Gyoza in Kamata 蒲田の餃子屋 ニハオ

Nihao is a gyoza shop in Kamata, just south of Tokyo on the Keihin Tohoku line. This gyoza shop is featured in many gourmet magazines and TV programs, famous for its "hanetsuki gyoza" or gyoza with a lacy, crispy bits from the pan still attached to the gyoza. Here is my cousin, Ko-chan, with a plate of the famous hanetsuki gyoza. He looks like he may be a member of the Japanese yakuza but he's not.

This shop has been on my "Go List" for years and it was nice to finally go. Not only do they have pan-fried potstickers but also steamed and boiled - all of them are good.

Very humble settings in the basement. We came early and it was packed by 6:30 p.m. Very popular with groups. Plenty of Chinese dishes as well.

Nihao
Ohta-ku, Kamata 4-24-14
Tel. 03-3735-6799
http://www.nihao.co.jp/

Aoi Marushin Tempura in Asakusa

Tempura is undeniably one of the most popular foods foreigners want to try when they come to Japan. One shop that is in Asakusa near the temple and Nakamise Dori is Aoi Marushin. It is very easy to find. When you are facing the Kaminarimon large red lantern, walk to your left a few blocks and it is on your hand side.

Aoi Marushin
1-4-4 Asakusa
Phone (03)3841-0110

Tenki Tempura in Kyoto 京都のてんき天麩羅

Tenki Tempura is a 3rd generation restaurant in Kyoto. It is the first restaurant to introduce tempura as part of a kaiseki course. The chef is Terumune Ishikawa who I met when he first came to NYC for The Japanese Culinary Forum at The French Culinary Institute.

This lunch was in August so it was nice to start off with a chilled chawanmushi topped with grated nagaimo and a bit of ume. The second course is presented in a lacquer box. On the left was sesame dressed cucumbers and on the right is sashimi of squid with fish eggs (I believe he said it was from hamo?).

京都府京都市上京区千本今出川上ル西側

Kyubey Sushi in Ginza

I am often asked for suggestions for restaurants in Tokyo, in particular, a good sushi restaurant. There are so many it is hard to even begin. What your budget is, what neighborhood is convenient (as Tokyo is so big), etc. A good starting point is Kyubey Sushi in Ginza. Lunch is reasonable and it is one of the most famous sushi restaurants in the city. And while many say they want to avoid "tourist-type" sushi restaurants, I could never include this in that category. Many of my Japanese foodie confidants have this high on their list. Lunch starts at 4,000 JPY, which is reasonable for this quality. And, much much better than paying the same amount for the tiny stalls in Tsukiji where you are crowded into tiny seats and not at liberty to linger.

I was so impressed when the chef asked me if he should change the amount of wasabi or if he should make the rice smaller or bigger. Rarely does that happen.

Kyubey Sushi
Chuo-ku, Ginza 8-7-6
03-3571-6523
http://www.kyubey.jp/index_e.html (in English)

Shinjuku Ika Center 新宿いかセンター

There is a restaurant in Shinjuku that specializes in squid. You can even get it sliced up sashimi style while it is still living. Shinji and I had this once in Fukuoka and loved it.

Shinjuku Ika Senta-

Shinjuku-ku, Nishi-Shinjuku 7-10-13, Gaia Bldg. 5F

03-3366-2600

Monjayaki in Tsukishima 月島のもんじゃ焼き

Here is a shot of the quaint street (Nishi Nakadori Street) in Tsukishima that is lined with monjayaki shops. Also, be sure to check out the side streets.

Our dinner documented below was at

Okame Hyokkoten おかめ　ひょっとこ店
Tsukishima 3-8-10
03-5548-1508
11:00 - 22:00, no holidays

http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g965400/

Cheap Eats in Tokyo - Korean Ishiyaki Bibimpa

Korean Ishiyaki Bibimpa
www.bibimpa.co.jp

The signature dish here is an ishiyaki (stone pot) filled with rice, topped with beef, spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, daikon, and zenmai (ferns), and then heated over high heat. An egg yolk is placed on the top at the last minute. With a spoon you mix it all together. Be sure to pick up the crusty bits of rice on the bottom of the stone pot. You can spice it up with some of the sauces on the counter. There is one shop just outside of Tokyo station, Marunouchi exit. Veer to the right when you leave the station and follow along the tracks. The shop is under the tracks on your right hand side.
Chiyoda-ku, Marunouchi 1-7-9
03-5222-7868

and other locations in the city

Tamai Anago in Nihonbashi 日本橋の玉ゐ あなご

Tamai 玉ゐ
Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi 2-9-9
03-3272-3227
Monday – Friday 11:00 – 14:00, 17:00 – 21:00
Weekend and holidays 11:30 – 15:00, 16:30 – 20:00
http://anago-tamai.com/ (Japanese)

Tamai, a small shop in the back streets behind Takashimaya, marked with a large blue and white kite-like banner, specializes in anago (salt water eels). The building itself has a lot of history and the interior reflects that with its simplicity. Fans of unagi, the freshwater eel, will also be keen on anago, it is tender and a bit more delicate and fatter as it lived in the cool waters of the ocean. It is served, like unagi, in a lacquer box over hot rice. Select from simmered (soft and tender) or grilled with a sweet sauce. Upgrade your order with a hone chazuke, a small bowl of rice topped with the fried bones of the anago topped with hot tea.

Ocha to Gohanya in Sendagi 千駄木のお茶とごはんや

This great ma and pa shop was introduced to me by Junko Nakahama on our tour of Yanesen. "Ocha to Gohanya" is near the shoutengai (shopping arcade) in Sendagi and is a great spot for lunch or dinner. Here is the tempura teishoku, which really was too much food, but delicious and comforting after our long walk through the area. The tempura included anago, sweet potatoes, eggplant, carrots, and more.

Ocha to Gohanya
Bunkyo-ku, Sendagi 3-42-8
03-5814-8131
11:30 - 14:00, 17:00 - 20:30
closed Sundays

Imahan in Ningyocho 人形町の今半

Imahan is a restaurant and retail shop specializing in wagyu. The restaurant's signature dish is sukiyaki. At the retail shop thin slices of marbled wagyu are cut for sukiyaki, shabu shabu, and for steaks. This shop is in Ningyocho. There is also a restaurant in Asakusa as well as an eat-in counter and retail shop in Takashimaya Nihonbashi.

Imahan
Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Ningyocho 2-9-12
03-3666-7006
www.imahan.com

Kintame Pickle Shop in Ningyocho 人形町の近為

Japanese pickles are one of the many delights of the cuisine. Kintame is a Kyoto based pickle shop with a few outlets in Tokyo. This quaint shop in Ningyocho sells pickles to go.

Chuo-ku, Nihonbashi Ningyocho 2-5-2
03-3639-9439
www.kintame.co.jp

In Monzennakacho and in Daimaru at Tokyo Station they have restaurants. Ask for the "bubu chazuke" so you can have over a dozen types of pickles that includes a grilled fish, salmon or black cod marinated in sake kasu lees. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole city.

Tokyo's Top Soba Shops 東京の蕎麦屋

Soba, the thin buckwheat noodles, eaten both hot or cold are great all year long. Here are some of my favorite soba shops in Tokyo. This article is in the current issue of Metropolis magazine.

http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/recent/localflavors.asp