One thing about Ant – he does like his drinks. Even after finishing a full schedule at Okanaga’s place, he was eager to have another sake in a smaller group. Well, let’s not cut it off at ‘another’, he’d probably say. We started walking toward his hotel in Ningyocho (it’s freezing now, by the way. […]
izakaya
Okanaga Club, Nihonbashi Bakurocho (岡永倶楽部)
Errrrr…..this statue in Kanda, up near Awajicho (we went to Katsuman and got rattled by a big earthquake in the old building there) depicts the youth of Japan confidently ascending toward the future. Too bad about the salute. Too bad about Okanaga Club too – it has all the makings of a terrific sake-focused, upscale […]
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Shuan Suiko, Oshiage (酒庵 酔香)
It’s so tempting to make this another place-that-shall-not-be-named…but you oughta know about it. Not that the Suikos need any more business – Woodworth and I tried and failed several times to make bookings before finally firming our spines and locking it in 2 weeks out. Where did I find it? Not the cover of Tokyojin, on […]
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Waraku, Tama Plaza (居酒屋和楽)
Part 3 in ‘dining in our the suburbs’ series saw everyone back in Tama Plaza, this time going to the izakaya most highly recommended by my colleague You. The chef worked at the Imperial Hotel years ago and brought back a bunch of that training, which shows up in his food. It’s quite traditional from […]
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Higashitei, Tokyo (東亭, 八重洲)
This alley has a certain draw for me, and hopefully for you too. Since the time I wandered into a place here with Ding (in fact, the sign you see in the top right of the shot is that place), I’ve been wondering if there were other places of equal quaintness and quality. There may […]
Tamamura, Monzennakacho (多万村)
Like the nearby Uotei (and I mean “15 feet away”), the tiny back-alley kappo Tamamura shows both the blessing and the curse of this style of restaurant. It’s casually elegant, it’s quiet, it’s friendly in a restrained way, they always seem to have a table, the food is always excellent, and it’s never cheap. At least they’re nice […]
Magoroku, Monzennakacho (深川 孫六)
This was very pleasing. Very very pleasing – brilliant yakitori plus game meat and jizake. How did I manage to go this long without trying it? Mainly it was my unreasonable anti-chicken bias. I’m recently converted, and now there are several more chicken places I should hit around town. You can keep your everything-but-the-cluck Birdland […]
Momosaku, Asakusa (百作)
After dinner at the very tasty and historic Otafuku, it was time to stroll around Asakusa. For those young readers just learning about the Rolling Stones and Beatles, this little shop seems to be inspired by the Midnight Rambler and Piggies. But it has nothing to do with Pink Floyd, which you’re not old enough […]
Izumiya no Kura, Kanda (神田和泉屋乃坐)
Well, I went to yet another incredible guitar store in Ochanu after work. And after that, I walked around a little. I successfully resisted the urge to visit the mighty Takaban, but when I walked down a tiny alley and saw this place, with not even much of a sign, and that name.. The paper lantern […]
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Mifune, Kanda (三船)
Mmmmm, so appetizing. Why ever did I pass on this place? No, I was having one of those indecisive days where I just walk around by myself for exercise, and eventually pick a place for a quick lunch before getting back to the office. The dining landscape has shifted a bit in Kanda; in fact […]