DAIMON (Hamamatsu-cho): Hijiri-Tei... Home Style Cookin~.

Daimon...Daimon.. what's good to eat in Daimon.  If you are new to a town and don't know where to go then why not check out Japan's top foodie site Tabelog for a few hints.  We decided to hit up Hijiri-Tei for a nice fish lunch but there were a other great choices on the menu.

Lunch Menu.

Three small dishes and a bowl of rice come with your lunch selection.

Mari picked the Minced Chicken meat balls with Tofu and little quail eggs.

I looked around before making my choice and all the Salarymen were eating the "Menchi-Katsu" so I went for that.  Great crispy breading and very juicy...

Choice of Miso Soup or Natto Miso Soup... no Natto for me~.

The atmosphere was very old skool Japan... counter seating for about 5 shoulder to shoulder, tiny tables that seat from 2-4 people, lots of Sake along the wall and a little old guy doing all the cooking.  I'd classify the food as home cooking and both dishes were very good... I'll definitely go again.

Shop: Hijiri-Tei.

Website:  http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1314/A131401/13013895/

Address: 東京都港区芝大門1-8-4 Tokyo-to, Minato-ku, Shiba Daimon 1-8-4

Map:

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GINZA: Arossa Grill and Wine Bar 1.050 yen Lunch

My second visit to Arossa in a year and the lunch was still so delicious. There is a Daily Lunch "Higawari Lunch Set" that includes Bread, Green Salad, Pasta Salad, Main, Dessert and a Coffee or Tea for 1,050yen.  The volume will easily please any American in Japan.

Salad for 2.  Plentiful and lasted thru the meal.

Fresh Bread... free re-fills.

Pasta Salad: Noodles and Broccoli in a Tuna/Mayo cream with a hint of Curry Seasoning.

Pork baked with pumkpin and cheese topping on a bed of Mashed Potatoes~.

Unsure if its because I tend to eat primarily Japanese food but this dish was sooo good.

Icy dessert.

Coffee or Tea as a closer.

8th Floor view of Ginza Tiffany Bldg.

Restaurant: AROSSA Grill and Wine Bar.

Location: GINZA (Easy walk from JR Yurakucho Station).

Address E:  Tokyo-to, Chuo-ku, Ginza 2-4-6, Ginza Velvia Building 8F

Address J: 東京都中央区銀座2-4-6 銀座ベルビア館 8Ｆ

Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g912448/  or http://www.pjgroup.jp/arossa/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13038526/ 

Til next time~.

MAP:

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SHIBUYA: CONA Standing Pizzeria (One Coin Lunch Set)

Amongst all the Tapas/Yakitori/French/Kushiyaki standing bars there is nothing like Shibuya CONA (http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e192500/) in Tokyo.  You could try to hit up their sister shop VOCO (http://r.gnavi.co.jp/p456803/) in Ebisu or their new Shibuya shop KUNI (http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e192501/) but the standing bar atmosphere, thin crust pizza's and House music playing in the background just seems to work.  You'll usually find me and the boys here during the evenings but this was the first time to try their 500yen Pizza Lunch Set (Pizza, Salad, Drink).  Dude, other than a beef bowl or cheap ramen you won't find anything this good for 500yen in Shibs.  (Excluding Nakame'kun's Lunch　http://r.gnavi.co.jp/p854500/ )

There are easily 30+ different kinds of Pizza's but I went for the prosciutto with half boiled egg pizza.

Salad and Ice Tea.

Red pepper olive oil sits on the counter.

The menu isn't in English so practice your Katagana before hitting up Cona or you'll miss out.  I'd recommend the Mexican (with lots of Jalapenos), Ham with half boiled egg, Gorgonzola (comes with a side of honey), Garlic Chorizo or Anchovy and Cream Cheese Pizza.  But there are other choices: Margherita, Italian Basil, Garlic Cheese, Downtown Special (like Okonomiya), Basil Seafood, Eggplant Bacon Meatsauce, Mushroom and bacon, Hawaiian, Seafood, Mix, Carbonara, Basil and Mascapone, Avocado Pizza... and I'm still not done.  You'll have to check out the menu~.  But they do have one great item that I've yet to try... the Hot Maple and Vanilla Ice Cream topping on a Pizza... looked tasty.

