Ahhhh, Japan. People always talk about how quirky it is, but they’re only focused on the maids and the Alice in Wonderland bars and the dancing rockabillies and costume kids in Harajuku. Actually, that’s more than enough. But the real quirks are sometimes beneath the surface. Take this place – it would be all too […]
sad
- izakaya
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Sasashin, Ningyocho (笹新)
Right in the middle of Amazake Yokocho is Sasashin. While I’ve seen it before, I was never that clear what they do – it’s not explained that well from the outside, nor that welcoming. Actually, it’s not that welcoming inside either; very atmospheric, but a little dirty and desperate By way of illustration, here’s the […]
Chigusa Dori, Kitasenju (千草通り、柳原)
In the middle of a positively epic bike ride (7 hours and 3 izakayas) we endured a long stretch riding along the river before cutting off to try to find Kita Senju. Strangely, the street we angled onto turned out to be canopied with cherry trees, which are just coming into bloom. And the neighborhood […]
- izakaya
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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 […]
- Kanda
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Unasho, Kanda (うな正)
I know, I know, I swore off places worthy of the ‘sad’ tag last year. This was an accident. It was really late, and I was discombobulated by a bit of stomach distress, and it must have become mental distress, because I started thinking that eel on rice would settle things down. Not so much. […]
Daruma, Kiyosumi Shirakawa (だるま)
Weird stuff, my friends. As I was leaving work I realized that not only was I really hungry, but I was thinking “It’s good to be hungry. Maybe I’ll skip dinner.” That sort of thinking has got to stop, and since I needed to go to the rice store I decided to eat a bunch […]
- Other treats
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Roppongi: R.I.P.
Well, my friends, this was it – the Last Lunch in Roppongi. Did I feel a bit like Jesus, surrounded by my disciples? No, not a bit. This is a repeat post, but it’s also a sad and special occasion. It was decreed that our last lunch be a Burger. And it was subsequently put […]
La Loggia, Roppongi
Ahhh, La Loggia. Just the name conjures up visions of centuries-old houses, quaint streets, shady corners, authentic pizza, espresso counters, naan and curry. La Loggia used to be a very mediocre Italian restaurant behind Roppongi Hills, near Aladdin or Cafe Eight or Gato Nero, depending on your perspective. It was mildly famous in my mind […]
Ichidai (一代), Monzennakacho
Per earlier comments, I feel like I’ve been eating out in Tokyo for a good while now – especially in Monzen Nakacho and at French restaurants. I guess I should stop being surprised by this, but I was pretty well knocked back when I went into a tiny sushi counter a few days ago and […]