Throughout Tokyo I found that there are so many wonderful places to eat. I have already written about a few great experiences that were more sit down, fine dining style restaurants. What was just as delicious were the small local places that I found just walking around.
Xvin – Shiodome
There was a wonderful Chinese restaurant that was near my hotel. I love Chinese dim sum for breakfast and Xvin offered that. Plus the view out of their window was amazing.
Sumidagawa Bar – Asakusa
This was a neighborhood bar that I walked by after visiting the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. It was a small place where all the tables were outside. They welcomed me with an appetizer of soy sauce quail eggs. I got to taste Japanese plum wine for the first time. I also got chicken “meatballs” on a stick.
Tiger Gyoza Hall – Asakusa
Also located in Asakusa was a dumpling restaurant. They served several different varieties. What I learned was gyoza are Chinese not Japanese. They were pan fried and the filling was fantastic. They were very similar to dumplings that I have enjoyed in the states.
Melonpan Bakery – Asakusa
One of the foods I learned about before arriving in Tokyo was melonpan, which Westerners call “Melon Bread”. It is a sweet bun that has a crisscross pattern on top. It’s a cross between a sweet roll and bread. It is great on its own, but I found a place that took it one step further. They sliced open the melonpan and put vanilla soft serve ice cream inside. This was AMAZING! It was a giant ice cream sandwich.
Street Food – Akihabara
Located in the area called Akihabara, where all the anime stores are located, I found a street vendor who was selling fresh pastry with cream. You could watch them make the pastry right there on the sidewalk. It was delicious hen it was served warm. Plus the design of the fish was cute.
Getting to explore a new city is exciting. Being able to visit Tokyo was a once in a lifetime experience and I was extremely fortunate to go.
Enjoy!
T
