GAIENMAE: Aoyama Sushi-Sen... fabulous 4,500yen Lunch set without a bottle of Shoyu insight~

Company bonenkai Lunch to close out 2014!  Boss picked this spot near the office that was nicely rated. 

Inside is a long counter seat and behind us a few tables.  The main sushi chef didn't smile the entire time thus I was a bit afraid to take pics in his presence.  The course consisted of about 12 pieces I think.  Seasonal tuna and hamachi...

What was most stunning was each piece either had a slight layer of shoyu painted on by the chef or a bit of seasoning... perfectly balanced and no need to destroy this harmony with our own random splashes of shoyu.  Each piece was a meal in itself... simply fantastic.

Sweet egg here.  They also served seasoned Carrot from Kyoto (deep red color).

Had chutoro.... akami... 

Closed with a gold leaf pear sorbet with fresh apples.

Simply a very nice experience.  If you have foreign guests that go bonkers dipping in shoyu please take them here... they will truly learn how balance brings out the greatness that is sushi. Oh if there are some sushi's you can't eat just tell them when you reserve, they will replace it with another selection.

Restaurant: Aoyama Sushi Sen

Foodie Tabelog: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130603/13016600/

Address J:  東京都港区南青山3-2-7 ブラック青山 1F

Address E: Tokyo. Minato-ku, Minami Aoyama 3-2-7, Black Aoyama 1F
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/xd4Gm

青山,すし泉, あおやま, すしせん, 外苑前, 寿司, Japan, Japanese, sashimi, beer, sake, canon s120, foodie, tokyobelly, tokyo, yelp,

HIGASHI NAKANO: Sonamu Korean Restaurant for some super tasty Kamujatan~

 

Craving a little Korean in East Nakano and Sonamu was ranked highly on Tabelog.  EVERYONE was ordering the Kamujatan hotpot stew.   2,300yen for 2-3 person serving but for 700yen more you can bump up the volume to 4-5 people!

Chop chae a definite pass... tiny plate for around 900yen.

Let it stew and stew... and finally at the perfect time dig into the veggies, potatoes and I believe ox-tail but it was mostly bone.  Incredibly creamy and flavorful!  Don't forget to order white rice to enjoy with this.

When its all done you have choices of udon, ramen, rice & egg (with kimchee, seaweed) to mix into this.  We went for the rice, raw egg, minced kimchee and seaweed. 

Friendly waitress mixing in the rice and egg.

Suuuuper tasty flavorful.  Probably one of the best Kamujatan stews I've had in tokyo.

If in Nakano give this place a try!  It was busy from our entrance to exit with lots of famous signatures on the wall.

Restaurant: Sonamu Korean Higashi Nakano Main Branch

Sonamu Website: http://www.sonamu.jp/

Tabelog Foodie: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1319/A131901/13006885/

Address J: 東京都中野区東中野3-1-4 高遠ビル

Address E: Tokyo, Nakano-ku, Higashi Nakano 3-1-4
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/GkyEZ

ソナム, 東中野, 本店, 松屋, 韓国料理, 焼肉, Japan, Japanese, Tokyo, Korean, foodie, lumix lx5, tokyobelly, yelp, yakiniku,

SHIN EKODA: Ramen Hagan Oobina soupless ramen "Ekoda Version"... very tasty and generous 300 grams for 680yen!

I'm always a fan of Hagan's first branch in Sakuradai but my very first adventure into the newer Ekoda branch.  At 11:50am there were about 5 people inside enjoying lunch.

Two guys next to me were eating the regular ramen but at Hagan the soupless mix ramen is a must!  You can add soup-wari afterwards to get that regular ramen feel.

200 grams or 300 grams for 680yen.

The noodles and source if you want to use the provider

The single chef will take your order before you hit the counter seats.  I failed to see this sign but you can add free garlic topping and select the amount of boiled veggie toppings.

This is the regular bowl with garlic and veggies.  The pork is slightly grilled when you order.

Very thick and chewy ramen noodles.

L shaped counter seating.

When you are nearly done with the noodles there is a thermos on the counter filled with hot noodle soup... it mellows out the flavorful thicker soup remaining in the bowl. Timing is up to you.

Restaurant: Ramen Hagan Oobina - Ekoda Branch

Foodie Tabelog Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132101/13116720/

Hagan Website: http://ramenhagan.com/

Address J: 東京都練馬区栄町4-3 ＹＫビル

Address E:  Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Sakaecho 4-3
MAP:  https://goo.gl/maps/D69Qa

らーめん, 破顔, おおびる, ラーメン, 汁なし, Panasonic TZ60, Japan, Japanese, noodles, tsukemen, gyokai, foodie, tokyobelly, yelp, Tokyo,

EBISU: Bekohiro in Ebisu-Yokochi that specializes in Beef Tongue! Friendly folks all around~

Going from VOCO pizzeria to What The Dickens live British pub is a loooooong corridor filled with tiny restaurants called Ebisu-Yokocho. Happened to spot 2 empty counter seats at Bekohira~

Specializing in Beef Tongu

The otoshi is seasoned Gobo veggies.

Beef tongue!

Thick and very tender seasoned in salt and pepper beef tongue.

And when in any small counter seating spots you will definitely start chatting up your neighbors. 

This photographer showed me some of his pics... each one just perfect.  He was with a friendly American girl from the midwest

I think I will return here again someday soon.

Restaurant: Bekohiro

Tabelog Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13054281/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区恵比寿1-7-4 恵比寿横丁内10番

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu 1-7-4
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/UGAvq

ベコヒラ,  牛料理, ホルモン, 居酒屋, 恵比寿横丁, 恵比寿, Japan, Japanese, beer, sake, cheap, canon s120, foodie, tokyobelly, yakiniku, yakitori, izakaya