#mytokyo

[csillagmorzsa]

day 189.

shopping @ Ueno

15th July 2016

[shitagami]

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[maggiesofar]

My Tokyo | Ichikoro 156

I can still remember distinctly the afternoon when Keith and I decided on our Tokyo apartment.

We were in Tokyo on our house hunting trip, and we were exploring the Azabu-Juban neighborhood. After a long morning of aimless walking and apartment deliberation, we wandered into a ramen restaurant called Ichikoro 156 for for lunch because Keith and I always make our best decisions over a shared meal. We sat at the counter and just completely flipped out over how delicious the chicken ramen was. By the time the last noodle was slurped up, we had decided that we definitely needed to live close enough to eat here on a regular basis.

Fast-forward a couple years, this restaurant is now one of those places Keith and I go often for happy memories and great food. We take friends and family visiting Tokyo there, we took Mika there as a tiny baby, we’ve celebrated birthdays and anniversaries there.

So while it definitely hits a sentimental note for us, you’ll be happy to know that it’s also just a really, really good meal.

The tori paitan ramen is insanely delicious and very unique among all the pork-based ramen in the city. The chicken collagen soup is creamy and flavorful, and the noodles are cooked to perfection.  While you’re putting in your order at the ticket booth, don’t hesitate to press the button for a side of tasty gyoza as well (we always split a serving of six between the two of us and it’s just the right amount of food).

The restaurant itself is very cool. The walls are covered with drawings, autographs, and happy messages from pleased customers over the years (including yours truly!) It’s a tiny place, but there’s ample counter seating and even a table for four in the front if you’ve come in a group or have small children with you.

There are lots of ramen restaurants to choose from in Tokyo, but I highly recommend making a stop at this one. Its placement by the Azabu-Juban train station exit makes it an easy stop on your visit to the area. And if you’re sitting at the table in the front, you might just spot my family’s signature on the wall by your head!

TORISOBA ICHIKORO 156 2-1-10 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0045, Japan

Open: 11:00 - 4:00 (Every day)

Tel: [phone]

[maggiesofar]

My Tokyo | French Toast Loncafe

On Tuesday afternoon, Mika and I found ourselves with a few idle hours and some lovely weather on our hands. We hopped on the train to Nakameguro, one of my absolute favorite neighborhoods to wander through when the weather is nice and I have some time to myself.

I planned on taking my usual loop alongside the Meguro river, through Daikanyama, to the train station in Ebisu. It’s a bit of a hike, but I always feel invigorated afterward. There’s such an eclectic mix of boutiques, luxe fashion shops, and cafes along this route; you can find stores specializing in everything from the aggressively avant-garde to the cloyingly cute. I usually finish my walk by thinking about how lucky I am to get to explore Tokyo and its various neighborhoods, teeming with culture and quirk, on a regular basis.

But this time when I walked out of the train station and headed toward the river, I decided to skip the walk and stop into French Toast Loncafe for a little treat instead.

This pretty blue box of a cafe has always caught my eye. I think it’s something about the words “coffee and champagne” — the mix of bubbles and bitter, of celebration and everyday comfort — that speaks to both my inner, little girl desire for sparkle and sweet and my grown-up mom need for caffeine and alcohol. But for some reason I had never stopped in before.  It was finally time to change that.

The place is sweet and tiny inside — definitely not one where you can always count on getting a table. I was lucky enough to snag one of the two little tables outside, where I could enjoy the nice breeze and Mika could throw death glares at anyone who dared to smile at her. That’s my little Miss Congeniality.

The menu is sweet — think french toast covered in ice cream and cheesecake. They have a few savory options, but this is clearly a place to come when you’re looking to throw the diet out the window. I opted to try the citrus fruit french toast and, well, it was definitely decadent. The french toast itself was a hit — it was sweet and fluffy — but I maybe could do without the large helping of ice cream slathered on top.

They offer a wide range of drinks beyond simply coffee and champagne. My mango iced tea was, again, very sweet. I think it would be refreshing on its own, but combined with the french toast it was a bit much even for this sweet tooth. I think coffee would have been an excellent choice to pair with the desserts here.

All in all, though, I’d recommend French Toast Loncafe if you’re looking for a treat. It’s pretty, the food is nice enough, and the location is hard to beat. Feel free to add it to your day in Nakameguro — I think it would make a great spot to catch up with a good friend, or for a Mommy and me date with your little girl.

And if you’re lucky (or just luckier than me), she won’t have a fit halfway through the date and throw ice cream on your lap.

