Homura 穂むら

Kamiosaki, Shinagawa City Tokyo-to 2-15-5

https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1316/A131601/13013213/

This is an izakaya that isn’t like any other. With a very small kitchen staff running it, it’s not somewhere you expect to eat a quick dinner on the way back home. It’s a place you go to relax after a long day and enjoy time to spend savouring a delicious meal. There is a set of sashimi, soup and small plates that every customer receives as an hors d’oeuvre as they arrive, which eases you in perfectly accompanied with a drink.

The menu changes daily, each dish costing anywhere from around ¥500 to ¥2000. There are simple dishes like tamagoyaki, a Japanese omelette, as well as nabe (hotpot) style dishes, fried dishes and noodle/rice dishes too. All presented with elegance and grace, but packed with flavour and some kind of original twist.

Although this izakaya is not a place most wallet-friendly, for the quality, it is worth every penny. It may also be worth noting that it is not a place many non-Japanese people know, it may be actually easier to navigate the menu with a Japanese speaker! Very close to Meguro station, it is very easily accessible, and looks appealing outside and in- there are also private rooms even for small parties of four.

Pyon Pyon Sha ぴょんぴょん舎

Ginza glacé 11F, 3-2-15, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061
Tokyo Solamachi 6F, 1-1-2, Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, 131-0045

www.pyonpyonsya.co.jp

If you're not familiar with Morioka Reimen, it's a cold noodle soup dish with a unique, chewy and starchy texture to the noodles. 'Reimen' is originally from Korea, but Morioka reimen was developed in the Iwate region in Japan. The dish is usually spicy, but can be adjustable, with a piece of fruit in the soup to balance out the heat.

Here, at Pyonpyonsha, there are four levels of spice available, including the mildest where the spice comes separately for you to adjust to your own liking. The noodles are perfectly chewy, as they should be, and this dish is refreshing and satisfying.

The menu is vast, with many different options of mixing and matching dishes so that you are able to eat everything you would like. If you are someone who has difficulty in making decisions what dish to get, this menu will allow you the option to not leave your meal unsatisfied. There are also specials, such as the 'overflowing pork' on rice, pictured below.

Some examples of the lunch sets include:
- Reimen + Kalbi BBQ Meat + Namul (different sizes available) = ¥1780/¥1980
- Mini Reimen + Mini Dolsot Bibimbap + Mini Korean Pancakes + Mini Namul + Mini Braised Dish + Mini Dessert = ¥1630
- One noodle dish + 'something extra' (e.g. mini Bulgogi on rice, Kimbap, Mini Bibimbap) = ¥1380

...and lots more! You can check out their full menu here.

For something different from the regular Japanese staples, try this place out- it's going to be like nothing you've tried before.

A Happy Pancake 幸せのパンケーキ

4−9−3 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo Kiyohara Building B1 (Omotesando)
1-18-8 Dougenzaka Plaza Nishinaya Bldg. 3F (Shibuya)
5-8-5 Ginza. New Ginza Building 7F (Ginza)
1-2-4 Higashiikebukuro,  TⅡ Building B1F (Ikebukuro)
1-8-5 Musashino-shi, Kichijōji Honchō, Renga Kan Mall (Kichijoji)

http://magia.tokyo/

There is not much to say, but FLUFFY. Light, sweet, soft, airy and everything happy. There are all sorts of different variations to the soufflé style pancakes here, at 'Shiawase no Pancake', such as the Tiramisu pancakes, Hot Chocolate pancakes, Milk Tea Pancakes, as well as the regional and seasonal pancakes such as the Matcha Pancakes (Kyoto), and the Sicilan Orange and Salted Caramel Pancakes (Sendai). They do also have some savoury options (with different savoury pancakes!) as a set with salad and smoked salmon/omelette if you didn't fancy something sweet.

Each serving takes 20 minutes to prepare, with the griddle in the kitchen in full view. The queue is also pretty long, probably at any time, but they do have a ticketed system so you can always wait while strolling around the town if you would prefer.

These pancakes are pretty special, so I do think this place is worth a visit, at least once. I think having all the sauces/honey drowsed on them would be a bit of an overkill, but maybe that's just me. I would eat a whole plate (or two) of them just as they are!

Awai 旬炉

6-31-18 Okusawa Setagaya Tokyo (Jiyugaoka)

www.awaijiyugaoka.com

There are many izakayas (Japanese gastropub/bar) in Tokyo, and in particular this area, with different vibes and atmospheres, and this is definitely one that falls into the sophisticated type. From the shop layout to the beautiful presentation of the food, it is the kind of place that seems that it would pride itself on presentation.

Like many izakaya restaurants in Japan, the best place to sit is naturally, at the bar where you watch everything being made fresh right in front of you. The yakitori grilled chicken stewers are always a great choice, as well as the fresh fish that changes daily as well as seasonally.

There are some unusual dishes on the menu, but also the classic dishes you would hope and expect for in Japan to enjoy with your sake.

There's not much to love about this place. The setting, the atmosphere and above all, the immaculate food. I would find it a place to be very soothing to come after a long day's work.