Living in Tokyo, there is no end to high-quality eateries, and we certainly endeavor to find the best of the best. Those that rise above the others are collected like gold dust. Whether it’s a quick bite on the go or a fancy sit-down meal, there is always something to entice us to the different suburbs of the city. Amidst the colossal amount of choice – which some might feel is overwhelming – here is a handy list of some of our faves from the past year.
Dry Curry at Latino
Latino is a new find for me, but it is an old haunt of my fiancée’s that she frequented when she worked in an office nearby. When I visited, I was blown away by the hospitality of the host and the sincerity of the food. It was one of the rare instances that I felt they were having fun with the menu – not in a pretentious way, but more as a love letter to comfort food from around the world. The “dry curry” is a Japanese sauceless pork curry, with all of those ginger and garlic flavors infused into the meat and vegetables. It knocked our socks off and we wolfed it down with little to no effort. It certainly had that same feeling of going to your grandma’s place and her cooking up your favorite dish.
Seared Mackerel at Shirubee
The first time we went to Shirubee, some friends of ours showed us how to find the restaurant. Sure, there are plenty of izakayas in Shibuya, but this hidden spot is one of the best places that specializes in fish. Their star dish is a mouthwatering mackerel which is blasted with a blowtorch at the table. After sizzling it to perfection, lemon is squeezed over it with a heroic battle cry of “Nice lemon!” Mackerel has long been a favorite of mine and theirs is fresh, flavorful, and juicy.
Tuna on a Stick at Sen
I remember living right around the corner from Sen, in Shibuya, as the restaurant was being built. Every day while buying groceries I would see it in various stages of construction, always curious about what it was going to be. When it finally opened up as a gourmet standing bar with fusion food, I knew that I had to try it out. I certainly was not disappointed: from their gorgeous natural wines to their eclectic hors d’oeuvres, I was hooked. The perfect bite to complement the orange wine I would often get was the grilled tuna topped with dried olives. Seared to perfection on the open grill, it was such a good balance of high-grade ingredients and a deep understanding of fusion cuisine.
Falafel and Fūl at Uchimura
Whenever we go to Shimokitazawa, we never miss a visit to Uchimura, an incredible Egyptian hole-in-the-wall helmed by a Japanese owner who spent time living in Egypt. It is spartan inside, only a handful of tables filling up the small space. There is a spectacularly rich array of dips, kebabs, and salads, and we basically order half the entire menu each time we are there. They have mini pita breads that we load up with hummus, fūl (a mix of fava beans, lemon, and onion), and a moist and satisfying falafel. Good falafel is a rare commodity in Tokyo, and we are glad that Uchimura is still there to welcome us with open arms.
Sashimi Platter at Miura
Speaking of Shimokitazawa, the neighborhood is also home to Miura, one of the finest gourmet fish establishments in the city. Having gone there several times on special occasions, I became friendly with the owner Nara-san, who is a modest powerhouse in the kitchen. His seasonal sashimi is always decadent, perfectly sliced, and uniquely presented on coiled beds of daikon (raddish), which also have their own dipping sauce. Various cuts of tuna, squid, kampachi (yellowtail), and tai (red snapper) combine in a gorgeous symphony on the plate. The sign of a great sashimi dish is one where you don’t have a clear favorite. However, if I were to pick one, it would be the surprisingly delicate squid.
Pinsa at Bonta Italia
A while back, after a long day’s work in Daikanyama, I suggested that my fiancée and I go grab some pizza. The only place we could find was Bonta Italia, a place that sold pinsa, a smaller version of pizza with a fluffier base. It is an exquisitely compact restaurant run by two brothers, who speak perfect English, and their mother. Each pinsa is made fresh with an array of devilishly delicious fresh toppings. I got a split pinsa, half with tonno, a tomato base topped with mozzarella, tuna, anchovies, and arugula, and the other half with formaggi, a medley of mozzarella, pecorino, romano, and gorgonzola, topped with almonds and honey. Suffice it to say, they were both incredible, and having our minds blown at Bonta Italia became a new addiction for us.
Vegan Blueberry Pie at Marbre Vegan Bakery
My partner doesn’t do dairy, so we are often on the hunt for delicious vegan sweet treats around the city. Japan is still far behind when it comes to vegan eateries, so any we can find with any quality are truly treasured. On one of our recent excursions around Shinjuku, we found Marbre, an all-vegan bakery on the outskirts of the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. It has a selection of different cakes, pies, and even sandwiches. I opted for the blueberry tart topped with whipped cream – it was fruity and sweet in equal measures, which could easily fool anyone who didn’t know it was vegan. A wonderful and decadent treat to end the day after wandering around the beautiful gardens.
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