About food in Japan

Why not try gourmet burgers in Tokyo? Part2 - J.S. Burgers Cafe

 

Following our first post this month about gourmet burger in Ningyocho, if you do not have a chance to visit Ningyocho, the small old town..., our second feature of burgers in Tokyo, they are located in places which are more familier for international tourists.

J.S.Burgers cafe is produced by a Japanese casual apparel brand group, Journal Standard. The brand store express the brand's world through the cafe attached to its boutiques in Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro, providing high quality American style hamburgers and other snacks.

 

J.S. Burger cafe's unit in Shinjuku is on the 3rd floor and  

has a terrace facing to Shinjuku station.

The peaceful sunny floor is a good place to take a rest,

escaping from Shinjuku's jumble and bustling.  

 

 

Avocado burger: the handmade style beef pate is

enough big to be called "American style".

 

Lunch set includes several kinds of salad as much as you like.

Keep a healthy balance even with hamburger and fried potatos 

 

 

Related blog post:

Why not try gourmet burgers in Tokyo? - Brozers', Ningyocho (人形町) 

 http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2012/08/why-not-try-gourmet-burgers-in-tokyo.html

 

 

Restaurant name: J.S. Burgers Cafe

Official site: http://journal-cafe.jp/

<Shinjuku branch>

Address: 3rd floor, 4-1-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo    

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<Harajuku branch>

Address: 6-2-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

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<Shibuya branch> *Moved and re-opened from 4th September 2012

Address: 1st floor, Parco Part I, 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Shibuya, Tokyo

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<Ikebukuro branch>

Address: Lumine 8th floor, 1-11-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

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Why not try gourmet burgers in Tokyo? - Brozers', Ningyocho (人形町)

Obviously "hamburger" is speciality of U.S.A. Many people have it when they travel in the states. How about in Japan? We surely recommend, if you have a chance, that you try a "gourmet burger" in Tokyo. 

For this several years, new hamburger shops have caught Japanese locals' attention, as they provide the highest standard of burgers. As you know, hamburger consists of many different ingredients such as bus (bread), minched beef, special sauce, cheese and filing food other than beef pate. We believe that the process to make a good burger requires knowledge, experiences and skills to find high quality ingredients, to consider the best combination of all of them, and to cook original sauce instead of tomato ketchap etc with a lot of work.

Now you could imagine why tasty gourmet burgers exist in Tokyo. Some Japanese chef with patience have sought for how to cook the best burgers and "gourmet burgers" are the result of that.

Brozers’,  we feature on today's post is one of the restaurants which attract locals by their burger menu in Ningyocho (人形町). It is not rare that we find a long queue in front of the burger restaurant.

As its brocher explains, something like what we told is there...

Brozers' burger is created by integration of "American freedom and optimism" plus "Japanese craftmanship and inquiring mind."

The restaurant makes its full and best effort to select the best ingredient and conditions for the most delicious burger. The chef found the best way to fold pieces of lettuce, for example. 

 

 

Surely you must be curiouse what kind of burgers are provided.

Now let's see...

 

Brozers' speciality, LOT burger

including bacon, cheese, pinapple and either of 4 kinds of sauce as guet's choice

The original recipi comes from Australia, where the chef had trained, and is tuned in the restaurant's original style.

 

The restaurant also offers plenty of choices and combinations;

cheese, avocado, egg, bacon, chilibeans, pineapple for filling,

tar tat, teriyaki, hot chili for sauce

chicken for alternative pate, etc.

So anyone can find the most favourite burger for each of them.

"avocado cheese" burger

        Their burgers are enough big to satisfy anyone's appetite.

For Japanese ladies, it might be too big?

No no, the taste makes you finish the plate

 

By the way, you might recognize the spelling of the restaurant's name, Brozers'. It sounds like typo error of "brother". As per the brocher again, the owner purposely changed the spelling from "brother" to "brozer." He express his passion to make his effort through to the last moment by the letter "Z" , which is the last one in arphabetical order. 

 

Best effort to the end...then it can't be ordinary one

 

 

 

Brozers' also offers "take-away" service at the stand near the main restaurant. 

