MUST TO EAT #6: Ramen stall

Stalls may be one of very Asian things.

In Japan, Ramen (noodles in a hot soup) stalls are the most common ones you probably find.

In Japan, many workers (especially males)  have this weird tendency of eat ramen after drinking.

Ramen for a midnight snack, like when we are a little hungry after drinking.
We often call it “shime no ramen (締めのラーメン, ramen to finish up with).”

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to have it at a stall.
but if you're in Japan why don't you?

In front of Shinjuku Station (at South gate)

Stalls are often found near station exits but they are recently restricted by strict road laws.
But if you find one, try this midnight snack to finish up your day!

MUST TO EAT #5: Udon @ Tokyo Mentsu-Dan

Today, I want to introduce one of my favourite Udon restaurants in  Tokyo. 

The restaurants is called "Tokyo Mentsu-dan", that is located in the west of Shinjuku Station near Kabukicho.

Tokyo Mentsu-Dan is a self-serve restaurant. First you order the type of udon from the menu at the counter then after you get an Udon bowl, you select toppings to go on the top.  There are a variety of tempura to choose from, each costs around 100 yen.
Rice balls and other Japanese "Osouzai"(prepared Japanese daily food) are also available

English menu is available!

Osouzai buffet

Once you selected your toppings you pay the total price at the counter and if your noodle is a hot one you go straight to the broth counter right next to it, and add your own hot broth to your Udon bowl.

Niku Udon

Mentsu-Dan sells Sanuki Udon - Udon produced in Sanuki Province, Shikoku, which is thicker and stiffer than the normal ones.  It's chewy in texture and doesn't get soggy in soup.

The map below shows the access to the Tokyo Mentsu-Dan from the East exit of Shinjuku Station.



大きな地図で見る


Mentsu-Dan (東京麵通団)
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 10am-2am
Address: 7-9-15 Shinjuku, TOKYO (東京都新宿区西新宿7-9-15ダイカンプラザビジネス清田ビル1F)
Phone: +81-3-5389-1077


Web: www.mentsu-dan.com

Must to Visit #6: "Izakaya" (Traditional Japanese bars) under the train tracks at Yurakucho

Some of Tokyo's oldest izakaya and tachinomiya (Traditional Japanese bars) can be found under the train tracks at Yurakucho, adjoining the Hibiya subway station.

A few days ago, I wrote about yakitori bars. These are found around this area

Izakaya are the traditional Japanese bars that are popular with Japanese businessmen for an after work drink, in recent years these bars have also gained in popularity with the younger Japanese drinker too. Traditionally to go along with your drinks small partitions of food are served at the Izakaya, giving this establishment a more of a restaurant feel.

Izakaya’s generally feature red paper lanterns at the front of their shop and on the inside menus of short bits of paper with Japanese text on them often decorate the walls. Many Izakaya may have a English menu available or even a menu with pictures of the dishes on them.

The restaurants are divey and tiny, but the food is cheap and delicious! Walk along the tracks until you see a joint with available seats. Order giant beers (Jokki) and yakitori and whatever else looks good.

MUST TO VISIT #5: The SL (Stream locomotive) at Shinbashi Station

This steam train is at Shinbashi station ''SL(steam locomotive) square''.

The SL is now illuminated with Christmas decoration (till 25th, December).

The locomotive (a Japanese type C11 for the train buffs) was installed on this place in 1972, at the 100 years anniversary of the opening of Japan’s first railway, between Tokyo and Yokohama.

MUST TO VISIT #4: Ginza Wako building

Built in 1932, the clock tower of the Ginza Wako building is the symbol of the Ginza, standing at the northwest corner of the district's centrally located Ginza 4-Chome junction of Chuo and Harumi Dori. Inside the building, jewelry and luxury items are sold.

Its wide curved base is intensely illuminated at night making it a blazing white beacon in the darkness that outshines the Johnny-come-lately department stores and boutiques with which it competes. The building's architecture lets people know that it has been around for a long time and will continue to dominate this corner in the future.

MUST TO VISIT #3: Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Shibuya Crossing, also referred to as Shibuya Scramble Crossing is the pedestrian crossing outside the Hachiko exit of Shibuya Station.

 It is referred to as a scramble crossing as the traffic is stopped in all directions, thus allowing pedestrians to walk in all directions through the intersection.

On the weekend, hundreds of people are crossing for each signal change for all day long. There is no other place has such a constant mess of people.

MUST TO EAT #4: YAKITORI

YAKITORI

Yakitori, grilled chicken, is a Japanese type of skewered chicken.

"Momo" (chicken thighs)

It is made from several bite-sized pieces of chicken meat, or chicken offal, skewered on a bamboo skewer and grilled, usually over charcoal.

"Tsukune" ( Japanese style chicken meatballs)

There are many yakitori bars (e.g. "Izakaya") in Japan which serve many versions of the recipe.

Diners ordering yakitori usually have a choice of having it served with salt or with tare sauce, which is generally made up of mirin, sake, soy sauce and sugar. The sauce is applied to the skewered meat and is grilled until delicately cooked.

Also, there are a variety of yakitori menu. Below are some typical yakitori menu which they may provide.

•yakitori -- grilled, skewered chicken pieces

•aigamo -- duck

•hasami -- alternating pieces of chicken and leek

•hatsu -- hearts

•hina(dori) -- very young chicken

•hone tsuki -- bones included

•kawa -- chicken skin

•tori kimo yaki -- chicken livers and other giblets

•momo(yaki) -- chicken legs

•motsu -- giblets

•nankotsu -- chicken pieces with bone

•negima -- chicken pieces and leek

•rebaa -- liver

•sasami -- chicken breast meat (without skin)

•shOniku -- boneless meat with skin

•sunagimo -- gizzards

•suzume -- sparrow (or young chicken)

•tan -- beef tongue

•tebasaki -- chicken wings

•tsukune -- chicken meatballs

•uzura (tamago) -- quail eggs

 Yakitori bars often provide their unique original menu which doesn't neccessarily made of chicken (though they are still called "yaki"=grilled "tori"=chicken). For instance, pork yakitori  and vegetables (often rolled in bacon with cheese) may be available at some places.

"aspara-bacon maki" (Asparagus rolled in bacon)

Yakitori is a very popular dish in Japan, many working people grab a yakitori and a beer from yakitori stalls on the way home from work with a beer.

If you look for a good yakitori bar, go to Hibiya-Yurakucho area

The yakitori bars are found in the railroad underpass near the HIbiya (or Yurakucho) Station.

These yakitori places are cheap and delicious. Most of the seats are outdoors on stools with beer crate tables. English menu may be available at some yakitori bars.

A blog below,provides good info about Yakitori restaurant in Yurakucho. 

http://www.notquitenigella.com/2008/07/06/yakitori-alley-at-yurakucho-tokyo/

Lastly, don't forget, when you raise your glass, say Kampai! Japanese for Cheers!

MUST TO EAT #3: TEMPURA

Tempura is a popular element of Japanese cuisine, and consists of a selection of fresh prawns and vegetables deep-fried in a thin layer of light and crispy batter. It is served with a traditional dipping sauce made from dashi (soup stock), soya sauce and mirin (a sweet cooking sake).

Shrimps, and a Japanese Jack Mackerel

On the other hand, Tempura is also served with salt in Japan instead of the dipping sauce.

Tempura is distinguished from many other battered and deep fried foods by being much lighter and tending to carry less grease.

Some vegetables tempura

"Kakiage": a mixture of vegetable bits and shrimp

Tempura is served at many Japanese-style restaurants. 
But since expensive ingredients and lots of oil are used, it is considered as an expensive cuisine.