Shigarakidyaya - You'll Become Addicted!

Restaurant Review by S. I.

I’d like to introduce one of my favorite Tsurumi ramen shops, Shigarakidyaya. I went there recently. I like Tantanmen in this store and I always order it and request the chef to make it slightly spicy. However I stumbled on a photograph on a food ticket vending machine that day. It was Mazesoba, which was rumored to be delicious by my friends. I thought, "It's a good opportunity for me to eat it!!" So I decided to eat it and I bought a food ticket for 700 yen. After I gave it to the chef, I waited for about 5 minutes, and my Mazesoba was served. A small bowl of rice was also served. The chef said to me, "When your Mazesoba is half-finished, you should put the rice in it."

It's an interesting idea. I immediately began to eat it after mixing the rice and Mazesoba well. The rumor was right because this was really tasty. The rice goes together well with the soba. My stomach was satisfied very much. Mazesoba is now one of my recommended ramen varieties there. When you want to eat ramen, you should go to Shigarakidyaya. The other ramen varieties are also tasty!!
 
Shigarakidyaya (信楽茶屋) - Tsurumi Location
Address: 1F Tokunaga building, 1-18-2, Tsurumityuo, Tsurumiku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken
Phone: 045-504-5668
Hours: 11:30 a.m.~ 2:30 a.m.
Holiday: Monday
URL: http://shigaraki-dyaya.co.jp/
Access: 5 minutes from Tsurumi Station, West Exit

Cook Coop Cafe

Restaurant Review by H. H.

I will introduce my favorite cafe, Cook Coop Cafe. It’s in Kawasaki Atre on the fourth floor and it’s popular among women. The theme is sweet refreshment. The main dishes are salads, and the French dishes make women happy.

The menu includes pasta, curry and sandwiches. There are a lot menu items. The prices are ￥1000~￥1999. The space is surrounded with green and it’s very comfortable. Cook Coop Cafe is recommended for talking with a friend.

The top picture from Cook Coop Cafe shows a vegetable soup. You can choose rye bread or rice. I chose rice. The soup had radish and pumpkin and other vegetables. The menu is very healthy and delicious. The price is ￥950.

I was wondering about another menu item, Avocado and South American Lasagna.The taste looks hot. There are a lot of vegetable in the lasagna. I think it looks healthy. If I go to Cook Coop Cafe again, I want to eat this item. The price is ￥1000.

The Cook Coop Cafe‘s menu changes every season. I want to go there again before they change the menu, but I am also looking forward to their new items. All dishes looks delicious.

Cook Coop Cafe
Address: Kawasaki-shi, Kawasaki-ku, Ekimaehonchou, 26-1, Kawasaki BE,4F
Telephone: 044 222 5757
Hours: 10:00~21:00; Lunch 10:00~15:00; Tea Time 15:00~18:00; dinner 15:00~21:00
URL: http://www.cafecompany.co.jp/brands/cookcoop/kawasaki_be/index.html

Pastel - For Heart & Stomach

Restaurant Review by E. M.

I will introduce the Italian restaurant, Pastel. There are 45 locations in Japan. I went to Pastel in Ebina. It is very close to Ebina Station, so you can find it easily.

Pastel serves pasta and dessert. The price is slightly expensive for me but it is very delicious. I ordered Potato salad pasta (￥1198). I think it is the No.1 pasta in Kanagawa. The staff refilled my water glass and cleared off the table quickly and checked on me often. The atmosphere is good, so you can relax.

That day was lucky for me, because I showed my movie ticket to the staff, and they offered me a free salad. If you watch a movie in the theater, you must show the movie ticket to the staff and you can choose a free salad or one drink.

Pastel is famous for dessert and you can take out. There are many kinds of dessert, such as pudding, cake and roll cake. Pastel recommends their original pudding.

Pastel
Address: 1-6-1 Chuo, Ebinashi, Kanagawa, Marui
Phone: 046-292-4867
Hours: 10:30～22:00
Access: Ebina Station, about 2 minutes on foot

Taj Tandoor - Spicy Tasty

Restaurant Review by N. M.

