AKIHABARA: Siddique Akiba Shop.... Thai Curry, Viet Pho and Indian!?

An off day wandering Akihabara for a bit of lunch and noticed a sign for 500yen Vietnamese Pho... hmm... I've recently been hooked on Pho24 and the craving kicked in.  BUTT... this is the most common Indian Curry chain in Tokyo (you can read my Chicken Skin Curry experience here). 

What caught my eye at the entrance was their one coin 500yen Pho... So had to give it a try.  Menu included Vietnamese and Thai foods.

My Chicken Pho arrived... hmm... very strong black pepper taste... got bored after a few bites but it was just weird eating Pho in an Indian restaurant.  I didn't finish this.  But if you are on a budget visiting Tokyo then this will definitely fill you up.

Friend went with the Gapao Rice... she couldn't finish it because it was extremely spicy.  The beef reminded me of the mushy stuff used in Taco-Bell... didn't really look like ground beef.  Think they heavily used red pepper for this... also odd eating Thai food at an Indian place.

Lunch menu comes with a salad with orange colored dressing... this shop isn't very clean and the 1st floor door is wide open so you sweat during your meal... and this salad, it just didn't seem very clean, like there were germs hidden inside ready to get you sick.  I may be wrong but cleanliness just didn't seem a part of this shops atmosphere.

Here is the Indian Curry menu and prominently on the very bottom is the famous 500yen soft mushy chicken skin curry (Tori-Gawa-Curry)!  Now if you visit any of the Siddique shops please try the chicken skin... its freaky but addictive.

Shop: Siddique Akiba Shop

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131101/13037323/

Shop Website: http://www.siddique.co.jp/

Address J:  東京都千代田区外神田3-16-14

Address E:  Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, SotoKanda 3-16-14

MAP:

View Larger Map

HARAJUKU: The Great Burger revisited.... Chili Avocado and Mozzarella

Scored a Groupon.jp for The Great Burger.... 2,000yen meal for 1,000yen that included a drink, salad and plain burger (topping was extra).

This very simple avocado salad was perfect... light oil dressing so oishii.  For our drink option we went with ice cold Heineken on a very hot Tokyo evening.

My burger with Chili and Avocado toppings... additional 150yen for each.  

Friend went with a very very cheesy Mozzarella topping (200yen). The bun kept sliding off the burger because of the melty cheese.

Little packets of Ketchup and Mustard just like back home.

My favorite shop for Chili Burgers... If you are in the back alleys of Harajuku pls check it out... 

My Previous Entry: http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2010/01/harajuku-great-burger.html

Shop: The Great Burger Harajuku

Shop Website: http://www.the-great-burger.com/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130601/13042654/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区神宮前6-12-7

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae 6-12-7

MAP:

View Larger Map

Kojimachi 31 MT Bldg Lot: Hawaiian Foods YUMMY-E Wagon! LocoMoco with an awesome twist!

Second time I spotted this little Hawaiian truck but lines for other wagons made me veer away and try something else... but Today gave YUMMY-E a chance.

What caught my eye was actually the LocoMoco with a twist... instead of the normal gravy topping this wagon offered Creamy Tomato sauce topping.  Wow... lived and love Hawaii but never have I seen this topping.  One Please!!  Oh, I usually chit-chat with the chefs... friendly lady who loves Hawaii.

And there it is... beautiful creamy orange color.. small chunks of tomato.  

The hamburger was nice and round with a good amount of volume... egg semi-boiled (like Onsen Tamago) but what was simply addictive was the creamy tomato sauce... wow.  From start to finish I never got bored and even considered going back to save a plate for tonight's dinner!

The Yummy truck is only in this spot on Fridays but you can check out her rotating schedule HERE.  If you work in the Marunouchi/Otemachi area her truck is at Tokyo International Forum on Wednesdays and Sakei Building on Thursdays. 

Lots of great lunch wagons in this lot.  Its located near the New Otani Hotel in Akasaka and in the shadows of Sophia University... but if you work at Macquarie Securities or Nagashima Ohno and Tsunematsu its just steps away.

