SHINJUKU: Men-ya Musashi. 1000yen Ramen!

There's always a line at Musashi and I just had to check it out.  

If you are lost then hit the top left button... that'll give you the house recommended special.  But never ever have I seen 1,000yen Ramen!  Just had to see what this beast was... 1,000 yen ($11) bye  bye.  I think actual cost to make a bowl of ramen without all the toppings is 100-200yen.  Some of these shops can make an excess of  USD1 million per store.

All counter seating and a lively ramen staff.  I sat next to a nice couple and the dude kept coughing to clear his throat... dude... enough already.  Its a hit and miss who you sit next to.

And there it is!  The Ramen dude will ask if you want "Asari" (Light soup base) "Kotteri" (A more oily flavorful soup base) and what type of noodes "Futsuu" Regular or "Futo-men" Fat noodles.  I went for the Kotteri Futo-Men noodles!  

Very tasty ramen and so filling.  Its not ranked very highly on Tabelof at 3.20 points but worth a try if you are in the area.  I probably will never go back because consuming such heavy ramen just kills me in the calorie department.  The meat was so melty tender, noodles thick and chewy.  There' garlic in a tiny container for taste.

SHOP: Menya Musashi
Location: Shinjuku (Near Prospect AXE or the former Oakwood Shinjuku Apartments).
Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13001013/
Shop Website:  http://www.m634.com/634/
Address J: 東京都新宿区西新宿7-2-6
Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Nishi Shinjuku 7-2-6
MAP:

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SHINJUKU: Tachinomi-Ya Kabura-Ya (Standing Yakitori Bar)

This standing Yakitori shop is always bustling with people... sticks start at 80yen and the beer at 380yen.

Nice mix of Foreigners and Japanese while we were there.

Click to expand menu. Lots of choices starting at 80yen!

This is definitely a place to hit up after dinner or to meet up with friends.  The food wasn't great but a good spot to meet the locals and talk to the friendly staff.

2F, 1F and B1.  Recommend 1F to mingle and people watch.

Shop: Standing Bar (Tachinomi-Ya) Kabura-Ya Shinjuku 3Chome Branch

Location: Shinjuku

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13027451/

Shop Website: http://www.kaburaya.biz/index.html

Address J: 東京都新宿区新宿3-21-3

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Shinkuku 3-21-3

MAP: 

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EBISU: Ita-Soba Kaori-Ya... Very popular spot for traditional Japanese Soba Noodles. Almost like Tsukemen or Chilled Dipping Ramen Noodles.

Mari and Tina checked this place out the previous week and said it was soooo good.  Kaori-Ya is open until 4:30am so might be a good end of the night spot. 

Traditional sliding door greets you.

Chopsticks sit on a little peanut... its not reused so u can eat it.

Small crunchy fried things are free... nibble until the noodles show up.

You can either select the hot noodles (like Ramen) or cold noodles that are dipped in the Soba soup.  We both went for the Duck Soup but there are many choices on the menu.

If you like it a little spicy just add this "seven seasonings".

After you finished all your noodles don't drink up the Soup right away!  Ask for "Soba You."  Its the hot water they used to boil the noodles...  just pour some into your leftover soup and drink.  I never knew about this until Mari introduced me to it.  Warms you up and mellows out the shoyu based soup.

There are a few tables and 2 very long tables that seat 10.  You will probably be sharing the larger table but its part of the experience.  They might ask if you want to sit in the "Ai Seki" which means sharing a table with somebody else... very common in smaller popular restaurants.

Restaurant: Ita-Soba Kaori-Ya.

Location: EBISU (Near Domino's Pizza, AU Shop, Kinko's)

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13001653/

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a020701/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区恵比寿4-3-10 中出センチュリーパーク1F

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu 4-3-10

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/ZnP7QiNTe7VTwd5D7

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SHIMBASHI/HAMAMATSUCHO: Mandala 2nd. Curry Done Right!

New Office, new town...not one to be prisoner of the restaurants in the building.  Checked out Tabelog Shinbashi and I was ready to start exploring.  Mandala 2 was one of the first highly ranked lunch spots I found in the Shimbashi/Hamamatsucho area.  All Indian chefs, service was quick and extremely friendly...

Went for the Butter Chicken Lunch, there are a few choices and one selection for vegetarians.  Now if you ever want to know what a delicious dish of Indian curry tastes like then this is your spot.  Lines start at around 11:50am so I suggest going at 11:40 or around 1pm when the lunch crowd dies down.  But there will be a steady line thru the afternoon.

You can select between mild, hot and super hot curry seasonings, the Nan had the perfect balance of chewy and crispy, and you close with a small yogurt dish.  I seem to find myself here once a week but its definitely 

worth it.  

Restaurant: Mandala 2nd

Location: Between Shimbashi and Hamamatsucho Station.

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1314/A131401/13009273/

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g518600/

Address J: 東京都港区新橋6-7-2 ヤマトヨビル1F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Shinbashi 6-7-2

MAP:

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SHIBUYA: 500yen Indian Curry Lunch at TOM BOY 106!

Where to go in Shibuya for Saturday Lunch?  I'm so lost when when it comes to afternoons in Shibs... but randomly saw pictures of a restaurant featured on TV with 500yen Indian Lunch~... One coin (500yen golden coins in Japan), Had to check it out!!

B2F (Movie theater on the 1st floor also Krispy Kreme). The restaurant was spacious and very clean.

There it is! 500yen Indian Curry... Mari picked up the B-Set with the added Tandori Chicken (which we later found out to be the size of a tiny buffalo wing).

Recently learned from my Indian co-worker that Indians use a special butter sauce to coat the Nan... but this place seemed to use regular butter that created little butter puddles in the Nan.... so healthy~.

VOLUME! Lots and lots of food for 500yen!  But... at the end of the day you get what you pay for.  The Curry was basically Japanese curry... this version was bland, boring and we both got bored with the dishes.  Didn't finish the lunch and will probably never go back but if you are just visiting Tokyo it might be worth the trip.  Its like having Indian and Japanese curry fused into One! Note the chefs were Indian too... guess Mgmt was trying to keep costs down by not using Indian Spices.

Restaurant: TOM BOY 106 

Location: Walk to the left of Shibuya 109 and it will be across the Street. Look for Krispy Kreme.

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/p690003/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130301/13104579/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-6-17 渋東シネタワー Ｂ２Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Dogenzaka 2-6-17

MAP:

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