Kojimachi 31 MT Bldg Lot: (CLOSED) Tokyo Omuretu Lunch Wagon... (Wednesdays Only)

Its great to see the lunch wagons back after Golden Week holidays.  Hit up Tokyo Omuretu and went for their 650yen Omurice Set (Omu-rice, Chicken and Salad).  There is also the basic Omu-Rice for 500yen.

Here is the menu 

http://www.tokyo-omlet.com/welcome/menu.html

The Tokyo Omuretu Wagon is only at the log on Wednesdays.

And there it is. The chicken was super juicy and omu-rice very tasty.  Will be back...

Its made as you wait... the rice is seasoned with Ketchup.

Really like this series Cooking with Dog. Check out the video if u want to learn how to make Omu-Rice. 

Tiny kitchen in this classic VW Wagon :).

Lunch Wagon: Tokyo Omuretu (ONLY On Weds)

Wagon Website: http://www.tokyo-omlet.com/welcome/Welcome.html

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/tokyo_omlet

Blog: http://ameblo.jp/tokyo-omlet/

Schedule: http://www.tokyo-omlet.com/welcome/schedule.html

Address J: 東京都千代田区麹町5-7-2

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Kojimachi 5-7-2

MAP: 

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JINBOCHO: Ramen Jiro... a full course fulfilling monster of a Ramen! Sooo Good!!

Finally thought I'd give Ramen Jiro in Jinbocho a try... the lines are always 30 deep and extends to the end of the block. But this day the line was only 15 deep... was it my timing?  Then I heard a few salarymen talking about how short the line was and they didn't notice any University students here... thats right! Its summer vacation.  Lucky me.

When you are near the door the staff will ask you what you want.  Just say "Sho" which is a small ramen thats 650yen.  But don't let this "small" fool ya... its massive!

650yen for Ramen, 750yen for a little pork and 850yen for double pork.  Not to worry the 650 yen had 2 huge chunks of charsui pork too.

Place the little blue tab on the counter when its your turn to sit.  Counter only has about 10 seats so if you go in a group you will be seated randomly in the open spots.  When you ramen is almost ready to serve he will ask you if you want "Nin-niku" (Garlic), say "Onegaishimasu" or "Hai" for Garlic or "Nin-niku Nashi" (for no garlic).

This this was massive... all this for only 650yen?!  And whats holding up the bean sprouts isn't more bean sprouts under the soup but a massive portion of thick chewy ramen noodles!  The soup is very thick and oily but clings onto the ramen so well that there is no need to drink the soup separately...  One bite and I was soooo hooked... never have I had ramen this amazing, yup amazing before.  The flavor was so rich and tasty... 

The 2 pieces of Charsui were not the usual thin slices you see at any other ramen shop in Tokyo... These were 2 huge blocks of meat and sooooo tender!  Wow...

Thick and chewy noodles... extremely filling.  

All I can say is that this ramen is as satisfying as a full course meal... never was I so fully content and for 650yen it just added a bit more... only 2 guys run this shop and you know there is some pride in the noodles that could easily command 900+ yen.  But if you go during the summer pls be prepared to sweat inside, the A/C is a bit weak.   Anyways, if you just needed to eat Ramen at one place in Tokyo this is THE place to go.

Shop: Ramen Jiro Jimbocho Branch

Hours: Mon-Sat 11-2pm and 6-9pm. Weds/Sat afternoons closed.

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131003/13010387/

Address J: 東京都千代田区神田神保町2-4-11

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Kanda, Jimbocho 2-4-11
MAP:

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SHINJUKU Golden-Gai: Krishuna.... Hummus! Falafel! Finally found you...

I've been wandering the back alleys of Golden Gai following my friend Terry thru the maze of small bars that can barely fit 6-8 people each.  He has his favorite spot called San-Tsubo but its a rock themed bar and with the only door closed its a smokey mess... yeah, i'm a non-smoker.

