Restaurants in Japan
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A
TY Harbor Brewery
This American-style brew pub boasts an eclectic menu (pan-roasted scallops with curry and couscous anyone?), beer tanks on the premises and a huge, loyal following. It's a gathering place for Tokyo's moneyed expat community, especially for weekend brunch.
reviewed
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B
Origin
This wonderful local izakaya a minute from the station has the usual kushiyaki (grilled, skewered dishes) and tofu steak, plus original dishes like sardines rolled in yuba (tofu skin), or big-as-a-beer-can grilled daikon in miso sauce. Or go for broke with Hida beef. Look for the bamboo poles out the front.
reviewed
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C
Beni-e
If you want tempura without a lot of distractions, this tiny tempura specialist is likely to satisfy. It serves good tempura, hana, tsuki and yuki lunch sets respectively). It's located a little back from Higashi-muki arcade, behind Regal Shoes; go down the alley and look for the red writing above the door.
reviewed
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D
Maisen
Maisen turns out righteous, crisp tonkatsu that draws consistent queues. Thankfully, the place is housed in a converted bathhouse, so there's plenty of room for the many souls craving Kagoshima kurobuta pork. If you're on the run, pick up a bentō at the takeaway window – the katsu sandwiches are particularly delicious.
reviewed
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E
Linden Baum
This pleasant hideaway near the Kyoto Imperial Palace serves what it describes as ‘European cooking’, which often involves pasta and fish. It’s usually quiet and relaxing, and has lovely long wooden tables. The set lunch is generally a very good deal. Linden Baum is down a narrow alley; look for the English sign.
reviewed
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F
Ganko Nijō-en
This is an upscale branch of the Ganko Zushi chain that serves sushi and simple kaiseki sets. There’s a picture menu and you can stroll in the stunning garden before or after your meal. It’s near the Nijō-Kiyamachi crossing; you can’t miss the grand entrance or the food models in the glass window.
reviewed
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G
Pietro Corte
The IMS building in Tenjin has prime skyline views from its 12th- and 13th-floor restaurants, including No No Budo a busy 'all-you-can-eat' buffet, with fresh fish and meat dishes, noodles, salads, soups and desserts. Nearby is Pietro Corte Mrs Elizabeth Muffin in the basement food court sells sweet muffins with free coffee refills!
reviewed
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Tsunahachi
Tsunahachi keeps them coming with its reasonably priced, tasty tempura. Sit at the counter for the pleasure of watching the efficient chefs fry each course of your dinner and place it on your dish.
reviewed
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Misoka-an Kawamichi-Ya
For a taste of some of Kyoto’s best soba in traditional surroundings, head to this place, where noodles have been made by hand for 300 years. Try a simple bowl of nishin (fish-topped) soba, or the more elaborate nabe dishes (cooked in a special cast-iron pot). There is a small English sign.
reviewed
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J
Dada Café
This retro café, which is housed in a 70-year-old tenement building straight out of the Shōwa Era, is a charming spot to reminisce about a Tokyo most of us have never known. While taking tea and noshing on immaculate spreads of honest Japanese cooking, take a moment to reflect on the Zen-like beauty of your surroundings.
reviewed
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Kane-yo
This is a good place to try unagi (eel). You can sit downstairs with a nice view of the waterfall or upstairs on the tatami. The kane-yo donburi set (¥950) is great value; it's served until 2pm. Look for the barrels of live eels outside and the wooden facade.
reviewed
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L
Shin-Shin-Tei
This place is famous for its shiro (white) miso rāmen, which has a distinctive thick soup and good chewy noodles. The restaurant scores minimal points for ambience, which is typical for rāmen joints. The claim to fame here is that Keanu Reeves once ate here. Look for the yellow-and-black sign.
reviewed
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Kushi Hachi
Kushi Hachi, part of a popular Kyoto chain, is a fun spot to sample kushikatsu, a fried dish that is well suited to Western tastes. We enjoy sitting at the counter and watching as the frenetic chefs work the grills and deep-fryers. With a picture/English menu, ordering is a snap. Look for the garish lantern out the front.
