HATAGAYA: Taishoen Yakiniku... 45min marathon BBQ dash... 4 people 25,000yen! Worth it?

A friend of mine has been going to this tiny Yakiniku shop since he was in High School... always raving about how fresh the meat was so tagged along this night to give Taishoen a try.

I enjoy taking my time eating Yakiniku... grilling a little bit at a time and enjoying my beer but not this night! From start to finish my friend grilled everything for only a few seconds and boom my dish started to accumulate meat.

The meat seemed incredibly fresh compared to other Yakiniku shops but then again it only took 45 minutes from start to finish to amass a bill of 25,000yen for 4 people.  It seemed unusually expensive to me.  

Run by a husband and wife team... 

I'd say overall the cost performance wasn't quite worth the chunky bill but service was very friendly and the shop tiny cozy. But be warned the place has very poor ventilation and you will be a smoky mess.

Restaurant: Taishoen Yakiniku

Foodie Tabelog Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1318/A131807/13001063/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区幡ケ谷2-49-2

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Hatagaya 2-49-2
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/lFsEj

大昌園 , タイショウエン, 焼肉, 幡ヶ谷, Japan, Japanese, foodie, tokyobelly, canon 420f, sake, bbq, yelp, beer, dinner, korean,

SHINJUKU: Yamato Izakaya... the lovely 180yen Mug Beer franchise scattered around Tokyo... very cozy here! OPEN 24hrs!

I'm a huge fan of this super cheap beer/whisky hi-ball franchise scattered all about Tokyo but this place was incredibly cozy and quiet at 7pm in crazy Shinjuku... but located on the opposite side of the tracks from wacky Kabukicho.

Not much to write as the food is always mediocre but the 180yen beers a very very welcomed sight in Tokyo where draft beers are normally 500yen plus.

Restaurant: Yamato Izakaya

Foodie Tabelog Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13025009/

Address J: 東京都新宿区西新宿1-4-18 大和ビル B1F・1F・2F・3F

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Nishi Shinjuku 1-4-18
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/2dDWL

やまと, 居酒屋, 新宿西口, 新宿, Japan, Japanese, sake, sour, cheap, pub, beer, sushi, yakitori, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, canon 420f,

TOSHIMAEN: Starbucks Coffee in town with a Ferrari, Rolls Royce Phantom and Bentley... very nice.

Matcha (Green Tea) Frappuccino is all me! With chocolate chips for 50yen.

What would you do? 450yen for a tall (very tiny) or add 80yen more and get a massive Venti?  I'm VENTI all the way!

Personalize your drink!  Free items and 50yen items.

There are 4 tables outside.  The staff was super friendly... and there is free Wi-Fi!

And I leave you with a few sweet cars in this town... Ferrari California

Newer Rolls Royce Phantom 

Beautiful Bentley.

Restaurant Cafe: Starbucks Toshimaen Branch

Tabelog Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132102/13034101/

SBUX Website: http://www.starbucks.co.jp/store/search/detail.php?id=572

Address J: 東京都練馬区練馬4-18-8

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Nerima 4-18-8
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/zpha5

スターバックス, コーヒー, 豊島園駅前, Japan, Japanese, foodie, tokyobelly, lumix lx5, pentax k-x, pentax mx-1, yelp,