Local food – FunFinder, Tokyo & East Tokyo local places

Tsukasa Coffee Shop, Old fashioned cafe in Akihabara

2017年12月20日2017年12月20日Posted in akihabara, Local foodTagged akihabara, Cafe, Curry, Old-fashonedLeave a comment

Today, you find all the coffee places in Akihabara starts with STARBUCKS, TULLY’s Coffee, DOUTOUR and then cafe VELOCE. You know, I am talking about coffe chains. Before all those emerge in Tokyo, there have been many local cafe that serve excellent coffee and food with reasonable price.

In Akihabara, it is now hard to find those local cafe, but this TSUKASA coffee shop is the one I should recommend. Most of the customers are local salary men and women and owner’s friends (I had a chance to see one lady customers brought some souvenirs to an owner and I really thought she was one of regular customers for years!).

TSUKASA’s coffee is wonderful and, they serves nice food. This day, I had curry rice which is also old-fashioned but really it is better than COCO-ICHI (curry rice chains in Japan and may be world-wide).

If you want to experience Akihabara’s old fashioned coffee place, go to TSUKASA!

COFFE SHOP TSUKASA

Address: 3-9-12, Iwamoto-cho, Chiyodaku, Tokyo

MAP

Sugino Akari 杉のあかり, The Best Japanese Lunch at AKihabara (no toursit know this though….)

2017年11月2日2017年10月30日Posted in akihabara, Local foodTagged akihabara, Fish, TeishokuLeave a comment

Where I always go for luch is difinately this place “SUGINO AKARI” near IZUMI bridge. (just 3-4min walk from Akihabara station). I have introduced this place before but I would like to do it again!

They have 5-6 lunch menu (all are TEISHOKU that comes with rice and miso soup, that is Japanese traditional set-meal style).

Well this time….my friend ordered “Yakizakana Teishoku” (grilled fish set-meal) and she had two options “snapper” or “salmon”. Of course he picked “snapper” because it is more expensive fish. (same price, why not choose the one has more cost?!)

We were super excited to see this!!

thumbnail_DSC_1368[1] — Snapper!! set-meal at Suzino Akari @Akihabara

Super Local TEMPURA @Kitasenju (Old Tokyo) “IMOYA”

2017年8月15日Posted in Kitasenju, Local foodTagged tempura2 Comments

“KITASENJU” is kind of popular area in eastern Tokyo like most of Tokyo people know or heard about this area and may be been there, but I see almost no tourists around. But there are lots to see for those who want to see the “real life” in old Tokyo.

Among many local food places, this TEMPRA place called “IMOYA” is special, sacred place for us (who grew up in KITASENJU)!

IMOYA いもや　is super local TEMPURA place but they serve best TEMPURA in Tokyo!!!! (sorry I re-phrase it, BEST in KITASENJU!!) I am sure there are many other TEMPURA places that serves lots more expensive ones that are in guidebooks but IMOYA is truly special.

Personally, Best TEMPURA I have ever tasted other than my grandma’s!!!!

<<IMOYA>> IMOYA MAP

Make sure you get “HEISEI TENDON　平成天丼” that tells you all!!

Add: 東京都足立区千住3-31, (3-31, Adachiku, Senju, Tokyo)

Open: Mon&Tues, Fri~Sun

Lunch:11:30～14:30, Dinner:17:00～20:30

Close: Wed & Thurs

Akihabara’s most popular RAMEN place AOSHIMA RAMEN 青島ラーメン

2017年6月8日2017年6月8日Posted in akihabara, Local food, RamenTagged akihabara, NoodleLeave a comment

I had worked at Akihabara for 7 years and I know lots about local food place in Akihabara. And, yes, I have been to many RAMEN places but this one always has the longest waiting hours in Akiba as RAMEN place.

OMG, I arrived here at 12:00 and about 30 people were waiting including the ones inside.