reviewed
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Marunouchi Building
Out the Marunouchi exit of Tokyo Station, ‘Marubiru’ overflows with over 75 options for all budgets and tastes, including soaring, pricey Italian, kaiseki and Chinese on the 35th and 36th floors, Hawaiian hamburgers to Fukuoka rāmen on the 5th and 6th, and casual and takeaway in the basement.
reviewed
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O
Yamate Jyuban-kan
Overlooking the Foreigners' Cemetery in Yamate, this French restaurant serves consistently good cuisine in a building like a mansion from the American south. A casual café occupies the 1st floor, while upstairs is the classic restaurant, dishing out longstanding favourites like the Kaika steak set. Reservations recommended.
reviewed
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Eataly
In this neighbourhood – in this city – that worships all things Italian, airy, rambling Eataly is one-stop shopping: trattoria, bakery, espresso bar, salumeria, cheese shop, wine shop and outdoor cafe. Even the shopping carts are so cute that you’ll want to pinch their little shopping-cart cheeks.
reviewed
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Q
Daitō Soba
This dinky little noodle house is the perfect spot for sampling your first bowl of okinawa-soba (Okinawan style noodles). We like ours with extra shima-tōgarashi (pickled hot peppers in sesame oil). It's one block north of Kokusai-dōri on Midori-ga-oka Park (look for the red banners and plastic food models).
reviewed
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Kua 'Aina
From the shores of Haleiwa comes this Hawaiian burger chain, which serves up the obligatory pineapple-topped burgers in a tropical-themed setting. Lovers of avocado, fabulous chips, savoury mahi-mahi fillets and innovative microbrews would be wise to pop by for lunch, even if only to watch salarymen dreaming of warmer climes.
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Oden Miyuki Honten
For fish in another form (ground and pressed into cakes and served in broth), oden is very satisfying, especially on chilly nights. Some of the staff are English-speaking.
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Delhi
Tropical cultures tout the numerous benefits of eating spicy foods; among them, the flushing of toxins when one begins perspiring with the endorphin rush (or pain, as the case may be). For those who like it hot, Delhi serves a fiery Kashmir curry. Patrons with milder tastes will find equally delicious options on the menu.
reviewed
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Izakaya Wakana
The Kagoshima-Chūō branch of this famous local eatery is a two-minute walk from the station's west exit. For tasting, try the kushiage moriawase (barbecue skewer selection; five pieces ¥650) or miso oden moriawase (hotpot selection; five pieces ¥700). Order off a picture menu, or sit and point from the counter. It's across from Tōyoko Inn.
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Tagoto Honten
This casual restaurant in the Sanjō covered arcade serves a variety of soba and udon dishes. It can get crowded at lunchtime and the service can be rather brusque, but the noodles are very good and the English/picture menu helps with ordering. The tempura teishoku makes a great lunch.
reviewed
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Robata
Back near the railway tracks, this is one of Tokyo's most celebrated izakaya (Japanese-style pub). A little Japanese language ability is helpful here, but the point-and-eat method works just fine. It's hard to spot the sign, even if you can read Japanese; better to look for the rustic, weathered façade.
reviewed
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X
Sushi-Sei
Taste top-notch sushi at Sushi-sei, which traces its ancestry back to Tsukiji. Like Akasaka itself, Sushi-sei conducts serious business. Try to hit it during off-peak hours, or expect to queue with hungry government officials and financial movers and shakers. The low-profile shop is set back slightly from the street.
reviewed
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Yamasaki
Just off busy Oyafuko-dori, this traditional eatery serves up excellent fish, salads and teishoku sets. Grilled sanma (mackerel) or netsuke (red snapper), a salad and beer will cost you about ¥1750. No English sign; look for the small 'Chestnut' signboard. A picture menu is available.
reviewed