Devil Craft - Hamamatsucho Location

Restaurant Review by K. M.

Reviewing Devil Craft for a second time may be proof that I have no imagination, but it had been a while, and there are now locations in Hamamatsucho and Gotanda, so it seemed like the right moment. And the pizza is really good and unique for Japan, so why not? This time I tried the Hamamatsucho location, which is on the Keihin Tohoku and Yamanote Lines.

Devil Craft aims to be known for two things; its selection of beers on tap, and its Chicago style deep dish pizza. Having never had actual Chicago deep-dish pizza in Chicago, I can't say if this is authentic, but I can say that I loved the one I had, which is called Devil Works (basically a mixed pizza). I'd prefer it to be a little cheesier, but I have to be appreciative of the way this pizza seems sort of healthy, filled as it is with lots of tomatoes, olives and Italian herbs, to a height of 4 or 5 cm. There are two sizes, small and large, but I think the small appears to have a higher ratio of crust. I'd go for the large if there are two or more in your party.

There are 20 beers on tap, including about 8 local brews. The beer is nice, and at 1000 yen per pint, it should be. I'm not actually in agreement that 20 different kinds of beer are necessary at a pizza place, but maybe there's a late night group that goes there just for that reason? Personally, I go there for the pizza, and if they had only standard Japanese beers with a couple of bottled imports, I'd be just as happy. Cider, wine, cocktails and sodas are also available.

I've never had an appetizer here, but they have nachos (900 yen), waffle cut fries (500 yen), onion rings (700 yen), chicken wings (3/700 yen), salads (1000 yen) and assorted raw veggies (600 yen). They also have pan pizza, which I'll have to try sometime, though I like the Chicago style so much, it may be a while before I get to it. The varieties of deep dish are Cheese, Sausage & Mushroom, Veggie, Mixed (called Devil Words) and Meat. Prices run 1,250-1,750 yen for a small, or 2,500-3,500 for a large (8 pieces).

This place is pretty much a "must try" for people looking for interesting pizza in Japan. It's very casual, and feels a bit like the USA. You make reservations online, and on weekends, you probably should.

Devil Craft (Hamamatsucho location; also in Kanda and Gotanda)
Address: 2-13-12 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0013
Access: Hamamatsucho Station (Keihin Tohoku, Yamanote, Tokyo Monorail); take exit S5 (or S3)
Phone: 03-6435-8428
Hours: Mon-Fri - 17:00-23:00
            Sat 13:00-23:00
            Sun 13:00-22:00 (also holidays)
Website: http://en.devilcraft.jp/about/hamamatsucho/

All You Can Eat - Shabushabu Onyasai

Restaurant Review by T. N.

Today I will introduce Shabushabu Onyasai (しゃぶしゃぶ温野菜), a Japanese style shabushabu restaurant. This restaurant is famous, so everyone knows it, and it is cheap and kind to the wallets of college students. The staff dress in Japanese clothes.This restaurant serves all you can eat. There are many menu items and courses, and  you can eat an all-you-can-eat course cheaply. Courses include pork and domestic chicken (￥2,780) and carefully selected beef and pork (￥2,980), Kuroge wagyu beef (￥4,480), marbled black angus(￥5,680), etc. Of course, it's all-you-can-drink too. If you order shabushabu, you can choose from two kinds of soup stock; Japanese beef soup stock with soy milk, which is popular with women, and sukiyaki soup stock, with kelp.

We ate Ume Shabu for a limited time (￥3,280). If you order Ume Shabu, you can eat plum soup stock and plum pepper. Ume Shabushabu is different form other courses that you can order. It features dark meat from the leg and pork loin. It you order it, you  can eat many kinds of vegetables, such as lettuce, green onions, Chinese cabbage, hackberry, potherb mustard and shiitake mushroom. There is also curry and noodles, and you can choose the amount of rice you want. You can also eat rice cake (mochi) in the shabushabu soup, and the rice cake softens and absorbs the soup stock.!

