Hey sendhair or any other Japan living forum members
Are you still in Japan? Are you going to be at Unicon?
What are the culinary “Must Trys” whilst in Tokyo?
Natto? what ever that is, I’m not sure I want to know what it is…
Tempura I want to try ditto a bento box from some where normal like
" thousands of Tokyo commuters buy a bento from" (according a the guide book I read. ). Are there any sweet things / candy I must try?
And on the drinks front what else beside Pocari sweat?
Sarah
I love marmite
Re: NOT a marmite thread
Sorry, I’m not local, but having been in Tokyo a few times, I’ll make a recommend anyway. I may get the name slightly off, but it is either Ineyakana or Ineakaya…something like that, in the Ginza district. The Ginza part is definitely correct. It is a very small restaurant where the diners sit at a “U” shaped long table, and the chefs sit inside the U in front of small braziers. On these small braziers the cook the freshest fish and vegetables imaginable, to perfection. Throughout, the serving staff and chefs use “call and response” for all the food and drink orders. It is aurally and visually hypnotic, even before that first bite arrives.
If possible, go with a local.
On consideration, I believe it is the latter of the two names–Ineakaya–although I may have the spelling wrong. A local should have heard of it…the folks I knew in Tokyo all had. It is one of those higher-end places reserved for special occassions. For me, just being within 10 miles of the place is special occassion enough…it is a dining experience like no other I’ve had.
Well, I was wrong on both the name and the location, but some Googling paid off.
The name is Inakaya, and there are two locations apparently. The one I was thinking of is in Roppongi, a small, ground-floor building.
Here is a link to a diner’s write-up. Page down to the section under the heading: Saturday, November 23, 2002, 11:14PM
http://www.tastingmenu.com/archive/2002/11-november.htm
Here is a link to more details on the restaurant, plus some photos: http://www.tastingmenu.com/media/2002/20021116-inakaya/default.htm Don’t neglect the snapper…
Disclaimer: while I have eaten there twice and the food (and experience) was amazing both times, I was also a guest of Japanese colleagues with expense accounts.
If you google an advanced search to contain both words Inakaya and Tokyo, you’ll actually get a ton of links to either formal reviews or informal web logs from people that have dined there.
I also don’t live there, but I did climb Mount Fuji. And what do I remember, you ask?
Cow Berry ice cream.
And the cheddar and squid flavored pringles, as previously mentioned (In Yatsukaido, I didn’t see them anywhere else).