FRENCH TOAST LONCAFE 1-22-12 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0051, Japan

Open: Mon-Fri 10:00-23:00; Sat, Sun, and holidays 9:00 - 23:00

Tel: [phone]

[maggiesofar]

My Tokyo | Onibus Coffee

I have a thing for small, independent coffee shops: the decor, the atmosphere, the intense pride in their brews. I used to hunt around Tokyo for the coolest coffee shops, and just set up camp with my laptop or a book for a few hours enjoying the ambience.

One of my favorite places that I found is Onibus Coffee. It’s tiny and pretty and (the main point) it serves great coffee. It sits tucked into a side street behind the Nakameguro train station and right next to a tidy little playground where you can take your coffee if you’ve come with littles.

You can expect to get expertly-made coffee here, but nothing else. There’s no food, no tea. It’s just coffee...and just dang good coffee at that. (If you really want to enjoy a pastry with your coffee, I recommend stopping by City Bakery outside the train station on your way and get a cookie or biscuit to go.)

While the coffee shop is very small, it’s got a gorgeous upstairs sitting area with tons of sunlight, greenery, and natural wood, making a very refreshing spot to go on a drearier day. Downstairs, there are also a few places to sit outside under a vine-covered trellis.

What a beautiful setting to enjoy a cup of coffee, chat with a friend, and (my preferred past-time) smooch on your little baby! 

ONIBUS COFFEE 2-14-1 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0051, Japan

Open: 9:00 - 18:00

Tel: [phone]

[maggiesofar]

My Tokyo | And The Friet

Keith loves fries. In fact, it’s a bit of a joke among our friends that no matter what country we’re in, no matter the cuisine, if fries are on a restaurant’s menu, Keith will order them as a side. We’ve eaten fries in too many places for me to remember —Italy, Spain, Mexico...and now Japan.

Last summer, Keith and I were in Hiroo for one of my OB/GYN appointments, and saw the tiniest french fry stand squished in among the shops and convenience stores. There was a line out the door, and people sitting on a small bench outside chatting happily while munching from small boxes of fries. It was insanely hot that day and we weren’t in the mood to brave the line, so we made a mental note to come back.

As luck would have it, the next few days brought a (much needed but, alas, very temporary) break from the scorching heat. One of these mild afternoons, Keith grabbed me for a quick trip back to Hiroo to try out the fries at And The Friet.

This cute fry joint is actually a chain with several locations in Tokyo, although the Hiroo store is their main branch. They serve different style french fries made with potatoes from around the world — you get to choose the potato origin and the style you want (shoestring, wedge, half-cut). Keith and I have now dutifully tried them all, and I can tell you that they’re all wonderfully light, not too greasy, and cooked to crispy perfection. If you’re looking for even more fried food, they also serve some flavorful fried chicken and tangy fried shrimp.

The real showstopper here, though, is the cooked potato, which is essentially a little ball of mashed potatoes inside a french fry.  My goodness. GET THESE. By far, it is the best snack I have had in a long time.

Whether you have time to sit down at the counter and enjoy the fries at the shop — or just grab a box to snack on the go, And The Friet is a must-visit if you happen to be in Hiroo.

AND THE FRIET 5-16-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012, Japan

Open: 11:00 - 21:00 (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00 - 21:00)

Tel: [phone]

[maggiesofar]

My Tokyo | Sonna Banana Juice

Lately, I’ve been finding more and more opportunities to pop over to Hiroo.

When I was pregnant, Keith and I would head there to National Azabu Supermarket for some international groceries to satisfy my pregnancy cravings (hello, tortilla chips!) And now that Mika’s here and absolutely obsessed with birds, we spend a fair amount of time in Arisugawa Park letting her scream mercilessly at the pigeons.

But whatever the reason we’re there, we have started making a stop at Sonna Banana Juice a regular part of our Hiroo excursion.

I stumbled upon Sonna one afternoon as I was checking out a new dentist office nearby. The banana juice (which I discovered is really just a banana smoothie, in case, like me, you are utterly distracted by the concept of juicing a banana) is made with your choice of either milk or soy milk and toppings like cinnamon, almonds, or black sesame. I ordered it plain with soy milk, and it was GOOD. It’s a perfectly smooth, sippable consistency, with delicious banana taste and not too sweet. I was immediately hooked.

I took Keith there on our next Hiroo trip, and even though he’s not as much of a banana fiend as I am, he was equally impressed. Now he even requests that we stop there every time we’re in the neighborhood, and who am I to disagree? The drink really is too good to pass up and because it’s just a walk-up stand, you don’t have to worry about crowds or getting a table.

So if you’re in the Hiroo area and looking for a simple refreshment, skip the vending machines and head on over to Sonna Banana Juice. You’ll be glad you did. 

SONNA BANANA JUICE 5-9-26 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012, Japan

Open: 10:30-19:00 (Every day)

Tel: [phone]

[popesnose]

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