Taj Tandoor is a fine dining restaurant that specializes in Indian cuisine. There are three locations and I often go to the one in Higashi-Hakuraku. I will introduce this restaurant.

The atmosphere is like in India because there are many things related to India. For example, you can see an Indian map, pictures and traditional ornaments. There are 6 tables but there is no counter. About 20 people can dine there at one time. I cannot say the place is romantic, but there are always couples, families and single diners. There is no music, but the TV is always turned on, which makes the restaurant a little bit noisy. Wi-Fi is available for free.

The menu categories are curry and naan, fried food, spicy salad, dessert and more. Needless to say, the most popular menu item is curry and naan. The food has some special spices and you can choose the level of spiciness. If you are a vegetarian, you can choose vegetable curry. This restaurant’s naan is so big and you can have extra naan free at lunch time.

Taj Tandoor is reasonable in price. There is a course menu for ￥3000. It is better to get the course or lunch set because it is cheaper than a la carte and it includes drinks. The average price of a la carte items is ￥1500. There are special kinds of tea, such as lassi and chai (spiced tea). There is no drink bar, but you can order beer, wine, cocktails or sake.

The staff are from Nepal and they can speak Japanese and English. Their uniform is very simple; a white shirt and black trousers. There is no smoking section at Taj Tandoor and you cannot use any credit cards. There is parking next to the restaurant, and it’s easy to find. You don’t need a reservation but if you want to use coupons, you need a reservation. You can reserve the restaurant for party, and you can combine tables for large groups if you ask.

 Last week I went to the Higashi-Hakuraku location. There were only a few customers, so I didn’t have to wait for a table. I ordered the lunch set and it cost only ￥1000! It included curry, naan, chicken, salad, rice, pickles and a drink. It was spicy but so delicious. There were some desserts so I ordered a mango pudding and a kulfi (a kind of Indian ice cream). They were so tasty. The food was better than at other Indian food restaurants I’ve been to. The staff were very kind and they often checked on me and refilled my water glass. They cleared off the table quickly. I recommend this restaurant because the food is awesome and the price is cheap. Why don’t you go there?

Taj Tandoor (タージ　タンドール)
Address: 3-9-22, Nishikanagawa, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama,
Phone: 045-431-8032
Hours: Lunch 11:00～15:00; Dinner 17:00～23:00（L.O.22:30）
Access: 5-minute walk from Higashi-Hakuraku Station

My Hideout - Bistro Sanjugodanya

Restaurant Review by A. G.

I will introduce Bistro Sanjugodanya, a Japanese style restaurant. My friend works there.

There are many menu items. This restaurant's recommended items are Big Daikon Oden (￥714), Shrimp in Chilimayo Sauce (￥1,029), Minced Chicken Millefeulle (￥780), Potato with Mentaiko (580), Cheese tofu (￥714) and more. I was excited because this restaurant sells fresh fish. There are a lot of dishes with large portions.

The shop is in the basement of the Shibuya City Hotel. There are 110 seats, many private rooms and many counter seats. Inside this restaurant, the lighting is a little dim  and the atmosphere is quiet. All wait staff are kind, bright and cheerful to customers. We were able to spend a happy time there.

If you tell the waiters it's your birthday, they will provide a surprise rendition of Happy Birthday. They present fireworks and cake to the person whose birthday it is.

I recommend this restaurant becouse there are many large dishes, and it's very good. This restaurant has many dishes that are different from other restaurants. It's a very nice restaurant, so please go.

Bistro Sanjugodanya (三十五段屋)
Phone: 03-3770-9835
Address: 1-1, Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Shibuya City Hotel B1                    
Hours: 17:30～23:30 (L.O.22:30)
Access: An 8 minute walk from JR Shibuya Station Hachikou Exit, or 5 minutes from Keio Inokashira Line, Shibuya Station

Petit Bonheur - Let's Try the Salad Buffet!

Restaurant Review by A. F. 