The all-you-can-drink course includes softdrinks (￥380) and alcohol (￥1,500). There are many alcohol drinks, such as beer, whisky, tea-based spirits, cocktails, makgeolli, wine, sake, shochu and plum wine, so you can't get tired of eating and drinking!! There are also many side items and desserts. The side items include quail eggs, kimchi, salted green soybeans (edamame).Desserts are Onyasai ice cream, ultimate almond jelly and cheese tart.  Onyasai doesn't have a take out menu. The staff are friendly, and noisy and the restaurant has a lively atmosphere, so you can't relax much at the table. But you can enjoy eating and drinking with your family or friends!!!

Shabushabu Onyasai (しゃぶしゃぶ温野菜)
Phone: 03-6872-1129
Address: 1-2 3-1 Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Fuji Bld. 4F
Hours: 16:00～0:00
Access: 5 minutes walk from JR Ikebukuro Station
URL: http://www.onyasai.com/

Hamburger Shop - Carl's Jr.

Restaurant Review by N. Z.

I'd like to introduce Carl's Jr. in Hiratsuka. Carl's Jr is a fast food restaurant with hamburgers as the main item. We can eat authentic American hamburgers in Japan. Carl's Jr has many stores overseas, but in Japan there are only three stores, Akihabara, LaLaport Shonan Hiratsuka and Jiyugaoka, so I think that it is not well known in Japan.

I went there with my mother. My mother and I ordered the third most popular Western Bacon Cheese Thickburger in the store and a combo set of French fries and drinks. This hamburger contains 100% beef from Australia, red cheddar cheese, crisp bacon, onion rings and BBQ sauce. This hamburger is very voluminous compared to ordinary hamburgers. Hamburgers are wrapped in paper for ease of eating, so your hands become less dirty. The patty is juicy, fat is not noticeable and the compatibility with the spicy BBQ sauce is very good. It was very delicious. I dislike onions, but the onion rings were tasty and I could eat them. French fries were crispy and tasty even when cooled down.

Carl’s Jr is mainly hamburgers, but there are also desserts, salads and beers. In the shop there is a drink bar, and if you order a drink, it is recommended to eat inside the shop because it is all-you-can-drink.  The top three popular items in the store are Super Star with Cheese, Original Thickburger and Western Bacon Cheese Thickburger. These can be chosen from 1/2 pound and 1/3 pound. The price is about 1000 yen.

The interior is California style and very fashionable. There is wifi, power outlets for USB and charging outlets in the store so you can spend your time relaxingly. Although holidays are crowded, weekdays are not busy and you can eat immediately. If you want to eat authentic American hamburgers, please go to Carl's Jr.

Carl's Jr.
Address: LaLaport Shonan Hiratsuka 1F, 10-1 Amanuma, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa
Phone: 0463-79-8139
Hours: Mon-Sun 10:00~21:30 (Last order 21:00)
Access: 12 minutes walk from Hiratsuka Station. 4 minutes by bus from Hiratsuka Station North Exit.
URL: www.carlsjr.jp/

Meat Dishes and Wine Bar - Yorozuya Nihei

Restaurant Review by S. T. 

I'd like to introduce Yorozuya Nihei (萬屋二平）in Minatomirai. It's a meat restaurant and wine bar. There are set-meals at lunch time when there are many office workers. On the other hand, it looks like a bar at night.

My favorite lunch menu is Beef Steak Gozen. Rice, miso soup, side dishes and dessert are included. The sauce on this meat tastes like miso. The portions are large, and the meat is tender and delicious, so I think that the meal has a good balance. Moreover, Houji tea is free ( lunch time only service).

My favorite dinner menu item is Beef Tongue Steak. At dinner, rice and other items are a la carte. I ordered soft drinks, but there is an all-you-can-drink option. The plates are stylish and the inside of the restaurant is decorated with wine bottles in various places. It is very tasteful. Also western music is played in the store and you can eat comfortably.

