IKEBUKURO: A section for dining alone! 100yen Koike Izakaya.

So after helping out a friend pick his first DSLR... the Nikon D7000 with 18-105 lens kit we were off to Koike Izakaya the 100yen beer spot!  My other DSLR suggestions were the Nikon 7D and Pentax K-5iis.

Mr. Toyoda.  If you are ever in need of a digital camera/DSLR definitely hit this guy up.  He was all smiles and had a great personality plus he can discount items if you are ready to buy!

http://www.yamadalabi.com/i-souhonten/floorguide/index.html

EVERYDAY 100yen except Friday's and days before holidays.

I found out from my friend that he occasionally comes here alone... and if you look in this picture there are small tables for 2 but as u can see a lone woman and a lone dude are dining alone... SO! Its really no longer necessary to have a beer or two at a bar that charges 500-1000yen per drink~  you can just chill here.

Ootoshi... automatically get charged 300yen~.  I never really understood the concept of this.  

My ice cold 100yen beer

One of my absolute favorites... Avocado tuna cucumber roll 380yen.

100yen whiskey Hi-Balls.

This is where all the magic happens...

And so its Christmas season and downloaded my free stickers on LINE.

http://line.naver.jp/en/

The damage... half on drinks and half on food for two.  Anyways when I think beer I think Koike.  You all have to check this place out!  Oh there are branches around Tokyo and even Roppongi called Ma-chan service 180yen beers http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130701/13009737/

Shop: Sushi Izakaya Koike

Foodie website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130501/13133702/

Address J: 東京都豊島区東池袋1-20-18

Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 1-20-18

MAP:

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IIDABASHI: Yami-Tuki Curry... easy in easy out with 700yen Curry Specials

Cambodian food?  I've never had this before but my journey to try out the food met with a "closed" sign.  Its fairly highly ranked in the Kagurazaka area... so where to go? 

http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13109698/

Decided to take a walk towards Iidabashi and spotted some Chickens (near Hosei University).

Three daily lunch specials... Tomato and Spinach with Cheese, Shrimp and fuffy egg, and the Tomato and Eggplant chicken curry~... hmm...

Decided to go for the Shrimp and lightly boiled egg.  Taste was rather bland... 

A few shops around town.

It was simply an OK shop... all counter seating and easy in/easy out.

Toppings.

Standard rice volume is 250g but you can request 400g or 500g for free.

There are 5 spice levels~.

Overall not a memorable spot but service was very friendly.  Lunch is til a nice 3pm where most places will close at 2pm...

Shop: YamiTuki Curry (Iidabashi branch).

Shop Website: http://syokushindou.jp/iidabashi.htm

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13038579/

Address J: 東京都千代田区富士見2-11-12

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Fujimi 2-11-12
MAP:

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YOTSUYA: Nobu-san Izakaya... 50yen Hi-Balls and 180yen Beer... interesting night.

Brand new building... brand new izakaya in Yotsuya... honestly I was first lured by the 180yen Beer sign but some of the staff was passing out 50yen Hi-Ball flyers so... called up Mori-san and we were there.  Noticed a 300yen entrance fee but a few drinks would balance that out.

300yen tiny bowl of bean sprouts... hint of garlic flavor.

And so the 50yen Hi-Ball drinks arrive...

The best thing on the menu... Avocado Salad!  Avocado's were perfectly green and fresh... no dark spots.

When Mori-san ordered Jidori (chicken) Tataki it rang a bell... Normally I eat Maguro-Tataki (Tuna slightly grilled on the outside)... but raw chicken is one of the few things I don't eat... had to pass on this one.

Pork-Kimchee.... honestly we thought the food prices were rather high for the quality of the dishes. 

Menu all on the walls... Kind of had trouble ordering... nothing stood out.  Cucumber Stick with Ume 380yen, Rice 200yen, Potato Salad 420yen, French Fries 480yen, Pork Fried Rice 550yen... hmm... 

Interesting...even though the beer was only 180yen we just ordered one round... stuck to 50yen. Hi-Balls all night.

Probably one of the better dishes... Fried Chicken with tartar sauce.

Tiny bowl of garlic fried rice.

This was such a common sight here... People walked in very normal but a few hours later and many 50yen Hi-Balls later customers started falling asleep on tables... Not too sure if its a good idea to offer such cheap drinks.

This is definitely a drinking spot... probably best saved for Nijikai after a meal someplace else.

Shop: Nobu-san　（のぶさん）

Location: Yotsuya Station

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130902/13125778/

Address J: 東京都新宿区四谷1-18-11

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya 1-18-11

MAP:

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YOTSUYA: Yo-shoku (Western Style Food) ELISE! 3.77pts on Tabelog! My dish was Addictive!

Recently made the move from Yutenji to Yotsuya and slowly exploring the neighborhood.  Our destination was a Salsa Cabana for what looked to be a very cheesy tasty Burrito Grande but the spot either went under or moved. So... we back tracked to highly ranked Elise and how can you go wrong if there's a consistent line.

If you don't have it download the Tabelog App.  Gives you foodie ranking suggestions in the area.

Menu... items ranged from 650yen (Curry Rice) to 1,220 yen (Giant Pork Ginger, Katsu etc.)

We were lucky to score a table for two but no worries if you go alone... nice long counter seating and a view of all the cooks at work.  Must have been staffed with 5 people.

Mari's fried oyster and menchi (ground beef) katsu plate lunch... Sooo filling.

My beef tomato sautéed mix...this was addictive.  I'm usually a person to ask the waitress the shops "osusume" (Recommended) dish... oishiii...

Lots of toppings for your food.

The Check: Beef Tomato 920yen and Menchi Katsu Oyster Fry 1050 yen.

SHOP: Yo-Shoku Elise (In Japanese Yo-Shoku means Western Style Food versus Wa-Shoku which is Japanese Style Food).

LOCATION: A minute walk from Yotsuya Station (Home of Sophia University )

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130902/13000971/

Address J: 東京都新宿区四谷1-4-2

Address E:  Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya 1-4-2

HOURS!!!: Lunch 11-3pm.  Dinner 5-9pm. Closed SUNDAY.

MAP: 

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