Notice, 99% of the customer is male…. I guess those are the Ramen enthusiasts…!! Though it seemed too many people, the rotation rate is high because most of the customer concentrated to “eating” and “tasting” this most popular ramen in Akihabara. Also, they don’t allowed to any groups and couple to sit next to each other when busy time. So…, I could not to enjoy girls talk with my friend…we were not allowed to sit next to each other….ohhhhh…

Signage “AOSHIMA RAMEN”

Menu, You should order “CHASYU-MEN” it is the best according everybody in internet…haha

We waited about 40 min…..

Inside looks like this, totally for “RAMEN” only….no chit chat is allowed!

Among male Ramen enthuisiasts, we looked like we came from the different planet…hahaha.. No body was chit-chatting…..

Here comes the RAMEN!!!!

Yes It was delicious!!!! It is in my Ramen list but for me, another shop “TSUMUGI” that I already introduced as Local Food Akihabara #3 (Ramen Tsumugi) stays No 1 and this comes No 2!! You should definately visit both “AOSHIMA” and “TSUMUGI”.

Forgot to mention where

Address: 3-2-1, Kanda-sakumacho, Chiyodaku, Tokyo MAP

〒101-0025 東京都千代田区神田佐久間町3-20-1 大杉ビル1F

Direction from Akihabara Station: Go to SYOWA DORI exit. You see Yodobashi Camera on your left and a big cross walk just in front of you. Pass that cross walk. Then, you see the RAMEN shop straight to your face. and just take the small road next to it (don’t go left side, go to right side of the RAMEN shop). This goes straight ahead below the train (train goes your above) and you see Seven Eleven on your left and Karaoke shop on your right. Keep walking this road about 200m or so, you see a small park. There, you turn right. And you’ll see the “AOSHIMA RAMEN” at 1 second!

SAKANAYA, Best of best Kaisen-don in Kitasenju, Local town in East Tokyo

2017年5月31日2017年5月31日Posted in Geography, Kitasenju, Local food, Sushi and Sashimi, 未分類Tagged Kitasenju, Sushi4 Comments

If you love Japanese food, especially SASHIMI and KAISENDON, you must visit this place in Kitasenju. Kitasenju is located in East Tokyo where has (almost) no tourist from overseas but it is very interesting small city that you can enjoy sightseeing and food places.

I mean look this SHOUTENGAI (shopping street). Although Kitasenju station got 2 major shopping malls called LUMINE and MARUI, the shopping streets are still vivid.

Our one destination on this day was here SAKANAYA (さかなや）

They serve delicious sea food and they are very famous for its KAISENDON (sea food bowl). OMG…..it was too too too yummy. That was the best KAISEDON I have ever had in my entire life!!! SAKANAYA is truly famous, we had to wait about 40 min or so. To kill time, we went to the city library near by. I took the photo from there with sky tree and it captured most of the city. I love this city where I grew up.

This is outsiede of SAKANAYA, you can see many people are waiting. Look at the cute NOREN (like a traditional common curtain to enter the food place) with fish picture.

At the last here is the KAISENDON, it is gorgeous and they serves only 20 sets a day, price is only 1,500yen!! You should go before 12:00 (they open at 11:30) and wait in the line !!!

Adress: 4-11-6, Senju, Adachiku, Tokyo 東京都足立区千住4-11-6

Best Sea food don (kaisen-don) in Akihabara @SANHOREさんほれ

2017年5月16日2017年5月16日Posted in akihabara, Cultural things, Local food, Sushi and SashimiTagged akihabara, SushiLeave a comment

Sea food don: a bowl of rice with sashimi on top.

There are some really good SASHIMI place in Akihabara, I cannot decide the best one. But as far as for the Sea food don, I think this one is the best @ small Japanese food place called SANHORE.

I went to eat there for lunch but sea food don for lunch was already sold out so, we instead I ordered the ones for night menu, this cost more than 3,000yen, and it tasted..OMG it took me to heaven!!! Look those TORO (tuna), it was soooo thick and creamy!!

They do not have English menu, totally for locals and their fans. What they usually serve is FUGU (Blowfish) for winter and UNAGI (Eel) for summer. (Too expensive I will not have a chance…) For lunch, there are reasonable menu like KATSUDON, a bowl of rice topped with slices of deep-fried pork like this at 750yen.

