KOENJI: Captain Bacchus... 980yen All-You-Can-Drink WINE! Plus rare Spare Ribs spotting!

A friend of mine asked if I was interested in joining him for Spare Ribs and Wine... what? Spare ribs in Tokyo?  Oh yeah... i'm game!

The foodie website describes this place as an Italian Dining Bar but as soon as we entered I felt like I was back in LA... the music is full on Mexican with a hint of Country.  Just too cool.

Shop specials

I've never seen this at a non-Japanese restauranant... all you can drink Red and White wine for 980yen!  Glass wines start at 380yen and Ebisu beer for 490yen. 

First thing to greet us was 2 types of bread... and you can eat as much as you want!  Perfect for dipping :)

How great is this... water comes in a chilled glass.  Thats my Half and Half Ebisu Dark/Light beer.

Ooooohhh a must!  

Chicken gizzards in garlic olive oil

The main reason for visiting... Spare Ribs.  Juicy and tender.

All you can drink wine barrels.  Self service!

Prosciutto was a miss... a bit dry and only a few slices.

The fries here rock... chewy crispy texture.

My friend Yas who is an author focusing on Hawaii's power spots gave us some history into the Shaka or Hang Loose greeting... (In Japanese). His Blog -->  http://ameblo.jp/powerspot88/

Refill please... lots of dipping going on.

In the back there are tables for 2-6 people...

Counter seating lines the main hall of the restaurant.

And a huge sitting area... this night it was full of wifes and little children.

Overall this place was just great... Average spend according to Gnavi is 2,500yen per person. I'll definitely be back to drink more than my share of wine next time!  Service was speedy and prompt too... little hotel desk bells on the tables to call the waiters.

Shop: Captain Bacchus

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1319/A131904/13128701/

Gnavi: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/b808542/

Shop Homepage: http://www.32lime.com/shops/bacchus_koenji.html

Address J: 東京都杉並区高円寺北3-2-15 八字ビル 1F

Address E: Tokyo, Suginami-ku, Koenji-Kita 3-2-15
MAP:

View Larger Map

ASAGAYA: Aonisai Bar... your local Cheers! Friendly folks all around...

Childhood friend Scott kept inviting me to check out Aonisai in Asagaya for about a year or so... well, I finally made it! 

We sat at the tables near the open entrance... further back there is a private tatami space for about 4-5 people... the A/C was kickin in back there.  Nice spot for a little gathering.

Menu was very reasonable... lots of appetizers that went well with beer.

http://www.aonisai.jp/menu/

Salad with slightly grilled beef... 

Thick pieces of bread with Chili and Tomato topping.

Wine bottles were all 2,500yen.

http://www.aonisai.jp/menu/drink.php

Nachos with Chili Cheese dip.

Cheese Rice Corokke.

The owner of Aonisai... very friendly person... yeah, those shots were for our table.  When you get Scott and Terry together (both Tequila lovers) then my nights end up in a blur... phew.

And so the shots arrived... 

Kanpai... But tonights gathering was to welcome back Scott from a few months haitus from Tokyo.  If you have some Aloha in ya then check out the Hawaii's Own Coffee Company that he founded.

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2011/06/asagaya-hawaiis-own-revisited-scott.html

I occasionally see items like this in the restroom but never to this extent... lots of attention to customer service and detail.  

There is a nice bar counter if you wander in alone... 2nd floor has sofa seating with Jazzy music.  I'd definitely recommend this spot for a few beers with friends.

Shop: Aonisai

Station: Asagaya (Chuo-line). 

Shop Website: http://www.aonisai.jp/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1319/A131905/13042957/

Address J: 東京都杉並区北阿佐ヶ谷1-34-5

Address E: Tokyo, Suginami-ku, Kita-Asagaya 1-34-5

MAP: 

View Larger Map

EBISU: Ita-Soba Kaori-Ya... Very popular spot for traditional Japanese Soba Noodles. Almost like Tsukemen or Chilled Dipping Ramen Noodles.

Mari and Tina checked this place out the previous week and said it was soooo good.  Kaori-Ya is open until 4:30am so might be a good end of the night spot. 

Traditional sliding door greets you.

Chopsticks sit on a little peanut... its not reused so u can eat it.

Small crunchy fried things are free... nibble until the noodles show up.

You can either select the hot noodles (like Ramen) or cold noodles that are dipped in the Soba soup.  We both went for the Duck Soup but there are many choices on the menu.

If you like it a little spicy just add this "seven seasonings".

After you finished all your noodles don't drink up the Soup right away!  Ask for "Soba You."  Its the hot water they used to boil the noodles...  just pour some into your leftover soup and drink.  I never knew about this until Mari introduced me to it.  Warms you up and mellows out the shoyu based soup.

There are a few tables and 2 very long tables that seat 10.  You will probably be sharing the larger table but its part of the experience.  They might ask if you want to sit in the "Ai Seki" which means sharing a table with somebody else... very common in smaller popular restaurants.

Restaurant: Ita-Soba Kaori-Ya.

Location: EBISU (Near Domino's Pizza, AU Shop, Kinko's)

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13001653/

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a020701/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区恵比寿4-3-10 中出センチュリーパーク1F

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu 4-3-10

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/ZnP7QiNTe7VTwd5D7

板蕎麦 香り家, いたそばかおりや, ダイニングバー, foodie, japan, noodles, blog, soba, tokyo, tokyobelly, 板蕎麦 香り家,居酒屋, ebisu,そば,恵比寿, Japanese, Japan, yelp, foodie, lunch, dinner, Mari, Mariko

EBISU: JACKPOT Izakaya with dedicated Italian, Chinese, Japanese chefs!

Planning to go out with a few nice friends that like to drink ALOT?! Mari goes out occasionally with her girlfriends and a few nice lovely ladies can go thru 5-6 drinks over dinner... so if the bill is split evenly those who only have 1-2 kinda lose out. SO! Jackpot (http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g203604/)in Ebisu with their 1,000yen TWO hour drinking session is a must (Must enter before 6:30pm Mon-Sat). The drink menu is huge~... and even have Ebisu Bottled Beer. Food is prepared by full on chefs (not young part timers) and each have specific food prep duties (Chinese, Italian, Japanese, etc). The Menu is also in English (Website Menu in English: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g203604/menu3.htm ) and the variety of items you can choose will please anyone~. I like the Maguro Kama (Tuna Cheek Bone), Penne Arrabiatta (A bit on the heavy garlic side), Mushroom creme with bread, Maguro Wasabi Salad... and a few others. Daily specials are vast and restaurant menu had many more items than the website. 1,000yen drinks plus food... you should be able to leave this spot for under 3,000 yen and fully enjoy the evening. But I do suggest something. Drink in MODERATION~... me? No, a bit shy to say it but i'm a bit drunk by the end of 2 hours. Don't forget the "Atsu-kan" (Hot Sake)... perfect for the winter.



Address J: 東京都渋谷区恵比寿西1-13-2 サンキビル １Ｆ
Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, EBISU 1-13-2

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13007389/
Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g203604
MAP:

View Larger Map