GINZA: Akakara Ginza 5-Chome Branch flavorful spicy HOTPOT! Its nearing winter and Japanese love their nabe! (Sony RX100)

My image of posh Ginza with their incredibly high property prices gives me visions of 30,000 yen Omakase Sushi sets but they do have some very reasonably priced franchise restaurants. Aka-kara 5 Chome branch is located in the shadows of the mega shopping complex Ginza Six

MENU: https://akakara-portal.com/MENU/

Tonight we are a party of 8 and ordered 2 Akakara hotpots... you can select between 1 - 10 spicy levels.

There are two 90 minute nomihoudai (all you can drink) options. 1,500 yen or 1,800 yen that has a higher grade of whisky.

Counter seating at the entrance with private booths for 4 nearby. 

The automatic otoshi... bean sprouts.

The nabe. It does contain motsu (pork falafel) that was absolutely impossible to bit into.  Like chomping on a little rubber ball.  

Stir-fry veggies...

Gyoza had a nice garlic kick.. liked this. 

Extra toppings. 

Unfortunately this place didn`t have one long table for 8 so we took up 2 tables that were a bit apart.

Extra spicy soup.

Now time for the closing dish. Can either select ramen or flat udon type noodles to mix into the remaining nabe soup.

Yum!

Overall it ran about 3,500 yen each but that`s not too bad for Ginza.  The Akakara franchise can be found all around Tokyo and its cigarette free family friendly. 

Restaurant: Akakara Ginza 5 Chome Branch

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13116369/

Homepage: https://akakara-portal.com

Address J: 東京都中央区銀座5-9-11 銀座ファゼンダビルB1

Address E: Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 5-9-11, B1

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/dDVPfQ6TNGspgovB6

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EKODA: Hidakaya Chinese Franchise with super reasonable foodie sets and this branch is super generous. Kimchee BOMB! (Sony RX100)

In Japan a beer can cost 500-800 yen at a cozy bar but for that price you can enjoy a super reasonable meal at many local Japanese franchise restaurants... so instead of enjoying a cozy beer I visited Hidakaya Ekoda Branch! 

Lots of counter seating for lone diners in this 3 university town. 

700 yen Kimchee Bomb is this only thing I ever order at my many visits to Hidakaya all around TOkyo... In Japanese it reads Bakudan-Itame-Teishoku (Bomb Mixed Set)

Nah... Alcohol is available but its like drinking a beer at McDonalds... too lonely. 

Look at all that pork!  Normally Hidakaya serves just a few slices but this place was so incredibly generous!  I assume its due to the mostly uni college student client base. 

Chinese pickles 

Ramen soup...

The average annual salary of Japanese salary men is only $40K USD... and you can eat this much food for only $6.50... You will never go hungry in Japan. PLUS no tipping in this country!

When you are all done there is an option to split the bill... so you enter the number of diners and it will let everyone know how much they need to pay.  Think this is due to the college crowd. 

2F restroom was very clean with a staff toilet check list... often drunk Japanese totally miss the toilet and pee on the floor.  Very bad aimers... 

They always give coupons for your next visit.. like extra portion of rice called Rice Oomori... 

The most spacious, clean and friendly Hidakaya I have been to... a definite must!!

Restaurant: HIdakaya Ekoda Branch

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132101/13231728/

Address J: 東京都練馬区旭丘1-71-9 江古田アースビル

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Asahigaoka 1-71-9

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/EAXBUbeVbJsfjSQ96

日高屋 江古田南口店, 中華料理, 西武池袋線江古田駅,Japan, Japanese, Chinese, Tokyo, Yelp, Tokyobelly, Sony RX100, foodie, lunch, dinner, cheap, ramen, plate lunch, family friendly, budget.