The food is very delicious and the prices are cheap. Lunch time is 1000 yen tax included, but it gets a little higher at dinner.

There are 12 counter seats, table seating for 20, and a private room with 6 seats. Please go to this restaurant.

Yorozuya Nihei (萬屋二平）
Address: Landmark plaza B2F 2-2-1, Minotomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
Phone: 045-319-4824
Hours: Lunch 11:00-15:00 (last order - 14:30)
           Dinner 17:00-23:00 (last order - 22:30)
Access: Minatomirai Line, Minatomirai Station, 2 minutes on foot.
JR Sakuragicho Station, 8 minutes on foot.
URL: real-taste.net/brand/yorozutei/yokohama_landmark.html

Sachifukuya - Japanese Restaurant

Restaurant Review by T. S.

Today, I will introduce Sachifukuya in Machida. Sachifukuya is a Japanese restaurant that serves traditional healthy Japanese food. It's located in the Machida Tokyu TWINS on the 8th floor. I often visit Machida, but this was my first time to eat at this restaurant.

This restaurant is quiet and has a relaxed atmosphere. The menu items are mainly the set meals of meat or fish, boiled rice with tea and a bowl of rice. We can choose either polished rice or whole grain rice. This restaurant provides fish dishes in season for a limited time. Therefore we can taste the season while eating. I ordered Chirimenhime Don. Chirimenhime Don is dried young sardines on rice. Grated yam, miso soup and a pickle are included in this menu besides the bowl of rice. In addition, this restaurant has an all-you-can-eat campaign of

cod roe now, and we can eat as much as we like. The price of this menu is 980 yen. Please look at the photograph on the right. I think this price is cheap with this quantity. We can eat other items for around 1,000 yen, too, and we can have another serving of rice and miso soup.

We went to this restaurant as a group of five people on a Saturday night, but we were able to sit down soon without waiting long. There are a lot of seats in the restaurant, so I think that reservations are not necessary. The shop is all non-smoking, but you can use the smoking area on the same floor to the left of the shop. You can pay in cash or with credit card.

Sachifukuya Cafe (さち福やCafe)
Address: Machida Tokyu TWINS 8 floor
                6-4-1 Haramachida, Machida-shi, Tokyo
Phone: 042-728-2398
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m.

Kitakata Ramen Bannai - Everything is Delicious

Restaurant Review by Y. M.

Kitakata Ramen Bannai (喜多方ラーメン坂内) is a ramen shop which serves ramen originating from Kitakata-shi, Fukushima-ken. Bannai has 61 stores in Japan. Also, there are three stores in America.

There are ten kinds of ramen at Bannai. I think it's neither expensive nor cheap, but it's average price. I ate the Boiled Chashu Pork Rice Set. It's Kitakata-Ramen and boiled chashu pork with rice and a seasoned boiled egg. The cost is ¥940. The noodles of Kitakata-Ramen have a springy texture! The soup has a light taste. Everything is delicious.

They don't have dessert, so if you want to eat dessert, please buy it at a convenience store. There are also soft-drinks and sake. You can drink water or barley tea for free. There is no parking of the store, but there is coin-parking nearby. The parking fee is borne by you.

Bannai gets crowded at noon. There is also takeout. You can buy the instant noodles of Kitakata Ramen and their gyoza (Chinese dumplings). People who want to eat Kitakata Ramen at home may be happy. Bannai is open everyday of the year so you can eat there any time.

Kitakata Ramen Bannai
Phone: 045-786-4100
Address: 2-8-9, Deiki, Kanazawa-ku
                Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
Hours: 11:00 a.m. ~ 10:00 p.m.
Access: About 10 minutes walk from           
              Kanazawa-bunko Station
URL: http://ban-nai.com/index.htm

Volks - Delicious Steaks

Restaurant Review by Y. N.

