AOYAMA: NATARAJ Vegetarian restaurant... a first for me! Plus all you can eat Buffet~

4 vegetarian curry choices :)

Green vegan nan!

2 types of dressing... Japanese sesame and carrot

Its a blur but description of the 4 types of curries.

My absolute favorite was the Pumpkin curry... it was nice and creamy versus the others that were more watery soupy. The Nan here is so great... its a bit fluffy and chewy.

Overall I really liked this place.  I rarely find any vegan restaurants in Tokyo and a random search for Indian buffet in the area landed me at NATARAJ. 

Located in the same building as Benjamin Moore!

And if in the area you MUST check out the Lexus showroom just across the street (facing TESLA Aoyama).

Prototype RC300h on display

Restaurant: Nataraj Vegetarian Restaurant

Nataraj Website: http://www.nataraj.co.jp/

Tabelog Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130603/13004739/

Address J: 東京都港区南青山2-22-19 三和青山ビル B1F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Minami Aoyama 2-22-19
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/vvCsl

ナタラジ, 南青山, インドカレー, ランチ,バイキング, Japan, Japanese, Tokyo, foodie, canon 420f, yelp, tokyobelly, all you can eat, buffet, india, curries,

OMOTESANDO: Tonkatsu Maisen for some deliciously tender filet katsu~

Do you see it? The nose of the Porsche 911 S 991... wow.

Ducktail!... sorry off topic but spotted this parked at Maisen's parking lot.

I've never eaten at Maisens dining area just the outside to go spot.  Long counter seating near the entrance and if you are lucky they'll sit you in front of the chefs.

But the daily special caught my eye because of the fish and extra Japanese veggies.

Free tea and radish appetizer.

Seating area in the back... I was seating in a narrow location but to the left is a very big spacious spot with lots of tables.

There must be some history to this restaurant.

There it is! 990yen daily special.  Today's special was one small filet katsu and one corokke.

I so regretted getting this after one bit of the juicy tender delicious filet katsu... I only had one!  Should have gone with the 3 piece set.

This one!

Spicy and sweet tonkatsu sauces.

Yellow spicy mustard.

Free rice and shaved cabbage refills.

The outside take out stand.

Overall this place was a very filling lunch... the filet katsu soooo good.  Noticed alot of foreigners... Americans, Koreans, Chinese... looks like a hit with tourists.  If in the area you must go or at least buy a sandwich outside!

Restaurant: Maisen

Maisen website: http://mai-sen.com/

Foodie Tabelog Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130602/13001850/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区神宮前4-8-5

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 4-8-5
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/Hoowm

とんかつ, まい泉, 青山本, まいせん, 懐石, 会席料理, かつ丼, かつ重, 表参道, Japan, Japanese, foodie, lunch, dinner, washoku, yelp, tokyobelly, panasonic gf3, f2.5 17mm,

GAIENMAE: T's Grill for a little Korokke Lunch... ho hum but great interior and attentive waiter.

My adventures into the small side streets of Gaienmae led me to this neat little restaurant.  Took a peek inside and there counter seating the length of the restaurant overlooking the staff at work and along the wall tables for 2-4 people.

The waiter mentioned this spot specializes in meat and said the 800yen corokke lunch set was very popular... so why not! 

Corokke came out very hot and there were little chunks of meat inside.  I assume there must be a quality feature and high rents to this but I can buy a great Corokke for 65yen at my local mom and pop butchers.  Cost performance was rather low...

BUT! Here is where you can make up for the tiny corokkes... the rice, soup and salad was all you can eat!  The service was extremely attentive and friendly... spot on perfect.  Next time I'll have to try the meat meat lunch offerings.

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I leave you with a Maserati Gran Turismo spotting.

Restaurant: T's Grill

Foodie Tabelog Link:  http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130603/13157252/

Hitosara: http://hitosara.com/0006027643/

Gnavi with coupon: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/stw9s13f0000/

Address J: 東京都港区南青山3-3-6 HPビル 1F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Minami Aoyama 3-3-6
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/mQ6kV

ティーズグリル, Japan, Japanese, steak, lunch, foodie, tokyobelly, izakaya, beer, cozy

GAIENMAE: Isami Sushi... tiny friendly old skool sushi lunch near TESLA Aoyama Showroom!

This reads "Ei-Gyo-Chu" means they are open for business.

Sushi lunch sets start from 700yen for a small, 800yen Large, 1,000 yen EXTRA large and the super special for 1,200yen.

The inside was soooo Japanese and the sushi chef was on deck with his elderly wife.  I think the daughter greeted me and she was so incredibly courteous... asked if I could read the Japanese menu and when I went with the Large Lunch Set 800yen she asked if there was any type of sushi I disliked (shiny fish, clams, shrimp).  There is an L shaped counter with a few tatami room for groups.  

The space was so tiny I didn't want pull out my camera to snap away at the interior but its definitely worth a visit.  There was just something so comfy about the sushi here... won't blow you away but for 800yen with shrimp broth stew and a cup of green tea you can't go wrong. 

Don't forget to check out the sweet Tesla's at the Aoyama showroom.  There were two Tesla Model S's parked outside... very nice.

Restaurant: Isami Sushi

Tabelog Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130603/13070160/

Address J: 東京都港区南青山2-20-1

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Minami Aoyama 2-20-1
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/5JVO4

いさ美寿司, 寿司, いさ美, 外苑前, ランチ, 青山, Japan, Japanese, sasahimi, sushi, foodie, tokyobelly, cheap, sake, lumix lx5,