Refreshing chicken ramen

Near the Ushima(湯島) metro-station, there is a famous ramen shop called "Daiki(大喜)."　Daiki has no branch shop and we can taste their ramens only at this shop,though Daiki has enjoyed their fame. Every time I passed by, I saw a queue in front of Daiki. Daiki is actually a shabby and small shop, but its taste attracts many people. 

Chicken-salt and soy sauce soup ramen

Special chicken-salt soup ramen

Daiki offers variety of ramens, but their specialty seems chicken-salt soup ramen. The gentle and refreshing taste is different from those of most other ramen shops and gets popularity even among women. But the taste is a little bit simple for me. I got a bit tired of eating the ramen while eating...though I had been very impressed at the beginning. Maybe it would depend on personal preference. I may prefer much stronger and richer taste(definitely this refreshing ramen is better for health...). My rating is 2.5 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Daiki(大喜) http://www.daiki1999.com/

Authentic Italian in Kanda-Sudacho

At a night, I had a chance to go to a popular Italian trattoria called "La Testa Dura(ラ・テスタドューラ)" in Kanda-Sudacho(神田須田町). On the same street, there is the famous soba restaurant of "Kanda Matsuya(神田まつや)." It was true to their high reputation through word of mouth. Even on weekdays, all the tables were occupied. 

Trattoria La Testa Dura

Inside 

Table setting (their menu is like a newspaper.)

Carpaccio

Cold appetizer using pork 

Pasta with squid and its ink 

Penne with cream and Italian mushroom 

It was a good finding! Every dish was authentic and delicious. The fish used for carpaccio was fresh and elastic. Past with squid ink was flavorful. The price might be a bit expensive as a trattoria, but the portion is enough. Service is casual and nice. Selection of glasses of wine was moderate. My rating is 3.9 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

La Testa Dura(ラ・テスタドューラ) http://www.testadura.jp/top.htm

Everyone's FUJIYA!

"Fujiya(不二屋)" is a confectionery company, whose products are sold at every supermarket/convenient store/shop in Japan. Their most popular product is "milky(ミルキー)", a soft milk candy which is called as "taste of Mom." I think 80% of Japanese have tasted the candy. Fujiya also runs cake shops all over Japan and one of which is located in Gina(銀座). We can buy fresh cakes until 22:30pm (I also bought at 22:00).

Fujiya Ginza

Show-case of cakes 

Short cake 

"Milky" cream puff 

The taste is very fine, as always. Their cakes are just simply delicious and meets our expectation! The gentle and straightforward taste brings back memories of childhood. The quality of cream used for cakes might be rich and nice. All the creams were very milky as the name of their product.

Simple cakes using nice ingredients might be sometimes more impressive than fancy and elaborate cakes. I am happy to eat such nice cakes. My rating is 4 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita! 

Fujiya(不二屋) http://www.fujiya-peko.co.jp/index.html

Sushi near Yushima-Tenjin Shrine

Just near the Yushima-Tenjin Shrine(湯島天神), god of learning, there is a small but nice sushi restaurant called "KInoshita(季之下)." We can enjoy Edomae sushi at moderate price in a familiar atmosphere. One of chefs with gray hair is very gentle and warm-heart and we don't have to be nervous sitting at the counter. 

Kinoshita

Inside(at the main counter)

Japanese radish salad and tea 

Tuna and white fish (forgot the name...)

Medium fatty tuna

Sea urchin

Salmon caviar 

Rolled egg and boiled oratosquilla oratoria

Spotted shad with vinegar 

Grilled silver cod in west Kyoto style and clear soup 

Sushi of Kinoshita is delicate and sophisticated. Ingredients are very fresh and cooked carefully. Different from major Edomae sushi restaurants, here, we dip sushi on soy sauce by ourselves(it's ok. I like this style, too). In particular, sea urchin and salmon caviar were impressive...! No smell in sea urchin. Just sweet and tasty... The lunch set we are costs JPY2,800. If you are big eater, the portion might be not enough. My rating is 3.9 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita! 

Udon at Ginza Mitsukoshi

If you can't find suitable restaurants, I advise you to go to the top floor of department stores. You can surely find various choices including international cuisines. In Mitsukoshi Ginza(銀座三越) has also mayn restaurants inside. Even after Mitsukoshi is closed, they are opened until 23pm. The other day, we tried "Choutoku(長徳)", a udon specialty restaurant on the 11th floor in the Annex. 

Entrance of "Choutoku"

Fresh beer

Udon set with tempura and Japanese yam

Japanese sake 

Udon with sliced pork 

Actually, Choutoku was an average udon restaurant... but "average" means already tasty enough. The fish bouillon soup was gentle, not salty. Even if we drink up the soup, it would seem not bad for our health (as it is believed drinking soup is harmful due to much salt content). Udon itself was thick and boiled as "al dente" so that we can enjoy the strong texture. The price is around JPY1,500-2,000. My rating is 2.5 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Choutoku(長徳) http://choutoku-ginza.jp/history/

Yummy yakiniku in Hongo

Hongo(本郷), an academic district where the University of Tokyo(東京大学) is located, has another feature as yakiniku district. Maybe because of young generation, we have many yakiniku restaurants around Hongo. If the king of yakuniku in Hongo is "Yakiniku Jambo(焼き肉ジャンボ)", the queen might be "Boya(房屋)." Bouya buys a whole wagyu cow so that high quality of wagyu beef can be provided at reasonable price.

Second floor of "Bouya"

Beer and Korean-style pickles

Salad

Sauces for yakiniku

Wagyu!

Yakiniku by charcoal

Morioka-style cold noodle

On weekend, it is nearly difficult to get reservation at night. We luckily reserved a table in idle time between reservations. All staff was cheerful and kind. We were excited to eat yakiniku at Boya, but some of them kindly apologized us that we cannot stay long due to many reservations. 

So, the taste of wagyu beef was definitely yummy. Melted in the mouth. As they prepare various sauces for yakiniku, it was fun to choose suitable seasoning. Only a bit regrettable one is a cold-noodle. The texture was good, but it was nearly tasteless(maybe a cook forgot tasting...). But I like the atmosphere of Bouya that we can be relaxed. My rating is 3.5 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Boya(房屋) http://www.bou-ya.com/ 

Stylish cakes in Asakusa

In a minute walk from the Kaminari-Mon Gate(雷門) in Asakusa(浅草), we have a stylish cake shop named "Sweet Sanctuary ISO(スイートサンクチュアリー イソ)." Though I visited just before the closing time, 20pm, they kindly welcomed. The cake shop itself is very stylish like cool boutiques.

Sweet Sanctuary ISO 

Show-case of cakes 

Cheese cake

Cassis cake with pistachio macarron 

Rolled cake with soy beans cream 

Tart of chocolate and coffee 

Same as the appearance, the taste is also stylish and sophisticated. Each cake was excellent and the best one was a rolled cake with soy beans cream. Using a Japanese ingredient, it was perfectly matched with cake. The price is around JPY400, not expensive. If you go sightseeing in Asakusa, why don't you taste the ISO's cakes? My rating is 4 out of 5. Gochiso-samadeshita!

Sweet Sanctuary ISO(スイートサンクチュアリー イソ)　http://www.ss-iso.com/