HARAJUKU/OMOTESANDO: The Great Burger California House... cozy atmosphere and friendly staff.

I'm a big big fan of The Great Burger's Chili Burger but never visited their Sister shop California House until today... was a nice cool day so the outdoor seating pulled me in.

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/search?q=the+great+burger

...but I was seated at the counter facing the Burger Chef... we were literally facing each other within hang shake distance.  This shop is very very cozy in terms of space.  Looks like they have Monthly Burgers.

Lunch comes with a drink of your choice, fries or salad (can ask for Oomori - extra size) and a burger.

There it was.  The waitress recognized me from my frequent visits to The Great Burger and started to chat me up a bit... then the chef Fumi-san joined in.  Its a very small narrow shop and so much more friendly and relaxing vs the other. 

Veeeery juicy beef and of course one of Tokyo's best chili's.

Went for the Oomori french fries for free

I was alone this day thus the counter seating but if you want a view of the chef at work then it sure is a great spot to watch all the action vs keeping busy on the iPhone. 

Shop: The Great Burger California House

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130601/13125393/

Shop Website: http://www.the-great-burger.com/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区神宮前6-14-12 モードS 1F

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 6-14-12

MAP:

View Larger Map

YOTSUYA: Chinese-Shokudo HIDAKAYA...late night temptation always sucks me in! Regrets regrets but I keep doing it!

This outlet is located all around Tokyo and probably the most reasonable franchise for a very wide selection of Japanese, Chinese and a few Korean dishes.  Perfect for those in Japan on a budget.

http://hidakaya.hiday.co.jp/menupage/index.html

I'm usually a fan of this Double Gyoza with soup, rice and fried chicken set for a very reasonable 600yen but had a different craving this night...

Everything on the menu is pictured so an easy point and choose if you don't read Japanese.

Yup, in the mood for a noodle set.

Yup, Tuesday night 1am crowd... yes, after a great night watching belly dancing, falafel and hummus at Krishuna in Shinjuku I had a craving for something something. 

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/2011/08/shinjuku-golden-gai-krishuna-hummus.html

Sign says for orders push this button...

Push and the kind old lady waitress will come.

Ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen with Gyoza set for 600yen!  Now... its highly not recommended to eat noodles or anything before you sleep... just makes ya fat.

And here it is.  A very very basic Ramen that can barely qualify as being called Tonkotsu but at 1am with everything closed and the dismal selection of great Ramen shops in Yotsuya I can't complain.

Noodles are very similar to cup-ramen or instant boiled ramen... 

Few tiny slivers of char-siu.

And my Gyoza... decent.  

Al this for only 600yen... an incredibly filling meal for a regrettable late night diversion.  I would have been better off with having one Lawson onigiri but... as usual... I absolutely regretted eating mediocre food at such a late hour.  Full of regrets but have I done this countless times in the past?  Yes maam!  Ugh...

Shop: Chu-Ka Shokudou Hidakaya Yotsuya branch

Shop Website: http://hidakaya.hiday.co.jp/index.html

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130902/13032316/

Address J: 東京都新宿区四谷1-5-16 佐奈ビル １Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya 1-5-16
MAP:

View Larger Map

HANZONMON: Tokyo Chikara-Meshi for a grilled beef bowl... but not all shops are equal.

Tokyo Chikara-Meshi (Power Food) has been popping up all over Tokyo recently and seem to be doing very well.  I had a late 2pm lunch and it was a full house.  

Didn't have much of an appetite so went for the 280yen "Yaki-Gyodon" (grilled beef bowl) with a side of miso soup.

Everything was greasy at the location.  All the bottles had a nice sticky layer on them and there was no Oshibori's to be found (wet napkins).  I think the staff was just too overwhelmed and the small things were overlooked.

Compared to Shibuya the beef was undercooked and had a very chewy rubbery texture to it.  Felt like I was chewing gum the whole time.  Staff must have been under some time pressure to cook and present the orders in a timely manner but it took a solid 10 minutes to get the order.  

