Monsoon Cafe - Thai

Monsoon Cafe - Azabu Juban
January 2008

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

Kirakutei Yakiniku - Minami Azabu

Kirakutei Yakiniku - Minami Azabu
January 2008

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 - The new section upstairs is far more kid friendly but they don't have any high chairs. We byo booster.

Sankoen - Azabu Juban - Yakiniku

Sankoen - Azabu Juban

March 2007

1-8-7 Azabu Juban

Minato-Ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-3585-6306

Open 11:30 - 0:30

Closed Wednesdays

Best Dish - Harami
Cost - Around 3,000 - 4,000 per person
English Friendly - Some waiters speak a little
Food - Good but not consistant
Service - good
Wine list - only a few
Private Functions - Yes
Non smoking areas - No
Vegetarian Options - No
Family Friendly -Yes

Matsukan - Azabu Juban - Sushi

Matsukan - Azabu Juban

February 2007

3-4-12 Azabu Juban

Minato-Ku

Ph. 03-3455-4923

Open: Monday - Friday 12:00 - 14:00 and 17:00 - 22:30
Saturday 12:00 - 15:00 and 17:00 - 22:30
Sunday 12:00 - 15:00 and 17:00 - 21:00

This is my favourite sushi restaurant. It is small and often hard to get in so try going for lunch. The menu changes with the seasons depending on what is fresh but try asking for the specials because they can always make something else. One thing that is available all year round is the daikon (Japanese radish) and tako (octopus). This dish is delicately simple and a must when you visit. Also try the kani (crab), the meat has been removed from the shell for you and the dipping sauce is one of the best I have ever tasted. All the sushi here is fantastic and it is hard to separate the very good from the excellent.

Best Dish - Daikon
Cost - Depends on what you order (no prices available) but usually in excess of 9,000 yen each.
English Friendly - No, although one of the sushi chefs speaks a little.
Seats - 24
Atmosphere - Super fresh sushi full of locals.
Food - It is rare to find better than this.
Service - Perfect.
Wine list - Only Sake.

Private Functions - No

Tora Kuma Mogura - Azabu Juban - Japanese Seafood

Torakumamogura
January 2007

B1F Rapo Building
2-12-7 Azabu Juban
Ph 03-5441-2511
www.kumamogura.jp/torakuma/

Weekdays open from 6pm - 2.30am
Saturdays 6pm - 11pm
Closed Sundays

This restaurant has the best Beef Tataki I have ever eaten in my life. In fact, every dish I have eaten here has been fantastic. Also try the eggplant salad and a fish either grilled or in a delicious sweet sauce (pictured above). Both are fantastic. The people next to us were eating a seafood nabe which also looked good. Everything in the restaurant was above expectations except when the bill came. This restaurant is very expensive. We ate 5 very small meals + 2 beers and it came to more than 20,000 yen.

Best Dish - Beef Tataki
Cost - 20,000 yen for 5 small dishes and 2 beers. We walked out still hungry.
English Friendly - No
Seats - 16 at the tables + about the same at the counter
Atmosphere - A little business with lots of beer drinking thrown in.
Food - Average
Service - I'll give them another go
Wine list - Sake, the one they recommended was average.
Non smoking areas - No

Vegetarian Options - Some salads but that is all.