nana’s green tea (ナナズ・グリーンティー)

Posted on October 16, 09 by seat

角煮温泉卵どんぶりセット、￥１０００。
黒胡麻ガトーショコラパフェ、￥９５０。
Simmered pork belly(Kakuni) and hotspring-egg rice bowl(donburi) set, Y1000. Comes with a drink from the set drink menu.
Black sesame seed Gateau chocolat Parfait, Y950.

As I said before I tend to stay away from chain/franchise food joints so I never tried this Japanese style cafe even though I walked past its branch in Ochanomizu many times. But one day I gave its parfait a try and…..I loved it!! ^^;;; I’ve been going back again and again in the past few months and tried many items from the sweet/food/drink menu; “Black sesame seed gateau chocolat parfait” and “Kakuni and hotspring-egg donburi”(the two pics above) are my favourite sweet and food item respectively. For the rest, I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

黒胡麻わらび餅パフェ、￥８５０。
黒胡麻クリームあんみつ、￥６３０。
Black sesame warabi-mochi parfait, Y850.
Black sesame cream anmitsu, Y630.

I love the black sesame seed ice-cream the most(more than green tea ice-cream or red bean ice-cream) and the sweet red bean paste is black sesame flavour too and is very good.

This branch is in Ochanomizu.

づけ鮪のアボガドとろろどんぶりセット￥１０００。
Second floor of Ochanomizu branch.
Marinated maguro and avocado and tororo(grated mountain yam) donburi set, Y1000.

抹茶ガトーショコラパフェ、￥９５０。
抹茶わらび餅ジェラートパフェ、￥８５０。
Maccha(green tea) Gateau chocolat Parfait, Y950.
Maccha Warabi-mochi Gelato Parfait, Y850. This one has a layer of Maccha soft-cream in the middle which is yummy.

抹茶白玉パフェ、￥８００。抹茶ラテ、￥４５０。
Maccha Shiratama(rice-flour dumpling) Parfait, Y800.
Maccha Latte, Y450. If you order the donburi set, you can choose Maccha Latte or Maccha(without milk) as the set drink for an extra Y150.

The branch inside Tokyo Dome City Laqua.

ヨモギわらび餅、￥６００。
Laqua branch has a nice window view overlooking Kourakuen theme park.
Yomogi Warabi-mochi, Y600.

小倉フルーツパフェ、￥９００。
小倉白玉パフェ、￥８００。
Red bean Fruit Parfait, Y900. Ice-cream is red bean flavour.
Red bean Shiratama Parfait, Y800.

贅沢とん汁とじゃこご飯セット、￥９００。
Tonjiru and Jako(dried small fish) rice set, Y900. Japanese tea comes in a pot.

抹茶白玉ぜんざい（温）、￥６００。あずき黒蜜ラテ、￥５５０。
Maccha Shiratama Zenzai(hot), Y600.
Azuki(red bean) Kuromitsu(black honey) Latte, Y550.

焼芋パフェ、￥８５０。黒胡麻白玉フローズン、￥６３０。
Grilled taro Parfait(winter menu), Y850.
Black sesame seed shiratama Frozen, Y630.

抹茶豆乳ソフトクリームラテ、￥５５０。
Maccha soy milk soft-cream Latte, Y550.

温泉玉子タコライスどんぶり、￥８５０。
角煮やまかけどんぶり（スモール）、￥６８０。
Hotspring egg taco rice rice bowl set, Y850.
Simmered pork belly(Kakuni) and grated yam rice bowl set(small),Y680.

豆腐のキーマカレーどんぶり、￥９００。海老とオクラのカレーどんぶり、￥９５０。
Tofu Keema curry donburi, Y900. Prawn and Okra curry Donburi, Y950.

豚ロースの生姜焼きどんぶり、￥８５０。
ふわふわ鶏そぼろどんぶり、￥７００。
Pork ginger rice bowl, Y850.
Minced chicken rice bowl, Y700.
These two are just so so.

苺と洋梨のきなこキャラメルパフェ、￥９００。
Strawberry and pear’s kinako caramel Parfait, Y900.

nana’s green tea (ナナズ・グリーンティー)

Tokyo Dome City Branch
Add: 3F, Laqua Biru, 1-1-1 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku.
Tel: 03-5689-8123

Ochanomizu Branch
Add: 3-1,Surugadai, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku.
Tel: 03-3294-6541

BROZERS’ (ブラザーズ)

Posted on August 31, 09 by seat

A hamburger shop near Ningyocho station in the Nihonbashi area. The shop is very famous but a couple of my friends told me that they went there with high expectations and were disappointed. After trying for myself, I think the beef patty is not as juicy as I would like, but the burgers are still nice because other ingredients such as the veggy, different kinds of toppings, the sauces and the bread are well-prepared. Also if you order the burger, it will come with very nice French Fries and 2 onion rings – I know it’s common in most countries but it’s not in Japan.

