meat yazawa

Jenny & Chan are in Japan and they were nice to make some time to meet up

We checked out Meat Yazawa which has been on my “to try” list for some time

They are known for their hamburg and steaks

They are popular so there is almost always a line

At first we thought we should reserve a table, but they have an unusual system and we would have to order a certain set menu

So instead we decided to go early, so that we could order what we wanted to.

Since their dinner service starts at 17:00, we met up at 17:30.

I had Satoshi work at home, so that we could make it on time...

We were lucky that there was no line

Jenny ordered the single demi glace with fried egg

I ordered the single demi glace with cheese. 

Chan ordered the double with fried egg

He got to choose a different sauce for his second hamburg, he chose demi glace

And Satoshi had the single with fried egg

I think the hamburg with fried egg came with the house sauce which looked shoyu based

Jenny, Chan & Satoshi added the garlic rice, wagyu soup and mini salad

Kat added the rice, wagyu soup and mini salad

You should’ve seen the juices jump out when we cut into the hamburg!

All are cooked medium rare because it sits on the hot plate as you eat

The guys had beer while the girls had iced tea (jasmine & oolong)

Afterwards, I thought that the rice, soup & salad might not be necessary for some because the hamburg does come with mashed potato and some veggies.

We hope they had enough to eat and enjoy the rest of their trip.

It was nice spending some time with them and we are also thankful for all the omiyage they gave us

Thanks for today Jenny & Chan! 

Meat Yazawa

2-15-13 Nishi Gotanda

Shinagawa, Tokyo

Hours: 11:00-15:30 (lunch), 17:00-22:30 (dinner)

gotanda

Friday, we wanted to make an appointment with Satoshi’s bank for the morning but they couldn't see us until 14:00-ish, so we decided to have lunch first then go to the appointment.

Unfortunately it was O-bon, so many businesses and eateries were closed.

Our first choice for lunch was closed so we went to check out Hot Spoon

Super tiny curry shop, they also have a shop in Shinjuku

I chose the simmered beef tendon curry with veggies

This was delicious! the beef and the veggies were super tender

I chose a less amount of their 10 grain rice and mild spiciness….1234 yen (tax included)

Satoshi chose the simmered katsu curry...he chose medium spicy and white rice...he said he enjoyed this…1254 yen (tax included)

Everything comes out bubbling hot hot hot!

I want to try their chicken curry next time

After lunch we walked over to Les Cacaos to have some ice cream.

I have tried their chocolates before but have been wanting to try their ice cream for some time now and finally got to 

I chose the double...with pistachio and 70% Tanzania chocolate…990 yen (tax included)

Both were so ono! lots of pistachios and the Tanzania had lots of cacao nibs! and was super chocolatey too

Satoshi chose the Cacao Pulpe...raspberries and cacao pulp in a vanilla based ice cream…600 yen (tax included)

This had a super refreshing taste

I’m glad I got to try their ice cream and would definitely go back to try their other flavors 

We also checked out Zoo, a pet shop as well as pet acting school.

They have several locations around Tokyo

Their animals are often seen in commercials, J-drama and movies.

Huge poodle, he was so chill!

It was a blazing day, we got our errand done...and had a great lunch at a new to us place...we'll be back!

Hot Spoon

1-14-8 Higashigotanda

Shinagawa, Tokyo

Open daily: 11:00-23:00

*cash or pay pay (electronic payment) only

shao bing

Not sure when Tokyo Doujiang Seikatsu started serving these shao bing "sandwiches" but they are delicious!

The “bread”  is so flaky!

Just the bread (no filling) is 210 yen (tax included), lots of people were eating it with the soy milk soup.

I added scallion omelette and meat floss...110 yen (tax included) each 

It was my first time trying this and I would definitely get this one again.

les cacaos

Satoshi's friend H, recently sent us this box of chocolates as a thank you.

It is from Les Cacaos, which we've tried in the past.

We have never tried their bon bons, so I am looking forward to trying these

I love that it comes with a "chocolate map".

Thank you H!
 

tokyo doujiang seikatsu

Friday, had an errand to run in Gotanda, so I picked up lunch from Tokyo Doujiang Seikatsu.

I've been wanting to try their rice “ball” called Fan Tuan.

Apparently this is what the Taiwanese street carts serve as a breakfast on the go or as a snack.

It comes in a plastic bag which also makes it easy to eat (your hands stay clean)

Sticky rice wraps a braised hard boiled egg, fried cruller (think crunchy crouton), pickled mustard greens, pickled radish and pork floss and then it is shaped into an oblong rice ball.

This was so good! 

Sweet, savory, hints of 5-spice, shoyu, crunch from the pickles and the super crunchy cruller, plus it is filled to the gills! so there is something in every bite.

