Kojimachi 31 MT Bldg Lot: Papagaya Deli...Falafel!! (Thurs Only)

Seems I've been on a regular meet-up with Falafel lately... and so the journey continues.

First time to spot an Israeli cuisine lunch wagon!

So many people were going for the B Lunch... but had to hit up the A Lunch with a topping of Falafel for 50yen.  For extra turmeric rice just add 100yen... Oh the chef is a foreigner so right off just start chatting away in English. 

And there we go!  Falafel, Salad with okra, spicy minced chicken with jalapenos, 2 tiny quail eggs, salad and sour cream.  Anyways the bento was only 650yen plus 50yen for the Falafel topping.

He actually gave me a boat load of Falafel after tossing some onions on me and squirting me with some white stuff... think it was dressing... my bill was 700yen but because the white dressing flew onto my arm and shirt he insisted that I only pay 500yen.  Kool guy...

Tiny quail eggs... always a hit in Japan.

Great okra in the salad.

Overall a VERY Filling meal and soooo tasty... I'll definitely be back every Thursday.

Lunch Wagon: Papagaya Deli

Kojimachi 31MT Bldg Schedule: http://www.w-tokyodo.com/neostall/village/place05

Address J: 東京都千代田区麹町5-7-2

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Kojimachi 5-7-2, Parking Lot of Kojimachi 31MT Bldg.

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EBISU: Ta-Im Israeli Cuisine... Falafel and Hummus Lunch!

Randomly came across Ta-Im while I was searching for Hummus online via http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/venue/9775/Ta-im

Of course! A-Lunch with Falafel and Hummus. Drink is an additional 100yen but the ice tea cup was so tiny... just stick with water unless you want coffee.

Small Isreali gifts.

All counter seating inside... these 3 seats faced outside both others face the kitchen area so you can see the chef at work.

Lunch dishes will come out slowly... soup, hummus and pita bread (can get more for free) came out.

Very smooth Hummus... oishii.

Then the hot fries arrived...

Then this tiny thing came out... later I heard it was olive oil, cilantro and jalapenos.

The tiny falafel balls arrived to close the meal... crunchy on the outside.

And finally my lunch was complete... as you can see I was workin on the Hummus but wanted to get a pic of everything you get for 980yen A-Lunch.

Located on the 1st floor of this apartment building.  The staff was very friendly. Waitress was an older Chinese lady that went out of her way to provide great service... and the Chef was all smiles.  Definitely hit the spot if you are craving Hummus... Located in between Ebisu and Hiroo station. 

Shop: Ta-Im Israeli Cuisine

Shop Website: http://www.ta-imebisu.com/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13128397/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区恵比寿1-29-16 ベルハイムC1F

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu 1-29-16
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SHIMOKITAZAWA: Stay Happy Cafe... High ceilings and hammocks!

Just a random entry for a cool spacious cafe in Shimokitazawa.

Lunch menu starts at 13:00...

Tried the interesting pickled Kiwi Vinegar drink... it was written that this drink is perfect for the summer.

They have Arrabiatta!  One of my favorite pastas...

My Kiwi Drink... was suuuuper sour and tasted like pickles!

Banana shake... think it was 800yen... tiny glass cup... 

2nd floor loft area... lots of Hammocks.

Spotted the husband and wife owners enjoying the curry for dinner... Might be a good dish to order.

If you want to spend ours in a cafe enjoying some very soothing jazzy techno music then this is your spot. Owner mentioned some people all asleep for hours in the Hammocks.

Shop: Cafe Stay Happy Shimokitazawa

Shop Website: http://cafestayhappy.com/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1318/A131802/13120948/

Address J: 東京都世田谷区代沢2-29-14,  2F

Address E: Tokyo, Setagaya-ku, Daizawa 2-29-14, 2F
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SHIMOKITAZAWA: (CLOSED 12/2011) Vi-Sand Bánh-Mi vietnamese sandwiches... lacked the addictive pâté.

Its so hard to find Vietnamese Bánh-Mi sandwiches in Tokyo but a random search on my favorite foodie blog came up with Vi-Sand in Shimokitazawa. 

Interior was very comfy and the artwork on the walls soothing. 

I picked up the 650yen drink,  beef sandwich and appetizer lunch set.  The beef was pretty much identical to what you can find at a beef bowl shop like Yoshinoya... nothing really special.  Bread was on the soft side rather than that crispy outside like a baguette.  Owner mentioned that they toast the bread for lunch and use the oven for dinner to get it crispy on the outside.

Lots of tasty coriander.

Volume will just hit the spot... you won't get stuffed.  There is pate in here but honestly I couldn't taste it... perhaps the special hot sauce or flavor of the beef was too overwhelming... or more could have been added.

Friend ordered the 2nd most popular selection, Chicken Bánh-Mi.

This tasted much better because it didn't remind me of eating at Yoshinoya... but the volume lacked and the chicken was ground up... not regular sliced chicken. 

Tiny noodle appetizer with lunch.

Lots of beautiful paintings on the walls.

The shop and restroom was immaculate...

Great BGM on the Bose system... think it was tuned into a French radio channel.

After having amazing Bánh-Mi at Ba-Le in Hawaii its just hard to enjoy whats offered in Japan.  The best way to describe it is having Ramen or Sushi in the US... it just isn't the same as having it in Japan.  But customer service was super friendly and owner Michael (bilingual) was a pleasure to chat with. 

Here's a photo of our Hawaii trip in 2009... Ba-Le is the place to try if you ever visit Honolulu.

Shop: Vi-Sand Shimo-Kitazawa

Shop Website: http://www.vi-sand.jp/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1318/A131802/13122615/

Address E: Tokyo, Setagaya-ku, Kitazawa 2-12-3 (Just minutes from South Exit)

Address J: 東京都世田谷区北沢2-12-3
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KICHIJOJI: Ippudo Ramen... frequent sighting all over Tokyo and popular with foreigners.

A very common sight in Tokyo... Ippudo Ramen.  For some reason many of my foreign friends like this ramen  franchise.  Perhaps because its located in areas frequented by Expats.

There are 2 basic ramens.  Akamaru (850yen) that has a hint of spice and Shiromaru (750yen) in a creamy white tonkotsu soup.

Topping for your ramen. Suggest just adding a little at a time... flavor of the soup can change.

Long counter seating and also tables... place was in the basement of a building but quite big.

Ramen seasoning (to add more flavor), sesame seeds that can be ground and used for topping, and finally Gyoza sauce on the far end.

Mini-Gyoza's... tiny and hit the spot.

My Aka-Maru ramen.

Kawika's Shiro-Maru.

As you can see the noodles are extremely thin so there is no chewy factor at Ippudo... its kinda like thin angel hair pasta al'dente style.

Picture outside the shop.  Overall this is just an average Ramen franchise and I wouldn't fully recommend it unless you are in need of something to eat after a night out drinking.  If you've never tried it then it should be on your list just too see if this thin noodle tonkotsu (pork) soup is your style.

Shop: IPPUDO Kichijoji Branch

Shop Website: http://www.ippudo.com/index.html

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1320/A132001/13005845/

Address J: 東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺本町1-18-1 吉祥寺ニュープラザビル Ｂ１Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Musashino-shi, Kichijoji, Honmachi 1-18-1, B1F
MAP:

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