{  Rainbow Pancake  }

Rainbow Pancake
Rainbow Pancake
Rainbow Pancake
Rainbow Pancake

I stumbled upon this pancake shop after having coffee at Identity Coffee as it’s in the same plaza!

Rainbow Pancake is located in the back-alleys of Harajuku/Meijijingumae so the line is not as long as other popular pancake shops in the area. In total we waited about 30~40min which wasn’t too bad since they take your order while you’re standing in line so you get your pancakes pretty quickly after you get seated.

Their pancakes taste exactly how they look. Fluffy, soft, and yummy. With all the whipped cream and sauces, you might think these pancakes would taste too sweet but they were flavored perfectly and they are snack-sized so it’s easy to finish the entire dish by yourself. I personally enjoyed the ‘Seasonal Fruit Pancake’ (1300yen) which has a ton of delicious whipped cream. The other pancake pictured above is their most popular item + the chef’s recommendation: the ‘Macadamia nut sauce Pancake’ (1200yen). It comes with a small sugared fork and knife pancake cookie(?) that was such a cute touch. They do have savory pancakes too but I would definitely go for the sweet ones here.

Address // 2F, 4-28-4, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-6434-0466
Website // http://www.rainbowpancake.net/

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{  Identity Coffee  }

Identity Coffee
Identity Coffee
Identity Coffee
Identity Coffee

If you’re in the mood for a good cup of coffee, check out “Identity Coffee” located in a tiny shop near Harajuku/Meijijingumae. They carry beans from INTELLIGENTSIA, HANDSOME COFFEE, etc. In case you’ve never heard of them, they are very popular coffee brands from the US which are a rare find in Japan.

This coffee shop has funky but awesome chairs and artwork that make them very unique. The staff are friendly and were very happy to explain the different coffees to choose from. My friend and I both ordered the cappuccino for 580yen. At first I thought this was an expensive cup of coffee but the cup was huge and we loved our Cappuccino made with Intelligentsia beans so it was all worth it. The chairs were surprisingly comfortable and we ended up chit chatting for a few hours so they even brought out a free sample iced coffee for us! It’s a small shop so there’s not much seating but if you are looking for a good coffee in the area, I recommend it.

Address // 4-28-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-6804-3573
Website // http://identitycoffeegallery.jp/

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{  Yazawa Meat Take Out Station  }

Yazawa Meat Take Out Station
Yazawa Meat Take Out Station
Yazawa Meat Take Out Station
Yazawa Meat Take Out Station

Did you know that you could pick up an A5 rank wagyu-beef bento by “Yazawa Meat” & “Blacows” at Tokyo Station?!

In case you are not familiar with this amazing wagyu-beef restaurant joint, they are famous for serving their A5 rank wagyu-beef (the highest grade given only to the finest beef) that is oh so tasy. “Yazawa Meat” in Gotanda specializes in hamburgs and steaks while “Blacows” in Ebisu serves delicious hamburgers.

We happened to be by Tokyo Station over the weekend so we decided to pick up a Yazawa Meat bento box for dinner. I’ve been wanting to give this a try and I was surprised to see that the Blacows takeout section had pretty much the same burgers available for take-out as the real shop. It’s perfect for those who are close to Tokyo station to just get their hamburger fix here.

I then walked over to the Yazawa Meat side and I was immediately sold on the hamburg bento box with egg. The customer in front of us got the “Double hamburg without rice” bento box for 2580yen and after going through all the options, we decided to do the same. After about a 15min wait, we got our warm bento box and headed back home.

The smell of the bento was killing me throughout my train ride… Once we got home, I opened it up and it looked OK. The bento was still slightly warm but decided to heat it for maybe 10 seconds or so and ate it with the 2 sauces that came with it. I am happy to report that it was yummms. The hamburg was very juicy & soft and the sauce went perfectly with everything. Loved every bite of it.

Their original restaurant location is famously crowded with long lines so if you want to try this delicious meat without too long of a wait and you happen to be passing by Tokyo Station right before dinner time, definitely stop by and pick up your bento box here.

PS: Tokyo Station is very confusing/complicated so if you need directions, ask where Daimaru (department store) is and then go to their B1 food floor.

Address // B1, 1-9-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3212-8011
Website // http://www.kuroge-wagyu.com/dt/

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{  Isehiro — 伊勢廣  }

Isehiro -- 伊勢廣
Isehiro -- 伊勢廣
Isehiro -- 伊勢廣
Isehiro -- 伊勢廣

Time for some yakitori?

There’s a ton of yakitori places in Tokyo but where can you go that is both good and affordable? I previously shared Yakitori Nenohi from Ga-do shita which I still think is a great place to experience a very Japanese Izakaya-style yakitori, but I found another spot that I also recommend.

You would never know there’s a yakitori place here as it’s quite old school and is located in the underground floors of Hotel New Otani (which is a maze!). Isehiro is one of those yakitori places that has been around for ages. The place feels old but there’s something comforting about it and the service was good.

We ordered the “5 sticks yakitori lunch plate set” for 1785yen. The choice of yakitori are all decided for you but if you want to switch something out, they will happily do it for you. They also give you a choice of recieving all your yakitori sticks at once or one at a time.

We decided to ask for all 5 yakitori sticks from our set to come at the same time but since I’m not a fast eater, my 4th and 5th one’s were cold by the time I ate them so perhaps I should have gotten them one at a time. Also, I was full by my 4th stick so I should have ordered one less. All in all, everything was good and my favorites were momo (thigh) and negiyaki (green onions wrapped with chicken thigh). If you are by Yotsuya, Kojimachi, Nagatacho or Akasakamitsuke, stop by Hotel New Otani and give this place a try.

Address // Hotel New Otani B1F, 4-1, Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3221-4101
Website // http://www.isehiro.co.jp/otani.html

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{  Annon Cook  }

Annon Cook
Annon Cook
Annon Cook
Annon Cook

Annon Cook is a cozy cafe that used to be located in Harajuku and recently opened up in Daikanyama. This cafe specializes in healthy foods that make your body happy.

We ordered their “Gohan set” (rice set) with Japanese ice tea for 1100yen and their “Curry set” with Japanese tea for 1100yen. The rice set included brown rice, burdock, mushrooms, mizuna, and was seasoned with garlic and olive oil. The Curry set was a Thai curry with brown rice. Both dishes were subtle in their flavoring but still tasty. The portions are a bit small so if you are hungry this place may not satisfy you – but the service, ambiance, and food are all good. The white walls, the wood tables, the soft lighting, the calm atmosphere, the place was filled with friends, couples, families, babies, and single guests all in the same place.

If you are looking for a light meal in Daikanyama, check out Annon Cook which is on the 2nd floor.

Address // 2F, 28-3, Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3462-6263
Website // http://ambidex.co.jp/annon_cook/

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