I would like to introduce the family restaurant Volks. This restaurant is a steak house. It's located in Tsurumi and it is on National Route 1. The main dishes are, of course, steaks. This restaurant is non-smoking in all seats. The atmosphere is calm and the tables are wide, so you can enjoy your meal.

That day I ordered Angus Cut Steak Lunch (¥1,328) and my sister ordered the Hamburger and Steak Lunch (¥1,436). Soup, bread and rice come with every dish, and they are free of charge. And if you pay ¥300, you can also add a salad bar. The steaks have more volume than they look, and the meal provides a sense of satisfaction. Meats are tender and the compatibility with onion sauce is also good. Main dishes are not only beef, but also chicken and pork, and there are other menu items, such as pasta and dessert.

The dinner prices are 1,280 ~ 5,000 yen. but the lunch set ranges from 880 ~ less than 2,000 yen, so prices are reasonable. Lunch time is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. so I recommend going at that time.

Volks (Tsurumi Terao location)
Address: 37-5 Suwazaka, Tsurumi-ku,
               Yokohama-shi
Phone: 045-584-1129
Hours: 11:00 a.m. ~ 24:30 a.m.
URL:  http://www.volks-steak.jp/

Awajishima Curry - Near Our College

Restaurant Review by M. N.

Last week, on Saturday, I went to school and I thought I wanted to have lunch after the second period class with my friend. We entered a restaurant that we hadn't tried yet. The shop's name is Awajishima Curry. I think you have seen this shop because it's located in front of Tsurumi University!

This shop is a curry shop. They are open 11:00 a.m-5:00 p.m and they don't have a fixed day off. There are six or seven tables and there is a hollow in the center of each table. A toothpick container is in the hollow. I think it is very fashionable.

The interior decoration is mostly wood and the chairs are comfortable. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere, and you can enjoy a leisurely meal. The most popular menu item is Awajishima stout pork curry, but that day I ate butter chicken curry. The taste was very good because of the dry garlic on the rice. It stimulates the appetite. The price is 990 yen. Other items are

about the same price. It is a little expensive, but I recommend this shop for lunch.

Awajishima Curry
Address: Tomioka-cho 4-15
Hours:11:00 a.m-17:00 p.m
Phone: 045-451-0782
URL:http://awajishima-curry.com/

Yonakiken

Restaurant Review by S. K.

Hey, guys!! Do you like ramen? I really like ramen. Especially I like light taste ramen. I don't like rich taste ramen because it makes me feel sick. This is between you and me, but I work part-time in a ramen shop, so my evaluation is severe. Today I will recommend a ramen shop, Yonakiken!! Yonakiken is a ramen and Chinese food restaurant. It's not the ramen shop where I work.

Yonakiken's ramen has just a little bit rich taste, so it's just right!! This ramen shop is 5 minutes from the Fuchinobe Station, and it's open until 5:00 a.m. Everyone wants to eat ramen at late at night, right? I want to eat it at midnight.

The ramen shop is very big and there is an atmosphere of the Showa Eva. Showa is old Japan from about 30 years ago. So if you come to Yonakiken, you can feel Showa. There are many menu items, such as ramen, gyoza, fried rice and more. If you have 1000 yen, I think you can eat your fill. But of course, that may not be enough if you are a glutton.

This time, I ate karamiso ramen. I think karamiso ramen is the most delicious in Yonakiken!! It's perfect for those who like spicy foods. The flavor of the miso works well and the hotness accentuates it. The roasted pork filet is soft and matches the noodles well. You can choose the level of hotness. If you like spicy food, you can drink the karamiso ramen soup. Fuchinobe is my hometown, so if you want to go to Yonakiken, I will guide you here!! I want to go there again, so let's go together!!

Yonakiken (夜鳴き軒)
Address: 4-8-1 Kyowa, Chuouku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa
Phone: 042-751-1139
Hours: 11:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 a.m. (last order 4:30 a.m.)
Access: JR Yokohama Line, Fuchinobe Station, about 5 minutes on foot

Hometown Food - Dokonjoh Kitchen

Restaurant Review by S. M.

