{ Cafe Yokohamaya }

2012, Mar 23

You’d never think of going into this coffee shop if you were just passing by, but it’s the quintessential traditional Japanese coffee shop that you can imagine seeing in the movies. Nothing fancy, it’s just a small coffee shop but it serves the perfect cup of coffee. The best thing about this place is their master/owner and his wife. They have run the shop for over thirty years and they haven’t let the waves of different trends in Japan influence it. For thirty years they’ve kept their menu simple and only serve three items: Hayashi Rice, cheese cake, and Tarte Tatin (Apple Pie). They make them all from scratch fresh daily and it’s really an impressive dedication to their craft. Go for lunch, you can get Hayashi Rice, coffee, and a small dessert for only 900yen.

This kind of old school coffee shop is very rare in Japan nowadays with Starbucks taking over everywhere, but I hope it doesn’t disappear because it’s not just the food and coffee that makes it special, but the character and dedication to quality that the master and his wife bring to it. If you’re wondering why their coffee is so good, it’s partly because all of their coffee beans are sourced from local growers and he doesn’t serve any beans that are more than a week old.

PS: The owner named this place Yokohamaya because that’s his hometown :)

Address // B1F, 1-11-2, Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3586-7486
Website // n/a

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{ Udon Yamacho }

2012, Mar 21

Although it’s hard to find, this udon place in Ebisu is a hidden gem. Yamacho is an awesome udon place that serves two types of thickness for your udon so you can choose between thin or fat noodles. Neither one is really “better”, it’s really just a matter of your preference (though the thick noodles are more traditional). The Ebi tempura yakumi udon was great, and it’s really a steal for just 1000yen. Their curry udon was also 1000yen and they even give you a bib so you don’t get your clothes dirty. love it. We especially liked their dashimaki tamago (the egg dish in the top photo) for 680yen. The Tempura udon for 1230 yen was also good. The restaurant is small but their ambiance, service, and food were all top notch. It’s easy to see why this place is always crowded.

Address // 1-1-5, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3443-1701
Website // www.foodgate.net/shop_yamacho.html

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{ A&G Diner }

2012, Mar 19

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DISCLAIMER: This restaurant is temporary closed.
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A&G Diner is yet another really good burger joint in town. This diner is so shockingly small, we peeked in and couldn’t believe how tiny it was. In fact, it only seats about 8 people total at one time. As soon as they start cooking your order, you smell the wonderful juiciness of the burger throughout the entire place. We tried the Avocado Cheese Burger, Special Burger (Bacon, Avocado, Chedder Cheese, Gouda Cheese, Fried Egg, and Teriyaki BBQ Sauce), and the Bacon Cheese Burger. They were all excellent.

Essentially this place serves perfectly executed American burgers. I definitely have the urge to go back and try the other burgers on their menu, especially their monthly burger which is ever-changing.

This place has been constantly rated #1 for hamburgers on a popular review site here. They seem to be temporary closed for a good amount of time though (Info updated on October 17, 2013). However, they have 2 other locations in Roppongi as well as Komazawadaigaku if you’re interested in checking them out.

Address // 3-41-2, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3403-9033
Website // n/a

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{ Lion no iru Circus }

2012, Mar 16

This hidden cafe is called “ライオンのいるサーカス” which translates to, “a circus with a lion”. I know it doesn’t really make much sense, but that’s Japan for you :) If you look carefully, you’ll find some lion’s hidden throughout the cafe. The ambiance is very cute and cozy, but their chairs are pretty uncomfortable to actually sit in.

This place is famous for their tsukemen pasta. Instead of the sauce being on the pasta, you dip the pasta into the sauce. It’s actually pretty tasty and I purchased the add-on spice for 50yen which was worth it. The holiday brunch set includes a main dish, drink, and dessert for 1280yen. If you’re hungry, you can pay 200yen to get more noodles, which I wish I had done because it wasn’t enough food for me. Their “Lion salad” was 900yen and it was good but not great.

Overall a really cute place to hang out and chill with your friends or loved ones.

Address // 2-3-1, EbisuMinami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-6452-3657
Website // http://tabisurucafe.com/ebisu/index.html

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{ Taiyaki Hiiragi }

2012, Mar 14

Taiyaki is an authentic and very distinct Japanese fish-shaped dessert. The most common filling is red bean paste that is made from sweetened azuki beans. Hiiragi is a small shop located in Ebisu that has Taiyaki with a subtle level of sweetness. If you eat it right when it’s freshly made, it’s perfectly crisp on the outside and the combination of the hot redbean filling with the cake surrounding it tastes so good. But remember, the key is to eat it when it’s freshly made since it’s crucial to have the beans be hot on the inside.

If you want to give Taiyaki a try, check this place out.

Address // 1-4-1, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3473-7050
Website // www.taiyakihiiragi.com

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{ Cafe Yokohamaya }

{ Udon Yamacho }

{ A&G Diner }

{ Lion no iru Circus }

{ Taiyaki Hiiragi }

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