MON Egg Burger, Y1000.
TUE Fish Burger, Y1000.

WED Chili beans Burger, Y1050.
THU Teriyaki Burger, Y950.

FRI Pineapple Burger, Y1000.
Chili Beans Soup, Y600.

Cheese Burger, Y1000.
Minestrone Soup, Y500.

Red Hot Chili Burger, Y950.
Clam Chowder, Y550.

Tar Tar Burger, Y1000.
Fried Chicken, Y580.

Avocado Burger, Y1050.
Chili Beans Dog, Y650.

Sweet Chili Chicken Burger, Y1300.
Onion Rings, Y400.

Chicken Cheese Burger, Y1200.
Brownies with Ice-cream, Y580.

Lot Burger,Y1500. Toppings: Bacon, cheese, egg, pineapple.
Sauces choose from: BBQ sauce, Teriyaki sauce, Red hot chili sauce, or Sweet chili sauce.
Chocolate Shake, Y580.

My favourites are Lot Burger, Avocado burger and Chicken Cheese Burger. If you order the burger from the lunch menu(both “daily special” and the regular burgers), you can get the “hamburger drink set” for Y150. Everything in the Grand Menu is also available at lunch time but no drink set for that. I’ve tried quite a few side menu, soups, desserts etc but I don’t really recommend them. Stick to the burgers!

Lunch menu here.
Grand menu: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

BROZERS’ (ブラザーズ)
Add: 2-28-5, Ningyocho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-3639-5201

九段一茶庵 (Kudan Issaan)

Posted on August 19, 09 by seat

A fantastic soba place located somewhere between Kudanshita and Jimbochou. Absolutely crazy about the soba here. Been going back again and again since last winter and tried everything in the menu. A lot of items are seasonal and only available for a few weeks or so. I think they have MORE variety during summer, probably because soba is actually a seasonal food that doesn’t taste as good in summer so they offer more variety of toppings to compensate.

For all the hot soba with soup, you can choose between regular soba(“seiro”) or thick soba(“inaka” or “country”). For the other soba(e.g.cold soba), you can change the soba from “seiro” to “inaka” for a charge of Y100. I love inaka soba so I always ask them to change it for me. “Oomori”(large size) is plus Y500.

五色盛りそば（￥１８００）：　季節そば（さくら）、黒ごま、田舎、せいろ、けし。
5-colour soba(Y1800): seasonal soba(sakura), black sesame seed, inaka, seiro, keshi(poppy).

つくねそば、￥１５００。たまご焼き、￥８００。
Tsukune(duck meatball) soba, Y1500. Tamago-yaki, Y800.

おろしそば、￥１１００。焼き味噌、￥５００。
Oroshi(grated radish) soba, Y1100. (Inaka +Y100)
Grilled miso(with soba flour), Y500.

鴨南蛮、￥１５００。揚げゆば、￥７００
Kamo Nanban(duck), Y1500.
Fried yuba(tofu skin), Y700.

辛味もちそば、￥１２００。茄子田楽、￥５００。
Grated radish and fried mochi(rice cake) soba, Y1200.
Nasu Dengaku(grilled aubergine with grounded meat in miso), Y500.

胡麻だれせいろ（冷）、￥１３００。つくね煮、￥６００。
Cold seiro with sesame seed sauce, Y1300. (Large +Y500)
Simmered tsukune, Y600.

ねぎそば、￥１２００。ぶっかけ、￥１３００。
Negi(leek) soba, Y1200.
Bukkake, Y1300. Default is inaka soba.

夏野菜かれいせいろ（冷）、￥１５００。竹の子そば、￥１３００。
Summer vegetable curry seiro, Y1500.
Bamboo shoot soba, Y1300.

なす茗荷そば、￥１４００。すずしろせいろ、￥１１００。
Aubergine and myouga soba, Y1400.
Suzushiro(shredded radish) seiro, Y1100.

湯葉とじそば、１３００。赤なす揚げ煮せいろ、￥１４００。
Yuba and egg soba, Y1300.
Fried red aubergine stew seiro, Y1400.

そばとろ、￥１３５０。
生のりと梅もずくの冷かけ（冷）、￥１４００。
Soba toro(grated yam), Y1350. (Large +Y500) (Inaka +Y100)
Raw seaweed and sour plum mozuku cold soba, Y1400. (Inaka +Y100)

一本穴子せいろ、￥１９００。豆乳坦々せいろ、￥１５００。
Anago seiro, Y1900. (Inaka +Y100)
Soy milk tantan seiro, Y1500.