My favorite restaurant is Dokonjoh Kitchen. There are many kinds of food, such as curry, omelette with rice, piccata and others. The location is Sotetsu Line Izumino Station.

Dokonjoh means guts or tripe. This name, Dokonjoh Kichen, has a special meaning. Even if it's more expensive, they use local vegetables with the guts. It is recommended local production for local consumption.

The waiters are kind, but maybe they don't speak English. The food came out in 5 minutes after I ordered it. My favorite menu item is sirloin steak bowl. This photo is it. It looks small, but I was satisfied. This photo shows vegetables and egg. It is fresh and delicious. I can take as much as I like. The lunch set is around ￥1000. It is a little expensive for lunch, but I can eat fresh and delicious foods. Please go to Dokonjoh Kitchen.

Dokonjoh Kitchen
Address: 6213-2,Izumi-cho, Izumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Phone number: 045-410-8466
Access: Sotetsu Line Izumino Station (walk 3 minutes)

Café Coconuts - Italian Food in Kawasaki

Restaurant Review by A. N.

This time I will introduce Café Coconuts, which is located in Kawasaki. This café features Italian food. The good point of the café is the cuisine, because it's fashionable and the cakes are large and filling. Cafe Coconuts is quiet and very calm.

That day, I ate the daily special pasta set. The daily special pasta set has pasta and a drink, and you can choose soup or salad. This set price is 880 yen. The price is reasonable. I think it's very good and it's my recommendation. That day, the daily special pasta was Japanese-style soy sauce pasta with bacon and spinach. I chose the soup set, and the soup was cold lobster soup (omal shrimp).

The pasta had a rich Japanese -style flavor from the base, and together with the salted bacon, it was very delicious. Furthermore, the pasta had red and yellow paprika and spinach, so it was colorful.The bright colors looked great. And the cafe serves spaghetti that changes each seasons. Café Coconuts has 23 shops in Japan. There are shops in Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Saitama Prefecture.

The cakes are a little expensive, but the taste is really good. It's my recommended café. And the café’s cakes are large. I measured  the cake’s height at 18 cm. The cake was large and delicious, but only a little sweet. There  are many food items and drinks on the menu. There is also a cake set, with a cheap price of 1130 yen.

Be careful You can only eat the daily special pasta set at a reasonable price on weekdays. And it is 10:00 to 15:00.

Café Coconuts
Location: Near Keikyu Kawasaki Station – DICE 3F
Hours: 10:00～21:00  Last order - 20:30
Website: http://www.towafood-net.co.jp/

Musashiya - It's Not Just Ramen

Restaurant Review by Y. T.

Do you know Kichijoji? Kichijoji is in the middle of Tokyo and it's a very popular town. This time I would like to introduce my favorite ramen shop in Kichijoji, Musashiya. This shop is about 5 minutes on foot from the Kichijoji Station. There are 12 counter seats, and 4 table seats. Orders are done by a ticket vending machine, and water is self-service.

This shop has soy sauce ramen and salt ramen. This picture is soy sauce ramen. This is the standard size for 650 yen, but there are other sizes, such as large size. Some ingredients in it are laver, roast pork and spinach. There are also eggs as a topping. You can choose the hardness of the noodle, the strength of the seasoning, and the amount of oil to suit your taste.

I think that if you go to this ramen shop, you should try not only the ramen but also the kyabetya. The price is 100 yen, but there is also a large size. Some ingredients in it are cabbage, roast pork, and garlic. It is very delicious to eat with ramen.

Here you can eat rice for 50 yen with a free refill every time. But I would like to recommend going from 11:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, because the kyabetya, eggs and rice set are sold for 150 yen. Everyone should try this shop.