Ningyocho is a cosy old town where you can find small boutiques selling Japanese traditional products. It will be good to have lunch at Brozers' before or after strolling in Ningyocho town, not far from Nihombashi, central district of Tokyo.

Restaurant name: Brozers'

Address: 2-28-5 Nihombashi Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Official site: http://brozers.co.jp

 

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Cafe in flowers and green by Nicolai Bergmann, Aoyama (青山), Tokyo

The weather in Tokyo is harsh and very hot as if it was going to make everyhthing melted.

In this severe climate condition, to chill out and be indulged in a nice cafe is the most happiest moment for Tokyoites.

Nicolai Bergmann's cafe is one of such oasis spots in fancy Aoyama town, central Tokyo. 

 

You may know the name of Nicolai Bergmann, the globally known Danish flower artist.

The cafe is a part of his flagship florist shop of Japan and it looks to be no border between the cafe and flower boutique.  

The large parts of space surrounded by gray concrete walls, floor and ceiling is decorated with green plants.

Green, flower and plants, of course all beautifully presented, will come into your sight, whereever you will be at the cafe by Nicolai Bergmann.

 

 

Sit in and look at the table

 

Oh Where are we

 

Food menu at Nicolai Bergmann is mainly Danish or Northern European with some other Western flavour. Here as well, Nicolai Bergmann offers "green" sald in a big bowl. 

 

Danish style open sandwich and salmon bagel

  

 

 

Coffee in Bodum glass again from Denmark, milk & sugar for it.

These thick glass bottles make us smile, reminding us our school lunch.

  

 

 

The price for lunch around Yen 1000 is too good to take a rest in the green oasis, escaping from melting hot air outside...

Nicolai Bergmann flagship store is a few minutes walk from Omotesando subway station. When the climate is mild, not too hot, it will be a good stoll either from Shibuya or Meiji Shrine and Harajuku station.   

 

 

Cafe name: Nicolai Bergmann Flagship Store (cafe is a part of it)

Address: 5-7-2 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Official website: http://www.nicolaibergmann.jp/

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The best fish & chips in Tokyo, Kamata (蒲田)

Summer Olympic games 2012 has been started in London.

This is the second post to honor the sports event in UK, following the previous post about authentic British pub in Shibuya. 

Another pub, called Upper House is in Kamata, unpretenious residential area near Haneda International Airport. It is less than 5 minutes walk from JR Kamata station and situated on a side of lively narrow street (Yokocho 横丁) along a rail way, where casual small bars and restaurants stand in a row and are filled with locals. 

The reason why we feature this pub for today's post is... Recently by a local radio program, fish & chips (obviously the most known British food) at Upper House is named as "No.1 Fish & Chips" in Tokyo. If you stay in Kamata maybe because of your flight schedule from/to Haneda International Airport, it may be a good idea to drop by Upper House in order to try the best fish & chips or to feel the cosy home-away-home atmosphere for Western tourists. 

 

Well about the fish and chips...

 

This is it The fish is very crispy and

that remained crispy even after 30 minutes from it served

Chips are also crispy, needless to say, and

are well seasoned with salt so as to be matched with beer perfectly 

The original tartar sauce was also so nice to clear the cup out. 

Although the volume is Japanese style, smaller than the original in UK.

The taste, we agree, is the best Fish & Chips in Tokyo.

 

If the volume is not enough to satisfy your appetite, the pub offers additional piece of fish at small amount of cost. Please do not forget that Japan is famous for fish cooking. We guess that the chef selects good quality of fish for the best Fish & Chips.

 

Another recommendable plate at Upper House is "Maguro and Avocado  Iwanori dip" (tuna and avocado with narutal seaweed dip.)

Bayside area of Tokyo, including Kamata, is traditionally the origin of seaweed.

Don't forget to try the popular plate with Japanese local flavour.

It's a cosy and fun place filled with locals and unique "beer bottle chandelier" above your head.

 

Please be careful not to be too much enjoyed to miss your flight from Haneda International Airport

From Bus terminal in front of West Exit of JR Kamata, take left direction to Tokyu line station. Take a narrow street where "Tokyu store" super market and Gindaco (octopus ball stand) are at the corner.  Upper House is on the left side of the street, uderpass of railway.