I definitely won't be back at to this branch for my Yaki-Gyodon craving but if you are in need of a quick and different option to the traditional Beef Bowls then its very kind on the wallet.

Cherry blossom season is slowly coming to and end... 

Shop: Tokyo Chikara-Meshi Hanzonmon Branch

Shop Website: http://www.sankofoods.com/shop/chikara/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130803/13134057/

Address J: 東京都千代田区麹町2-12-1 GRANDEAXE麹町１F

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Kojimachi 2-12-1
MAP:

View Larger Map

KOJIMACHI: Nidaime Tsujita Ramen... satisfying oily tonkotsu ramen

There are very few Ramen spots in Kojimachi but this place always has a steady line.... so on this cold rainy Tokyo day I had a craving for something that would warm me up.  Off to Nidaime Tsujita Ramen I went.

A nice map for how to line up outside when its busy.

First time I've ever seen hair bands and paper aprons at a Ramen shop... very nice.

Another first is besides the Japanese ramen chef there were also 2 overly friendly and at times annoying southeast Asian staff.  I've never seen a ramen shop that had foreign employee's not counting inexpensive franchise shops.  Great to see this place supports an international crowd.

Toppings... 

I went for the regular Ramen 750yen.  Always feel what counts the most is the Tonkotsu soup and the texture of the noodles... and that usually fills me up fairly well without having to go for the premium ramen choices.

And there it is.  Very simple in appearance.  The flavor was a mild subtle tonkotsu (pork based) that will simply leave you satisfied.  There was a nice hint of oil that will make your lips nice and oily too... didn't mind that so much, in fact oilier the better for me.  Oh, the soup and noodles remained very hot throughout the meal... I've never had such piping hot noodles and soup before... phew.

Noodles were a bit on the al'dente style... there wasn't too much texture to this.  I love thick chewy noodles like at Ramen Jiro but this was decent. 

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/2011/08/jinbocho-ramen-jiro-full-course.html

A very nice surprise... a very tender and thick piece of Char-siu pork.  Enjoyed this.

Lots of boxes of noodles.

Even on a rainy Saturday afternoon there was a steady crowd entering in the late afternoon.  I think once is enough for me but if you are craving ramen then this will definitely hit the spot.  

Shop:  Nidaime Tsujita Ramen (Kojimachi Branch).

Shop Website: http://www.nidaime-tsujita.co.jp/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130803/13002402/

Address J:  東京都千代田区平河町1-4-11 はらだビル １Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Hirakawacho 1-4-11
MAP:

View Larger Map

OMOTESANDO: IL Pacioccone for daily Pizza special and home made pudding :)

Seems I've been frequenting IL Pacioccone after my irregular visits to http://ts-raiz.com/ (if you need a haircut ask for owner/stylist Okazaki-san).  They also have a branch in Hawaii http://www.yelp.com/biz/raiz-salon-honolulu

Waiter suggested the daily Pizza special... 

Never realized there was a 2nd branch in Minami Aoyama...

The Cheese pizza with Italian salami and fresh onion (new crop) arrived... as usual its easily so much large and thicker than most lunch pizza spots.  The salami was a nice change...

Fresh warm bread with olive oil.

Was alone so sat on the 1st floor counter seating (seats 4) and the only location in the restaurant that allows smoking.  2nd floor is all no-smoking... nice!

Daily dessert special that comes with the 1,050yen lunch was a very large piece of home made pudding.  Was so difficult to finish after the huge pizza.

Lunch closes with your choice of coffee or tea.

No smoking sign... and never realized they didn't allow photography or phones inside.  I assume tables are quite close together and camera/mobile phone shutter sounds can be distracting over dinner.

Another filling meal :).  Next time I'll have to give Pizza a rest and go for some pasta~.

If you are in the area there is a cool Ferrari dealership... 3 Californias and 1 Ferrari 458 parked outside in the rain.

For address details goto my previous posts:

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/search?q=IL+Pacioccone