Musashiya
Address: 1-8-11 Yayoi-building 1F, Kichijoji, Minami-mati, Musashino-shi, Tokyo
Phone: 0422-77-0180
Hours: Monday~Saturday 11:00~1:30, Sunday 11:00~0:30
URL: 6348musashiya.com

Izumiyazushi - Jack of all Trades

Restaurant Review by K. T.

Today, I will introduce Izumiyazushi (泉八鮨). This is a Japanese sushi restaurant. This restaurant is located in my hometown of Ayase. It's the only location. Ayase is a bit far from the city area, but this restaurant is worth visiting. The atmosphere is Japanese style so we can relax very much. This restaurant has many menu items. You can eat many kinds of sushi and other food. I have eaten curry, nikujaga, tempura and more. Everything is delicious, so this chef is a "jack of all trades." Wait till you see what's coming!

The photo shows tuna, salmon and miso soup with sea lettuce. This is my favorite combination and the price is 1200 yen. This restaurant menu is a little expensive, so I go there on special days. The sushi is the most delicious sushi I know.

Next, I'll introduce my recommended way of eating sushi. First, pick up pickled ginger and dip it in the soy sauce. Next, spread it on the sushi. Finally, eat it at the same time. It is so delicious! Please try it! In addition to sushi, there are many delicious dishes on the menu. Please ask for the day's recommendation from the owner.

There is a parking lot near this restaurant. You don't need reservations. There are counter seats and three tables. About twenty people can dine at one time. The staff is always two or three people. They are friendly and their conversation is very interesting, so we can have fun. You can only pay cash, so you can't use a credit card at the register.

Izumiyazushi (泉八鮨)
Address: 3-16-12 Teraominami, Ayase-shi, Kanagawa
Phone: 0467-76-1054
Business Hours: 17:00 p.m.-24:00 p.m.
Holiday: Tuesday
Access: Sotetsu Line Sagamino Station 10 minutes by bus

Doma Doma - I'm Dying to Eat Their Fries

Carpaccio of salmon and mackerel

Restaurant Review by T. W.

I went to Doma Doma (土間土間). This is an izakaya that serves various food items and alcohol. There are so many dishes. We can order them one by one or as a course. I ordered the course. It included soybeans (edamame), daikon radish salad, fried Chinese dumplings, a Japanese omelette, carpaccio of salmon and mackerel, fried chicken, cream cheese and crackers, and udon. And I had all you can drink alcohol and endless french fries for 2.5 hours!! The price was ¥2980 which is  so reasonable. Actually, though, this was the reduced price after a discount from Hot Pepper. The real price is ¥3480, so if you go to this restaurant, you should use a Hot Pepper coupon.

Cream cheese and crackers

The French fries that are all you can eat have 3 flavors; seaweed salt, soy sauce butter and corn pottage. My favorite is soy sauce butter flavor. I had 3 or 4 refills of french fries. And my other  favorite dish is udon.  This was seasoned with  vongole clams. I had never eaten udon like pasta before. I recommend this dish to you.

The atmosphere was good. We sat at a table. The tables are a little way off from other tables, so  friends can talk without worrying about other tables. When I want to call a waiter, I push the button that is on the table. I don't have to shout to call a waiter . The waiters come quickly and they are so polite. We felt so comfortable there.

Doma Doma is a chain of izakayas. I went to the Hashimoto Station shop. We can find Doma Doma restaurants near many stations. Dishes and beverages are reasonable and the taste is not bad. That's why I recommend this izakaya to students.

Doma Doma (土間土間)
Address: 3-17-3 Mairando-building 5F, Midoriku Hashimoto, Sagamihara, Kanagawa
Phone: 042-700-0620
Hours: 4 p.m.- 6 a.m.
URL: http://www.doma-doma.com/

Taimeiken - Rice Omelets

Restaurant Review by K. Y.

Taimeiken is a rice omelet restaurant near Nipponbashi Station. This restaurant opened about 30 years ago, but it has been taken over by the next generation. This time, I will introduce the Taimeiken Ikebukuro Branch. The location is in the food section of the Seibu department store basement in Ikebukuro. I go to this restaurant every month by myself, but sometimes I go with my family.

