MARUNOUCHI: Tsubame Grill... the place for Hamburger Steaks!

There really aren't many places in Tokyo to get a nice hamburger... but if you don't mind no buns then Tsubame Grill (they are located here and there) is a nice alternative.  See that red round tomato... oishii.

One Tsubame Hamburg Steak 1,160 yen for me aka "Hamburg Steak with Beef Stew + Rice or Bread".... and Mari will take the Wafu (Japanese Style) Hamburg Steak 1,000 yen  aka "Hamburg Steak with Grated Raddish and Soy Sauce + Rice or Bread."  I'd suggest plopping down an extra 210yen for the Tomato Salad set!

Hello Tomato Ball!

There is a small amount of Tuna salad hidden in a pocket that was once the stem of the vegetable.

Mine was wrapped in tin foil and baked in beef stew!

There it is.  The flavor is very heavy so if you want a light meal then go for the Wa-fu burger.

All Tsubame Grills layouts are basically the same... noticed the menu was in both English and Japanese.

The Daily special only 10!  Baked Oysters.

Shop: Tsubame Grill Marunouchi 

Station: Tokyo Station is the closest (Same property as the Marunouchi Hotel)

Shop Website:  http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a186413/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130201/13020779/

Address J: 東京都千代田区丸の内1-6-4 丸の内オアゾ ５Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Marunouchi 1-6-4, Marunouchi Oazo 5F

MAP:

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YURAKUCHO/MARUNOUCHI: The Peninsula Boutique and Cafe (LUNCH)

If you must spend 1,000yen for lunch then there is no place better to drop your bills off at then Peninsula Tokyo... B1 Boutique and Cafe.

990yen  Lunch Menu... huge window from 10:30 - 19:30.  It was our first time here so tried the basic Salad & Soup of the day and Pasta of the day.  FULL LUNCH MENU HERE

Nice fresh flower greets you at the table... we poked it... yup, freshness.

The cup is a tiny teacup about the size of a baby's clenched fist... filled with thick mushroom soup. Salad was very basic but we weren't there for anything heavy.

Seafood Pasta alla Genovese with some...

...cool looking baby squid! and clams! flat green veggies!  Flavor was very light and refreshing.

Fresh baked bread... free refills.

Looks like there is a 10% service charge but a bit of extra bread easily covers that cost.  The meal won't fill you up but easily leave you satisfied.  A 990 yen well spent.

Backside of Peninsula Tokyo Hotel...

Shop: The Peninsula Boutique and Cafe

Nearest Station: Hibiya or Yurakucho Station.

Shop Website: Click Here

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130102/13043019/

Address J:  東京都千代田区有楽町1-8-1 ザ・ペニンシュラ東京 Ｂ１Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 1-8-1

MAP:

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YOTSUYA: Bambi? Yeah, BAMBI Hamburger Steak Shop

Yup, a few people in Japan might have visions of Hamburger when you say Bambi versus that sweet little Disney deer... I must admit its happening to me since moving into the neighborhood.

Menu is full of pictures and all kinds of combo meals.  No need to pay after your meal, there is a machine that will take your money and poop out a ticket.  Hand that bad boy to the chefs on duty... or the strange southeast asian guy who likes to lean on the giant rice cooker and stare. 

Choices choices... I used the Tabasco.

Thats it!  Giant hamburger steak topped with spicey sauce (kinda tasted like Mabo Tofu sauce), egg, macaroni pasta, tiny potatoes and cabbage salad.

Its all counter seating...

Japan's favorite Mayo salad dressing.

Dinner comes with a cup of soup.

Just look for this restaurant alley and keep going past ELISE and it will be on your left.

Look out for the giant menu's outside too.

Shop: BAMBI Restaurant

Station: Yotsuya (Same station as Sophia University)

Foodie Website:  http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130902/13012123/

Address J: 東京都新宿区四谷1-3

Address E:  Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya 1-3

MAP: 

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ICHIGAYA/KOJIMACHI: Yakiniku Y-Style

Heard of Groupon... but did you know Japan has had its own versions for quite some time.  Picked up my 8,610yen seven course Korean BBQ dinner for 2,990yen!  Out of 300 available there still many left as of today!! 

http://tokupo.jp/coupons/detail/1078/?token=GTuuwmv22d+Y4OQ/vyOkMw  

I'm always a fan of bottled beer... there's always slightly more than a draft.  Mari picked up an orange flavored Japanese sake or umeshu drink...was very tasty.

Course salad was very tiny but Korean "Y-Style" salad dressing excellent. (Price 290yen)

We each got a dish of assorted veggies called Namuru (Price 680yen)

I'm a huge fan of Japanese Yukke (marinated raw beef) thats usually lightly seasoned and topped with a raw egg but this Avocado Yukke with Korean Gochujan seasoning was soooo goooood!

Up next was the Beeeef!  3,800yen.  A5 Rank Sirloin, chateaubriand (can only extract 1kg from a COW) and domestic black hair Harami meat.

The meat just looked so good... out came the iPhone4... taking a pic.

A5 Ranked Sirloin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateaubriand_steak

Harami...

We were seating on the counter facing the window... seating for 5 in this section.  If you girl gets cold easily then have her sit in front of the grill... nice and warm.

Bibimbap before...

...and after its mixed. 1,280yen.. yeah, out course came with 2!  Filling.

To close... Korean barley tea and Coffee Jelly

Home-made Coffee Jelly... very good.

Happy Customer.

Owner/Chef Mr. Yun was a chef at Lotte Hotel in Korea for 5 years. We had two waiters and one was fluent in English... cool Korean student now studying at Waseda University, ask for Han if you need a little help in English.  Service was excellent as usual.

Shop: Yakiniku Y-Style 

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e317100/ 

Gnavi Coupon: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/e317100/map/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130803/13090116/

Address J:  東京都千代田区六番町1-1 恩田ビル2F

Address E:  Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Roku-bancho 1-1

MAP: 

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NIHONBASHI MITSUKOSHI: Fortnum & Mason Lunch... ROAST BEEEEF!!!

I have yet to find any really great Roast Beef in Tokyo except for one instance at Oguna Bares in Nakameguro... but I think my search is over in B2 of Mitsukoshi Department Store in Nihonbashi.

Lunch Menu... was torn between my love for Curry and the Roast Beef... Mari said the beef was excellent... didn't need much more convincing than that.

Lunch sets arrive with a choice of coffee or tea (hot or iced).

Oh yeah...1,260yen lunch set.  The volume!  Salad, horse radish, 2 types of bread, boatload of green peas and 3-4 rather thick slices of roast beef.  

This roast beef was perfection... an absolute must if you are craving it.  

Mari closed with a Chocolate Cake... friendly grandma peeking over at me taking pics.  This place was around 80% senior citizens... and 95% old ladies.  So be prepared for a little staring if you are a foreigner.

My great Apple Pie.  The waitress will bring a dish full of desserts to select from... must have been about 10 or so items.  Just point and pick.

Location: Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi (Mitsukoshi-Mae Station).

Shop: Fortnum & Mason 

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130202/13059381/

Mitsukoshi F&M Website (Japanese): http://www.mitsukoshi.co.jp/store/1010/h_restaurant/fortnum.html

Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi (English):  http://www.mitsukoshi.co.jp/store/fcs/english/1010/

Address J:  東京都中央区日本橋室町1-4-1,  日本橋三越本店新館 Ｂ２Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi  Muromachi 1-4-1,  Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi New Building B2F

MAP:

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