When you hear “cruller” you might think sweet but it was not.

This rice ball comes in two sizes, small and large.

I got the small..481 yen (tax included) and it felt pretty hefty, I loved the flavors and would definitely get it again!

And as always, I had to get the peanut "bun"...still filled to the gills with crunchy peanut butter...275 yen (tax included)

With all sorts of businesses closing due to the pandemic, I'm glad this place is still around and will be back the next time I am in this area.

this and that

Monday, I had to run an errand in Shinjuku, it has been awhile since I've ridden the Yamanote line this far...

Only in Japan can they make social distancing messages look so cute.

Since I was in Shinjuku, I had also wanted to check out the fall colors at Shinjuku Gyoen, but forgot that they are not open on Mondays...boo!

So instead I admired the cherry tree's leaves in front of Shinanoya at Gotanda.

How cute is this giraffe truck?

This tree near a preschool in our neighborhood was so pretty!

I bought a stollen to try from Sawamura as well as their tuna avocado sandwich.

The sandwich was so good, and filled generously.

And that tomato bread which they used was so tasty! I will definitely have to see if they sell this bread the next time I am in Shinjuku.

I thought I had blogged about Shinanoya, but did not, love their teriyaki chicken.

This is 1 chicken thigh which is 550 yen (tax included) and is huge and meaty.

The teriyaki sauce isn’t sweet like we have in Hawaii.

There is always a line in front of this tiny shop, luckily on this day there was not.

This week was sunny and WARM! 

Hope you have a safe weekend.

tokyo doujiang seikatsu

I had to run an errand on Friday in Gotanda so I went to eat lunch at Tokyo Doujiang Seikatsu.

This tiny shop serves Taiwan style breakfast.

Soy milk soup called shendujyan.

The flavors reminded of this soup.

It kind of looked the same too.

I also ordered a scallion pork "bun" called tsonrousupin...flaky outside with a little sweetness to it.

Lots of pork and scallions inside...so good!

Loved the flavors of the soup and bun.

I also took home a peanut "bun" called foashenpin.

How cute is the package?!

Tiny...

But filled to the gills with crunchy peanut paste and so flaky too!

Afterwards, I read online that they put lard into their dough...well, no wonder it was so flaky!

The outside kind of reminded me of Hawaii-Chinese mai tai su or Hawaii-Japanese pie crust manju.

They have several different types of soy milk soups as well as different types of "buns".

I'll be back to try other items when I am in the area.

Tokyo Doujiang Seikatsu
1-20-3 Nishigotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6417.0335
Closed Sundays
Hours: 8:00-14:00

les cacaos

For Christmas, I purchased some pre-made foods from the supermarket, and these "cakes" from Les Cacaos.

It turned out that this "cake" didn't actually have any cake in it...it was just a rich chocolate mousse filled with a raspberry filling and "glazed" with a 72% madagascar chocolate ganache.

So good!

Will need to go back after March to try their ice creams...

merry christmas

Merry Christmas! Hope you are enjoying the holidays.

Unfortunately it isn't a holiday here, so Satoshi went to work.

I went to Gotanda to check out the Nemu no Ki no Niwa...Nemu no Ki is a Persian Silk Tree...Niwa is Garden.

This tiny park is located on the land where the former Empress Michiko's childhood home once stood.

I think this would be nice to visit in Spring, when there are more flowers blooming...I'll be back.

Lunch was from Ikedayama.

Their tuna tapenade...tuna mixed with olive tapenade in a baguette...delicious!

And their croquant...reminded me of kouign amann....mmm! this version had lots of walnuts.

They have a seats to eat at...I'll be back!

When I got my new cell phone, the cell company gave me 3000 yen to spend using mobile payment called "pay pay" for being a long time customer.

It was my first time using it at the market and I'm glad the cashier knew what to do.

The weather is fahreezing, grey and cloudy...hope you are having a good week!

Ikedayama
5-10-18 Higashigotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.5488.8046
Open daily 8:00-19:00

shunpachi seikaten

Last month, when I went to Gotanda, I stumbled upon Shunpachi Seikaten.

They sell fruits and veggies under the tracks of our train line.

Yesterday, I noticed they also sold bentos.

I picked up this pork kakuni (shoyu pork) bento, especially since the sign said "tender" pork...

Ha! their pork could've been WAY more tender.

But, I enjoyed all the different veggies that topped the bento.

I want to try their other bentos, so I'll be back.

Shunpachi Seikaten (2023: no longer at this address)
1-22-4 Nishi-Gotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6417.0685
Hours: 11:00-19:30 (weekdays), 11:00-19:00 (weekends & holidays)

sugi-no-ki

In yesterday's post, I mentioned that I had bought some baked items from Sugi-no-ki. This shop is super teeny.