The Ikebukuro Branch is small, with counter seats only. There is no need for a reservation because the turnover is fast. The chef is one person, and only seven people can sit down at one time. The food comes out in about 5 minutes. And we can see how to make the omelets from our seat, It's interesting because they use a special cooking method. The basic menu is only rice omelets and three types of one plate combination. My favorite is the combo. The price is 1,200 yen to 1,500 yen. Some people say the "prices are expensive,” but I think we can accept a higher a price for this food. Taimeiken's rice omelet has a nickname. It's dandelion rice omlet. This name is very cute and sounds yummy.

I noticed one interesting feature. Male customers get basic ketchup only, but women customers get special ketchup with heart marks. If you have free time, please go to this restaurant. Maybe you will smile.

Taimeiken (Ikebukuro Branch)
Address: 1-28-1 Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo,
Phone: 03-5949-5004
Hours: Weekdays and Saturday 10:00-21:00 (L.O.20:30)
Sunday 10:00-20:00
Acceess: In JR Ikebukuro station, Seibu building.
URL: taimeiken.co.jp/yomoyama.html

Omelet Restaurant - Rakeru

Restaurant Review by K. K.

This time, I'll review a rice omelet restaurant in Kamiooka called Rakeru. I went to Rakeru for the first time. Rakeru's specialty is rice omelets, but there are also chicken steaks and desserts.

The staff's uniforms are so cute because they're red gingham check aprons and black gingham check aprons with big ribbons. The apron is called "Rachel Dress" by the staff.  Rakeru has the image of the lake district of the UK. The inside of the restaurant is calm and quiet and comfortable. The restaurant has fifty-seven seats. There is no drink bar, so you order drinks from the staff.

I ordered the "kuku shrimp omelet with tomato cream sauce" and a lemonade drink (￥1080 + tax).  It was on the lunch menu. The lunch menu has many kinds of omelet served with corn soup and drinks. The omelet arrived quickly.  The kuku shrimp omelet with tomato cream sauce and salad and potato and bread are specially made by Rakeru. This bread is also sold for take out. It's a powerful lunch and the bread and potato were warm and tasty. The bread had a lot of butter in it.

The dishes are very cute because they are printed with a rabbit and king and queen like "Alice in Wonderland."

Other lunch menu items look attractive, too, and at a good price. I think any of them are delicious. If I go to Rakeru again, I will try another menu item.

Rakeru can accept credit cards. You can go shopping in Kamiooka if you go there. How would you like to go shopping after eating?  I recommend going to Rakeru for lunch.

Rakeru:
Address: 〒233-0002  Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama, Konan Ward, Kamiookashi,1-6-1 Wing Kamiooka B138
Phone: 045- 848- 7868
Hours: 11:00 a.m ~ 10:00 p.m  ( last order 9:30 p.m )
Website: http://www.rakeru.jp

Yebisu Beer Hall

Restaurant Review by I. U.

Today I will review Yebisu Beer Hall. This store is located near Yebisu Station. From the station you walk 3 minutes, so it’s very close and convenient.

I will introduce this store's good points. The store is large, with 134 seats. That is very many. There are ordinary seats and long benches. There are many kinds of beers such as Sapporo draft beer, Yebisu beer, Yebisu Premium Black, Kohaku Yebisu, Yebisu Stout Creamy Top, Edelpils Shirohonoka, and Yebisu Meister. I think the beer is a little expensive, but I don’t like beer, so I didn’t try it. I drank cocktails. They are very delicious.

There are many kinds of menu items. I ordered grilled scallops, smoked pork and deep fried chicken nuggets. The meal had a very good smell. I think it was a  little expensive, but it was very delicious. I also had prime angus beef steak (1500 yen), diced pork steak (1500 yen) and an assortment of sausages (2380 yen). These were a little expensive for me, but the portions were large. I was very satisfied. The attitude of the store staff was very good. For example, the store staff smiled and were so cute. They explained the dishes to me.

