YURAKUCHO: Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza for addictive Roy's Chocolate Covered Potato Chips!

If you want anything Hokkaido then a visit to Hokkaido's Prefecture shop in Yurakucho is a must...  There is always a line for Hokkaido soft cream ice cream.

Though I have a sweet tooth I don't normally introduce sweets on this blog... but this is just one exception.

Yup, it always sells out quickly but managed to score a box.  Its chilled in an open refrigerator...

Oh...yeah thats a brochure for the Pentax K-01... not sure if you know but nearly all the pictures on this blog are taken with the Pentax K-M (K2000).  Time for an upgrade!

Purchased on 3/20 so looks like there is about a 3 week expiration perios for the chips.... but honestly I usually finish this box in one sitting... ugh.  

There you go.  The chocolate is very soft and will easily melt in your hands.  Texture of the chips is a bit thicker than the normal (Pringles, Lays) chips and has a bit of a chewy hmmm....texture?  Anyways I've been addicted this for years a frequent gift for my friends back in the US.  If you love chocolate an chips then this is a MUST try!

Shop: Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza

Shop Website: http://www.dosanko-plaza.jp/index.html

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130102/13004077/

Address J: 東京都千代田区有楽町2-10-1 東京交通会館  1F

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-10-1, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan  1F
MAP:

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YURAKUCHO: Hyottoko Ramen in the dungeons of Yurakucho's Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan bldg.

Mari worked in this building several years ago and highly suggested this little ramen shop with only 7 counter seats... Looking at the pictures of Ramen its not the oily thick mess that is Ramen Jiro (which I prefer) but a light base with fairly thin noodles. 

Push button Ramen starts at 650yen... Remember push the top left hand button if you get lost... Its always the shop recommended ramen.  

(*** After letting Mari know I tried this place out she highly suggested having the 700yen Yuzu Flavored Ramen, give it a try! ***)

A full house at 4pm... and rotation is quick but there was never an empty seat thru my meal.

Free tea on the table.

And there it is!  A very very light soup base (tasted like chicken soup) with strips of bamboo, half boiled egg but the very best thing about this ramen was the pork (charsui) that was EXTREMELY tender!  Without the pork this would simply be a very basic ramen (like instant Charumela Ramen) without much impact...

They say when you are young you crave thick unhealthy Tonkotsu Ramen but as you get older a lighter ramen is what adults prefer... the crowd was definitely in their late 30's thru 50's. 

The Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan can be a spot where most tourists simply walk past but there are an incredible number of shops inside... many of which seemed to have been around for 50 yrs selling trinkets and grandma' clothes. This place also houses many prefectural stores selling vast numbers of local goods (Hokkaido, Hakata, Osaka etc).  I'd definitely stroll thru this building if u have the time.

Overall a Ramen that will satisfy your craving but lacks the punch that many others offer...but I assume there is a strong following for Hyottoko Ramen as their foodie points is a fairly high 3.61.

Shop: Hyottoko Ramen

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130102/13046637/

Address J: 東京都千代田区有楽町2-10-1 東京交通会館 B1F

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-10-1, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan B1F
MAP:

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YURAKUCHO: Shoku-An Shoten... Vending Machine Standing Beer spot!

I've walked by this tiny rather dirty standing vending machine bar area under the JR Yurakucho tracks many times during my time in Tokyo but was never really interested in standing outside with a vending machine beer in hand...

There are about 5 vending machines in this small space offering beers and non-alcoholic choices.

And there I was with my 240yen 500ml beer (vs Supermarket 160yen or Convini 205yen)... across the street were waves of Japanese salarymen and OL's heading to Yurakucho Station... 

There is a guy sitting in the back that offers small junk food type snacks...

At 9pm it was a pretty big salaryman crowd enjoying mostly One-Cup-Ozeki outside in the cold...  There were quite a few smokers so if you don't mind it or just need a quick one to kill time then its a easy and cheap way to have a beer.  

The bar actually neighbors the famous Andy's Izakaya ever so popular with the foreign crowd.

http://www.andysfish.com/Shin-Hinomoto

Shop: Shoku-An Shoten

Location: JR Yamanote Yurakucho (Below Tracks)

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130102/13120721/

Blog with pics: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130102/13120721/

Address J: 東京都千代田区有楽町2-4-3

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-4-3
MAP:

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GINZA: Grill and Wine Bar Arossa... Hands down great 1,050yen Lunch in posh Ginza!

Its been a long time 8F... I've been to Arossa in Ginza just a hand full of times but each visit greets me with a totally new lunch special.

There is only 1 daily special for a very reasonable 1,050yen in the heart of Ginza.  Comes with water, good size salad, fresh bread, soup, main course, dessert and tea or coffee.  

The waiter will greet you at the entrance to inform you that their is only one special course during lunch... simply say "hai."  Then he'll seat ya.  Started with a great salad with hints of bacon bits and an original dressing... very very good.

A very nice dish of Minestrone soup follows the salad.

There are 4 counter seats if you go alone or just want to watch the chef at work.

Main dish arrives.  Hamburger steak topped with mustard red wine sauce and a side of mashed potatoes.  A great burger for sure...

Then followed with pineapple ice in a little chilled glass cup.

Course ends with your choice of Coffee (Hot/Ice) or Tea.

This shop is extremely generous in their number of dishes for the low lunch price of 1,050 yen.  

I arrived at 11:40am and by noon it was completely full... a solid 80-90% of the lunch goers were ladies... If you ever need convincing to enter a restaurant just find a spot that's full of women... Japanese OL's are always in the know of where is good at a reasonable value. 

The building faces ABC-Mart in Ginza.   I'll definitely be back again!

My Previous Arossa Entry:

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2010/02/ginza-arossa-grill-and-wine-bar-1050.html

Shop: Grill and Wine Bar Arossa

Location: Ginza

Shop Website: http://www.pjgroup.jp/arossa/english/index.html

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13038526/

Address J: 東京都中央区銀座2-4-6 銀座ベルビア館 8Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 2-4-6,  Ginza Velvia Bldg 8F.

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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