GINZA: Akakara Ginza 5-Chome Branch flavorful spicy HOTPOT! Its nearing winter and Japanese love their nabe! (Sony RX100)

My image of posh Ginza with their incredibly high property prices gives me visions of 30,000 yen Omakase Sushi sets but they do have some very reasonably priced franchise restaurants. Aka-kara 5 Chome branch is located in the shadows of the mega shopping complex Ginza Six

MENU: https://akakara-portal.com/MENU/

Tonight we are a party of 8 and ordered 2 Akakara hotpots... you can select between 1 - 10 spicy levels.

There are two 90 minute nomihoudai (all you can drink) options. 1,500 yen or 1,800 yen that has a higher grade of whisky.

Counter seating at the entrance with private booths for 4 nearby. 

The automatic otoshi... bean sprouts.

The nabe. It does contain motsu (pork falafel) that was absolutely impossible to bit into.  Like chomping on a little rubber ball.  

Stir-fry veggies...

Gyoza had a nice garlic kick.. liked this. 

Extra toppings. 

Unfortunately this place didn`t have one long table for 8 so we took up 2 tables that were a bit apart.

Extra spicy soup.

Now time for the closing dish. Can either select ramen or flat udon type noodles to mix into the remaining nabe soup.

Yum!

Overall it ran about 3,500 yen each but that`s not too bad for Ginza.  The Akakara franchise can be found all around Tokyo and its cigarette free family friendly. 

Restaurant: Akakara Ginza 5 Chome Branch

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13116369/

Homepage: https://akakara-portal.com

Address J: 東京都中央区銀座5-9-11 銀座ファゼンダビルB1

Address E: Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 5-9-11, B1

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/dDVPfQ6TNGspgovB6

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GINZA: Ramen Matsutomi with the boys. TanTanMen noodle shop hidden within the deep corridors of Posh Ginza

I have never associated glitzy Ginza with noodles but on this Tuesday night this night the boys wanted to close out the evening with some Tantanmen-noodles... Just walk past the Maybach

Hang a left into this small corridor...

Mitsuaki says hello to a few randomly spotted friends or associates next to the ramen shop.

And thus we arrive at Hiro's tantanmen shop he's been mentioning thru the evening.

Hiro's recommendation.

Lots of food chices...

I don't often drink beer at Ramen shops but when with Japanese its usually the norm.

The noodles sitting quietly on top of the beer showcase.

All counter seating.

This is a very first for me... but I guess its a Chinese style ramen shop so you get these shu-mai dumplings versus the regular Japanese gyoza.

The top layer is covered in nice golden brown spice... 

Very thin noodles but at 10pm this was most welcome...

Gotta love the egg.  Overall this was a very cool experience blindly following friends who had a craving for this specific ramen taking us from Teikoku Hotel thru Yurakucho into the alleys of Ginza...  Staff was friendly  as I snapped away and a great end to a nice night.

Shop: Ramen Matsutomi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E6%9D%BE%E5%AF%8C/149036305130141

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13000573/

Address J: 東京都中央区銀座6-4-16 花椿ビル １Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 6-4-16
MAP: https://g.page/ramenginza?share

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GINZA: Sugimoto Kitchen for 800yen Suki-Nabe

Everytime I goto Sugimoto Kitchen its always for there terrific 525yen beef bowl but this day it was time to give their Suki-Nabe (Sukiyaki) a try!

They also sell the Black Hair Cow beef bowls to-go but you won't get the extras.

One 800yen Black hair Wagyu Suki-nabe please~...

They will ask if you want orange juice or red wine... 80% of the crowd on this Saturday were elderly ladies sipping on the tiny cup of red wine.  

Overall you really can't beat enjoying a bit of Japanese suki-nabe for 800yen but I found the beef to be a bit rubbery... But if you are in Japan on a budget then this place is a must.  

Comes with tasty little pickles.

Located in B1 of Matsuzakaya... just look for the huge Forever XXI sign.  Oh, this day I waited about 30minutes in line so just be ready for that as there is only limited counter seating.

And of course... Scuderia Ferrari spotting in posh Ginza.

Restaurant: Sugimoto Kitchen

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13009511/

Matsuzakaya: http://www.matsuzakaya.co.jp/ginza/restaurant/08.html

Address J: 東京都中央区銀座6-10-1 銀座松坂屋 Ｂ１Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 6-10-1, Ginza Matsuzakaya B1F

MAP:

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