The food and drinks were very good, but it was a little expensive. The store is very close to the station. You should go there by train, because there is no parking. I think, it’s a really good store. There are many tables, so I waited only 7 minutes. The meal comes right away. I want to go there again.

Yebisu Beer Hall
Address: 1-1-1 Minami Yebisu Shibuya-ku, Shibuya
Phone: 050-5890-6386
Hours: Lunch 11:30-14:30 Dinner 14:30-23:30
Access: 104 meters walk from Yebisu Station

Araki-ya - Small Ramen Shop in Kamata

Restaurant Review by T. K.

Araki-ya opened in Kamata near JR Kamata Station. This restaurant is managed privately and offers delicious ramen with many vegetables. A former employee from Moko-tanmen opened this restaurant.

There are many vegetables in all menu items. For example, there are carrots, cabbage, bean sprouts, and tofu. There is also fried garlic in it. The soup is flavored with vegetables and garlic. There is not only ramen, but also tsuke-men.

The way to order is like this: first, you choose something from the menu, then you choose a topping, then you buy it. It actually comes fast. The prices are not so expensive. I ate Miso-mabo-men. We cannot choose the level of spiciness, but there are menu items with different levels of spiciness.

This restaurant is popular regardless of age or gender.  There are always many people there when it opens.  The atmosphere is little bad. It's very narrow and I cannot relax.

The regular day off at Araki-ya is Tuesday and it closes irregularly. It closes whenever noodles are sold out.

Araki-ya
Location: 7-63-1 Nishi-Kamata Ota-ku, Tokyo-to
Hours: 11:00-15:30, 18:00-19:00
Website: https://araki-ya.com

800 Degrees - Fast Casual Pizza in Shinjuku

Restaurant Review by K. M.
 
800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza recently opened in Shinjuku, conveniently located at the Shinjuku
New South Exit, across the street from Lumine 2. This fast casual chain restaurant offers delicious Neapolitan style pizza in a style that reminds you of a Subway sandwich shop or Chipotle, as you order at the counter and watch the clerk build your pizza while you select the ingredients.

The way to order is like this: first, you choose your base pizza. I chose the Margherita (980 yen), which has tomato sauce, Mozzarella cheese, Reggiano cheese, and some basil leaves. (Other choices for the base pizza are Bianca, Marinara, Verde and Crema.) Then you add the ingredients you like; I chose pepperoni (+300), black olives (+100), red onions (+100), roasted garlic (+100) and Gruyere cheese (+200). The total cost for the pizza was 1780 yen plus tax. It came out fast, but tasted really great! I like that you can choose exactly the ingredients you want, and there are over 30 choices!

I was with my wife, so we also had a Caesar Salad (780), which was quite large, and a side order of meatballs. I also had a cafe latte (380) and a craft beer (680) on tap. The beer was excellent, though a little small for the price.

This restaurant seems to be good for university age students and for people who are in a hurry, such as people who want to eat quickly before or after work. It's not really a place to sit and relax, as it's kind of noisy and people are walking around the tables, since you have to get up to order at the counter. It might also be good for people eating alone, as you can get what you want quickly, sit at the counter by the window, and be on your way.

This chain is new to Japan, but there are a number of locations in California and Nevada, as well as some in Dubai. It appears to be similar to another pizza chain in the U.S. called MOD Pizza, which has locations in America and the U.K.

An article in the Japan Times talked about how fast casual restaurant chains from the U.S., such as 800 Degrees and Shake Shack, were entering the Japan market and giving the fast food industry in Japan a new look. Interestingly, the article doesn't mention Panda Express, an American Chinese food chain which also entered the Japan market recently..

800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza
Location: Shinjuku Station - New South Exit
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Website: http://800degreespizza.jp/