Japan 2025
Narita Airport Terminal 1
I was originally sad that we weren’t able to get the new “THE ROOM” seats, since the seats were definitely on the old side (there was an iPod cable!). However, the food options were nice. This was my first time taking ANA business, and I had heard that JAL had better food options, so I wasn’t expecting too much, but was pleasantly surprised by the food quality and taste.
ANA LOUNGE, Satellite 2
I visited the ANA Suite lounge last year, and was hoping for similar food service, but I was sort of disappointed in the food options. It was also super crowded. I felt the JAL business lounge experiences I’ve had in the past were much better. Was too full from Ittaikan to try the curry.
Ittaikan
Super delicious beef curry with lots of spice options. Their protein options are also super solid. Had to come back here after discovering it last trip.
Jazz SPOT Intro
I come here every year for their high level jam sessions. Came here late so we managed to dodge a lot of the crowd.
Tonkatsu Wako Sunshine City Ikebukuro
A bit on the greasy side. Their miso soup has lots of small clams, which was nice. I visited their Shibuya branch years ago and remember enjoying it a bit more.
ラ・メゾン アンソレイユターブル サンシャインシティアルパ店
Fūunji Shinjuku
Sawada
Overall, I think this was a super impressive sushi omakase experience, and probably some of the best I’ve had in recent memory. It both unfortunate and nice that Sawada didn’t allow photos, as I was able to focus a lot on the food. Though sadly couldn’t get any pictures of some of the beautiful looking dishes! Here are my notes. Appetizer: Steamed Nuts appetizer (2 kinds) Sashimi Course - Hirame (Flounder) - 3 cuts - Squid (3 pieces) + Uni (from 2 regions) - Abalone - Aburi Shima (Mackerel) - Charcoal seared - Sawara (Spanish Mackerel, 3 pieces) - Smokey with bacon-like texture - Octopus (2 pieces) - incredibly soft texture - Tomato (palate cleanser) - Chutoro (3 pieces) - Chutoro with Hakodate Murasaki Uni (slightly fattier than the previous piece) - Kuchiko (Sea cucumber + Egg) - Roll w/ Barracuda, shisho. No rice. Super refreshing. - Tuna Kama (Charcoal seared) - Ginger flavoured Daikon Hand Roll (Palate cleaner) Sushi - Tai (Red Snapper) - chewy texture - Ebodai - soft texture - Akagai (Ark shell) - crunchy ✨ - Shima Aji ✨ - Gizzard Shad (not huge fan of texture) - Katsuo Bonito w/ garlic salt - Baby Squid sushi (old style) - stuffed with sushi rice ✨ - Ikura (Salmon Roe) - really big serving, not too salty ✨ - Zuke (Soy Marinated Tuna) - Chutoro - Chutoro (slightly fattier) - Ootoro - Aburi Ootoro (center cut) - Pear (palate cleanser break) - Kurama Ebi (Tiger Shrimp) - Murasaki Uni - Anago Eel served two ways (salt+wasabi, sauce) - probably the softest eel I’ve ever had ✨ - Tamagoyaki Ending dish: Gooseberry Hozuki (“Strawberry Tomato”)
Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei
Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei
Micasadeco & Cafe Kyoto
Delicious fluffy pancakes when we were slightly late to getting into A Happy Pancake during opening time. I really liked their Ricotta Pancake, even though it was slightly not as fluffy as a typical fluffy pancakes.
KOBE BEEF FACTORY 교토 가와라마치 가든점
Nakamura Tokichi Honten (Main Store)
The matcha parfait really hit the spot. It was also the first time I had koicha (thick paste matcha)
Hoho Hojicha Uji Main Store
MENYA INOICHI #3
This was reaaaally good. We dodged the line as they opened at 11am and we happened to walk by.
Itsukichaya - Pontocho
Pretty delicious variety of food, and this location was pretty easy to book.
(THISIS)SHIZEN
Aesthetic modern fusion of traditional ingredients and ice cream. I wasn’t a huge fan of the taste of the toppings, but the ice cream was decent.
CHOYA UME STUDIO -Kyoto Sanjo
Unagi Sumito
Really surprisingly good for a last minute place. We walked in an hour before lunch closing and got a seat.
Excelsior Caffé
Kiwamiya Shibuya PARCO Store
I wasn’t a huge fan of the beef tendon, but they were sold out of the steak. The hamburger steak was really good though.
Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo
Cold brew was super surprising and had a nice sweetness to it.
I’m donut ? Nakameguro
Gyukatsu Motomura Shibuya Annex
CAFE REISSUE
Tonkatsu Narikura
Best tonkatsu I’ve ever had. All of the cuts were super tender.
Manyō Club (Toyosu)
Food was disappointing, though we didn’t get the buffet. (For how much we spent, we should have though) Everything else was great though.
Godaime Hanayama Udon Ginza
Glitch Coffee and Roasters GINZA
Manten Sushi Nihonbashi
Still probably the best price to taste ratio for omakase at 8800 yen. Favourite pieces were probably the ikura and mackerel.
Yanagi Chaya Asakusa
Asakusa Imahan
One of my favourite restaurants in Tokyo, I always try to come by here.
Asakusa Kagetsudō Melon Bread
角〼 浅草｜和牛串（KADOMASU ASAKUSA｜Wagyu Skewers with HALAL Counter）
HOKKAIDO MILK BAR Asakusa Milk Cafe
The difference between the milk was actually quite noticeable.
Asakusa Chaya Tabanenoshi
Haven’t had a crepe in a while, but this one was super good. Lots of texture and strawberry jelly hidden in the bottom.
Mochinyan-yaki(Chewy Cat-shaped Pancake)
Nihonbashi Kaisen Donburi Tsujihan Nihonbashi
I got the largest size. Super delicious, and we went at around a time that didn’t have much of a line.
Udon Shin
Dormy Inn Akihabara
Complementary ramen at night mixes super well with Family Mart spicy fried chicken.