Jin Din Rou - Ebisu - Taiwanese

Jin Din Rou - Ebisu

March 2009

4-3-1 Ebisu
Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Tel. 03-5795-2255
Open Mon-Sat lunch 11.30 - 15.00
Open Sun lunch 11.30 - 15.30
Open Mon-Sat dinner 17.30 - 24.00
Open Sun dinner 17.30 - 23.00
http://jin-din-rou.net/

MAP

Best Dish - Shou Ron Po

Cost - lunch sets are from 1,400 yen including one soup or rice dish, 4 shou ron po, salad and dessert. Al a carte menu is from 550 for starters and from 750 for mains and courses start at 3,000 yen.

English Friendly - Yes

Seats - 36

Food - Fresh shou ron po and subtle flavours.

Service - Good

Wine list - a few only

Functions - no

Private Room - 2

Non smoking areas - yes

Vegetarian Options - yes

Family Friendly - yes

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

Blue Dragon - Motoazabu - Asian Fusion

Blue Dragon - Motoazabu
March 2009

1F Tanaka Building
3-2-20 Motoazabu
Tel. 03-3478-8287
Open 6.30pm - 3.30 am

Best Dish - Chicken Rice Soup
Cost - This place is actually licenced as a bar not a restaurant so they make you order one drink. Including one drink, expect to pay maximum 3,000 yen each.
English Friendly - Yes
Seats - 12 + counter
Atmosphere - No-nonsense, good value.
Food - Most dishes are very good, a few are exceptional. Half the fun is trying them all!
Service - below average
Wine list - In typical Japanese style they have 2 kinds, red and white.
Functions - no
Private Room - no
Non smoking areas - no
Vegetarian Options - yes but I wouldn't guarantee no fish sauce.
Family Friendly - no

Ren Ren Ren - Marunouchi - Chinese

Ren Ren Ren - Marunouchi
December 2008

1F Tokia Tokyo Buiding
2-7-3 Marunouchi
Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan
Tel. 03-5252-7361
Open Mon-Sat 11:00 - 04:00 and Sun 11:00 - 23:00
Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g763385/ (sorry no English)

Best Dish - Peking Duck, whole duck is 7,500 yen.
Cost - Lunch from 1,000 yen. Excluding live catches, duck and drinks, dinner is around 3,500 per person.
English Friendly - Yes, no English menu but a few of the waiters are fluent.
Atmosphere - Salary Men
Food - OK for the area but I prefer Cafe Eight.
Service - Average
Wine list - None
Functions - Yes
Private Room - No
Non smoking areas - Yes
Vegetarian Options - Yes
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