About food in Japan

焼鳥 (yakitori, chicken sate) - 鶏繁 (Torishige)

Only a month from my last visit of another yakitori restaurant, AKira, I had a chance to enjoy yakitori at a typical restaurant specialized in the menu. 鶏繁 Torishige is located in Shimbashi, the town known for "holy land" of サラリーマン (salarymen, Japanese businessmen). Yes, Yakitori restaurant is one of the most favorite dining experience for that sort of people. After a full day of hard working, they gather, have grilled chicken with beer and chat with their colleagues or friends for stress release. The price is modest so they can often have the opportunities.

Torishige is one of well-known restaurants in the area. We knocked the door of the restaurant just around its opening time 17:00. We know otherwise we could not get a table. It was Friday evening on December, party season. Around 19:00, all seats were occupied and these seats did not become empty until late 21:00 or later. The interior, seating style are very typical Izakaya restaurants.

Here we can try different parts of chicken. The yakitori chicken are made char-grilled by master chef. They have to be eaten as soon as arrived on the table. The best way to enjoy fresh and hot skewers there.

 

 

What we cannot miss here is a bowl at the end of the dinner.

Minced chicken seasoned with soy sauce filled a bowl on top of rice.

We can have same menu at mum's home or at some restaurant. But here the taste is unforgettably great!!

 

Restaurant name: Torishige Sohonten (flagship)

Address: 2-9-17 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.torishige.com

Related story -鶏（とり、chicken) - 焼鶏　あきら　(grilled chicken Akira)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2009/11/%E9%B6%8F%E3%81%A8%E3%82%8Achicken-%E7%84%BC%E9%B6%8F-%E3%81%82%E3%81%8D%E3%82%89-grilled-chicken-akira.html

Rusk "Gouter de Roi" - Gateau Festa Harada

We always see a long queue seeking for very famous rusk "Gouter de Roi" at the stand of "Gateau Festa Harada" in Matsuya Ginza department. Finally I could get the pack.

It is made from French baguette by a confectionery in Gumma prefecture. In Tokyo, it is available only at a few department stores. The crunchy sugar-coated pieces of breads attract a lot of people across Japan, although it is quite simple snack and is nothing new. One of the most popular gift. It is so popular that the shop are not able to respond to coming orders during Christmas season.

Related story: GOUTER de ROI White chocolate - GATEAU FESTA HARADA

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/10/gouter-de-roi-white-chocolate-gateau-festa-harada.html

Shop name: Gateau Festa Harada

Address: B1 floor Matsuya Ginza Department store　3-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.gateaufesta-harada.co

 

Gonpachi (権八) - the most famous Izakaya in Japan

Finally I had a chance to visit Gonpachi. The three-floor Izakaya building looks like "kura"(蔵, traditional style storehouse with a few small windows) and is located on the corner of Nishi-Azabu crossing.

The restaurant is well-known for the casual dinner meeting arranged by Mr. Junichiro Koizumi, the prime minister of Japan at that time for the president of United States, Mr. George Bush.

 When I visited, the lower two floors were already occupied by dinners even it was not a weekend evening. We took a table on the third floor, where it serves also Sushi menu and where we found calm and cozy place. Japanese traditional works, paper slide doors, wood curving decoration, bonsai trees on the courtyard garden...the modern building is thought-fully designed and converted to a traditional style house.

The restaurants offer typical Izakaya menu such as "edamame"(枝豆, boild soybeans), Yakitori (焼き鳥, grilled chicken) and variety of Japanese dishes made with fresh ingredients. It also provides wide choices of Japanese sake, shochu with English words.

The last surprise was the amount of money we paid at the end. It was not expensive at all and nothing different from any other casual Izakaya everywhere. Considering the location, services provided by trained staff and quality of food, it has good value.

Related story -Izakaya Top10 by British newspaper

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/03/izakaya-top10-b.html

Restaurant name: Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu

Address: 1-13-11 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.gonpachi.jp