I felt a bit pressured knowing that the woman standing by the register was watching what I was putting on my tray.

I ended up purchasing their waguri (Japanese chestnut) muffin, waguri brioche and a wheat roll.

We had these for breakfast today.

Everything was delicious...the brioche was a bit disappointing with only a few pieces of chestnut in it, the roll was moist and delicious with a little butter, the muffin was my favorite, with a lot of chestnut in it.

I noticed on social media that this shop also sells stollen, so I'll be back!

We are expecting some more rain this weekend, which is predicted to hamper recovery and clean up in the areas affected by the recent typhoon.

Hope the weather is better where you are!

Sugi-no-ki
1-25-1 Higashi Gotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6325.5192
Closed Mondays and the 1st Tuesday
Hours: 11:00-19:00

gotanda

The place that I go for rehab is closed on Thursdays (I'm getting my shoulder treated), so I try to go galavanting on these days.

This week, I went to Gotanda, which is at one end of our train line.

I first bought some baked goods from Sugi-no-ki which we'll try tomorrow for breakfast.

As I was waiting at the traffic light to make my way to Les Cacaos, I noticed a woman standing close by with several large paper shopping bags filled with boxes.

On the boxes said 7025 Franklin Avenue...which reminded me that I had bookmarked that restaurant....so I stopped in for lunch.

This shop is "fancy" but they serve burgers and sandwiches...it was fun watching the guys in the kitchen "do their thing".

Cutting sandwich towers with precision.

Another frying up burgers on the griddle.

Towers of paper boxes for take out orders.

The delivery staff running in and out.

The shop was only open half an hour and they were doing steady business with their take out orders.

I ordered the 1/4 pound chili cheese burger.

The bun was toasted, cheese oozy and the chili could have been spicier.

I enjoyed this and look forward to coming back to try other items on their menu.

After lunch, I went across to Les Cacaos, a chocolate shop.

The chocolatier/owner worked under Pierre Marcolini.

I purchased the fig orange chocolate cake, pistachio cherry cake, speculoos cookie and dark chocolate cookie.

The cookies are thick and crisp.

The cakes are moist.

Everything was delicious.

I look forward to going back to try their cakes from their showcase.

The weather has been grey, cold, drizzly.

I hope the weather is sunny where you are.

7025 Frankline Avenue
3-15-18 Higashi Gotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.3441.5028
Closed Tuesdays
Hours: Mondays 11:00-15:00, Wednesdays-Saturdays 11:00-21:00, Sundays 11:00-18:00

Les Cacaos
2-19-2 Higashi Gotanda
Shinagawa, Tokyo
Phone: 03.6450.2493
Closed Tuesdays
Hours: 11:00-19:00

sakura walk (gotanda-shinagawa)

The Meguro River flows from Setagaya to Shinagawa then out to sea.

During the cherry blossom season, one of the most popular area to view cherry blossoms is in the Nakameguro area.

Yesterday was forecast for clouds, so I went to check out the Meguro River cherry blossoms closer to Gotanda.

If you remember, we checked out this area in December when they lit up the cherry trees in the area.

From Gotanda to the Kita Shinagawa Shopping arcade is about 50 minutes on foot.

It wasn't crowded at all and was nice to see many pre-schoolers out and about.

There are foot/car bridges in many places along the route.

It was nice to see people stop from their busy day to take a photo of the cherry blossoms.

Last year, when we were looking for a place to live, we checked out an area close to Shinbamba which is near the Meguro River and Shinagawa.

It was nice to see how the path connected to the Gotanda area.

There were many tours going up and down the river too.

In the business area of Shinagawa, it was neat to see a skywalk where you literally walk above the cherry trees.

Lunch was a falafel plate at City Bakery. Bummer that the pita and falafel were hard.as.rock.

I did eat everything but enjoyed the edamame hummus, curried root veggies, roasted carrot and hidden under the pita, a roasted sweet potato more.

This year Tokyo's cherry blossoms hit "full bloom" status 7 days early...luckily, we hit a cold snap yesterday though the high was only 8C (48F)! brr.

Hope to check out more areas in the coming days.

Have a nice weekend.

meguro river illumination

Before V left Japan, she mentioned she was trying to find the Meguro River Illumination.

During the Spring, the Meguro River is a popular area for cherry blossoms, which I think they light up too.

But, during this time of year, apparently they use pink lights to give the impression of cherry blossoms....

Click the link here to see a very short video.

It turned out that it was the Meguro River, but only in the area between Gotanda and Osaki stations.

Satoshi and I thought the amount of people were quite sparse.

They did have three igloo type huts with kotatsu (heated tables) for people to sit in...I couldn't find any info though on how someone could use them though.

I really liked this blue tree near the Osaki station.

Thanks for telling me about this V!

I'm glad we got a chance to check it out.