About food in Japan

Why not try "Japanese craft beer"? - Craftman Gotanda

Sake(日本酒, nihon-shu) is the most known Japanese alcohol drink in the world obviously. Well, what kind of alcohol drink is taken the most by locals in Japan?

We believe...it's BEER. In Japan we have various choices in alcohol drinks from sake, shochu (distilled sake), beer, wine, cocktail, whiskey etc. But if you check people enjoying at izakaya, you will understand that. Beer is the most popular alcohol in Japan.

Some of you may know a few Japanese beer brands such as Kirin, Asahi, Ebisu, which can be found at Japanese restaurants around the world. Not only such major beer brands, craft beer (beer by microbrewery) has become popular more and more in Japan. Now we can find several bars and restaurants specialized in craft beer in Tokyo.

Today we introduce the newest craft beer bar among them, Craftman in Gotanda.

Although you may not be familiar with the town name, Gotanda (五反田) station is on Yamanote line between Shinagawa and Shibuya. Craftman is five minutes walk from the station.

The bar is modern and bright with wooden tables and chairs. Tens of beer taps on the wall must make beer-lover exciting.

 

On the beer menu, we can find around 30 kinds of Japanse craft beer across Japan. They are categorized by types such as pilsner, ale etc and referred with brewery location. For those who would like to try some different beers by small portion, the bar offers tasting set which includes own-selected 3 kinds of beer by small glass.

The reason we recommend Craftman is its food menu. In addition to the wide selections of Japanese craft beer, the bar offers unique, interesting and nice food. Actually the bar calls itself as "craft beer bistro." So it can't leave the quality and selection of food. Of course those food plates are well matched with beer and they have some Japanese taste rather than perfect Western style dishes which we often find at beer bars and restaurants.

 

For example, what we had there are...

Motsu-nikomi (cooked variety meat)

One of the popular izakaya menu is

arranged and cooked with craft beer here.

Then served with a few pieces of "baguette."

 

Wrapped pizza with yuzu (Japanese local citrus) and cheese

We could never imagine the good combination of yuzu and cheese!

 

The spicy fried chicken (karaage から揚げ)　is also one of their specialty.

 

It will be nice to explore various Japanese beer while staying in Japan, if you love beer.

 

Restaurant name: Craftman

Address: 1st floor, 2-18-3 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

Website (Japanese version): http://craftsman-craftbeerbistro.jp

Enjoy premium alcohol drink at net price - Genka Bar GINZA

3 years ago we introduced the first unit of “Genka Bar” in Gotanda.

Charging system of the bar is unique. You can purchase your drink & food at “NET price”, ONCE you have paid “entrance fee.”

Genka Bar Ginza is located in the middle of Corridor street, popuar dining area among locals. We can find a plenty of nice restaurants and bars along a street between JR Yurakucho and Shimbashi stations on west end of Ginza.

Compared with other Genka Bar units, in Gotanda and Akasaka, the Ginza unit offers upscale service, quality and atmosphere in place of  higher entrance fee Yen 2500 per person.

Food and drink menu are also upscale at Genka Bar Ginza but all are net price as same with other units.

For example, you will find some premium selections of Japanese and Scotch whisky at net prices...

Highland Ardmore Yen 140

Spyeside Glen Fiddich 12years Yen 140

Spyeside Macallan 18years Yen 720

Spyeside Macallan 25years Yen 4100

 

Japanese Taketsuru 21years Yen 410

Japanese Yoichi 20years Yen 810

 

Even though you do not have an idea of net prices of those alcohol drinks, if you know the average prices at ordinary bars, you will find the prices at Genka Bar are incredible as long as you forget the amount of entrance fee.

Food is selected depending on the season and to be well matched with the premium alcohol drinks, such as cheese imported from France, skewered vegetable etc. Many of them costs less than Yen500.

 

While we enjoy relaxing time at the unique charging system bar, it is nothing change with other peaceful cozy bars. When we find the prices of the menu, we realize that it is an unusual place in term of food and drink prices!! It is very kind to those who love alcohol. Just be careful not to drink TOO MUCH!!

 

Genka Bar Ginza is located on the 2^nd floor of the building.

Please find the red sign of “原価BAR” to find the entrance door.

