Shabu Gen - Nishi Azabu - Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki

Shabu Gen - Nishi Azabu

March 2009

B1F Hassei Building

3-24-23 Nishi Azabu

Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5474 - 0224

The shabu shabu comes with 3 dipping sauces, lemon, ponzu and sesame. All 3 are made on site and you can taste the exceptional quality. The waiter will recommend different combinations with each dish. They also have sukiyaki but I have never tried it.

Best Dish - The shabu shabu of course! Also try the octopus shabu shabu in the lemon dipping sauce or the pork with kimchi dipped in sesame. Both are fantastic.
Cost - I don't like fatty meat so I always eat the cheapest set at 3,300 per person. This comes with pork, beef, vegetables and either rice or noodles at the end. Extra dishes and sides are more. The more expensive sets have the same amount of food but higher quality (fattier) meat.
English Friendly - Yes. The menu is in English and the manager speaks English.
Seats - 28
Atmosphere - buzzing
Food - fantastic
Service - Excellent
Wine list - Red and white.
Functions - no
Private Room - no
Non smoking areas - no
Vegetarian Options - no
Family Friendly - yes

Kanpu Hanarei - Roppongi - Izakaya

Kanpu Hanarei - Roppongi
June 2008

2F and 3F 4-8-3 Roppongi

Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5772-3279 or 03-3404-3408

Open 6:00pm - 5:00am everyday

Best Dish - Caesar salad or tofu - both are made at your table but Caesar salad is the signature dish, it is made in a 30lb block of Parmesan cheese.
Cost - 6,000 yen each
English Friendly - no
Atmosphere - At the counter the guys are great fun to talk to
Food - a little inconsistent
Service - charming
Wine list - red or white only
Functions - no
Private Room - yes
Non smoking areas - no
Vegetarian Options - yes but not much
Family Friendly - no

Miwa - Hiroo - Teppanyaki

Miwa - Hiroo
June 2007

Hiroo Branch

5-2-3 Minami Azabu
Tel. 03-3558-1858

Nishi Azabu Branch
1-10-6 Azabu Juban

Tel. 03-5410-3838

Osaka Branch

Tel. 06-6532-2468

Best Dish - Yakisoba
Cost - we paid 5,000 each including a few beers
English Friendly - one waiter spoke English, menu is Japanese only
Atmosphere - fashionable
Food - Top quality ingredients
Service - Can be a little slow
Wine list - red and white only
Functions - yes, a large room downstairs at the Hiroo branch

Private Room - No
Non smoking areas - yes
Vegetarian Options - yes
Family Friendly - older kids only

Syun - Hiroo - Organic Fusion

Syun - Hiroo
January 2008

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

Tobikin - Toranomon & Ginza

Tobikin - Toranomon & Ginza - Grilled Fish
January 2008

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

Fukuzushi - Roppongi - Sushi

Fukuzushi - Roppongi

August 2007

5-7-8 Roppongi

Minato-Ku Tokyo

Tel. 03-3402-4116

Gaijin style sushi. The menu was boring, the meal was over priced, the only thing they could recommend was the toro (fatty tuna) and the soft shell crab was burnt.

Best Dish - Bonito Sashimi
Cost - Just over 30,000 yen for 2
English Friendly - Yes
Atmosphere - Traditional Japanese but filled with gaijin
Food - fair
Service - good
Wine list - one white one red
Vegetarian Options - one salad
Family Friendly - no

Ichioku - Roppongi - Izakaya

Ichioku - Roppongi
April 2007

4-4-5 Roppongi
Tel. 03-3405-9891
http://www.pinpoint.ne.jp/


It is rare to find a casual and cheap restaurant this good. The food was delicious, don't expect Michelin star quality but do expect value for money. It has been open for more than 35 years, the reviews that cover the walls and tables are all good and whenever I mention this place to locals, they have nothing but great things to say about it. One down side, the restaurant is small, crowded and full of smoke.

To order food, the customers write it down on a pad of paper from the picture menu that is stuck to the top of the table. The tofu steak is a must, also try the steak that comes thinly sliced, in the shape of a flower on a hot plate.

Best Dish - Tofu Steak
Cost - We paid 5,000 yen each including lots of beer.
English Friendly - No, but if you can write a little Japanese you will be fine.
Seats - 24
Atmosphere - Smokey
Food - The best casual, modern Japanese restaurant that I have been to.
Service - average
Wine list - none
Private Functions - no
Non smoking areas - no
Vegetarian Options - yes
Family Friendly - no
Map - Click on the title for a map

Inakaya - Roppongi - Japanese

Inakaya - Roppongi
March 2007

5-3-4 Roppongi

Minato-Ku Tokyo

Tel. 03-3408-5040
www.roppongiinakaya.jp

Open 17:00 - 23:00 daily

Best Dish - Grilled crab or prawns.
Cost - Around 30,000 yen for 2.
English Friendly - The waiters speak a little.
Atmosphere - Everyone sits around in a square while the food is passed to you on long paddles. A good place for tourists.
Food - Average
Service - Good
Wine list - None
Private Functions - No
Non smoking areas - No
Vegetarian Options - Yes
Family Friendly -Yes, for older children.

Konomu - Shirokane - Japanese

Konomu - Shirokane
March 2007

2-1-5 Shirokane
Minato-Ku Tokyo 108-0072
Tel. 03-6408-0744
Open every day 12:00 - 15:00 and 17:00 - 23:00
www.konomu.com

Best Dish - The garlic spare ribs.
Cost - around 6,000 yen for 2
English Friendly - One waiter speaks English and they have an English menu with limited options.
Seats - 20 + counter seats + a private room.
Atmosphere - I love the bamboo entrance and the young staff give it a youthful vibe.
Food - Consistently good.
Service - Good
Wine list - Only a few
Private Functions - One private room
Non smoking areas - No but the tables are spacious
Vegetarian Options - Yes but mostly salads
Family Friendly -Yes, at the floor tables (i.e. no prams)