May 18, 2015

Tokyo Eats Made Easy

Like New York City, Tokyo is an overwhelming city of all things good to eat! As a foreigner, sometimes it’s harder to try and find a new place to try, rather than returning to where you find comfort in a restaurant you tend to frequent. It can get to be tricky sometimes, so I thought it would be helpful to put together a few of our top “American friendly” restaurants that Miles and I happened to stumble upon! We live in Roppongi (Ark Hills area- a business building with a significant amount of mouth watering restaurants), so a majority of the restaurants will be in that general area, however we do like to venture out and take a train to other locations and explore! I will be updating this post through out our stay in Tokyo, so be sure to revisit this page!

Breakfast/Brunch

Bubby’s

(Ark Hills location- 2F Ark Mori Bldg, 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)- There are numerous locations throughout Tokyo and NYC as well.

All I can say is, thank goodness for Bubby’s! My husband and I love going to breakfast together on the weekends back home. It was something we both look forward to every week. He even has a handful of funny urban outfitters style t-shirts he deems his “breakfast shirts” for the occasion. We weren’t sure what to expect coming to Japan and wanting to order our traditionally favorite Western style breakfasts. A traditional Japanese breakfast includes: rice, pickled fish, natto (fermented soy beans), under cooked eggs, green tea, and miso soup.

The stars aligned perfectly with this adorable country-chic comfort food cafe! The rustic wood tables are always adorned with fresh mismatched flowers and mason jars of their famous homemade lemonades, adding to the character of Bubby’s old fashioned- soda fountain- granny’s best recipe’s- spirit! The are also famous for their baked goods which includes a “mile-high apple pie!” Breakfast, lunch, and dinner we frequent Bubby’s whenever we are craving a little of home!

Mercer Brunch

(4-2-35 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

We found Mercer Brunch when we took a wrong turn in our neighborhood and were instantly drawn to it’s casual-soho style, and of course the fact that “brunch” was right in the name! Along with the open terrace and couch seating, there is also an open fireplace in the center of the main room. Mercer itself is a swanky hideaway to revel Veuve Champain and the most delicious french toast you will ever have! It is so good, it does not need a drop of syrup! Luckily, two pieces come with every entree selection. I also tried their rose tea that was completely delightful! In the evening, the menu transitions to a more Italian inspired selection.

Ladurée

(4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo 104-8212, Tokyo Prefecture)

I started my love affair with Laduree while I was living in New York City. The Madison Ave location is more of a grab and go experience that I would frequent whenever I wanted to treat myself to something wonderful. Every time I step foot in Laduree, I’m overwhelmed with all things pretty and lovely. Laduree exemplifies a paramount French pâtisserie, with it’s Marie Antoinette inspired elegance. I was overjoyed to walk out of the subway at Ginza and see cafe sign! Miles saw my face light up, and promised we would go. The cafe is located on the second floor, which make the window tables the most coveted! You can sip your tea, and taste your delicious macaroons while watching the people below! The menu includes a great brunch and lunch selection if you are looking for something more substantial. The sandwiches will most definitely have their crusts cut off.

Forty Niner Hawaii

(7-5-11 Roppongi Minato Tokyo)

Japanese people love Hawaii! Almost everyone we’ve met loves to vacation there. So it was only fitting that we would find a Hawaiian pancake house in our neighborhood. Forty Niner brings the coconut island flavor to Tokyo with it’s large portions and tropical inspiration. It has a definite diner-feel, that will leave your taste buds happy and your tummy full. We couldn’t decide what we wanted to try more, so we got four plates! Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, but we enjoyed every bite. The coconut milk covered pancake had bits of banana, that was topped with macadamia nuts. The eggs benedict had silver dollar pancakes instead of English muffins, allowing you to have your pancake and eat it too! Miles loved the french toast that was paired with a banana’s foster-style fried banana.

Lunch/Dinner

Nirvana

(1F Garden Terrace, Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)

Nirvana is a delicious Indian restaurant in Tokyo’s midtown building. I love indian food, but Miles was new to the experience. My best friend and roommate Dakota showed me the ropes of all things deliciously Indian in NYC starting with Nan bread!! Paired with curried lentil soup and Miles’ favorite “meat lovers plater,” the top of the line food tasted even better with the terrace view of the park. We went for dinner, but there is also a lunch menu that includes curries, salads, appetizers, nan and desserts for 20,00 yen. Not bad for an afternoon trip to India!

Osteria Amargo

(TOKYO, SHIBUYA KU, Dogenzaka 2-10-12 1F)

Miles and I love to take a train to Shibuya and walk around until we stumble upon somewhere we are interested in trying. Osteria Amargo is definitely a hidden gem, tucked away among the Japanese writing and neon lights. When we saw the amazing oyster bar and rustic Tuscan decor, we knew we wanted to try this place out. The only set back was that the menu was entirely in Japanese. Not an easy optical to overcome. However, the waitress was extremely helpful. We simply told her what we were in the mood for, and she pointed it out on the menu. Everything was homemade, and extremely fresh! The meal was worth every penny, and I absolutely loved the atmosphere. They even had Sinatra playing! A rare find in Japan.