Recommendations for eating in Japan

[Squid Vicious]

So I'm off to Japan in a few weeks time with the better half and looking for recommendations on good places to eat.

We'll be doing a round trip, starting in Tokyo then onto Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka before returning for a few final nights in Tokyo so need to focus on those places - or ones that maybe warrant a day trip and can be reached with a JR pass.

We"re keen to try as many of the culinary delights that Japan has to offer!

 

[LuckyBenski]

A few highlights from my trip last year:

Takoyaki (fried squid balls) - available on the street all over the place. I ended up having them almost every day, couldn't resist stopping if I saw them.

Went to a tofu specialist in Kyoto (the region is where tofu originates). I had a 6 course tasting menu of different kinds of tofu - not the most flavoursome or exciting meal but it was interesting to see how tofu can be used. My partner's vegan so it was a special request - Tousouiro was the place, traditional style restaurant but not too formal.

In general the food was good quality everywhere but cheap, even from convenience stores and fast food. I found a Wendy's by an art gallery and had a burger and chips, even that was good and had wacky Japanese style flavours in.

So basically - I didn't hit many big name restaurants but almost every meal impressed me, even if it was just a passing stop!

 

[molinari]

Have a look at https://www.andyhayler.com/restaurant-guide?country=124
Good seletion of restaurants from a very good critic.

 

[Squid Vicious]

Takoyaki (fried squid balls) - available on the street all over the place. I ended up having them almost every day, couldn't resist stopping if I saw them.

Sounds fantastic, I do enjoy a nice bit of squid so will be sure to lookout for these

 

[Squid Vicious]

Have a look at https://www.andyhayler.com/restaurant-guide?country=124
Good seletion of restaurants from a very good critic.

Thanks @molinari very useful resource, will definitely try and get to a few of those places.

 

[PC777]

These guys have got a load of great videos with all types of Japanese street and restaurant food and home cooking as well.

They definitely describe the food really well in both fluent and well spoken 2nd language English, well worth watching a few of their videos before you go.

 

[Squid Vicious]

Flight to Tokyo was great, breakfast in the Concorde lounge and some decent nosh on the plane for a change...

 

[Squid Vicious]

Arrived today, a little jet lagged but headed out for ramen at a highly recommended place called Fuunji in the Shinjuku area.
It's a tiny place, seating about 15 with just a counter filled up with locals noisely enjoying their ramen and about half a dozen people waiting for a seat to clear.



4 options to choose from, you buy your ticket and hand over when you get a place at the counter.


A short while later and we've been served up with a deliciously tasty special ramen, a thick, slightly smokey broth, tender pork, egg, noodles and spring onion... Yummy

 

[Bounce]

Hope it tastes better than it looks.

 

[molinari]

Flight to Tokyo was great, breakfast in the Concorde lounge and some decent nosh on the plane for a change...

Concorde lounge breakfast is always great preperation before a long flight.
Looking forward to seeing more pics of the food you try.

 

[Scam]

Hope it tastes better than it looks.

Looks like an awesome ramen to me. Have you never had it before or something?

 

[LuckyBenski]

Missing Japan already. I fly to Norway Saturday but Google Photos has already started saying "On this day last year you were photographing shrines!"

Looking forward to more

 

[Squid Vicious]

These guys have got a load of great videos with all types of Japanese street and restaurant food and home cooking as well.

Great guide, I'll be watching out for some of their recommendations!
Definitely going to find an izakaya one evening

 

[Squid Vicious]

Went over to the old fish market near ginza for a look around and a spot of lunch.
Some really interesting smells there

Settled for some sushi & kaisen don.

The fish is really great!!!

 

[Squid Vicious]

Dinner was booked at Kobe beef keiseki 511 in minato.
It was also quite fun getting there as it was rush hour on the tube!

Anyway, it was my first time eating Kobe beef and this place serves only the good stuff so had high expectations and didn't feel let down.





Shin beef (possibly) and mixed mushrooms... A nice start


A really interesting selection including figs with a soy mousse, seaweed and chrysanthemum (maybe) in a really tasty dashi stock and a collection of other tasty things all cunningly disguised as different foods.





Got started on the beef before the photo it was very good though.

 

[explicit4u]

@Raymond Lin

I'm sure there's been a few Japan threads, have a quick search for them.

 

[fretted]

Looking forward to more photos, I'm planning a first trip in 2021 with the family so really appreciate seeing the different varieties of foods on offer.

 

[Squid Vicious]

Visited Harajuku and the Meiji jingu Shrine and park which are both well worth a visit.

Decided on tendon tenya tempura for lunch, it's quite a big chain of tempura restaurants, good prices and tasty food.

Excellent tempura set meal with prawns, lotus root, pumpkin, green beans and a side of tofu and miso.



Seafood tempura mean with prawn, scallops, squid and a side rice and miso.

 

[Squid Vicious]

Back in shinjuku for the evening and settled on cheap and easy all you can eat sushi at kizuna sushi.
You can either order by the piece at around 100yen each or pay 3500 (women) or 4000 (men) for 2 hours and just kick back and eat what you like.

Service was fast, simple and good value for money.