Restaurant name: Upper House

Address: Tokyu Plaza 1st floor, 7-69-1 Nishi-Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Official site: http://www.upperhouse.jp/

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Real British pub in Shibuya (渋谷)

London Olympic games will be started very soon. So honoring the sports event, this time we introduce a "real" British pub located in a part of nightspot of Shibuya. Here you may find live British football games taken place at the Olympic host (and football's origin ) country rather than the Olympic games in 2012. Anyway there we are able to feel "real British" feeling.

 

British Pub "Aldgate" is located in a multitenant building along the busiest "Shibuya Center-gai" (渋谷センター街). The street starting from the most famouse Shibuya diagonal crossing is always filled with young Japaneses and some foreigners, all who are hopping around boutiques, restaurants, bars or many kinds of entertainment places like karaoke, electric game arcade or comedy theatre.

 

Some people might be embarrassed by the noisy ambience and chaotic situation in the area around Shibuya Center-gai, especially on weekend night. So it's better to check a few of nice places to visit, like Aldgate, our today's feature. Even the Aldgate on the third floor of a small building, it might be difficult to find it without a map, as many bars and restaurants and their signs are found along the noisy long street.   

 

Aldgate offers 20 regular draught beer including ale that are rare to find in Tokyo as well as Japanese craft beer brand "Yona yona real ale". In addition, another several kinds of guest draught beer are available. Finally Aldgate must be one of bars which has the largest number of draught beer selections in Tokyo.

For food, needless to say, British icon item, fish & chips is on the list. We can also find "deeper" Brisith food such as cottage pie, beef in Ale, Welsh rabbit, Jacket potato, chicken and celery pudding and "Marmite". Now you see why it is "real" British pub.

Not only because of the wide selections of draught beer and British food but also through its interior decoration, for example, English letters on blackboard, sign boards and flags, all hang on the wall around the bar, we feel full-of-British atmosphere in Shibuya. 

 

 

 

Restaurant name: The Aldgate

Address: Shin-iwasaki building 3rd floor, 30-4 Udagawa-cho Shibuyaku Tokyo

Official site (of course English version available) : http://www.the-aldgate.com

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Robecks Juice from West Coast America

Hot and humid Summer is arrived in Tokyo. Today's post is about an oasis providing fresh fruits juice. 

If you are based in US, probably you already know about the juice-focused shop born in L.A., Robecks Juice.

The West Coast style juice shop arrived in Tokyo last year and the second unit also opened recently in Harajuku.

Robecks Juice's main products are premium smoothies made with fresh and healthy ingredients, which will be made after it is ordered. It offers more than 10 selections of smoothies with fresh fruits strawberry, banana, orange, pineapple etc. In addition, if you prefer something more watery, fresh juice carrot or orange, hot juice, fruits tea are also available. Yuzu (Japanese citrus) honey tea, Mango & Leomon hot juice etc...they are also attractive options.

These drinks are of course the best suit for breakfast time. So Robeck Juice opens from morning 7h30 a.m and offers food also suitable for breakfast such as muffin, croissant, cinamon roll and sandwiches.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first unit of Robecks Juice in Jiyugaoka residential area of Tokyo has two floors with ample seating space. In some parts, it has a large table with electrical outlets for "nomad-workers." That makes your work-life healthier? The bringht and pop atomosphere reminds us the brand coming from L.A.

   

 

Another thing to be noted about Robecks Juice units based in Japan, they use high quality "Tsujirihei-Honten" (辻利兵衛本店) branded green tea from Kyoto for their green tea related products.   

Your accompanying person would not like to take fruits juice? Don't worry it also provides coffee like an ordinary cafe. 

Cafe name: Robecks Juice

Official site: http://www.robeks.co.jp

<Harajuku branch>

Address: 4-31-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

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<Jiyugaoka branch>

Address: 2-11-13 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

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Viva Espagna! at Spanish bar, El Cerdo in Ginza

As some of you know well, the Spain team won at the UEFA football Euro 2012 final on last Sunday.

