Eat Out


February 26, 2015

Craft Beer Market in Tokyo

by Kayoko Akabori

People in Japan are cuckoo for beer. It remains the most popular alcoholic beverage in Japan, accounting for two thirds of all alcohol consumed overall (says Wikipedia). When going out with friends or coworkers after work, it is an ongoing tradition for the table to order a round of draft beers for the first kanpai […]

April 7, 2014

Adventures in Nakano: Yakitori at Shimon-ya

by Kayoko Akabori

One of the most memorable nights I had in Tokyo was an adventure in Nakano, a hip neighborhood in Tokyo. We met up with our friend and Umami Mart writer Will, aka The Ramen Shaman, along with Eri, who suggested a yakitori joint called Shimon-ya. Eri, editor of Ecocolo magazine, brought along her entire staff, […]

March 17, 2014

Tokyo JUNKtion: Hosomaki Diaries

by Yoko Kumano

Trends in roll combinations in the States are rapid, with so many joints coming up with their own “house” rolls. Conversely, the combinations of rolls or makimono are very constant in Japan. In this post, I am specifically referring to hosomaki (or thin rolls). There are the staples: kappa (cucumber), oshinko (pickled radish) and kanpyo (dried […]

February 28, 2014

The Ramen Shaman: Nagi (Golden Gai)

by Will VanderWyden

Nagi, Nagi, Nagi. This one’s been near the top of my ever-expanding ramen bucket list for a long time. I’ve been to a Nagi branch before — it was the first Tokyo bowl I had with fellow ramen blogger Brian from Ramen Adventures, and my first niboshi ramen (aka broth made from dried baby anchovies). […]

February 24, 2014

Tokyo JUNKtion: Jicca

by Yoko Kumano

Whenever I visit Tokyo, I look forward to meeting newborns… especially when I’ve followed the progression of their parents. No, I’m not talking about newborn babies. I’m talking about new places to eat. On our first full night in Tokyo, Kayoko and I visited Jicca, our friend Tori-chan’s place. She opened Jicca last August in […]

January 29, 2014

The Ramen Shaman Moves to Tokyo

by Will VanderWyden

I’m on my longest trip to Tokyo yet. I moved here! They granted me a one year visa, and I’ve been here for twelve days now. I still can’t believe it. My dream for many years has finally come true. I left Los Angeles before Thanksgiving to spend time with my family in Ohio; and […]

September 6, 2013

The Ramen Shaman: Jiro (Kabukicho, Tokyo)

by Will VanderWyden

This was one for the ages. Jiro is legendary. It’s spawned a slew of imitators, one of which crossed an ocean. Many think it’s an entity unto itself, like tsukemen, rather than a type of ramen. I’ve known about Jiro since the very beginning of my ramen journey and although I’ve visited a few jiro-kei (aka […]

August 21, 2013

The Ramen Shaman: Bunsuke (Asakusa,Tokyo)

by Will VanderWyden

I went to the future the other day and found this synopsis on an IMDB page from 2018: A lonely Tokyo ramen shop proprietor secretly pines for a local bar owner and former model. His three most devoted customers, two wacky foreigners and their Japanese friend, fear the ramen master will die without passing his […]

August 5, 2013

Furochan Eats: Bukkake Udon at Sumita, All the Way in Akabane (Tokyo)

by Florentyna Leow

At first glance it didn’t look like there would be anything out of the ordinary in Akabane. A 25-minute ride from Shinjuku, Akabane Station is thronged with commuters coming home or changing train lines — the mark of suburbia. Its local Book-Off has a rather crappy selection of books. The shopping street nearby looked tired […]

July 5, 2013

Postcard from Tokyo: Hungry Ajikawa Curry Shop (Suidobashi)

by Keisuke Akabori

Hambagu (hamburger) curry rice with an over-easy egg and a touch of fresh cream. Our uncle’s curry shop Hungry Ajikawa has been around for 35 years. HUNGRY AJIKAWA 2-17-8 Misaki-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo T: 03-3261-5323