 

Bar name: Genka Bar Ginza (原価BAR　GINZA)

Address: 2^nd floor, 26^th Paul Star building 7-2-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Official website (Japanese): http://www.genkabar.jp

Menu for the Ginza unit :http://www.genkabar.jp/ginza_menu.html

 

Two fancy bakery cafes in Shinagawa(品川)

At the last of “cafe” series, today we introduce two fancy bakery cafes both in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Both are not strongly associated with Japanese food culture but they will be comfortable space to take a break or lunch before or after taking Shinkansen, Narita Express or other long distance journey from, Shinagawa, one of the largest terminal in Tokyo.

Some of you may or will stay in Shinagawa, as several large international standard hotels are in the town. Many high office buildings are also around the station and many people coming out of Tokyo, even Japanese, get a surprise with the number of people moving around the train station.

Shinagawa is totally a town for business and it doesn’t have enjoyable shopping zone unfortunately apart from “ecute” shopping zone within the station gate. At least we could find some nice café including two as below.

 

*The City Bakery

Some of you know, the cafe brand name comes from New York and The City Bakery Shinagawa unit is the second one in Japan. It is situated in Atre, a shopping complex adjacent to JR Shinagawa station. Being on the same floor from JR train ticket gate, it is easily accessible within five minutes from the station exit.

If you proceed to Konan Exit from the station gate, you will find The City Bakery on your left side. On the opposite side, you will also find Dean & Deluca, another nice food spot in Shinagawa.

The City Bakery offers 3 types of service, bakery for take-away, café and full-service restaurant depending on your situation. We recommend the café where we can take pastry available at the bakery.

One day I took “pretzel croissant” one of the most popular menu at the bakery

as well as apple crumble.

From the counter table, we can do enjoy ”watching people” bustling and going to/from the train station. The scene is a kind of real life in Tokyo, while you are in a café from New York.

 

The City Bakery opens from 8am in the morning. So it must be a good place for breakfast as well, as long as you do not have to depart early morning.

 

Café name: The City Bakery

Address: 2^nd floor Atre Shinagawa, 2-18-1 Konan, Mintato-ku, Tokyo

Website (partly in English): http://www.thecitybakery.jp

 

 

 

*Caslon

Caslon has its flagship shop in Sendai, the capital of Tohoku region. It has two units in Tokyo. For the first time, I happened to get a chance to have some bread bought at Caslon Bakery Tachikawa in west part of Tokyo. The good taste of bread by Caslon was rather impressive even for me who tried many bakeries in Tokyo. So I was quite happy, when I found another unit (out of only two) of Caslon in Shinagawa, which is not far from my base.

Caslon ecute Shinagawa is situated within the controlled area, inside JR Shinagawa station. It may be a bit surprising for some of you to find not a tiny shopping zone inside a train station. Ecute Shinagawa has several bakery shops actually inside the station, targeting tens of business people working in or transferring at Shinagawa. I had missed Caslon among such bakery shops with a big name such as Paul from France.

Caslon is on the upper floor of ecute shopping zone. Unless we go around the upper floor, it might be difficult to find it.

Once we reach to the café, we are able to forget where we are, inside one of the largest station in Tokyo.

Recommendable menu is definitely “sandwich” because of the finest bread. It offers many variation such as BLT. Chicken, vegetable etc.

It looks normal? But the crispy and rich taste of bread is distinctive.

 

Café name: Caslon

Address: 2^nd floor, ecute Shinagawa, 3-26-27 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Website (in Japanese): http://caslon.co.jp/

Café with panda items in Ueno(上野)

Some of you may visit Ueno Park in Japan. In the large Ueno Park, some major tourist attractions, such as Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science and Ueno Zoological Garden, are located.

 

Ueno Park will be a good spot to spend a half day by visiting one or two museums you are interested in. You will also be able to enjoy the nature showing different scenes by season, while moving around museums etc in the park.

Current season, on the beginning of December, we can find yellow leafs everywhere in the park.

 

 

 

 

Well, today we will introduce two recommendable cafes in Ueno around the train station.

 

Café name: Ueno Green Salon

The café is situated just at the entrance of Ueno Park near National Museum of Western Art. The casual canteen like café offers some cute “PANDA menu”, celebrating the most popular animal in Ueno Zoo in the park.