SANHORE MAP PAGE

ADDRESS: 37-1, Kanda, Sakuma-cho, Chiyodaku, 101-0025

Old folk house style Cafe わかば堂 “Wakaba-dou” in Kitasenju 北千住

2017年5月13日Posted in Geography, Kitasenju, Local food, SweetsTagged Fruit and sweetsLeave a comment

In Kitasenju, there is like a “drinking street” where many old Japanese bars are gathered. The atmosphere is really like 30 ~40 years ago and the houses are wooden houses.

Kitasenju 北千住(in Adachi ward in Tokyo) played the role like a gate to Edo (former Tokyo) from northern prefecture attached and was the one of post-towns (total 21 post-towns) on this road called NIKKO KAIDO (Line B) which connects TOKYO and NIKKO. This was established by EDO SHOGUNATE back in EDO period. Other than NIKKO KAIDO there are 4 other roads, A: Osyu Kaido (Edo to Fukushima), C:Kosyu Kaido(Edo to Nagano), D: Nakasendo(Edo to Kusatsu), E:Tokaido (Edo to Kyoto). Good example is that nowadays, the bullet trains goes to Kyoto from Edo (vice versa) called Tokaido bullet train.

So, now you know Kitasenju is old city in Tokyo, I would like to introduce one cafe in Kitasenju, it is called WAKABADOU. I like the atmosphere of this cafe. The house is old and I guess it is like from 40~50 years ago. (just my guess sorry!) They serve you just nice food, I mean fairly good food (lots of kind of tea & coffee, cakes, light meals) I mean it is worth to visit for food but more worth to visit for the “old folk house atomosphere”.

wakaba dou HP here: Click here

Address: 1-31-8 Senju Adachi-ku TOKYO 〒120-0034

tel: 03-3870-6766

Best SASHIMI Place in Akihabara, OYAJI

2017年4月24日Posted in Local food, Sushi and SashimiTagged SushiLeave a comment

It is just… you must eat here!!!! This is truly real local food place in Akihabara. They have wonderful wonderful SASHIMI. TORO!!!! I have never seen tourists or any young girls eating here….

OYAJI : 3-7-5, Iwamoto-cho, Chiyoda-ku, TEL03-3866-9906 map

KARASHIBI RAMEN (THE MOST HOT& SPICY RAMEN…)

2017年3月20日Posted in Local food, Places, RamenTagged hot & spicyLeave a comment

This is something about KANDA (next to Akihabara station) area. 　If you are to enjoy Tokyo local food especially spicy one

KARASHIBI TSUKEMEN around 12:00

KARASHIBI RAMEN around 12:00

, you must go to KARASHIBI RAMEN.　There are KARASHIBI RAMEN anad KARASHIBI TSUKEMEN, 2 shops next to each other. Both are famous and there are lots of people waiting.

We went to KARASHIBI TSUKEMEN this time to eat PAKUCHI MAZEMEN (Coreander ramen without soup). You can choose the level of hottness with 2 kids of indications. “KARA” (hot) and “SHIBI” (pins & needles…). I guess the hotness comes regular red peppers and this pins & needles comes from Japanese (or Chinese) mountain pepper?? So the taste is really addictively good but addictively hot!!!

KARASHIBI TSUKEMEN MAP Address: Chiyoda-ku, Kajichou, 2-10-10. (2min from Kanda Station) Kanda Station is next to Akihabara station by JR Yamanote or Keihintohoku line.

Akihabara Chinese food place 胡椒饅頭

2017年3月15日2017年3月15日Posted in Chinese food, Local food, RamenTagged hot & spicy, NoodleLeave a comment

Today was horribly cold though it is March!! Me and my friend went to eat good chinese noodle in Akihabara, that is 胡椒饅頭 Kosyo manju. No tourist have ever eaten there I think, this place is full of local people. Enjoy Yummy Chinese Ramen..

KOSYO MANJU is here: 3-1-5, Chiyodaku Iwamoto-cho https://goo.gl/maps/9TyuhdzN3oR2