Congraturation to Spanish  

Then today we introduce a nice Spanish restaurant or bar in Ginza.

For last several years, we see many Spanish restaurant newly opened in Tokyo. "El Cerdo", located in an edge of Ginza the most luxury shopping district of Japan, is one of them and some Japanese people consider El Cerdo as one of the best in term of cost performance and tastiness.

If you understand Spanish language, you surely recognize the restaurant's name called "the pig" in English. Yes, the Spanish restaurant features "the meat of pig", particularly several different high quality Iberico pork dishes on the hand-writing menu list on black boards.

The atmoshpere in darker lighting surrounded with red color walls is chic as many picture frames hang on the walls. Look at the pictures carefully. You will find that they are not just for creating the sophisticated mood. Spanish pigs and cattle farmers are on the pictures.

What we can find on the menu list on blackboards and a piece of paper list; Needless to say, slices of raw pork ham, sausages, or with a bit Japanese flavour, pork steak with wasabi (Japanese hot green horseradish paste) and pork sautee garlic soy sauce.

Of course, also we can find non-pork Spanish dishes such as "tortilla" (Spanish style omlet), 3 kinds of paella, cod croquette etc.

 All plates sound attractive....  finally what we chose for the early summer evening, for examples...

 

Ice fish ("shirauo" in Japanese) with garlic sautee with poached egg

 

Mushroom raw-ham-stuffed

Pork steak with wasabi paste,

with sweet grilled vegetables 

 

They are all what we should bring them into the mouth within a few minutes after the dishes arrive. In other words, the best time to take those food is as long as they are still hot just after cooked. We do not recomend that you go to the Spanish restaurant when you have a lot of thing to talk with your accompanied diners. In that case, you might loose a chance to enjoy the nice and hot Spanish dishes at their best timing.

Just concentrate on appreciating the Spanish delicacies 

 

*** Additional Note ***

We are pleased to announce that this post about Spanish bar "El Cerdo" has been featured by another foodie site in Spain, paladar y tomar.

Please check the Spanish version through the link below.

http://www.paladarytomar.com/restaurante-el-cerdo-sirve-ibericos-en-tokio/

 

 

Restaurant name: El Cerdo

Address: 1-19-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.el-cerdo.com

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Pasta as you like! - Gaston & Gasper Roppongi (六本木)

Today's restaurant might not be what you expect to visit on your trip in Japan but we believe that at least you are interested in what Japanese people, especially ladies, like to have for lunch. 

Here is one of the answers. Gaston & Gasper in Roppongi is mostly filled with ladies for lunch time and they could make a waiting queue line in front of the restaurant some times.

The reason why ladies love Gaston & Gasper is its unique "Pasta Creation System." Guests are allowed to select and organize their pasta dish based on chocices for ...

 1. home-made fresh pasta: from standard "spaghetti" to a short pasta called "campanella." Don't worry even if you are not familiar with names of pasta. The restaurant will show you samples of pasta available on a big plate.

2. sauce: again several from Italian classic tomato, basil to Japanese style and "mentaiko" (hot cod roe)

3.  main ingredient: meat chicken, minched meat or fish, seafood 

4. two vegetable ingredients: tens of vegetable offered!! not only typical choices such as onion, spinach, eggplant, zuccini, paprika, mushroom also a few Japanese ones, okra, yam, daikon Japanese darish...

Your potential pasta menu varies over 100 different choices. It's too hard to decide or absolutely is a joy  That is the first exciting moment at Gaston & Gasper.

Depending on your feeling, select your own special favorite pasta menu for the day. 

When you finally make a decision for your pasta dish, give the order to staff. In case your selection is not enough good to try, the staff will suggest alternative ingredient to make your plate better. 

Here we show you two examples we ordered one day for lunch.

Tagliatelle + Genova sauce + oyster + broad beans + avocado

 

 

Super garlic + Linguine + sausage + paprika + avocado

 

The second exciting moment at Gaston & Gasper is to know how much I made a good choice for my plate by myself.  Even if we are satisfied with the own choice as well as focaccia offered as many as you like for lunch set, we are eager to come back here and to try another best choice of pasta plate

Gaston & Gasper Roppongi is just 30 seconds from Tokyo Midtown shopping complex and is on the way to the National Art Center Tokyo.