 

 

 

I wish I could try this “Panda Curry”

but my stomach did not allow that.

 

Alternative recommendation, café latte,

if you are not enough hungry to try the cute main dishes

like curry, Omuretsu(omelet & rice).

 

 

It has a plenty of,100, seats and it will be easier to find a table out of peak time, lunch time during weekend. It also has some tables on outside terrace which will be a nice option when the weather is in good condition.

 

 

Address: 7-47 Ueno Park, Taito-ku Tokyo

 

 

 

Café name: Nomono Ueno　（のもの）

Nomono café is a part of Nomono shop in the building of JR Ueno train station. It is outside the gate near Central Exit and is accessible without a train ticket.

From outside you can find the grocery store. The café is behind the shop.

 

“Nomono”(のもの) is a food store operated by JR East railway company, offering local specialties and seasonal products in East Japan area.

 

As long as you order one drink or food at the café counter, you can also take food products available from Nomono grocery shop, from sweets, snack etc.

At the small café, lunch set, small salty plates and Japanese sake are provided. Some menu are changed by month and products from different prefectures are introduced.

It will be a good place to try some Japanese local food and sake or to take a short break before or after taking a train from the station.

 What I selected for today is…. A piece of Panda  hand-made rice cracker from Nomono shop and “Azuki” beans tea served by a pot.

 

If you arrive there on evening, sake tasting set (Kikizake set 利き酒セット) will be interesting. It costs Yen 500 for 3 different kinds of alcohol.

 

Address: Grand Concourse JR Ueno station Central Exit, 7-1-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo

 

 

If you look for something associated with Panda, you will find more souvenir products or food at other stores or cafe. Like this!

 

 

Souffle “Doria” by Hoshino Coffee (星乃珈琲)

Not only Starbucks, we can find some Japanese domestic coffee chains in Tokyo. Today we introduce one of them, Hoshino Coffee (星乃珈琲) with its interesting food menu.

 

 

Hoshino Coffee shop has a kind of atmosphere like an independent coffee shop, although they are operated by a major restaurant chain in Japan. The interior and their menu cannot be felt as modern and latest. We could rather regard it as being in the good old days. That makes the coffee shop comfortable space from young girls to an old couple.

 

 

Another feature of Hoshino Coffee is a series of menu, “Souffle”(スフレ). Some of you may know “souffle” is a way of cooking invented in French cuisine. The original one has fluffy texture made by whipped egg white. The fluffy texture is essential element of food called “soufflé.”

Hoshono Coffee offers several menu on its soufflé series from pancake, cheese cake, traditional soufflé cake etc.

 

 

But the most interesting menu is “Souffle Doria.”

 

“Doria” is popular lunch menu in Japan and you may find it at family restaurants in Japan. It is a kind of “rice gratin.” Cooked rice is covered with white sauce and cheese in a thick pot and it is baked in oven. It is considered as “Western food” among Japanese but now we found it born in Japan. As per description on Wikipedia, it was invented by a chef from Switzerland but based in Japan when he served to a banker from Europe.

 

The original doria is also recommendable but, at Hoshono Coffee, in a large cup, rice is covered with soufflé(whipped and baked egg white maybe)!!

 

I was so excited for the great match, when I found the menu,

soufflé doria.

 

The rice under souffle part is flavored with ketchup, so the taste may be a bit similar to omelet with rice, which is also popular menu in Japan. But the texture of soufflé is much better. It is melting in the mouth…

 

That is not traditional Japanese food but it’s worth trying the texture in Japan.

"Souffle doria" is available only at Hoshono Coffee chain shops.

 

 

While many of Hoshino Coffee units are situated in residential area, some are in central locations, such as Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi.

Here are some of them;

 

Shinuku Alta

Address: Shinjuku Studio Alta B1, 3-24-3 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

 

 109 MEN’S (Shibuya)

Address: 2^nd floor, 109 MEN’S, 1-23-10 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

 

 

Roppongi

Address: 1^st floor Trinity bld. 7-14-7 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

 

Ginza 8chome

Address: 2^nd floor Taiyo bld. 8-8-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo