MEJIRO: Ban Thai for my ver first Gaeng Massaman Nuea

Had to pass thru Mejiro on my way to Ikebukuro and wanted to check out the town for the very first time.  For years I've only rolled thru this town on the JR Yamanote line without much thought of checking it out.

I was happily confused with the menu.  There were more unique lunch selections than most other Thai spots in Tokyo... but settled for the "E-set" Gaeng Massaman Nuea 850yen.

Looks like Famous Enka singer Jero was here.

Interesting waitress that was immersed into her iPad... wasn't sure if the person was a guy or girl with no smiles and an dirty brown colored mo-hawk. 

I got Pineapples!  Thats a first :)

The Video!

Rice with a spinkle of fried onions.

A light soup with daikon and carrots... just something to clear the throat.  Perhaps Consomme soup.

And this was the my selection, after reading the description how could I resist! "South Thailand of slowly braised beef, potatoes in rich coconut curry sauce topped with fried slices of red onion and cashew nuts."  Thinking back there were no red onions or cashew nuts!  Anyways it was a nice rich thick flavor and the carrots/potatoes were stewy soft.  

One piece of beef that was rather tough and a little piece of chicken.

Wasn't too into the mayo salad... 

Overall not too bad.  The interior was clean, a huge TV helped pass by the time and it was nice to try something totally new.  I asked the waitress what was recommended and she said the regional thai food they specialize in is spicy stuff... she suggested trying the Thai Curry next time.  She was very courteous and smiley as I left.

Shop: Ban Thai

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130502/13125769/

Address J: 東京都豊島区目白3-5-8 佐久間ビル1階

Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Mejiro 3-5-8
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NERIMA: Thai lunch at Hyotan... Sawadee-blah blah boring...

I've always been curious about this tiny Thai spot with a small counter space and a tiny back area with mini tables. 

Everything on the lunch menu is 600yen.

Owner gets a special deal on this specific Thai sake... 2,500yen big bottles.

... and 1,380yen small bottles (normally 1,800yen).

And so my 600yen Krapao Gai arrives... hmm... um... hmm...

Didn't quite look like whats pictured in the mneu.

Lettuce soup with a cube of Tofu.

Hmm... only see a few shards of red pepper.

After a few bites I was hella bored and just couldn't understand why this basic dish wasn't simply delicious... the meat was extremely minced with no texture, seasoning bland, no spicy kick and well it just kinda sucked.  I much prefer Naflan in Nogata.  Oh, the Chef was a middle aged Thai woman with no smiles.

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/2013/01/nogata-nayfan-for-some-cozy-thai.html

Rice used was normal Japanese instead of Thai Jasmine Rice...

The side dessert contained corn?  For real? I've never had it this way before.

During my meal the owner started to chat with me about where I was from etc... He's been in business for 3 years and many of his customers are with TV & Publishing so he's been featured in both.  I can only assume the great foodie ranking of 3.53pts is due to the evening beer drinking crowd because luck really Sawadee-sucked.   I just regret putting on calories for boring food... Hasta La Sawadee Hyotan!

Shop: Hyotan Thai Restaurant

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132102/13113225/

Address J: 東京都練馬区豊玉北5-22-15

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Toyotama-Kita 5-22-15
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NOGATA: Nayfan for some cozy Thai

On my journey to what could possibly be Tokyo's cheapest pizzeria (280yen~) I got side tracked by this silly caricature of a Thai lady holding up food...

The price points were too reasonable... and a bit fascinated as to what I was to find downstairs.  So I gave up my journey to Koenji for Pizza and entered this narrow staircase...

Greeted by a lone thai lady that did resemble the caricature~.  Was confused between the Kra pao gai kai dao and Khao man gai (just like the Hainanese Chicken Rice) but Chef lady recommended the first.

There was something cozy about the plastic chairs and low cost interior.  Thai news radio was playing in the background... 

Initially so underwhelmed... wow... the portion was so very little.  

Taste was extremely flavorful and although the volume was minimal I thoroughly enjoyed this plate.  Spice was dead on and shouldn't be feeling its effects later tonight.

Thai Rice~

As I was eating these two showed up!  Thank goodness... If not I'd definitely have have a second lunch nearby.

Another very flavorful beef broth soup with some soft daikon.  Yum!  Helped out with the spiciness of the main dish.

Thai Coconut Tapioca Pudding was a great ending to this tasty 680yen meal.  

There was something so cozy about this place that really took you away from being in Tokyo.  I'll definitely be back to try out a few of the other offerings.

Restaurant: Nayfan

Foodie Blog:  http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132104/13115960/

Shop Blog: http://ameblo.jp/nayfan/entry-10625565495.html

Address J: 東京都中野区野方5-30-19, B1F

Address E: Tokyo, Nakano-ku, Nogata 5-30-19, B1F

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AKIHABARA: Siddique Akiba Shop.... Thai Curry, Viet Pho and Indian!?

An off day wandering Akihabara for a bit of lunch and noticed a sign for 500yen Vietnamese Pho... hmm... I've recently been hooked on Pho24 and the craving kicked in.  BUTT... this is the most common Indian Curry chain in Tokyo (you can read my Chicken Skin Curry experience here). 

What caught my eye at the entrance was their one coin 500yen Pho... So had to give it a try.  Menu included Vietnamese and Thai foods.

My Chicken Pho arrived... hmm... very strong black pepper taste... got bored after a few bites but it was just weird eating Pho in an Indian restaurant.  I didn't finish this.  But if you are on a budget visiting Tokyo then this will definitely fill you up.

Friend went with the Gapao Rice... she couldn't finish it because it was extremely spicy.  The beef reminded me of the mushy stuff used in Taco-Bell... didn't really look like ground beef.  Think they heavily used red pepper for this... also odd eating Thai food at an Indian place.

Lunch menu comes with a salad with orange colored dressing... this shop isn't very clean and the 1st floor door is wide open so you sweat during your meal... and this salad, it just didn't seem very clean, like there were germs hidden inside ready to get you sick.  I may be wrong but cleanliness just didn't seem a part of this shops atmosphere.

Here is the Indian Curry menu and prominently on the very bottom is the famous 500yen soft mushy chicken skin curry (Tori-Gawa-Curry)!  Now if you visit any of the Siddique shops please try the chicken skin... its freaky but addictive.

Shop: Siddique Akiba Shop

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131101/13037323/

Shop Website: http://www.siddique.co.jp/

Address J:  東京都千代田区外神田3-16-14

Address E:  Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, SotoKanda 3-16-14

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