SHINUKU GOLDEN GAI: Nagi for fish broth ramen... it was powerful~ Super friendly staff!!

I'm the biggest fan of Futomen (Thick Chewy Noodle) ramen and I discovered Ramen Nagi ラーメン 凪 新宿煮干 新宿ゴールデン街店 randomly via Ramen Adventures website.

Buy your ticket before lining up!

We peeked in the alley way next to the ramen shop and there was a line... nice older Japanese guy said yup we gotta line up way in the back.  But was a very short wait... maybe 15min?  

We were greeted with this! Super smiley friendly ramen chef... this place was soooo welcoming.

Friendly Japanese guy took the corner seat so I could have a view of the Ramen Chef in action.

2 very kind girls to my right... all smiles. 

Unique chopsticks :)

A solid brick of a Char-siu.  If you are not into fish soup based ramen this spot can be a bit overbearing.  I'm more of a Tonkotsu (pork soup ramen) kinda guy bit this was a great change of pace.  The foodie ranking is a very respectable 3.58pts http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13054766/

Thick chewy noodles! YUM!!

Tight space for the staff

All counter seating.

One of the friendly staff... everyone here was just too cool.

Met a few fellow ramen lovers downstairs... Overall would I go back... absolutely!  Ramen Adventures commented "Perfection"... and I'd have to agree a very memorable experience! Go go go!!

Restaurant: Ramen Nagi

Nagi Website: http://www.n-nagi.com/

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13054766/

Address J: 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-1-10 2F

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Kabukicho 1-1-20, 2F
MAP:

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ラーメン, つけ麺, tsukemen, golden gai, bar, noodles, tokyo, japan, foodie, Sony Nex-C3

SHINOKUBO: Donki Quijote for beers on the cheap! Drinking public is ok in Japan :)

We had about a 10 minute walk to our next destination and randomly passed by this huuuuge Donki in Shin Okubo...this place uses sooo much land. What a sight in central Tokyo.

Alcohol section!

Here you go... the alcohol section was massive.

A very rare Range Rover spotting... Think I've only seen a few in the last 10 years.

Friend picked up some fish to go along with the drinks.

And so our 10 minute walk and a bit of public drinking commences... Tokyo on the cheap :).

Shop: Donki Quijote Shin Okubo Branch  ドンキホーテ 新大久保

Donki Website: http://www.donki.com/search/shop_detail.php?st_store_id=8

Address J: 東京都新宿区大久保1-12-6　

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Ookubo 1-12-6

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SHIN OKUBO: Jongno Hottoku for Kimchee Cheese Korean pancakes... a first for me!

I was on the search for some Toppoki but this Korean pancake spot caught my eye... there were so many female customers ordering pancakes here. 

My friend and I were on our way to Ramen so we looked... thought... looked again... started to get a bit confused until these two ladies started talking to me in English on how good this stuff was.  So I couldn't resist!  On their recommendation I went with the Kimchee Cheese Hottoku pancake.

Asked the ladies why this spot was so popular and their response "Ikemen Chef ga iru kara" (because of the handsome chef)... oh, ok...

300yen!

Thus we passed on the Toppoki... but I think this other place looked a bit better

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/2013/02/shin-okubo-kanadara-for-some-spicy.html

This little pancake was awesome... very chewy bread texture, the cheese and Kimchee was such a perfect match.  I'll definitely be back again!

Shop: Jongno Hottoku 1st Branch ジョンノホットク 1号店

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130404/13097020/

ShinOkubo Website: http://www.wowsokb.jp/jongno1/

Address J: 東京都新宿区大久保1-12-6

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Ookubo 1-12-6
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韓国料理, 新大久保, Japan, Tokyo, Korean, Korea Town, Foodie,

SHINOKUBO: Pusan Shokudo for K-pop and friendly Korean food~

Groupon in Japan is awesome but even more so because you get to explore new parts of Tokyo.  Scored this 2,400yen 2 hour nomihoudai (all you can drink) and few Korean dishes or two!

http://www.groupon.jp/cid/67454?recom=NO

We were allowed to select two items with the little red sticker...limited no worries.

Our reservation was for 5:15pm so a bit early for the K-pop crowd.

6 types of Banchan

They had Cass and Hite!  Good stuff~

Our 1st selection... tasted like Tenjan Chige (Korean Miso Soup).  Very nice.

and then the best dish of the night arrived...

Seasoned pig feet "ton-soku"! The seasoning was great... hint of honey, mustard and wasabi. The perfect item with beer.   

Tried all the different varieties of Makkori (Makgeolli)... the sweet black bean was my favorite.

Didn't realize it but the guy in the white shirt is the owner.

Extremely friendly staff... Owner in the LOTTE Baseball jersey.

Some free Korean gum... gave mine to a pretty girl I randomly met in the area.  Overall is a very relaxing restaurant... the price points were rather high for many of the main dishes but if you have a few bucks laying around I'd definitely spend a little bit at Pusan Shokudo.  

Restaurant: Pusan Shokudo 釜山食堂

Website: http://hot-korea.net/modules/map/index.php?lid=234

Address J: 東京都新宿区百人町1-3-1

Address E: Tokyo, Shinuku-ku, Hyakunin-Cho 1-3-1
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