Shop: Hawaiian Foods YUMMY-E Wagon

Location: (FRIDAYS) Kojimachi 31 MT Building lot.

Wagon website: http://yummy-e.com/index.htm

Address J:  東京都千代田区麹町5-7-2

Address E:   Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Kojimachi 5-7-2

MAP: 

View Larger Map

KOJIMACHI or NAGATACHO: Taco Derio! Had to go twice within a week... very satisfying lunch.

Rankings rankings rankings.... I always rely on http://www.tabelog.com/ to discover foodie recommended spots in Tokyo.  There are quite a few Mexican spots in YOTSUYA and neighboring KOJIMACHI station areas.

Taco Derio! was ranked a lowly 3.05pts but maybe office workers in this area don't really know what tasty taco's are... the back streets where Taco Derio is located mostly neighbors small office buildings and perhaps Mexican food exposure is limited for lunch seekers who frequent this spot.

The #1 recommended lunch choice is "E - Taco Rice with a soft taco of your choice."

Went for the Taco "Brown" Rice with 60yen Avocado topping and Chicken Taco (with Avocado and Sour Cream).

Beef was very beefy and the oil seeped into the rice... really liked the flavor.  Couldn't beat the brown rice (they also offer white).

Drink set +150yen.

The Chicken Taco... super soft shell taco... Chicken had a nice sweetness to it and you can easily balance it out with the small container of Hot Sauce they give ya.

There are 4 small tables inside and counter seating for 4 but it was a nice windy day.

Entrance...

Seems they deliver too~.

I'll definitely be back for my Taco cravings as Tokyo is severely lacking in the Mexican cuisine department. 

Shop: Taco Derio!

Location: Kojimachi Station or Nagatacho Station.

Shop Website: http://www.tacoderio.com/shop/index.html

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130803/13108057/

Address J: 東京都千代田区平河町2-3-10

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Hirakawa-cho 2-3-10
MAP:

View Larger Map

KAMIYACHO: Nirvanam 1,200yen Indian Buffet... Highly ranked at 3.94pts

Only about two small blocks from Kamiyacho Station (Hibiya train line) and above a beef bowl spot.

Arrived at an early 11:30am for a seat and we started.

First round...

I think we need to reuse out plates but just picked up a clean one and doubled up... the staff won't take your used plate away.

2nd plate... everything was very tasty.

This sweet rice dessert was great... took the edge off the spicy curries.

Not sure what this was but they sell little items near the register.  

Overall a great restaurant but if you arrive at noon then be prepared to line up for a while... when we exited the line went all the way down the 2nd floor staircase.  Definitely worth a try...

Shop: NIRVANAM

Location: Kamiyacho Station (One stop from Roppongi on Hibiya-Line)

Foodie Blog: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130704/13019915/

Shop Website: http://www.nirvanam.jp/

Address J:  東京都港区虎ノ門3-19-7 大手ビル ２Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Minato-ku, Toranomon 3-19-7

MAP:

View Larger Map

ICHIGAYA: (CLOSED) Pho24 opened its first Japan outlet! Sunbrella's and ice cold water~

Randomly saw this huge green building from the train a few weeks back... Pho24 in Tokyo!?  Grand Opening on July 1st... went on July 2nd.  Take subway exit number 5 for easy access.

Arrived at 2:30pm and waited about 15minutes for a seat.  Guy was handing out little cold cups of water and there were these little sunbrella's available while you wait.

Beef Pho... soup was tasty.

Toppings... bean sprouts were boiled.

2 Types of beef...

A little spice...

Time for a little sweet Bean Drink.

Mix before drinking... this was just ok... lots of interesting beans.

If you are in search of Pho please give this place a try.  Most of the staff was Vietnamese and a folks spoke English. Even at 3pm the place was a full house...so I'd definitely try to avoid the lunch rush.

Shop: Pho24 Ichigaya

Location: Ichigaya Station

Foodie website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130904/13128270/

Shop website: http://www.7andi-fs.co.jp/7fs/pho24/

Address J: 東京都新宿区市谷田町2-2-5

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Ichigaya Tamachi 2-2-5

MAP:

View Larger Map