Please share with me, some of your favorite restaurants - Tokyo, Nagoya, Sendai, Matsumoto, Yokohama

[gavino200]

So the basic itinerary is set now. Just filling in details. Like...food.

 

I heard about a good app for finding restaurants in Japan. Sort of like a Japanese Yelp.

 

http://www.gnavi.co.jp/en/

 

I figured I'd ask you guys if you have any favorite places. I'm a fairly adventurous eater. I love novelty. I eat everything and I don't think I've ever found any Japanese food I don't like, with the exception of sea urchin.

 

I'd like to try Shirasu-don. I also wouldn't mind trying the fresh Octopus that wiggles when you put soy sauce on it. Live food would also be interesting. So basically I'll eat anything as long as it's tasty, or interesting, and as long as it's not western. I'm not going half way around the world to eat western food.

 

Fancy is nice but not necessary. Hole in the wall is fine. Street meat is also good.

 

Please share your hidden gems and diamonds in the rough. I'll add them to my google maps masterplan :)

 

[ToniBabelony]

I'm not a gourmand, but I like to eat. A lot. Preferably down to earth stuff the locals eat as well and always looking for a good price. I haven't explored much, but there are a few spots I like to return to when I have the chance:

 

- Mama Grill near Machida sta. (Tōkyō) is a regular shōwa style restaurant with good wafū teishoku (western style Japanese food). It's not western food you think of, but a Japanese interpretation of it: https://goo.gl/maps/MzneXbASA192

- Uketake in front of Shin-Tochigi sta. (Tochigi-ken) has excellent tonkotsu rāmen. Some of the best so far: https://goo.gl/maps/CoEESbYeuhy

- Ippinko in Oyama (Tochigi-ken). Good solid shoyū rāmen with ginormous gyōza: https://goo.gl/maps/Upd17DwAMVD2

- Masashi in Utsunomiya (Tochigi-ken). The best gyōza in gyōza central. Very specialised shop with boiled or baked gyōza. We like it so much we once ordered a box of 150 pieces from them. Be sure to go before opening times, as otherwise the waiting line can be up to three hours long!: https://goo.gl/maps/UzRYaeVWuwx

 

I have yet to find more favourite spots in Tokyo though, but I'll let you know when I'll find them here. In Japan however it's very hard go wrong with food. If it looks good, eat it!

[Kiha66]

If there is one nearby, sushiro was my favorite place to eat when I was in japan.  I probably went there at least three times a week!

http://www.akindo-sushiro.co.jp/en/

I've also heard good things about the raumen museum in shin-Yokohama, but I haven't been myself.

http://www.raumen.co.jp/english/

Edited March 2, 2017 by Kiha66

[Khaul]

In my experience it's hard to go wrong with food in Japan. There are restaurants everywhere. Restaurants in places like airports, shopping malls, railway stations generally vary from good to fantastic. You'll need to take your shoes off in some places then put on special slippers to go in the toilets, or eat the food in intricate ways to be able to enjoy it... but don't worry, because you are a foreigner they will give you a lot of slack and be helpful. Just avoid the evil Kyoto sandwich lady and you'll be fine. She is in Gojo-Zaka 583-40 Gojōbashihigashi 6-chōme waiting to rip off tourists!

[gavino200]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated. Yes, we're going to the Ramen museum. Thanks about the Gyoza store. I'll go early. 

 

And I'll watch out for the evil Kyoto sandwich lady. The less I know about her, the better, I think.

[ToniBabelony]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated. Yes, we're going to the Ramen museum. Thanks about the Gyoza store. I'll go early. 

 

The store next to Masashi (Min-min) is also good. You don't need to wait in line there in particular when you want to have a take-out (baked only). We once did that as well and had our 10th~12th portion on the station (after a short gyoza-restaurant-crawl). xD

[Suica]

Since it doesn't have to be fancy, I'd recommend Mansei, basically right outside Akihabara station.

They arguably make the best katsu-sandwiches in Tokyo. You can buy those at konbini at Tokyo's major stations but at their in-house konbini you actually get them as fresh as they get! They also have a little family-style restaurant where they serve sukiyaki, shabushabu and all kinds of western-style meals. Of course there are katsu-sand meals too. Now don't be put-off by "western style". Many of those dishes taste and even look nothing like anything you'd eat over at your place. Prices are fair and if you're lucky you can get a nice seat overlooking Kanda River and the Chuo Line. I love the place. I often go there with friends. Somehow everyone knows and likes it.

There are many more restaurants in the building. Among others there's Korean BBQ, Wagyu beef and even a Teppan-Yaki restaurant. Never went there, though since the higher you get in that building, the more "exclusive" the menu gets.

Edited March 3, 2017 by Suica

[railsquid]

In my experience it's hard to go wrong with food in Japan. There are restaurants everywhere. Restaurants in places like airports, shopping malls, railway stations generally vary from good to fantastic. You'll need to take your shoes off in some places then put on special slippers to go in the toilets, or eat the food in intricate ways to be able to enjoy it... but don't worry, because you are a foreigner they will give you a lot of slack and be helpful. Just avoid the evil Kyoto sandwich lady and you'll be fine. She is in Gojo-Zaka 583-40 Gojōbashihigashi 6-chōme waiting to rip off tourists!

 

Do tell more!

[westfalen]

Do tell more!

Yes, I can't think of a single bad experience I've ever had with food in Japan. The evil sandwich lady sounds interesting.

 

Even the Japanese fast food places like Sukiya shouldn't be written off, I'd love to see them open branches here in Australia, them and Curry House Coco Ichibanya.

[Ochanomizu]

Hello,

 

Fine dining:

 

1. Hiroyuki Sakai, Iron Chef, La Rochelle, Tokyo: http://www.la-rochelle.co.jp/english/

 

2. Tatsumi Sushi, Fukuoka: http://www.tatsumi-sushi.com/shop

[cteno4]

Ahh I miss iron chef! Sakai San was always so unflappable!

 

Jeff

[nscalestation]

Under Tokyo Station there are a huge amount of restaurants.  If you are there in the summer months and don't want to be walking around in the heat outside looking for a place to eat, this is a good option.  I was not a fan of Uni either until I tried the Uni in a pasta that one place their offered.

 

I have also enjoyed eating at the very casual food stalls that are sometimes under the railroad tracks.  One place I specifically remember was near Shimbashi station.  If you happen to live in one of the more expensive cities in the US you may actually find the prices in Tokyo to be rather reasonable, and there is no tipping.

 

Have a great trip and enjoy the food !

[adrianKeith]

There's a really really amazing Beef Tongue restaurant in Tokyo GranSta called Rikyu. I had the beef tongue curry and I promise you will not be disappointed. It's done so well and the meat is so delicate while the curry is equally delicious. They serve it alongside a small bowl of a very simple and basic beef tongue soup which is just as clean and delicious. I tried to make plans to go one more time before I left but completely missed my opportunity. I highly recommend it and given that it's in the station itself, it's fairly inexpensive! 

 

I tried some beef tongue curry after coming home (luckily have a good amount of Japanese options near me) but it was nowhere near the same. I have a photo of my meal, I think.. I'll have to post it up later.