It’s quirky, right? You stay down in southwest Tokyo, Kanagawa really, for 4 weeks, but something draws you back. Inexorably. Through mysterious circumstances we found ourselves staying for three nights in Monzennakacho, 2 minutes from where I used to live. Incidentally, I totally recommend this hotel. Amazing location, and the Japanese-style room was really sweet. […]
- Other treats
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Taisetsuken, Shin-Yurigaoka (旭川ラーメン 大雪軒 新百合ヶ丘VIVRE店)
As usual I’m left wondering if this name 維sスッポセdとべあぷん。Oh, sorry. Is supposed to be a pun. Is it like an ‘important’ joke, but it’s ‘Big Snow’ instead? I bet not. It’s just that everything’s a potential pun to me. Jokes aren’t the same in Japan. This ramen is Asahigawa-style (here, read all about the three […]
- Other treats
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Kurazushi, Center Minami (くら寿司 )
With all the professional work I’ve been doing on McDonald’s recently (it’s complicated), it’s interesting to visit the McDonald’s of sushi. I don’t say that lightly – Kurazushi has something like 250 stores, including 10 in the US (all California except Plano, which is good if we ever have to move to Dallas because the […]
Tatsuta Saryo, Center Minami (立田野茶寮 サウスウッド店)
We like nothing better than a snack between meals. Expecially when both kids are asleep and it feels like a little date, except that there’s a tank-sized stroller with a sleeping toddler next to one of us, and the other one has a sleeping baby physically strapped to their chest. But who doesn’t like ‘matcha […]
Rakeru, Shinyurigaoka (ラケル 新百合丘ＯＰＡ店)
Opa! I always feel festive and a little Greek when shopping at the Opa complex in downtown Shinyuri. Not as festive and Greek as I feel watching that Eurovision video, but a little. We were out and about shopping, someone went home with Mrs. Peel, and Catfish and I were left to our own devices […]
- izakaya
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Soregashi, Gotanda (酒場 それがし)
Soregashi is known to many…or at least to my circle of hardened fellow travelers and explorers. It showed up on my list of potential things to do in greater Meguro, and then when I realized it was on Woodrow’s list from a few years ago, the deal was closed. I met up with You, who […]
- izakaya
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Fuon, Meguro (風音)
I got all excited when I learned I was going to be working in Meguro for two weeks. I say ‘learned’ like I didn’t bust my hump to arrange it… but as soon as it was finalized, the ol’ obsessive habits kicked in and I was busily cataloguing every izakaya, ramen, and romantic European restaurant […]
- Italian
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l’Asse, Meguro (レストラン・ラッセ)
I approach this review in a quiet residential neighborhood with some trepidation. What’s on tap for lunch today? A HUMMER? Are you sure? What’s it like? Oh, it’s LIKE NOTHING ELSE. Well, I can get behind that. Wait, what the heck IS this place? It is indeed, truly, verily, a ‘House of Tail’. Without further […]
- coffee
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Onibus Coffee, Nakameguro
Let me just start by saying “Cheese and Rice, some people are serious about this stuff. Eric has far more to say than I ever could.” I mean, I was just wandering around after ramen and saw a coffee place and had a quick iced coffee and chat with the staff. What a cool place, […]
- Other treats
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Deguchiya, Nakameguro (出口屋)
I walked by this place 4 times total (because it took me two days to hit the Yakumoz due to the fact that they’re CLOSED ON TUESDAYS) and every time thought it looked pretty sweet. They’ve been in business something like 80 years and have an attached bar (Bar Exit, geddit?). They must be doing […]