AKASAKA: (CLOSED) Neyn Homemade Donuts. Each unique and very tasty!

This place is a little gem.  Sure I love Mr. Donuts but nothing beats the individual care each donut gets at Neyn in Akasaka.  

Picked up a berry topping donut, a chocolate donut and a cheesecake donut.  All three had very different textures.  The berry was like a classic donut, the chocolate was closer to dry brownie and the cheese cake like a condensed sponge cake.  Very tasty but the textures added a bit for to the selections~.

Shop is very 

Think this was a donut xmas tree.

Little walnut toppings

Making a Christmas Tree.

This place is a little gem.  Sure I love Mr. Donuts but nothing beats the individual care each donut gets at Neyn in Akasaka.  I'll be back!

Shop: NEYN Akasaka

Location: Near Akasaka Station (Few steps from HSBC Building).

Shop website: http://www.neyn.com/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130801/13054964/

Address J: 東京都港区赤坂5-4-8

Address E:  Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 5-4-8

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AKASAKA: DoGenRo Chinese with a fantastic 3.81 Foodie Rating!

Our destination was Italian but not all places in Tokyo are open for Saturday lunch. So check out the foodie rankings for Akasaka and decided on DoGenRo.

Menu had pics so easy to choose.

Excellent side dish that came with the lunch set.  One was a brown pickled dish possibly seasoned in Shoyu and the other had tiny cubes of tofu, carrots, celery and some peanuts.  Very tasty!

Free Tea.

This was my dish... There was a very very distinct Chinese herb in this that was quite overwhelming.  Selection #9 on the menu for 980yen.  Like a noodle hotpot that could easily feed two hungry people.

Mari went for the Mabo-Tofu set.  This also contained the very same Chinese spice... I wish I knew what it was called but if you are accustomed to regular Mabo-Tofu I'd suggest avoiding this.

Yeah... very very spicy.

Finished off with a very nice dish of Anin-Dofu sweet desert. Oh, if you want 2nds on rice just ask the waiter, service was quick and friendly.  Definitely be back but I'd suggest trying the other non-spicy dishes on the menu. 

Shop: DoGenRo (同源楼 （ドウゲンロウ）) Chinese.

Location: AKASAKA

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130801/13041758/

Hotpepper Website: http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000728673/

Address J: 東京都港区赤坂3-18-8 エムプレスビル ２Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 3-18-8   

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SHIMBASHI: Kanya Korean Restaurant.... Great 500yen Sundubu lunch set!

My office is near THE salaryman town of Shimbashi where you can find so many reasonable places for lunch.  I came across Kanya just by chance and super reasonable 500yen sundubu lunch set caught my eye.

Lots of tiny restaurants in the side streets of Shimbashi.

And here we go~

The other items on the menu are around 700-800yen which is a very reasonable price point.  But where else in Tokyo can you get Sundubu for a mere 500yen... and it includes...

... all these tiny side dishes plus you can get seconds on your rice!

I'm not sure if it was the feeling of only having to pay 500yen for this lunch but I really like it.  All the ladies in the shop were Korean that must be a goooood sign.

If you just happen to be in Shimbashi or Shiodome area give Kanya a try.  Its ranked a VERY Lowly 2.90 on  my favorite foodie site but just give the lunch a try!

Shop: Kanya Korean Family Style Restaurant

Location: Shimbashi

Shop Website: http://kanya-shinbashi.com/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130103/13027608/

Address J: 東京都港区新橋4-21-7

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Shimbashi 4-21-7

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RYOGOKU: Komugi-Ya Ramen... Japan's friendliest grandma waitress with possible Ozeki Konishiki spotting!

Ramen Komugi-Ya ranked #2 in Ryogoku (Sumo-Town)... about 3 minutes from Oedo-line Ryogoku station.

Shoyu ramen starts at 650yen and Miso at 800yen.

Kimchee bean sprouts for free... you can ask for seconds.

Counter and Table seating. We arrived about 1:30pm and it was a full house.  Just lucky to sit at a table for four.

Went for the Osusume (Recommended) Negi-Miso Ramen.   If you like a thick, flavorful, filling ramen then this is for you.  It will definitely leave you stuffed.  I'd suggest adding the Kimchee Beansprouts (Moyashi) to the ramen for a slight kick.

Noodles were slightly chewy.  

There were posters of Konishiki's CD releases all over the shop.  Seems the ramen chef is very good friends with the former Ozeki Konishiki and he occasionally stops by.  The very sweet grandma waitress mentioned he is having his home in Japan renewed in the area... a bit of info she wanted to share. 

A gift from grandma... small flyer for Konishiki's Doskoi Dance CD.

SHOP: Komugi-Ya Ramen

LOCATION: Ryogoku Station (Sumo Town)

Website:  http://wasi5931.web.infoseek.co.jp/komugiya.html

Foodie Site: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1312/A131201/13009562/

Address J: 東京都墨田区石原1-23-5

Address E: Tokyo, Sumida-ku, Ishihara 1-23-5

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NAKANO: Carthago Turkish Restaurant.... Overpriced Hummus y'all.

If you are new to Tokyo you MUST check out the Nakano area... there are so many tiny side street cozy local restaurants. But there was also a very noticeable mix of Black Suit Hosts (aka Crows) trying to lure salarymen into hostess bars.  Anyways...

It was all about the Hummus tonight.  Mari checked the Tabelog Foodie Rankings for Turkish Restaurants and Carthago was ranked #2 in all of Tokyo!  Japan has some amazing foods but finding Hummus can be an adventure.

Carthago had a very spacious interior and a great mix of Turkish/Arab dance tunes playing in the background.  First impression was the atmosphere was sooo comfortable and nice. 

Import beers start at 650yen... think this was a Turkish selection. Very smooth.

No smoking in this establishment... always a welcome sign.

Couldn't decide on one so went with 3 selections (Hummus bi'tahini, Baba ghanouj and a Spicey Tomato) for 1,500yen (@$18).  I guess its just Japan but the volume was tiny... I mean what can the cost of eggplant/chickpea/tomato actually be?  This will lightly satisfy your craving for Hummus but honestly Walmart brand ATHENOS beats this hands down. 

Pita bread for the hummus is 200yen per piece... we ordered 3 pieces.  When did somebody decide to sell this separately... I mean who eats Hummus without pita?

Should have taken a photo of the menu but a very light and slightly plain Turkish salad.  Can't recall what it was called but something that can easily be prepared at home.

Shrimp and Feta cheese... can i get more than 3 pieces of tiny shrimp please... and to our surprise the lazy chef left a nice long exposed poop sack on the back of the shrimp... for a bit of extra flavor?  

If you miss Hummus pls don't try to satisfy your craving here... you'll only be disappointed.  This place has only one waitress and one chef so I assume when its busy the wait for food can be quite long.  Looking at the portions we decided not to venture on to order more food... just couldn't justify paying any more money for mediocre food.

There is a big white NEON Panda on this road... just turn around and hit up the Ramen shop on the corner. 

SHOP: Carthago Arab and Turkish Restaurant

Location: Nakano Station (few stops from Shinjuku)

Shop website:  http://homepage2.nifty.com/carthago/

Foodie website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1319/A131902/13001081/

Address J:  東京都中野区中野3-34-3 

Address E: Tokyo, Nakano-ku, Nakano 3-34-3

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