Tokyo Restaurant Reviews

Tonchang - Korean BBQ - Shibuya, Akasaka, Shinjuku, Gotanda

Tonchang - Korean BBQ (pork)
December 2006 (Shibuya)
March 2007 (Akasaka)

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2F 2-6-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya
Shibuya-Ku Tokyo
Ph (03) 3462-7057
Open 17:00 - 05:00
http://www.tonchang.com/store4.htm

2F 2-32-3 Akasaka
Minato-Ku Tokyo
Ph(03) 5573-9271/2
Open 17:00 - 06:00
http://www.tonchang.com/store2.htm

2F 5-28-12 Gotanda
Shinagawa-Ku Tokyo
Ph (03) 5475-5877/8
Open 17:00 - 05:00
http://www.tonchang.com/store7.htm

You should print off a coupon from the webbbsite here
http://www.tonchang.com/sinzuku.htm
for your free Chijimi (Korean pancake) or salad.

Summed up - Traditional Korean home cooking, love the heat!
Best Dish - The kimchi rice at the end, order it with cheese.
Cost - BBQ meats from 1,000 yen. Side dishes around 1,000 yen.
English friendly - Menu is Japanese and Korean only but the waiters speak a little English.
Seats - 40
Atmosphere - casual
Food - Rocking
Service - Average
Wine list - Wine? Who wants wine with this food? Nice icy cold beer.

Esperia - Nishi Azabu - Italian

Esperia - Nishi Azabu
February 2008

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4-11-25 Nishi Azabu

Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5485-1771

Open Mon-Sat for lunch 11:30 - 15:00

Dinner 18:00 - 23:00

Open Sunday for lunch 12:00 - 15:00
Dinner 18:00 - 22:00

http://www.esperia.biz/

This place does not get 5 stars for the interior or for the service, both of which were well below 5 star standards. I gave this restaurant 5 stars for the gastronomic experience alone. The dishes were amongst the most creative I have come across on a long time. Who would have thought to stuff a baked apple with escargot? See the picture above.

The uni spaghetti was not the usual Japanese flavour which chefs here love to use. It was a rich Italian tomato sauce with the uni gently rolled in at the end. The pasta was cooked to perfection.

We ate the Chef's course which was made up of 3 appetizers, one pasta, one main, one risotto, one main, cheese or dessert (I would recommend the cheese) and coffee.

Best Dish - Baked apple stuffed with escargot.
Cost - The Chef's course was 7,000 yen per person or the 5 course is 5,000 yen per person. Appetizers start at 1,000 and main go up to 2,800 yen each. Lunch menus from1,300 yen.
English Friendly - Yes.
Seats - 22 seats + counter. There is also a room upstairs which seats 20 and can be booked for functions.
Atmosphere - Sophisticated.
Food - complex.
Service - Could be better.
Wine list - Around 40 all from Italy and 8 by the glass. Price starts from 4,000.
Private Functions - There is also a room upstairs which seats 20 and can be booked for functions.
Non smoking areas - All non smoking.
Vegetarian Options - No.
Family Friendly -No.

Syun - Hiroo - Organic Fusion

Syun - Hiroo
January 2008
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2F Hiroo Complex
5-7-35 Hiroo Shibuya-Ku
Tel. 03-5792-4143

Open every day for lunch 11:00 - 16:00

Open for dinner

Mon - Sat 17:30 - 23:00

Sun & Hol 17:30 - 22:00

www.syun-hiroo.com

Best Dish - Uncured ham and organic onion salad with carrot sauce.
Cost - Courses range from 4,800 yen to 8,800 yen per person.
English Friendly - Yes
Atmosphere - Modern and sophisticated
Food - All the vegetables are fresh, full of flavour and unimaginably sweet. A couple of the sauces were not complimentary to the dishes.
Service - Excellent
Wine list - Organic wines only
Private Functions - yes
Non smoking areas - yes
Vegetarian Options - yes
Family Friendly -no

Monsoon Cafe - Thai

Monsoon Cafe - Various Places
January 2008
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6F Festa Azabu Building
1-7-5 Azabu Juban
Tel. 03-5775-6900
Open 7 days 11:30am - 5:00am
http://www.monsoon-cafe.jp/en/casual/home/welcome

Also located in Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka, Daikanyama, Ebisu, Ginza, Jiyugaoka, Minami Aoyama, Nishi Azabu, Odaiba and Shibuya. See the website for more details.

Best Dish - Vermicelli Salad
Cost - Dishes go up to 1,380 yen each
English Friendly - Yes
Atmosphere - Tacky interior but the outside deck is lovely if the weather is nice.
Food - Average
Service - Average
Wine list - A good selection of Champagne and cocktails but only house wine.
Private Functions - Yes
Non smoking areas - Yes
Vegetarian Options - Yes
Family Friendly - Yes

Tobikin - Toranomon & Ginza

Tobikin - Toranomon & Ginza - Grilled Fish
January 2008
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B1 40 MT Building

5-13-1 Toranomon

Minato-ku Tokyo

Tel. 03-5777-5377

Open Weekdays Lunch 11:00 - 15:00 Dinner 17:00 - 22:30

Open Saturdays Lunch 11:30 - 15:00

Closed Sundays and Holidays

B1 22 Chuo Building 2-11-8 Ginza
Chuo-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-3544-5887
Open Weekdays Lunch 11:00 - 14:30 Dinner 17:00 - 23:00
Open Saturdays Lunch 11:30 - 15:00 Dinner 17:00 - 22:00
Closed Sundays and Holidays

Best Dish - Buri
Cost - 1,000 yen each dish
English Friendly - Yes, English menu available
Atmosphere - Casual
Food - A standard set comes with fish, rice, miso soup and pickles
Service - Average
Wine list - None
Private Functions - No
Non smoking areas - Yes
Vegetarian Options - No
Family Friendly - Only for Older kids

Kirakutei Yakiniku - Minami Azabu

Kirakutei Yakiniku - Minami Azabu
January 2008
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B1 Minami Azabu Building
4-11-26 Minami Azabu
Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-3442-0729

Bookings Recommended.

Best Dish - The salted tongue "shio tan" is the signature here.
Cost - Dishes vary depending on the quality of meat you order. We paid 11,000 yen for 2 people including a few beers each and a mix of cheaper and more expensive meats.
English Friendly - Our waiter spoke some English.
Atmosphere - Small intimate and crowded.
Food - Consistently good.
Service - Average
Wine list - None
Private Functions - A couple of private rooms only.
Non smoking areas - Yes
Vegetarian Options - No
Family Friendly - Only for older kids.