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:

View Larger Map

IIDABASHI: Standing Bar Musso... 500yen Pork Bowl! 100yen Salad Buffet!

There are special TV programs in Tokyo highlighting great one coin 500yen lunches throughout the city.  One of the best hands down is Nakame'kun in Nakameguro so I had to give this place a try.

Three lunch choices: Pork bowl, Chicken tomato stew bowl and Mabo bowl... all with 2 kinds of free self-serve soups. Plus 100yen for salad buffet and 100yen for a drink. 

Its nearly all counter seating as the place seems more like a British pub than a restaurant.  Pre-pay at the register and they hand you your bowl order... 

Even at 500yen my pork bowl was rather disappointing... beef was rather tough and sauce didn't compliment it at all, too sweet.  Mayo topping didn't help much.

There were 2 types of free soup: Seaweed or Cabbage soup... both quite boring.  As for the salad bar the selections were limited and most items seem to come directly out of a can but for 100yen I guess you can't ask for much more than that.  

I sat in one of the few counter window seats overlooking the street with sliding windows bringing in a nice breeze.  Overall this place was definitely not worth even the 500yen when average lunches in the area were 750yen.  Oh well... looks like a great place for drinks in the evening as the space allows for some friendly mingling but as for lunch it was...honestly... just very bad.

Shop: Standing Bar Musso

Train Station: Iidabashi

Foodie Blog: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13006302/

Hotpepper: http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000229056/

Address J: 東京都千代田区飯田橋3-3-11 ばんらいビル１Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Iidabashi 3-3-11

MAP:

View Larger Map

KAGURAZAKA: Sho-Chan Yakitori.... the "CHEERS" of Yakitori. Super cool owner that chats away with all customers.

Buddy of mine invited me out to Kagurazaka for a bit of Yakitori... I've lived in Japan for over 10yrs but never checked out the French/Geisha district of Tokyo... that is Kagurazaka. Its its absolutely amazing how many tiny restaurants are in this town!

As with all other Japanese izakaya's you get a Otoshi... this was tiny mushrooms on a bed of white radish with Shoyu for flavoring.

Tsukene and Liver... wow... these 2 were incredibly good. Tsukune didn't have alot of chicken cartilage as usual... so smooth.  Liver was braised and slightly raw, perfect.

Custom chopsticks

Asparagus wrapped in thinly sliced meat, shiso maki and mushrooms filled with minced beef.

Interior was solely a square counter seating with the chef sitting right in front of us.  Max capacity about 15 people I think but this made if very cozy.

Buddy Scott had a bottle keep at the place... thanks!

Mushroom with meat...  One thing I noticed was that Sho-chan (owner) enjoyed drinking, smoking and chatting with customers behind the counter.  But when it came time to making the Yakitori he became very focused and silent... everything was so delicately made and sooo good.

Chicken skin.. so tiny.. so delicate and crispy.. a first for me.  

Shiso-Maki...

Don't forget to add a little bit of red spice

Very reasonable menu!

Tebasaki Chicken... crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy on the inside.  

Meat stuffed in Green Peppers... yum.

This was probably the most "normal" selection... tiny eggs. 

The spice.

Little cup for the sticks.

2hrs later it all ended.  The owner had a very unique friendly personality.  He will ask you to help clean up the neighbors empty dishes, takes his time in taking orders and preparing food... but it all added to a very unique experience at Sho-chan.  It can get very crowded with regulars who stay for several hours so I suggest you go before 7pm and enjoy.  Oh, its ranked incredibly low on the foodie website of 2.74 but this should easily exceed 3.5pts by me. 

Shop: Sho-Chan

Location: Kagurazaka/Iidabashi

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13011160/

Address J:  東京都新宿区若宮町16

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Wakamiya-cho 16

MAP:

View Larger Map