Tokyo favourites

2006-09-03T10:00:00.000+09:00

been meaning to compile this list forever. am finally going to do this now since i have a month left in tokyo and many people to pass this list to...

Sushi

Matsukan in azabu juban - a new-found favourite. small, bright, lively place, where the chefs behind the counter have a real spark. fish is fresh, and they have really interesting seasonal varieties. average spend about JPY6,000 per head.
3-4-12 Azabu-Juban 03-3455-4923

Daiwa in tsukiji - this is an institution. tip is not to go there on a saturday morning, unless u fancy queueing for 45 mins or longer. its reputation stretches out to both locals and foreigners alike. i have once been there on a tuesday or wednesday morning, after an all-nighter at work, at 6.30am in the morning, and found myself seated next to these 2 ladies who had driven 2 and 1/2 hours from gunma prefecture to have their perfect sushi breakfast. a real testimony to daiwa's draw! the thing to order here is the omakase set. for JPY3,500, you get about 10 pieces of the freshest raw fish and shellfish you can ever taste, and if the chef is in a good mood he will give you a "service" piece, of anything you want. you eat by hand, straight from the wooden shelf in front of you. closed on sundays.
Building 6, Chuo-ichiba, 5-2-1 Tsukiji 03-3547-6807

Sushi zanmai in tsukiji/roppongi - a chain with 5 branches at tsukiji, 1 at roppongi, and others in yurakucho, akihabara, kinishicho, etc - i pretty much go there for the aburi-toro - a flame-torched piece of tuna perfection. open 24 hours a day, all days of the year.
4-11-9 Tsukiji 03-3541-1117 / 3-10-9 Roppongi, 1F Sankei 28 Building 03-5772-1005

Ikkyu at kojun building (barney's new york) ginza - slightly expensive, but i go there for the lunch tobikiri-chirashi don, which is truly a work of art in a bowl. on a bed of sushi rice, the chef layers it first, with a thick layer of toro paste (like you get for negi-toro temakis), and then tops it with ikura, botanebi, chutoro, uni, tobiko, tamago, shiitake, and all sorts of seasonal goodies. every bite is a beautiful combination of tastes. closed on wednesdays.
4F, Kojun Building, 6-8-7 Ginza 03-3289-0019

Daidokoya in shibuya - this branch will close by october this year. when you go there, you'll see it's the only shop sticking out so close to the curb of the road, as the city is preparing to widen the road. it is a kaiten sushi that only uses the conveyor belt to serve the sushi after it's been ordered, so no sickly looking fish wandering aimlessly around in circles, with no one feeding on it. great value for money for such fresh fish. JPY2,000 per head. colorful local characters to be spotted at this sushi bar. open 11am-11pm daily.
2-15-1 Dogenzaka 03-3476-4066

Yakiniku

Shotaien in daimon - my trinidadian chinese friend Jon can lay credit for finding this awesome hidden-away joint. the shop's specialty is this jo-rosu cut, which is so fresh it can be eaten raw with soy sauce or lightly grilled. it is ALWAYS packed. call a week ahead to guarantee good seating at a decent timing. they have a good daikon salad as well as a jako spinach salad, and their yukke is excellent as well. the perfect finish is their reimen (cold noodles) served with a generous dose of vinegar. deliciously refreshing, and i always imagine the tartness helps to break down the fats of the yakiniku.

Jojo-en in nishi-azabu / azabu juban - chain store with consistently excellent quality meat. 43 stores around Tokyo, with 4 in the azabu/roppongi area, including the 8-story main store in nishi-azabu (right off the crossing, on your left going towards hiroo). also check out the Jojo-en take-out store. they have an excellent JPY1,500 karubi-bento and they deliver! comes with 6 pieces of sauce-drenched karubi, plus 6 little portions of different kimchi/korean pickles/sweet beans. perfect for those cold winter evenings, when you don't wish to step outside, but wish to savour some freshly grilled yakiniku!
3-24-18 Nishi-Azabu 03-3796-8989 (nishi-azabu) 11.30am - 4am daily (sun till 3am)
2-19-7 Azabu Juban 03-3452-6649 (azabu juban) 11.30am - 3am daily (sun till 2am)
2-10-17 Azabu Juban 03-3455-2255 (take-out) 11.30am - 11pm daily (sun till 10pm)

Tempura

Ippoh at kojun building (barney's new york) ginza - a kansai-based restaurant, this is their only branch in tokyo. exquisitely light batter, and they fry the fresh seafood right in front of you. their scallop tempura, when in season, is to die for. pretty pricey, so good place to suggest when being taken out!
4F, Kojun Building, 6-8-7 Ginza 03-3289-5011

Tsunahachi in shinjuku / shiodome - a chain with stores in shinjuku and shiodome.

