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

Jyujyu - Nishi Azabu - Yakiniku

Jyujyu - Nishi Azabu
November 2007

Nishi Azabu Crossing

1F 3-24-20 Nishi Azabu

Tokyo Minato-ku
Tel. 03-3405-9911

Open 17:00-05-00

http://www.take-5.co.jp/company/restaurants08.html

One of the better yakiniku restaurants in town.

Best Dish - Famous for the Shio (salt) seasoning
Cost - 10,000 - 13,000 for 2 people
English Friendly - yes
Food - The wakame (seaweed) salad is very good, and large. The cuts of beef are juicy and tender.
Service - good.
Wine list - None
Private Functions - No
Non smoking areas - No
Vegetarian Options - No
Family Friendly -They have one high chair but it has no straps and our kids like to climb out so we byo booster.

David's Deli - Mita - Israeli

David's Deli - Mita
June 2007

5-13-13 Mita
Minato-ku
Tel. 03-5441-1211
www.davidsdeli.co.jp

Best Dish - Shredded Meat in Hummus
Cost - About 6,000 yen for 2 people
English Friendly - Yes
Atmosphere - Take-out
Food - Middle Eastern
Service - good
Wine list - Must try the Yarden. I love it.
Private Functions - No
Non smoking areas - Yes
Vegetarian Options - Yes
Family Friendly -Yes

Lacherir - Shirokane - French

Lacherir - Shirokane
March 2007

3-14-10 Shirokane
Minato-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5789-4450
Open for lunch 12:00 - 13:30
Open for dinner 18:00 - 20:30
Closed Wednesdays

No review available yet.

Rasoi - Meguro - Indian

Rasoi - Meguro
February 2007
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1-3-28-202 Shimo Meguro
Meguro-ku
Tel. 03-5487-5602

If you are looking for a really spicy Indian curry, this is the place to come. Although the Chili Mutton was a little too spicy for us and not much flavour in the curry. This place also does take-out and delivery (within 2km).

Best Dish - Chicken Tikka
Cost - Curries from 1,235 - 1,550 yen. Courses are around 3,000 yen per person.
English Friendly - Yes, English speaking waiters and an English menu.
Seats - 32
Atmosphere - Indian style interior and traditionally dressed waiters.
Food - Very spicy.
Service - Good.
Wine list - Beers, cocktails and a few wines.
Private Functions - No
Non smoking areas - No
Vegetarian Options - 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

Daigo - Shirokane - Tonkatsu

Daigo - Tonkatsu
January 2007

1-25-21 Shirokane
Minato-Ku
Ph (03) 3444-2941
Open for lunch 11:30 - 14:00
Open for dinner 17:30 - 21:00
Closed on Mondays and 3rd Tuesday of each month

This is one of my favourite Tonkatsu restaurants. It also has a great lunch special for 800 yen but get in early because it gets busy.

Best Dish - Sirloin Tonkatsu (I prefer a little less fat)
Cost - Lunch special 800 yen, normal menu around 2,000 for a set.
English Friendly - No English menu but one waiter speaks a little.
Seats - 20 table seats and 5 at the bar.
Atmosphere - Business at lunch and family at dinner.
Food – Oishii
Service - Always good.
Wine list - None, beer is good.
Non smoking areas - No, this restaurant can get very smokey.

Girona - Spanish - Gotanda

Girona - Spanish
January 2007

8-2-12 Gotanda
Shinagawa-ku
Ph (03) 3495-0762

I love Spanish food and this is the only place I have been to (so far) in Tokyo that has traditional Spanish Tapas. The restaurant is small and provides both table and bar seating. I love sitting at the bar because it is covered with Spanish olive oils and nick nacks. You can also see straight into the kitchen. We always order the Gambas Ajillo (pronounced Ahillo) which is prawns cooked in olive oil, garlic and chili. The Wagyu Harami, although not Spanish, is perfectly tender and a delight to the taste buds. Expect it to come out very rare. Almost everything we eat here is excellent except the bacon steak was a disappointment and the Paella is average.

Best Dish - Gambas Ajillo.
Cost - 8,000 yen for 2 including 2 glasses of wine.
English Friendly - No.
Seats - 18 table seats and 8 at the bar.
Atmosphere - Traditional Spain.
Food - Immaculate.
Service - Always good.
Wine list - A good variety of Spanish wines all priced well, 2 reds and 2 whites by the glass.
Non smoking areas - No.

Bangkok - Thai - Roppongi

Bangkok - Thai
October 2006

3-8-8 2F Woo Building
Roppongi Minato-Ku
Ph (03) 3408-7353

I was missing the fantastic and authentic quality of Thai food back in Sydney so I decided to try this place that had been recommended to me a few days earlier. It is also just near one of my favourite bars called "Old Days" so it is perfect location if you want to enjoy a drink after dinner.
The restaurant only had one or two tables of Japanese diners. The place was full of gaijin. It also had one large table of Thai people which is always a good sign at a Thai restaurant. The meal didn't disappoint either. We ate the waiters recommendations, I would order everything again except the fish cakes, they were a little dry. This place is also very family friendly.

Summed up - Thai home cooking experience in the heart of Tokyo.
Best Dish - Chili beef
Cost - 2 entrees, 2 mains and a few beers 8,000 yen
English Friendly - Yes
Seats - 40
Atmosphere - casual
Food - Impressive
Service - I'll give them another go
Wine list - didn't look