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Thursday, May 23, 2019

HIGASHI NAGASAKI: Wagana Sushi... a female sushi chef! What a filling 1,500 yen omakase lunch! (SONY RX100M3)

I totally wanted to go to the Michelin ramen restaurant called Kane Kitchen Noodles nearby but their ticket vending machine broke and weren't serving lunch until it was fixed... ugh!  Sooo went to my next selection.

A shot of the Ramen spot... will be back soon!

So with a bit of hesitation I ventured into this tiny old skool sushi spot... the windows were not see thru so took a bit of courage to enter.  These tiny local spots rarely see foreigners.

BUT! I was met with a very friendly regular and the elderly female chef was the kindest... the most welcoming smile ever!


I ordered the Ichinin-Mae Sushi set (1 person service set).  Such a variety!  Every piece was so thick!  Oh... there were no prices listed anywhere so wasn't sure what the damage would be.

There was a side of seasoned daikon slices in either sesame seed or peanut?  Hmmm... think it must have been crushed sesame seeds. 

Then the tuna rolls came...

This is the friendly regular who immediately started chatting with me about his recent adventures thru Europe, the US and Canada.  Rarely so you meet Japanese so well traveled and assumed he had his own business or was just wealthy.

He shared a glass of his "expensive" sake and quite smooth.   By the end of our conversation the chef was addressing this regular as Shacho (President) and he later mentioned he was very wealthy and didn't really have to work... to this I said "gochisousama-desu!" Which means thank you for paying for my tab!  

The sushi set came out to 1,500 yen that was well worth the cost.  Mr. President said the quality of sushi here can cost between 10,000  - 20,000 yen if had in Ginza.   If in the area and you want a solid fresh set of Sushi you gotta go!

Restaurant: Wangana
Address J: 東京都豊島区長崎4-25-8
Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Nagasaki 4-25-8
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/tyr2rhmv1VzKLDmf7

和可奈 寿し, 寿司, 西武池袋線, 東長崎駅, Japan, Japanese, Tokyo, tokyobelly, foodie, yelp, lunch, dinner, sake, sashimi, omakase, ichininmae, beer, bottle keep

TOSHIMAEN: KimuNamu Korean Restaurant... Doenjang Jjigae was so bland. (SONY RX100M3)

I love to support tiny owner run restaurants and finally had a weekday off... it was rather hot but had to go!


Went for the Doenjang Jjigae soup for 889 yen (without tax).  Had memories of this from my days in Hawaii and at the time the soup was incredibly flavorful with Korean miso. 



Lots of Kpop on the BGM


Here it is!  Came with a side of potato salad and kimchee.  The kimchee was really delicious so will have to try the Kimchee Jjigae next time!

A few sips and this was sooooo bland... there was just no flavor to it.  Honestly wanted to give up after a few bites but being a tiny business just couldn't be that rude.  




The ingredients were mushrooms, potato and zucchini.  

I am really not sure if I will ever be back but I should have just bought some Korean ingredients at the supermarket and made it myself... Totally skip this dish please.

Restaurant: Kimu Namu
Address J: 東京都練馬区春日町1-13-2
Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Kasugacho 1-13-2

 キムナム , 韓国料理, 大江戸線, 豊島園, ランチ, Japan, Japanese, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, Tokyo, sony rx100, lunch, toshimaen,

Sunday, May 19, 2019

OKINAWA FESTIVAL 2019 in YOYOGI: Gastro 29 Organic Ishikagi-gyu burger stand... high hopes but so dry. (Sony RX100)

Another year and another great Okinawa Festival that was held at Yoyogi Park event space from May 18-19.  In search of something other than taco rice and Okinawan soba then spotted this burger spot!

Noticed all the fresh patties on a tray.  Looked promising!



OMG! I want one of those!




But unfortunately due to the high number of diners the burgers are prepared before hand and toppings such as cheese, salsa or avocado are added when you order.  THUS.... the burgers were incredibly dry. Soooo unfortunate as the fresh patties looked amazing.

I went for the Ishigaki Gyu cheese burger... they sold out of Avocado.


Nice messy burger with bunch of veggies, egg, slice of ham.. and topping of your choice.

Dry dry and really bland... hmm...


Overall if you can ask the chef to make a fresh patty then that might be your best bet to enjoy how this burger was really meant to be had... more juicy and a bit of rare.

Restaurant: Gastro 29 Organic Booth
Event Page: https://okifes.tokyo/
代々木公園野外音楽堂広場, OKINAWAまつり2019, ガストロニックオーガニック, Japan, Japanese, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, oki fes, orion beer, awamori, hamburger, food stand, uchinanchu, yoyogi, harajuku, music festival,