Tokyo Belly: June 2011

Friday, June 24, 2011

YOTSUYA: Salsa Cabana Bar - Mexican Lunch... Chicken Cheese Burrito!

Salsa Cabana... first impression a great little spot that offers so many tiny Mexican dinner appetizers but first time to wander past during lunch.

Torn between the Burrito and Enchilada plate... what to do!?

Do I see tequila...

... yup it was Patron.

Lunch set comes with your standard drink... Ginger-ale here.

Tiny salad with a little vinegar dressing.

And there it was... my round plump Chicken topped with Cheese Burrito! First bite... hmm... chicken was a bit on the dry side... maybe I should have went for the Enchiladas. It was a filling meal but don't think I will order this again... was searching for a little Tabasco or hot sauce but nowhere to be found.

Shop: Salsa Cabana

Location: Yotsuya Station

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g096700/

Shop Website: http://www.salsa-cabana.com/shop.html

Address J: 東京都新宿区四谷1-20-9

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya 1-20-9

MAP:

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AKASAKA: Ogo's for Lunch Special! Hawaiian Beef Stew and hidden menu item Ahi Limu Poke

Met one of my oldest friends Shotaro thru a mutual friend (Brenda) over 20 years ago... we both lived in Hawaii so what better way to catch up than at Ogo's.

Ryoji (owner/chef) mentioned that the Spicy Avocado Ahi Poke was sold out but offered Ahi Limu Poke as an alternative... also suggested to try out the day's special, Hawaiian Beef Stew.

Ahi Limu Poke... fresh and just too perfect.

Stew was goooood... no leftovers here.

Plus 100yen gets you a drink and Hawaiian dessert.

Quick shot of the new seating and interior...

For location details go here:

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2010/04/akasaka-ogo-onoloa-hawaii-authentic.html

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2011/06/akasaka-ogos-revisited-best-authentic.html

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2011/06/akasaka-ogo-onoloa-hawaii-loco-moco-and.html

Thursday, June 23, 2011

MARUNOUCHI: Antibes Mediterranean Cuisine in posh BRICK Square... location doesn't always mean good food.

Mari hear some good things about Antibes Restaurant in Mitsubishi Estate's posh new BRICKS Square building. Planned this lunch for months and finally had a chance to check it out. We both went for the 1,800yen lunch special that included a salad, soup, fresh bread, pasta, dessert and drink.

Honey with hints of lemon peel butter for the freshly baked bread.

Bread came to us hot... crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Our soup and salad with vinegar dressing. Nothing impressive here.

I ordered the pasta with a hint of curry seasoning... something quite unusual to see so we gave it a try. The best part of this was probably the tiny little beans... hmm...

Mari went for the mozzarella tomato sauce pasta. Honestly after she started eating this pasta I asked if she wanted to try my curry pasta... then commented the curry was better than hers. I gave it a try and sure enough this only took one bite to realize how mediocre it was. I'd have to say any convenient store pasta would beat this hands down in a flavor contest... please don't order this at all cost.

One positive aspect to this restaurant was the large 2nd floor windows over looking the tree's that line Naka-Dori in Marunouchi...

Our lunch set came with a green tea cake and scoop of yogurt ice cream... Cake was dry as can be... this must have been some kind of instant cake they decided to serve for the day. You'll do better randomly picking out a cake at the grocery store. A definite pass....

My Ice Tea....

Mari's hot tea... wanted me to take a picture of the lemon.

I think we unofficially shook hands not to return again...

As you can see in this picture the dessert went unfinished... same for both pasta's.

I honestly don't think it can be so difficult to make a great pasta dish but this place fails all around... everything pretty much sucked. So... I highly suggest you don't go.

Ship: Antibes Mediterranean Cuisine

Location: Marunouchi (Walking distance from Tokyo or Yurakucho Station).

Shop Website: http://www.antibes-tokyo.jp/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130201/13096440/

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e533317/

Address J: 東京都千代田区丸の内2-6-1 丸の内ブリックスクエア2F

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Marunouchi 2-6-1, Marunouchi Bricks Square 2F

MAP:

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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

SHINBASHI - SHIODOME: Ramen Dai... massively chunky ramen noodles!!

And there it is Tonkotsu ramen... I've never had noodles this chunky before. This has to be the most filling ramen ever... not a place you would want to take a girl, just too heavy. Click HERE for more pics of the ramen.

The extra fresh garlic topping I ordered was sooooo fresh that hours after I ate this I continued to taste garlic in my mouth. Now I love garlic but this was soooo overwhelming... was craving a toothbrush.

FREE Toppings! Extra veggies, super fresh garlic, more miso flavor and more fatty oil.

4 degree's of veggie toppings. I ordered the "Oome" (One above the regular) and it seemed like alot.

One of the guest on this TV program said she loved to eat "Moyashi" (bean sprouts) and the studio was within 15 steps of what they called Japan's #1 Moyashi establishment. So off they went... Video just so you know how massive the extra large free beansprout upgrades can be... 650yen.

All Counter Seating

Location is behind NTV at Shiodome on the tiny side streets. Don't think I'll be back because this will kill any kind of balanced diet you are on and it took a few washes to get out the fatty oil (pork based that I like) that jumps onto your shirt while slurpin up the ramen. BUT definitely worth a try and ranked a very respectable 3.48 of my Japans foodie website.

Shop: Ramen Dai

Location: Shimbashi Station (JR) or Shiodome Station (Oedo Line).

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130103/13121246/

Address J: 東京都港区東新橋1-2-11

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Higashi Shimbashi 1-2-11
MAP:

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foodie, japan, ramen dai, shinbashi, shiodome, tokyo, tonkotsu, つけ麺, らーめん大, ラーメン, 新橋, 汐留店, Japanese, Tokyo, shimbashi, tsukemen,

AKASAKA: OGO Ono－loa Hawaii... Loco Moco and Poke Combo. (NEW SEATS!)

Back to Ogo's for a combo plate.

Lunch Menu... they just sold out of Mochiko Chicken! Next time...

My LocoMoco and Spicy Avocado Poke combo lunch (1,100yen). First time to go for the Loco Moco and there was something distinctly american about the flavor of this burger... brought back memories of being back in the states... soooo good!! Now if you want to know how good it was try and compare it to all thats wrong with L&L Shibuya's Loco Moco.

Nice spicy kick.

Ryoji got in some new tables and chairs. Place looks brighter.

If you come alone the 3 hi-chair counter seats have expanded to 6 table seats... more space for the lone diners.

For an additional 100yen you can get a drink and Hawaiian dessert.

See you again Ryoji.

For Address Details Check out my last 2 Visits:

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2010/04/akasaka-ogo-onoloa-hawaii-authentic.html

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2011/06/akasaka-ogos-revisited-best-authentic.html

Sunday, June 19, 2011

HIROO: Aux Chats Que Peche... Bistro Hiroo. Everything was just too good.

In February we checked out a new French Bistro in Hiroo... I can only say that from start to finish everything was simply amazing. Its been too long for me to comment on each dish but if you are in the Hiroo area please give Aux Chats Que Peche a chance.