Tenichi in ginza - like Ippoh, pretty pricey, but worth trying once! budget about JPY12,000-15,000 per head for dinner. they have an omakase course, where they feed you till you tell them to stop.

Tonkatsu

Musashiya in chiba - if you're ever heading out to the beaches in chiba, be sure to check this restaurant out. it's quite literally the BEST tonkatsu i have ever tasted.

Yakitori

Abechan in azabu juban
joint near Oakwood Roppongi Central
Gaien-mae place
Negiya in shibuya

Teppanyaki

Miyachiku in Ginza - this place prides itself for serving Miyazaki kuroge wagyu (beef from black-haired Japanese cows). the chef explained to us very kindly, that a large percentage of wagyu cows are actually born in Miyazaki, and bred there till they are slightly less than 1 year old, before being transported to other more "prestigious" locations so they can officially brand their cows with the new placenames. as such, the wagyu from Miyazaki is really as tender as the next, and this place offers really excellent sets for about JPY11,000 per head, that covers everything from your beautifully prepared appetizers, the main course of the wagyu teppanyaki, garlic rice, and a dessert made with toast that has been soaked with the beef drippings. sounds gross? don't knock it till you've tried it! they also have a great selection of kyushu shochu. awesome place to take visitors. the chefs here really know how to impress!
3F, Fujiya Ginza Building, 6-9-3 Ginza 03-5568-2917

Kaika

Kaneishi

Miwa

Kurosawa

Chinese

Le Parc in ebisu - best dimsum in tokyo. Hong Kong chef. they do good dishes as well like stir-fried vegetables, black pepper beef, etc.
Bimi Yumcha in daikanyama
My Humble House in ginza
Hutong of Beijing in azabu juban
Cafe Eight in nishi-azabu
Chen's in cerulean hotel

Thai
Erawan at ROI building
Bangkok

Italian

Il Mulino in roppongi hills
Il Boccalone in ebisu
Serenita in moto-azabu
Esperia in nishi-azabu
Xex at atago hills

French

Harmony in nishi-azabu
Asterix in akasaka

Indian

Bombay Club in shiodome
Devi Fusion in roppongi 1chome
Moti's in roppongi

Burgers

Roti's in roppongi
Oak Door in roppongi hills
West Park Cafe in yoyohi uehara
Kua-aina in aoyama
Beacon in aoyama

Brunch

French Kitchen in grand hyatt
New York Grill in park hyatt
Good Honest Grub in omotesando
West Park Cafe in yoyogi uehara
TY Harbor Brewery in tennoz isle

Others

Cicada in nishi-azabu
Portuguese place in shoto
Molecular Bar at mandarin oriental
Kaikaya in shibuya dogenzaka
Azabu Shigezo in azabu juban
Edoya in azabu juban
Kotatsu in azabu juban

Villa Asmara

2006-05-15T00:14:00.000+09:00

"Asmara" is a Javanese word meaning love. Villa Asmara was definitely a labour of love for the developer of this 8-villa project, perched on a site that was literally carved into the cliff face off the coast just south of Nusa Dua. These gorgeous views of the ocean with perfect waves crashing in the distance, were what GP and i left Bali with, after a week-long holiday that left me wondering if i shouldn't look into living in somewhere as beautiful as Bali. For US$875,000, you can purchase one of these beautiful properties with 670 sqm land and 500sqm built-up area on a supposedly freehold land title. Marketed by Tropical Homes.

What's in a name?

2006-05-14T22:43:00.000+09:00

Tokyo - clearly where I'm blogging from, and Doorknob, is a tribute to my good friend Jane, who gave me my first journal when I was 16. I called the journal (and every journal I've kept since) "doorknob". I wanted a simple, somewhat random name, yet with the subtle meaning of an entree to my inner thoughts.

Tokyo Doorknob

Tokyo favourites

Villa Asmara

uni ikura don

What's in a name?