Don't forget their Happy Hour from 2-6pm.

Shop Name: Shibuya CONA
Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130301/13059175/
Gnavi for Coupons!: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e192500/
Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Dogenzaka 2-7-5 (Its a bit hidden away so the easiest would be to walk along the LEFT side of Shibuya109 then hang a left at LOTTERIA Burger Shop and it will be facing AM/PM Convini).
Address J: 東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-7-5
MAP:

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NAKAMEGURO: Jojoen Yakiniku for their Bibimbap and Korean Chige Lunch! Fancy restaurant on a budget... lunch is wallet friendly.

There are several classes of Yakiniku shops in Tokyo that can range from the lowly franchise Gyukaku (http://www.gyukaku.ne.jp/index1.html) to the more expensive Jojoen (http://www.jojoen.co.jp/index.html) shops and if you care to venture into an all Japanese atmosphere then this should be your Yakiniku Bibile (http://r.tabelog.com/yakiniku/tokyo/rank/).　 Oh, Mari and I are hitting up the #1 Foodie Ranked Yakiniku shop in Tokyo... but of course we had to reserve 6 weeks in advance (http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132102/13008910/)!  Ok, getting off Topic.  You can find Jojoen's all over Tokyo (http://www.jojoen.co.jp/html/store/area.html#anchor02) but I wandered into the Nakameguro Shop for a great deal on a tasty lunch.

I went for the Chige Nabe Lunch (hotpot) 750yen.  Kimchee, Egg, Clam, Bean Sprouts and a few other things.  This could easily go for +1,000yen at any other restaurant.

And Mari checked out the Bibimbap Lunch Set 800yen. 4 types of vegetables plus some beef thats on the sweet side... similar to Sukiyaki seasoning?

They also have many other choices including Yakiniku sets that range from 1,000yen to 3,200yen for a nice mix of meat and seafood.

150yen for Lunch Salad... a reason to try out the famous Jojoen salad dressing.

Its worth a try and the great lunch deals are also available Saturday/Sunday.  

Shop: Jojoen Yakiniku Nakameguro Branch

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1317/A131701/13003466/

Website: http://www.jojoen.co.jp/html/store/nakameguro/index.html

Address J: 東京都目黒区青葉台1-29-12 セブンスターマンション １Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Aobadai 1-29-12

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/Zp7hdz8GC4g93Pdd7

chige, lunch, 焼肉, 会席料理 ,叙々苑, japan, bibimbap, korean bbq, 叙々苑 中目黒店, korean,中目黒駅, 懐石, tokyo, ジョジョエン, yakiniku, foodie blog, nakameguro, jojoen, Tokyobelly, Mariko, Mari, yelp 

EBISU: "BLACOWS" Revisited.

Had to stop by and take some video of BLACOWS.  Noticed there were more Hokkaido french fries and an extra pickle on my 1,000yen Burger Lunch order.  Later spoke with the manager and he said we all get an extra pickle for lunch!  Now all we need is a free lunch drink to top things off.  The french fries were sweeter than usual but he mentioned that the quality occasionally changes with the supplier... but sure looked like I got double this time.  Would have to say the burgers are extremely juicy 75% of the time.  On my last visit the patty was noticeably smaller and no tasty beef juice oozin out... (http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2009/12/ebisu-blacows-1000yen-wagyu-burger.html).

They started delivery!  But way more than their Lunch Specials.  Lunch Burger Set 1,000yen vs Delivery Set  1,500yen. 

For Directions check out my previous entry:
http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2009/12/ebisu-blacows-1000yen-wagyu-burger.html