I’d like to introduce my favorite restaurant, Petit Bonheur. I went to the location at Iidabashi in Tokyo. The kind of restaurant is salad buffet and Japanese food. On weekdays lunch is very cheap in price because lunch is only the salad buffet. I ate the lunch salad buffet.  It was delicious. The lunchtime price is from780 yen. I recommend this for people who like a healthy menu.

This buffet’s main menu items are many vegetables, plus roast beef and steak.There are desserts too, and the most popular sweet is the cream puff. It's a healthy and beautiful selection.

There are 25 tables and some counter seats. There are also banquet rooms and party seats. There is a take-out menu too. The restaurant has a friendly style atmosphere. Single people can be comfortable here, but it is best for couples and families.

When you go at dinnertime, I think you must wait a little, so I recommend going at lunchtime. The dinner price is a little expensive. Petit Bonheur is directly connected to Iidabashi Station, so it has good access.

Petit Bonheur (プティボノ)
Phone: 03-3263-3343
Address: 2-4-7 Fujimi Tiyodaku Tokyo
Hours: Weekdays 11:00~22:30 (L.O. 22:00)
             Saturday-Sunday, Holidays 10:00~19:00 (No holidays)  
Access: JR Line Iidabashi Station or Tokyo Metro Line, Iidabashi Station
URL: http://hitosara.com/0006016500/

Hidden Gem - Keijoen

Restaurant Review by S. S. II

Today, I will introduce Keijoen. I went to Keijoen in Tsurugamine. This is a yakiniku restaurant. This restaurant has many menu items. You can eat karubi, rosu, horumon, seafood, salad and more. The meat is very soft and delicious. You can also eat Korean food (kimchi, samgyeopsal, bibimbap,  and more.) soft drinks and alcohol (cocktails, wine, beer and sake are available) There is a course menu (3800 yen~). You can also have a banquet, but you can't reserve the entire restaurant.  

Keijoen is a little expensive. The average budget is 3000 yen~4000 yen.  When children go there, the restaurant serves them a dessert free. You can dine in or take out.

I ate karubi (870 yen), rosu (840 yen), hormon (730 yen), seafood (1300 yen), tongue (980 yen) and ice cream (350 yen).

The meat is soft and delicious, and there is variety of seasonings, such as miso and salt. In particular, I like rosu. It is very tender. I ate a lot and was well satisfied. I recommend rosu. Please try it!

This restaurant is popular. If you go there, I think that you should make a reservation.  There are table seats and tatami rooms (57 seats in all). The service at Keijoen is good. The staff can tell you how to grill the meat for best.results. Smoking is allowed and water is served on request.

This restaurant accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express. You pay at the table.

I recommend to go with your family, friend or lover, but you can go there alone too. This restaurant doesn't have parking, so you must use a nearby parking area. But you can get a service ticket for the parking. This restaurant is on a back road and may be difficult to find. If you don't know the way, look at the website.

I recommend Keijoen because only locals know it. It is not a major yakiniku restaurant chain. Please by all means try it.

Keijoen at Tsurugamine (京城苑　鶴ヶ峰店）
Address:  2F・ 3F Kaneko building, 2-23-23, Tsurugamine, Asahi-ku
Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken
Phone: 045-374-0691
Hours: 16:00~23:00
Holiday: Open every day
URL: http://keijyoen.net/access.html
Acccess: 2 minutes from Sotetsu Tsurugamine Station, North Exit.

Restaurant Granna - Global Food Dining

Restaurant Review by A. H.

There are many restaurants in Shinjuku. I would like to introduce Granna, which is a global food dining place near Shinjuku Station. I went to this restaurant with my mother. This restaurant opened about eighty years ago and serves guests foods from around the world.

At lunchtime, there is a three-course menu that includes hors d’oeuvre, soup, a main dish, dessert, and coffee. Also at dinner time, there is a three-course menu. You can choose fish or beef for your main dish. When I went to this restaurant, I had the lunch course. It was very delicious. It cost 3000 yen to 4800 yen. At dinner time, the course is 4800 yen to 7000 yen. The a la carte menu offers salad, dry curry, mixed nuts, garlic toast, and so on. I think the lunch course is expensive, but the dinner course is mid-range. On the a la carte menu, items start from 700 yen, so it is not expensive and there are many tasty food items.

