This chic, intimate dining spot serves sophisticated modern Sri Lankan cuisine that’s still in touch with its roots. The five-course prix-fixe menu at dinnertime is an excellent way to experience the creations of Hoppers’ talented chef, either on its own or optionally accompanied by a five-part wine pairing. The meal…
With its flashy dining room, energetic music, wide food menu and diverse drink options, El Caliente is a good venue for festive group gatherings or small get-togethers among friends. In addition to Latin-inspired cocktails and mocktails there’s a budget-friendly list of 23 different wines, all priced at Y3,300. Ample outdoor…
Creamy Georgian chicken stew, Uzbek-style minced-lamb pies, meat-stuffed Russian blinchiki pancakes – there’s a world of exotic flavors to explore at this cozy dining spot near Meguro Station. Beverage options are equally diverse, ranging from Georgian wines and Armenian fruit wines (apricot and pomengranate) to Russian vodkas and jam tea.…
Isetan Craft Beer Bar: Shinjuku Isetan Craft Beer Bar Shinjuku: Liquor shop Isetan Shinjuku has really beefed up their retail craft beer selection, stocking around 220 different canned and bottled beers from breweries around the world. The craft beer zone is in the far corner of their…
If you’re looking for a cute meeting place in Ueno Station, a rest stop after a museum tour, or just an early-morning cup of coffee, Pensta Cafe is there for you. More than just a cafe, this is a shrine to Suica’s Penguin, the popular mascot on JR East’s transportation…
Spicy Bistro Taprobane is just around the corner from the main Monzennakacho crossing. A smiling Sri Lankan Airlines cabin attendant greets you at the entrance (she’s a cardboard cutout) and the staircase leads to an attractive dining room in turquoise and mahogany. The background music is an unusual mix of…
Deep-fried whole chickens are the main draw at this Shanghai-based chain, customizable with your choice of flavorings and sauces. More than just crisp, the chicken here is downright crunchy, with a thick coating and succulent, juicy meat. Flavorings include mala (spicy numbing Szechuan peppercorns with chili), garlic, cumin, black pepper,…
Good home-style Burmese cuisine is served at this extremely casual restaurant on Takadanobaba’s lively shotengai. Mohinga (rice noodles in catfish soup) is recommended, as is the rather spicy Tea Leaf Salad, made from fermented tea leaves. Set lunches start at under Y1,000. Source – Read entire story here
As you enter Akka Thai Cafe and Eatery, the chatter of Thai radio DJs, the modern decor (illuminated by old-fashioned filament light bulbs) and the spicy aroma of fried chilies and garlic might have you believe you’ve stepped into a chic little place in Bangkok. But you’re not in Sukhumvit,…
“Soba, sake and wine” are the main draws of this stylish izakaya just up the hill from Ebisu station. On any night, the terrace, main room and smaller private function rooms are thronged with patrons, from nervous first-date couples to raucous older groups, from gaggles of fashionable young women to…
Located in an attractively furnished Kagurazaka basement, walls decorated with colorful sake and shochu bottles, Agezuki feels more like an upscale izakaya than a tonkatsu shop. And indeed they offer a well-curated list of more than a dozen craft sakes, in either standard 1-go flasks or 65ml tasting sizes, along…
Ah, the kindness of Korean ajuma (aunties), who have over the years loaned me their floral aprons, cut up my reimen noodles with scissors, or given me extra side dishes (as if I needed fattening up). Two smiling Korean aunts run this hole-in-the-wall basement lunch spot and serve up hearty…
Oh Bhaiya! is a new street food and sweets shop that opened in Nishi-Kasai in the spring of 2023. It offers a huge menu of tasty snacks and quick bites based on the “chaat” (finger-licking good) street delicacies of Delhi and India. The friendly South Indian owner is only too…
While the main Ginza branch of this legendary Michelin-starred yakitoriya demands a good portion of an evening to fully appreciate, this more casual outlet is well suited to bar-hopping. Grab a seat and enjoy a round of top-quality charcoal-grilled skewers and a glass of wine, then move on to your…
According to legend, curry is most popular in the old-book town of Jimbocho because customers can eat their curry-rice with a spoon in one hand and an open book in the other, voraciously eating and reading at the same time. A recent addition to the dozens of venerable curry restaurants…
They aren’t kidding – some of these pizzas really are crazy! The kitchen here enthusiastically experiments with variations like Gyros Pizza and Micro-sardine Pizza along with offbeat side dishes like Marinated Octopus with Tapenade. There’s a fridge full of craft beers to explore and a nice wine list as well,…
This bustling dining bar is a fun destination for drinks with friends or group outings of any size. They offer freshly brewed beers, inventive original cocktails, appetizing food and friendly service, all in a lively setting. There’s a standing bar if you just want to grab a quick drink, plus…
Chicken parts and pork organ meats, grilled on skewers over charcoal, are the specialty of this long-running shop, and they do an excellent job preparing them. The grilled venison – tender and very flavorful – is highly recommended, as is the liver (their best seller). Other crowd pleasers include stuffed…
