EKODA: Oomiya SeiNiku Shop... Nostalgic mom and pop Corokkes :)

I've walked past this butcher on my random walks thru Ekoda's neat little old style shopping alleys and always peek into this shop...

As I stood on the side of the shop glancing at the different types of corokke's this little old lady about 70 or so peeked over to check on me... meaning to try the corokke here how could I walk away?  The corokkes start at a very very reasonable 67yen so I was in for two.

Lots of great looking marbled meats...

Sure would like to take this home.

The outer bread had a very nice chewiness to it and the corroke inside (think its like mashed potato, melted onions and ground pork) had a very nice chewy thick creamy texture that simply didn't fall apart... It just felt so homemade versus Seiyu's 47yen mass produced brand.  There is somethings special about buying from an elderly couple that seems to have been holding this shop down for 40-50 years.  I'll definitely be back for more!

Since my move I rarely see any more exotics... hello 2012/2013 R35 GT-R!

REVISITED a few days later!  Asked the nice old grandma if they had any more potato corokke and she said it was all old out... how can we no cheer on this shop with such friendly owners.

(A video I took on August 23, 2014)

So got the mini hotdog rapped in something, a menchi-katsu corokke and a breaded Ham (that for some reason tasted like RAID cockroach spray...hmm).  Anyways nothing beats the 67yen potato corokke but get there early!

Shop: Ooimiya Sei Niku Shop

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132101/13143250/

Town Note: Just address details

Address J: 東京都練馬区栄町37-16

Address E:  Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Sakae-cho 37-16

MAP:

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GAIENMAE: American Dining EAT... Salad bar in a bun... Shoulda had a BK Whopper... Kobe-beef Fail.

Passed by EAT on the way to Goro's Diner in Gaienmae and noticed an unusual offering at a very reasonable 1,050yen price point. Kobe Beef and Kuroge-Wagyu (Black Haired Japanese Beef)... really Kobe Beef!  Remember Kobe Beef is only available in Japan and Macao... so you normally find this only in high end spots like Oakdoor at the Grand Hyatt. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/04/12/foods-biggest-scam-the-great-kobe-beef-lie/

Anyways I couldn't find Goro's so had to give EAT a try!

The "Kobe Burger" starts at only 1,050yen... wow.  There are no wonderful lunch side dishes here... Just water and fries unless you are willing to pay 300yen for soft drinks and 500yen Wine/Beer.  

A little Miley Cyrus on the BGM.

And thus it arrived... visually it was nothing impressive.  Just a very plain burger with a rather big bun covered in a bit of flour.

French fries were very greasy... get those wet napkins ready.

And here it was.  The Kobe Beef patty was as thin as can be... The lettuce overwhelmed the burger and the tomato was almost as thick as the patty.

My first bite and impression was that the bread had a very solid texture and it never lost its shape thru the meal.  As for the beef it was dry as can be, the thinnest patty I've ever had in Tokyo (in the ranks of Burger King and McDonalds)... absolutely NO juiciness and I was thoroughly disappointed.  I suddenly began to crave the massive 200gram burgers at Martini Burger...  This was basically a Salad Burger with hint of a very dry beef that should be ashamed to be labeled "Kobe-Beef."

Lunch Drink Menu

Saw a little poodle so looks like the shop is pet friendly.  Interior is mostly counter seating with 2 tables in the front that can accommodate 6 people.

Don't let the word "Kobe Beef" Burger fool you into trying this spot... I would suggest just hitting up Burger King for a Whopper that will be lighter on the wallet and just as satisfying.  I was a bit harsh with this review but expectations ran high on their use of "Kobe Beef."

Ship: American Dining EAT

Shop Website: http://www.eat-burger.com/main/

CNN: http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/eat/best-new-restaurant-520119

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130603/13094589/

Address J:  東京都港区北青山2-12-27 ハレクラニ北青山1F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Kita Aoyama 2-12-27

MAP:

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GINZA: Kitchen Sugimoto Revisted! 525yen Kuroge-Wagyu beef bowl... yum!

Sugimoto revisited!  Was in the area shopping for Mari's bday present and I couldn't resist.  For details check out my previous entry:  http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2010/04/ginza-kitchen-sugimoto-in-matsuzakaya.html

Three choices: 1,500yen Matsuzaka Beef sukiyaki, 800yen Kuroge-gyu Sukiyaki or 525yen Kuroge-gyu (beef bowl.  Whats Kuroge-Wagyu?  I've always stuck to the 525yen beef bowl but you should check out the 800yen Sukiyaki too.

Counter seating... so you can check it out alone too.

Free Japanese cold tea.

Choice of a mini Orange Juice or Red Wine.

525yen Beef Bowl set.

Japanese mix the egg and pour it onto the beef... if u like.

Tasty pickles.

Miso soup.

Sugimoto Kitchen is in B1 of Matsuzakaya Dept store in Ginza... Just look for FOREVER21 (Its in the same building).

LOCATION: Ginza MATSUZAKAYA Dept Store.  (On the main road thats closed off on the weekends)

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

Matsuzakaya Dept Website: 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 (B1F)

MAP:

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GINZA: "Kitchen Sugimoto" in MATSUZAKAYA Dept. Store (B1)

Mari introduced me to this shop thats backed by a 100+ year old butcher... whats up with my English.  Anyways this is the website for the Cow Farm http://www.oniku-sugimoto.com/group.html

Had to wait @35minutes for my Turn.

There are take-out beef bowls that range from 500 yen to 1800yen.

To the right you can see the counter seating.  About 9 seats so it can take a while.

1,500yen for Matsuzakay-Beef Suki-nabe (hotpot), 800yen for Black Hair Wagyu Beef Suki-Nabe and the 525yen Black Hair Wagyu Beef bowl.  

Little cup of green tea shows up first.

And here it is.  They'll ask if you'd like a tiny glass of red wine or orange Juice. 

I got the OJ (upper left)

I still don't have it in me to mix this raw egg into my Rice.  Someday...

Tasty Japanese pickles~. Yellow is sweet, Green is sour.

And a Miso Soup.... Whole set for only 525yen!!  

LOCATION: Ginza MATSUZAKAYA Dept Store.  (On the main road thats closed off on the weekends)

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

Matsuzakaya Dept Website: 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 (B1F)

MAP:

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