仙台地鶏とたたき長芋のぶっかけ（冷）、￥１５００。
梅ぶっかけせいろ（梅干、大葉、茗荷、三つ葉、カツオ節）、￥１４００。
Sendai chicken and Nagaimo(long yam) Bukkake, Y1400.
Sour plum Bukkake seiro, Y1400.

天ぷらせいろ、￥２２５０。
沖縄島オクラとじゃこヘイヤ（冷）、￥１５００。
Tempura seiro, Y2250.
Okinawa Okra and dried fish and Molokheya, Y1500.

Menu(J): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

九段　一茶庵　本店(Kudan Issaan)
Add: 3-6-6 Jimbocho, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku
Tell: 03-3239-0889

ねんりん家 (Nenrinya)

Posted on June 13, 09 by seat

There are two types of Baumkuchen from Nenrinya – hard type and soft type. The hard type is sugar-glaced and much sweeter but since it’s baked for a longer time, it has a nicer aroma and texture. The soft one is lighter. I bought the fresh type which only last for the day, but there are also more lasting types(i.e. preservatives added).

Chocolate flavour is nice too!
ねんりん家 (Nenrinya)

まにわ (Maniwa)

Posted on June 1, 09 by seat

酒肴コース、￥３０００。
先付：生海苔の冷製茶碗蒸し・のれそれポン酢（穴子稚魚）・真鯵の棒寿司。
刺身：伊佐木・帆立・ぼたんえび。
From the Y3000 dinner course.
Appetizer: Cold chawanmushi with seaweed, young Anago with ponzu, Ma-aji(Japanese horse mackerel) rod sushi.
Sashimi: Isaki, scallop, Botan shrimp etc.

冷物：初夏野菜と素面の冷し鉢（茄子・トマト・オクラ・もろこし）。
The Botan shrimp head left from the sashimi was fried and served.
Cold dish: Early summer vegetable(aubergine, tomato, okra, corn) and somen.

肴物：まぐろと胡瓜の酒盗あえ。
温物：大山鶏つみれの味噌仕立て小鍋。
Snack: Maguro and cucumber with shuto.
Hot dish: Daisen chicken tsumire(meat ball) in miso hotpot.

金目鯛の土鍋炊き込みごはん（２～３人前）、￥１６００。
Rice cooked with Kinmedai in a Donabe(Japanese clay pot). It is not included in the dinner course. Y1600 for one big pot and is enough for 2-3 people.

漬物：自家製ぬかづけ。
Store-made pickled vegetables.

A very tiny washoku place in Asagaya with only about 8 counter seats. Still fairly unknown and not even a decent map available in the internet. I’m so glad my friend brought me here because the food – prepared by a young and pretty lady all by herself – is absolutely delicious and the value for money is unbelievable. You have to order the rice/udon separately from the dinner course, but it’s still very cheap considering the quality and the amount of food you get. I had two storemade fruit wine and it came to about Y5000. Asagaya is a bit out of the way but the value is totally worth the trip.

Menu(J): 1, 2.

まにわ (Maniwa)
Add: 2-10-11, Asagaya-kita, Suginami-ku
Tel: 03-6421-3456
Open: 18:00-23:00
Holiday: Sun, 1st and 3rd Monday of each month

Direction: Come out from the north exit of JR Asagaya station, walk straight and go under the shopping arcade. When you see the fastfood joint “なか卯”(Na-ka-u), turn left. Walk for about 5 mins and Maniwa is on the left side of the street.

インドレストラン　マンダラ (Mandara)

Posted on May 16, 09 by seat

チキンバターマサラ（トマト味のチキンカレー）。
Chicken Butter Masara(Chicken curry with tomato flavour).

Fruits yogurt.

I LOVE this Indian restaurant in Jinbocho! I don’t usually crave Indian food but the curry and the naan here have me completely addicted. This restaurant was featured in a popular Japanese comic about gourmet food called Oishinbo which I haven’t read unfortunately. From the website, this restaurant seems to be under the same group as this and this Thai restaurant, both of which I tried long time ago and didn’t really like. The chef of this Indian restaurant in Akihabara used to work in Mandara, but the quality is nowhere near it.

Mandara is opened for lunch everyday of the week. Lunch B(Y1155) consists of one curry of your choice, naan, saffron rice, and fruits yogurt. Lunch A(Y1575) is Lunch B plus 1pc of Tandoori Chicken and 1pc of Sheekh Kebab. You can choose the spicy level. Level 1 and 2 aren’t hot enough so I always choose 3. I think I’ve tried all the curries available at lunch time. I can’t actually pick a favourite cos everything is so nice but the most famous one is Chicken Butter Masara.