And so I decided to check my favorite foodie website www.tabelog.com to check out the rankings of the shops in Golden-Gai... and I hit on Krishuna with a solid 3.52 foodie ranking.

Now... the interior is so comfy.  But my main target was what I rarely see on any menu in Japan...

...Falafal!  Dude, in my 10yrs here I have NEVER found falafal... 

And there it is... this was sooo good... we went for 2 orders.

And of course... Hummus!  A must... another dish I will be back for.

and finally a light serving of french fries with tasty bagna cauda dip.

When you sit down they will automatically give you some sort of mini-appetizer and there is a 500yen cover charge to enter the place.  Well worth it...

Fairly long bar counter if you come in alone.

Krishuna is on the 2nd floor of this building and on the outskirts of Golden-Gai.  After squeezing into all those tiny little shops it was great to find something big and relaxing... the seats were super soft and the service great.  Seems they have belly dancing and events here thru the month.  I'll definitely be back!

Shop: Krishuna (Near Shinjuku Golden-Street)

Shop Website: http://krishuna.com/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13045737/

Golden Gai Site: http://www.goldengai.net/shop/f/02/

Address J: 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-1-5 パレスビル202

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Kabukicho 1-1-5, 2nd Floor.
MAP:

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YOTSUYA: Pizza Salvatore Cuomo... strike 2 and you are outta here!

980yen Pizza or Pasta Lunch (11:30 - 14:30)!  Finally made it to Salvatore for their lunch special that includes Pasta/Pizza, salad and a drink of your choice.  Didn't take a pic of the menu but I won't be back...

Where do you go for Italian lunch in Yotsuya?  Oh yeah, we have Salvatore.  Definitely recommend counter seating to see all the action.

Interesting view of the cheese chopper... I think they chop up the Mozzarella then place it into a device that creates even pieces that look like little worms for the pizza.  But most pizza shops in Tokyo will hand break the cheese and place it directly on top of the pizza.

We ordered the Margherita Pizza and Eggplant/Olives/Anchovy Pizza lunch.

First came the salad... these greens seemed kinda limp... salad dressing was a bit boring.  

And there it was! My Margherita pizza... first bite is always the best but what really matters is if the dough begins to harden or not after the pizza cools down a little.  This is the only pizzeria I've been to where the dough begins to lose all its chewiness and get very tough... Kinda like microwaving a cold slice of pizza and letting it sit... just gets rock hard.   

My friends Eggplant/Olive/Anchovy pizza... anchovies gave it a very distinct heavy flavor.  But yet again the pizza dough just got too hard. 

A little non-spicy olive oil for the pizza.

This was just a place to slightly fulfill your pizza craving but honestly I think i'd rather have Domino's or Pizza Hut to this just because of the pizza dough.  There are way too many great pizzerias in Tokyo to go out of your way to try Salvatore in Yotsuya.  But I can honestly say that the service was excellent just the product kinda fell short.

For Address Details Click Here:

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2010/11/yotsuya-salvatore-cuomo-pizzeria.html 

SHINJUKU: Ramen Jiro... lowly ranked among all the Jiro's but hit the spot.

You will never see a line at this Ramen Jiro so if you not a ramen connoisseur and want to know what the fuss is about without lining up then give this place a go.  Check out the foodie rankings for Jiro here.

Remember top left corner is always the shops recommended item.  The Japanese for ramen is "ラーメン."

Hand the little tickets to the chefs.

Its mostly all counter seating so you have a view of all the action.

All stools...

And there you go... the soup is very rich and tasty.  Noodles on the thick and chewy side... its a very heavy ramen so be ready to get stuffed.  Perfect ending to a long night of drinks...

Shop: Ramen Jiro Kotakibashi-Dori Branch

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13001044/

Address J: 東京都新宿区西新宿7-5-5

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Nishi Shinjuku 7-5-5

MAP:

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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: 

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