This restaurant has a very high ceiling and a beautiful green garden, so the open space makes a very good atmosphere. Besides, the atmosphere is not noisy, so you can spend a relaxing time. The staff is kind and friendly. There are many tables, but you need to wait in a line if the restaurant is busy. When I went to this restaurant, I waited about 20 minutes, so I recommend making a reservation before you go. You can also reserve space for a class reunion party or wedding party.

This restaurant is near Shinjuku Station, so if you have free time, please go there. As you can see, there are many beautifully arranged foods.

Restaurant Granna Shinjuku Nakamuraya (新宿中村屋Granna)
Address: 3-26-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3352-6167
Hours: Weekdays Lunch 11:00-16:00, Dinner 17:00-23:00
             Saturdays 11:00-23:00
             Sundays and Holidays 11:00-22:00     
Access: two-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, east side
URL: http://www.nakamuraya.co.jp/granna/

Yassai Mossai - Nice Date Spot!

Restaurant Review by K. M. II

I went to a bar in Shonandai called Yassai Mossai. The location is near the Shonandai Station west side gate. This shop is a dining bar. There are a few tables and a sofa and chairs. You can relax and enjoy time with your friends, girlfriends or family. And there are Super Famicon, Famicon and many kinds of games!! You can enjoy playing TV games while you're there.

The staff are so kind! They always laugh. You can enjoy talking with staff at the counter. The menu is abundant and there are many kinds of alcohol. I reccomend “Suntory Premium Malts.” This shop is one of only 20 stores that are selected to sell  this good, special draft beer in barrels by Suntory. It has a very clear and good taste!! The staff doesn’t know how many types of alcohol they sell, but, they know all about alcohol, including taste, smell, ingredients, and how to enjoy drinking. You can ask them anything about alcohol.

The food menu is abundant too!! There are salads, appetizers, Miyagi-pork, pizza and rice, and several desserts. I recommend “ Mr.Kamiyama salad”. The price is 620 yen. This salad uses vegetables from Shonandai. The menu changes everyday, so you can eat a different kind every time.I ate potato salad. It tasted so good!

If you want to go with many people, and you want to hold a party, you had better reserve. I hope you go to this shop,and have a good time.

Yassai Mossai
Address: 2-5-10 Shonandai Fujisawa Kanagawa, West Plaza 5-202
Hours: Monday-Thursday 18:00〜24:00; Friday 18:00〜29:00; Sunday 18:00〜23:00
Tel & Fax: 0466-46-1831
URL: http://yassaimossai.main.jp/party

Satonoudon - Which to order; udon or rice?

Baradon Set

Restaurant Review by S. S.

I’d like to introduce one of my favorite restaurants, Satonoudon, which is located in Muraoka. There are four stores elsewhere in Japan, and this restaurant has two stores abroad. They serve udon, alone or in a set meal with nice. Satonoudon serves Japanese cuisine and is popular with everyone. It serves a wide variety of udon, but its speciality is the Baradon Set.

You can drink water and barley tea free there. In the summer only, the menu offers keema curry. It is curry with ground meat stewed with vegetables. This is a dry curry with 11 kinds of vegetables. The original sweetness of the vegetables makes this item more attractive.

I went there with my family. I ate the Baradonset (￥993). It is cabbage on rice with pork belly on  top. The baradon becomes more delicious when you add mayonnaise. With the set udon, you can choose either white wheat noodles with tempura crusts  or wheat noodles in soup, topped with deep-fried tofu. Baradon is the most popular item but try the Mayonnaiseyakisoba too. They have a take-out menu if you're in a hurry.

The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and cheerful service. The color of the lights of the room are orange. But the prices are a little expensive. It can be a bit crowded at dinner time, so go early. There are two tables there, and you can eat at the counter.  There are several parking lots there and you cannot pay by a credit card.