 

Restaurant name: Gaston & Gasper Roppongi

Address: Artshell 1F 7-4-4 Roppongi Minato-ku Tokyo

Website: http://gastonandgaspar.com 

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Tokyo Skytree view spot - Cielo y rio, Kuramae (蔵前)

Tokyo Skytree, the newest icon of Tokyo, opened last month. Although the 634-meter-high tower's main role is broadcasting transmission, many people are more attracted by the observation deck on 450 meters height from the ground. For the entrance until 10 July 2012, advance reservation is required and is almost sold out. On 11July or after, long queue for getting an entrance ticket is anticipated. Then let's think another way to enjoy the newest tourist spot of Tokyo.

A riverside cafe, Cielo y rio is one of such options, situating a stop away from Asakusa on Oedo and Asakusa subway lines. When the weather is fine, it is a nice stroll of 15 minutes along the Sumida river from Asakusa to the cafe in Kuramae (蔵前) area.

The interior decoration of Cielo y rio is totally different from what you can find in Asakusa, the most popular tourist spot of Tokyo. It is modern and very lovely everywhere.

       

The restaurant faces to Sumida river side widely and Tokyo Skytree on the other side of river is visible from the window side and outside terrace.

The menu is also far from ones in Asakusa. It offers Western style plates that match with the adorable decoration. Lunch set, available until afternoon, includes rice or bread as much as you can at reasonable price less than Yen 1000. The bistro provides wide variety dishes for dinner, from fresh fish carppacio, cheese platter, several kinds of pasta plates, Spanish paella, meat plates as main dish. 

As it opens without a break, it can be used as a cosy cafe on afternoon. In addition, only for weekend, it opens for breakfast from 9 a.m. It's a good idea to leave your hotel or room from early morning on weekend and, after having breakfast at Cielo y rio, to visit Asakusa in the morning, less crowded time. 

 

 

Restaurant name: Riverside Cafe Cielo y Rio

Address: 2-15-5 Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://cieloyrio.com

     

大きな地図で見る

beer & cafe BERG, Shinjuku (新宿) the last small shop at Shinjuku Station

I do not know any other restaurant like Berg, nor how I can explain the type of the restaurant.

The small cafe is only 30 seconds from East exsit of JR Shinjuku station or on B1 (underground) floor of Lumine Est shopping complex.

Beer & cafe Berg opens from morning, serving breakfast. For lunch time, It offers Japanese style curry set, German plate (ham, salami and bread on a plate), with option of a glass of beer or wine. On evening, it looks like a cozy bar.

For a half of the floor standing bar counter occupies, while small chairs and tables each for two people stay close each other in the small restaurant. Japanese business men in gray suites, students in jeans, a lady reading a book hang on the counter, enjoyeing their meal with beer or wine on evening.

 

At least what we know about Berg,

it is an indipendent (non-chain affiliate) cafe

aiming at "cafe culture" mix of German, French and British style

leving from profit-first management way.

At the small restaurant,

morning coffee is prepared by the coffee master,

authentic German style sausages, the best feature of Berg, is done by the sausage master

bread with wild yeast is baked by the baker master everyday.

Although many of single menu at Berg cost less than 500 yen, quality of food & drink is very important for the owner and its clients, of course. 

 

The menu board is organized with photos of each plate and the staff are very friendly.

SO don't hesitate to jump in the crowd of beer & cafe Berg just for a glass of beer with sausage, breakfast or Japanese style curry lunch.

The blog title "The last small shop at Shinjuku Station" is taken from a book with the same name in Japanese and telling about the unique management style of Berg. Exactly as the book's title, it is the last small shop at the vital and very busy Shinjuku station. 

 

Restaurant name: beer & cafe Berg

Address: 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.berg.jp

 This is the message from beer & cafe Berg that we can find on the paper sheet, to understand more (or less?) about the cafe.