Author Archives: lynnlilly

I am one of the most particular eaters alive.  I feared that I would be living on Think Thin Bars and Pop Tarts my entire stay in Tokyo. I was 100% wrong! We enjoyed french pastries on every corner and delicious traditional Japanese cuisine every night. If you ever go to Tokyo please take my recommendations and try the unique restaurants below!

Ohmatsuya Kura (6-6-19 Ginza): A secret gem even to most locals, Ohmatsuya Kura has only 2 tables. It is located on a side street in the Ginza neighborhood on the fifth floor of an ordinary building. The minute you crawl through the small door you are greeted by a waitress clad in traditional country clothing and your find yours in an old farmhouse atmosphere.

This meal was based on the robatayaki style of cooking old world country food.  A chef prepares a 6 course meal in front of you. My favorite courses were the scallops, prawn and beef cooked in a leaf with traditional spices.  All menus were in Japanese so we left our palates in the hands of our chef. At one point Brennan was eating roasted bugs.

This was our first meal in Tokyo and it definitely set the mood for the amazing dining experiences that were ahead.

Shabusen (Core building 2nd Basement 5-8-20): Located in basement of one of the many multi story department stores, Shabusen, is known as one of the best Shabu-Shabu restaurants in town.  Shabu Shabu is a traditional form of cooking thinly sliced meats and vegetables in a pot of boiling savory broth. Sounds odd but it is simple and delicious

They offer an English menu. Brennan and I both had the Prime Beef.

Absolutely delicious! And rewarding to cook your own dinner!

Inakaya: Located in the Roppongi neighborhood (known for its great restaurants and nightlife), this restaurant also offers Robatayaki but it is a completely different experience from Ohmatsuya Kura. Inakaya is recognized as the most reputable robatayaki restaurant in the world.

Dinner is ordered by pointing to the items you want and the servers and chefs all repeat your order in unison to the entire restaurant. The chef cooks your item on the grill in front of him and delivers it to you on a long paddle. I tried Kobe beef for the first time and it absolutely melted in mouth.

Brennan ordered mini crabs, which I was a little scared to eat but they were surprisingly delicious with a salty crunchy flavor.

The chefs were full of fun and made the experience. It is no wonder that this restaurant plays hosts to A-list celebrities like Demi, Ashton, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Samuel L Jackson and the list goes on! This was by far the best dinner and dining experience Brennan and I have ever had!

Tengu (3-20-5 Shinjuku): Located close to Shibuya, this fun casual pub offers small plates similar to tapas.  This was a great meal to nurse my hang over from the night before in Roppongi.

Maisen (4-8-5 Jingumae): We never would have tried Maisen except for the fact that it was recommended by friend. Maisen is serving up tonkatsu for more than 25 years. A fun fact- Maisen occupies a former pre- World War II public bathhouse. It is tucked away in a trendy neighborhood with the most amazing boutiques.

Fried Pork was the speciality on 90% of the tables. It was surprisingly delicious.

Other notable good eats & drinks:

• The Lion in Ginza, a german beer hall, offers a loud and fun upbeat atmosphere and great beers
• Geronimo is a tiny shot bar in Rappongi with friendly bartenders and a great crowd.
• We lived on Parisian pastry shops that were located on every corner.