Tokyo


March 14, 2013

Tokyo JUNKtion: Dessert Le Comptoir (Fukasawa)

by Yoko Kumano

The art of perfection is everywhere in Japan. In its laquerware, electronics and especially in its food. Dessert Le Comptoir in Fukasawa, Tokyo is an example of food perfection. A 10 minute bus-ride from Jiyugaoka, it’s a bit of a challenge to make it out here if you are not given specific directions, but when […]

February 27, 2013

The Ramen Shaman: Fuunji (Shinjuku)

by Will VanderWyden

On a dull, drizzling day in Tokyo I set out for my second-ever bowl of tsukemen (ramen dipping noodles). After its introduction in the early 2000’s, tsukemen has boomed in popularity, rising to a crescendo a few years ago and still going strong. Many, many shops in Tokyo offer both standard ramen and tsukemen, and the consensus […]

February 14, 2013

Postcard from Tokyo

by Yoko Kumano

Yakitori at a cramped stall in Omoide-yokocho (Memory Lane) in Shinjuku. The skewer came in a weird soup. Master called it “henna soup”. It was tonkotsu-ish.

January 31, 2013

Tokyo JUNKtion: The B-Kyu Charm of Ramen

by Yoko Kumano

Ramen has always been big in Japan, and since the mid-2000’s it has exponentially grown in popularity and trendiness, with younger entrepenuers trying their hand at making the nation’s most beloved B-kyu (B-Class) food. B-kyu foods are defined as “comfort foods” like curry, ramen, gyudon (beef bowl) and yakisoba. In contrast, A-kyu (A-Class) foods are […]

January 16, 2013

The Ramen Shaman: Junk Garage (Tokyo Station)

by Will VanderWyden

If I gave you several options for dinner and you knew nothing about the restaurants other than their names, and one was called “Junk Garage”, you’re eating there, right? I’m going with Junk Garage every single time. I heard about this shop through the usual ramen fanatic-suspects and was fascinated by their namesake ‘junk’ ramen, […]

January 9, 2013

Postcard from Tokyo

by Yoko Kumano

Cream anmitsu at Nakamuraya on the 9th floor of Tokyu department store (west wing) in Shibuya.

January 4, 2013

Postcard From Tokyo

by Yoko Kumano

Oden shack on the backstreets of Monzennakacho, Tokyo.

December 27, 2012

Postcard from Tokyo

by Yoko Kumano

Sakura-ebi kakiage at Nunotsunesarashina in Tsukiji, my favorite soba spot when I lived in Tokyo.

November 7, 2012

The Ramen Shaman: Miso Ramen at Kururi (Ichigaya)

by Will VanderWyden

My second day in Japan was inauspicious. The sky was dreary, overcast, drizzling all day and on into the night, and I woke up with a full-blown cold to boot. So in other words, the perfect day for a bowl of ramen. After spending the day at the National Museum in Ueno Park, where my […]

October 24, 2012

The Ramen Shaman: Jiro-kei Ramen at Senrigan (Kitazawa)

by Will VanderWyden

This one was a long time coming. Since I first started reading about ramen over at Ramenate I’ve been fascinated by Jiro-kei (Jiro-style) ramen. What is Jiro you ask? Jiro is an institution. It has spawned several official offshoots and many more imitators. Jiro is to ramen as suicide sauce is to wings. It’s the […]