was pretty good.
Matcha sticks (198 yen) -- This was more crumbly than anticipated.
Fried donut holes (159 yen) -- I got this because it was on sale, but I ended up not eating it before it expired. My boyfriend tried one and said it tasted awful.
Mini bread rolls (199 yen) -- What I ate while I was sick.
Digestible crackers (329 yen) -- I also ate this will I was sick. The crackers had a decent taste.
Seaweed-flavoured chips (218 yen) -- You can't go wrong with seaweed-flavoured chips.
Yakitori (358 yen) -- This was sauced very nicely.
Sushi set (598 yen) -- This was pretty good for its price.
Tuna sandwich (138 yen) -- There was a bit too much mayo but otherwise it's pretty good.
Sugar waffle (198 yen) -- I just have a thing for waffles. It tasted like a waffle.
Chocolate roll cake (99 yen) -- It was decent for its price.
Vegetable Juice (119 yen) -- It tasted like tomato juice, which I like.
Sugar waffle (198 yen) -- I just have a thing for waffles. It tasted like a waffle.
Chocolate roll cake (99 yen) -- It was decent for its price.
Vegetable Juice (119 yen) -- It tasted like tomato juice, which I like.
Pepsi - Zero mint flavour (89 yen) -- The label had a picture of yakisoba, so I thought this was supposed to be yakisoba-flavoured. It turns out that this drink was supposed to pair with eating yakisoba. I didn't eat yakisoba while trying it. It tasted like mint.
Melon-flavoured beer (128 yen) -- I liked this.
Melon-flavoured beer (128 yen) -- I liked this.
Peach-flavoured beer (113 yen) -- I liked it.
Bottled water x2 (217 yen) -- Water is water.
From top to bottom, left to right: the tuna sandwich, the chocolate roll cake, and the sugar waffle. Out of the three, I liked the roll cake best.
The sushi and the yakitori.
The assorted rice balls, matcha sticks, and fried donut holes.
The melon beer. It had a melon-y taste.
The peach-flavoured beer. It had a peachy taste.
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CONVENIENCE STORES
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Type(s) of Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty (if any): Unsure
Yen Spent: 4075 (breakdown below)
Restaurant Size: Not applicable
Recommend? YES!!
Brief Impression
Along with supermarkets, we frequented convenience stores a lot. As with my personal tradition, I made sure the first meal I had in Japan was something from a convenience store. We mainly visited 7-11 and Family Mart. Between the two, we ended up preferring the meal selection at Family Mart (!).
From searching online, it seems that each convenience store specializes in something different so definitely explore between them to see if you prefer one over the other.
What I Ate / Drank ...
Ready-made meals x2 (858 yen) -- I didn't eat too many of these this time.
Onigiri x3 (385 yen) -- These were delicious.
Mochi Truffle (237 yen) -- This had a strange combination of tastes.
Kit Kat - Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate (54 yen) -- I got this because it was so cheap. It was nothing special.
Pork cutlet sandwich (420 yen) -- This was okay.
Salty rice crackers (198 yen) -- Something else I ate while I was sick. It was salty.
Small bottle of honey (268 yen) -- I got this to put on my plain bread rolls.
Dango (108 yen) -- This was yummy as usual.
Onigiri x3 (385 yen) -- These were delicious.
Mochi Truffle (237 yen) -- This had a strange combination of tastes.
Kit Kat - Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate (54 yen) -- I got this because it was so cheap. It was nothing special.
Pork cutlet sandwich (420 yen) -- This was okay.
Salty rice crackers (198 yen) -- Something else I ate while I was sick. It was salty.
Small bottle of honey (268 yen) -- I got this to put on my plain bread rolls.
Dango (108 yen) -- This was yummy as usual.
Cup Noodles - Curry (242 yen) -- I still haven't seen curry-flavoured cup noodles in Canada. Am I blind? I enjoy this flavour a lot, but the portion is too much for me.
Pocari Sweat (160 yen) -- This was good.
Kagome vegetable drink (106 yen) -- It tasted like tomato juice. Just what I like.
Bottled Water x4 (430 yen) -- Water is love; water is life :)
Fibe Mini x5 (609 yen) -- I had this while I was sick. Supposedly it provides some fibre and vitamins.
An okonomiyaki, a cheesecake, and dango. I didn't like the ginger inside the okonomiyaki.
The inside of the curry cup noodle.
The salty crackers, the Pocari Sweat, and a Fibe-Mini. This was dinner for me for a couple of nights.
Honey and another Fibe-Mini. The Fibe-Mini tasted okay.
Onigiri. They were both good.
Here is the total yen that I spent on food: 72655 yen. I was going to say this is okay because we were in Japan for three weeks instead of two, but... in 2016 I was in Japan for almost three weeks and my food spending then was nowhere near this much. Let's just say my spending this much on food was a trade-off to my spending on other things.
For comparison's sake, here is what I spent on food back in 2018: 31424 yen.
Also, here is what I spent on food back in 2016: 42685 yen.
And then... here is what I spent on food back in 2014: 28729 yen.
Thanks for reading! If you read to the end... you are crazy!!! But in a good way xD If you have any comments or want to know more about anything, feel free to say something! :)
My next Japan blog will be on any miscellaneous thoughts / observations PLUS all my "swag" purchases. Only two more to go!
Take care everybody and thanks again! :)
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