ヌールジャハニカレー(骨付チキンとレバーのカレー)。
マサラチャイ(マサラティー) 、420円。
Noorjahani(Chicken and Liver curry). Masala Chai, Y420.

ベジタブルカレー（季節の野菜カレー）。
ミニ甘口ラッシー、￥２１０。
Vegetable curry. Mini Sweet Lassi, Y210.

シュリンプバターマサラ（トマト味のエビカレー）。
マッシュルームカレー。
Shrimp Butter Masara(Shrimp with tomato flavour).
Mushroom curry.

マトンカレー（羊肉のカレー）。
Mutton curry. I don’t really like the saffron rice here so I always mix it with the leftover curry after finishing the naan.

サグチキンカレー（ホウレン草味のチキンカレー）。
エッグカレー（ゆで卵入りカレー）。
Sag Chicken Curry(Green spinach cooked with onion and spices).
Egg curry.

キーマカレー（挽肉のカレー）。シュリンプカレー。
Keema curry. Shrimp curry.

ダールマカニカレー（3種類の豆のカレー）。チキンカレー。
Dal Makahni(Curry with 3 kinds of beans).
Chicken curry.

フィッシュカレー（メカジキのカレー）。
Fish Curry(Sword fish).

Menu: lunch set, Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat01, Sat02, Sun01, Sun02, Sun03.

インドレストラン　マンダラ (Mandara)
Add: B1, 2-17, Jinbocho, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3265-0498

Le Petit Tonneau Kudanshita (ル・プティ・トノー＠九段下)

Posted on April 25, 09 by seat

豚ほほ肉赤ワイン煮　チョコレート風味、￥１８００。
Pork cheek meat red wine stew with chocolate flavour, Y1800. This one is the best lunch I had in this place. I tried a couple of stewed meat lunch after this but they didn’t taste as good.

I think this place is pretty well-known among foreigners living in Tokyo. Its nearest station is Kudanshita but it is less than 10 mins walk from Jimbocho. I’ve had dinner here before long time ago(see tag). This post is made up of entirely weekday lunch visits when the menu is cheaper than the weekends’. On weekdays, this place is packed with Japanese salarymen and OLs, occasionally you see groups of foreigners or old Japanese couples who seem happy to talk to the foreigner staff in French.

Food-wise, I must say the quality varies depending what you order. The Y1050 spaghetti/short pasta/risotto lunch are very standard and not bad for a workday lunch. The Y1800 meat/fish lunch can range from “delicious!” to “hmm okay” to “…..terrible”. The portion also depends on the day. I guess if you come here for >10 times and you average out all the lunches, you will get a rating somewhere around “not bad”.

豚挽のトマトファルシ　サラダ添え、￥１８００。
Tomato Farcie with grounded pork, Y1800.

豚バラ赤ワイン煮　白いんげん豆添え、￥１８００。
Pork belly red wine stew, white kidney beans, Y1800.

シュークルート、￥１８００。
Choucroute, Y1800.

桜海老　トマトソーススパゲティ、￥１０５０。
黄桃のタルト、￥３００。
Sakura-ebi(prawn) tomato sauce spaghetti, Y1050. Yellow peach tart, Y300.

的鯛とケッパーのリゾット、￥１０５０。
Matou-dai(fish) and caper risotto, Y1050.

仔羊のロースト、￥１８００。
Roasted lamb, Y1800.

牛ホホ肉のビール煮込み　赤キャベツのブレゼ添え、￥１８００。
Cow cheek beer stew with red cabbage braiser, Y1800.

いとよりのブレゼ、岩のりのリゾット添え、￥１８００。
Itoyori(fish) braiser and seaweed risotto, Y1800. I think fish lunch is generally better than meat lunch.

鮮魚のポワレムール貝のスープ仕立て、￥１８００。
Pan-fried fish with mussel and soup, Y1800.

かさごのポワレかぶとベーコンのクリーム煮、￥１８００。
Pan-fried Kasago, turnip and bacon cream stew, Y1800.

かきクリームのスパゲッティ、￥１０５０。
Oyster cream spaghetti, Y1050.

仔羊肉とキャベツのショートパスタ、￥１０５０。
Baby lamb and cabbage short pasta, Y1050.

目鯛のポワレキャベツのブレゼ、￥１８００。
Pan-fried Medai and cabbage braiser, Y1800.

ステーキ　フリット、￥１８００。
Steak and frites, Y1800.
Menu: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.