Satonoudon
Address: 2-19-2, Muraokahigashi, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-15:00, 17:30-23:00
           vSat-Sun 11:00-23:00
Phone: 0466-26-8625
Website: http://www.satonoudon.com/

Eataly - Let's Eat Italian Food!

Restaurant Review by K. I.

I will introduce Eataly in Yokohama. It is an Italian restaurant and cafe. I didn’t know Eataly. I walked and found it accidentally in Yokohama. It looked good, so I decided to enter.

When I entered Eataly, a clerk said “Which do you choose, the restaurant or the cafe? ” Eataly is divided into a restaurant and a cafe, so I chose the restaurant. When I read the menu, I felt relieved. The prices were reasonable (about 600 yen). But I was surprised immediately afterwards. because these prices were for hams and cheeses. When I turned the page, I saw it was a little expensive. I thought I failed but I ordered the cheapest pasta.

I had the carbonara (1300 yen). It was very delicious and had a good flavor of cheese. It was surprisingly massive. I think it was a worthwhile dish and I was satisfied. I want to go to the cafe next time.

Eataly
Address: Takashima ,Yokohama 2-16, Yokohama Porta B1F, Kanagawa
Phone: 045-620-6448
Restaurant Hours:
   Mon~Fri: 11:00 am ~ 14:30 pm / 17:30 pm~22:30 pm
   Weekends: 11:00 am ~15:00 pm / 17:30 pm~22:30 pm
Cafe Hours: 9:00 am~22:30 pm
URL： http://www.yokohamaporta.jp/shop-guide/detail.php?scd=517
           http://www.eataly.co.jp/

Tonkatsu Shop - Masaru

Restaurant Review by S. T.

I’m going to introduce a tonkatsu (breaded pork culet) shop. It's called Masaru and it's in Kamioooka, Yokohama. Masaru serves many kinds of tonkatsu but they serve other items too. For example, they have ebifurai (fried prawns), shouga yaki (ginger fried pork) and hamburg steak. Masaru has moderate prices, but we can eat very delicious tonkatsu!

I had a negi oroshi katsu (a pork cutlet with grated japanese radish and cut green onions) for about 1200 yen. This is very delicious! The tonkatsu is heavy and filling, but it is not oily. It comes with negi and daikon oroshi (green onions and shredded daikon), which makes it healthy. This is a good idea!

The atmosphere is quiet. You can enjoy eating and drinking. And the staff is very polite. I felt very relaxed there.

There is a movie theater near Masaru. If you have a movie ticket, you can got a free drink! It is very good service!

If you want to eat a delicious tonkatsu, you should go to Masaru!

Tonkatu Masaru Kamioookaten
Address : 1-18-5, Kamioooka NIshi, Konannku, Yokohama
Phone: 045-846-8282
Business Hours: 11:30 a.m -23:00 p.m.
                             No holidays.
Access: 2-minute walk from Kamioooka Station, Keikyu line

Delicious Ramen Shop - Ramen Daiyuu

Restaurant Review by F. N.

Ramen Daiyuu is a ramen shop that specializes in ramen and tsukemen.There are several varieties; shoyu, miso, shio and karashi.

The photo shows Miso Ramen, which is my favorite taste at Daiyuu. The broth is very good and thick. Some ingredients in it are laver, roast pork, corn and  seasoned bamboo shoots. I recommend it. The price is ¥750. I think Daiyuu is cheaper than most chain ramen shops.

This is Karashi Ramen, which I also recommend. Karashi means mixed zha cai pickles, garlic, sesame and sesame oil with chili peppers. There is no mustard. I can't express this taste but it's delicious. I think this ramen has a unique taste that no other Ramen shop has.

There are three tables and eight seats. The shop is quiet and dark because there is only a TV, and no music or radio. The staff is always one or two people. You can pay only cash, so you can’t use a credit card at the register.

Ramen Daiyuu (ラーメン大雄)
Address: 4-13-4 Minamikase, Saiwaiku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa
Phone: 044-599-4461
Business Hours: 11:30 a.m.-22:30 p.m.
Access: JR Yokosuka Line, Shinkawasaki Station, 20 miniutes on foot