What and Where to Eat in Japan

One of the things I regret not having experienced during my Hong Kong trip years back was the local food. So in my succeeding travels, I always made sure to sample out the dishes that are popular to the locals of that country. Since I also love Japanese food, I made sure to make a list of things to try out and cross out all that we were able to sample. I thought of sharing the list, and a couple of comments and suggestions follow:

Ramen

Okonomiyaki

Udon

Sushi Onigiri

Yuba

Cold Soba Yakisoba

Tempura

Gyoza

Yokan

Taiyaki

Soft Cream

Kakigori

Wagyu

Sake Matcha Tea

Yakitori

Kobe Beef

Takoyaki Tonkatsu Karaage

There are a lot of places to sample Japan's delicious food. It depends on what food you would like to taste.

Ramen is one of the most common food for Japanese, so we opted to try this out first. For Ramen, we went to DARUMANOME (だるまのめ) in Akihabara. We were ignorant of how they ordered so we just entered the place and raised our hand to order, but the food is usually ordered through a machine located in front of the restaurant. Then a slip of paper will be printed after you have selected your order and this is what you will present when you get inside. Aside from Ramen, we also tried out their Gyoza. It's so different from what we have here in the Philippines. (Gyoza in PH usually makes me burp afterwards). It kind of tasted like pot stickers in TW. And of course, we topped in with that one huge glass of Coke! All these is priced at 1,150 Yen. The serving is huge so it's already good for two.

Next to Ramen in the noodle craze is soba. We tried one in Shibuya and one in Chiyoda.

Cold Soba with Vegetable Tempura

&

Cold Soba with Squid Tempura

Soba dipped in egg and spices with Beef Strips

We paired this soba with

Karaage

Alcohol-Free Suntory Beer

Another type of noodle that's famous in Japan is Udon. We got to try this out as part of a set in a restaurant in the airport, before we depart for home. It was part of a really affordable set with nigiri sushi. We also added another order of salmon sashimi, and free matcha tea.

Tsukiji Market is the best place to go to if you want to have sushi and all kinds of fresh seafood. Contrary to what I have researched over the internet, food in Tsukiji isn't so expensive after all. You just need to know where to go. We had the following in Tsukiji:

Grilled Oyster

Egg on Stick

Grilled Scallops with Sea Urchin

Nigiri Sushi

Freshly blended Grapefruit Juice

For the Nigiri Sushi Platter, we had it at the second store in the long line of places to eat. I don't know the name but below is a picture of the store. The sellers in this place are very friendly. The Sushi is also affodable. The whole platter is priced at 1,100 and comes with miso soup and free tea.

Now, if you're up for light snacks and sweets of various kinds, you can try Takeshita Street in Harajuku, Shibuya. It's one long street full of fun, colorful, and yummy treats for your tastebuds.

Gelato Strawberry Chocolate and Cream Crepe from SweetBox

Cotton Candy from Totti Candy Factory

Zaku Zaku Croquant Chou

ザクザク

(This is heavenly! Seriously. It's crunchy on the outside, with a filling that oozes right into your mouth with every bite! And the sweetness is just right ~ not lacking and not too much. It's a cream puff unlike any other!)

Cheese Sticks from Lotteria

Potarico Salad Fries from Calbee

Gindaco Takoyaki

(located not really in Takeshita Street but just a few blocks away)

Other sweets and snacks we have tried are the following from our tour in Mt. Fuji and Hakone:

Melon Pan and Coffee

Soft Creme in Choco Mint Flavor (above picture)

and Matcha Flavor (below picture)

Also from Asakusa, you can check these snacks out:

(don't know the name but it's round-shape and very sticky)

Asakusa Kagetsudo Honten Peach Pie

(We were ordering the cream cheese pie but it’s already sold out!)

During our tour in Mt. Fuji, we stopped by Yamanashi prefecture and had our lunch set at below restaurant. It was a quiet place with a really nice view of Lake Kawaguchiko.

Lunch Set is served!

from top left to right Salad, Shrimp and Vegetable Tempira, Chicken Teriyaki, Hoto (flat Udon noodles and vegetables in miso soup), Tofu, Rice, Raddish and Plum sides, and Yokan.

For yakitori and beer, Piss Alley is the way to go. But since we were very tired the night we were supposed to visit Piss Alley, we just opted to go somewhere nearer our hotel in Shinjuku - Irodori, which is located at 1-17-11 Kabukicho | 2F, Shinjuku 160-0021, Tokyo Prefecture. Note though that they charge 500 Yen per seat. In return, you can feel that you're eating in a real Japanese restaurant, where you had to remove your shoes before entering a small private room that's usually good for 4 people.

Salmon Sahimi

(just because we can't get enough!)

Yakisoba

Yakitori

There's a really good place to east Okonomiyaki in the back streets of Shibuya (with address 3 Chome-20-1 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan), named Sakura Tei さくら亭.  We got to cook on our own, which was very challenging but at the same time a one-of-a-kind experience. They also let you cook your own yakisoba, monjayaki, and more.

MOVIE

If you are on a really tight budget, convenience stores are always there to save you. As advised in my full Japan blog, it is advisable to go to convenience stores for at least one meal each day so you don't hurt your pocket too much. There are 3 main convenience stores - 7 Eleven, Lawson, and Family Mart. There are lots of branches (mostly every corner), and lots of food to try in each one, but we mostly bought different flavors of Onigiri and Maki. These are priced between 100 - 200 Yen.

Oh, in case you'll be travelling with kids who would plead for some fast food, there's also McDonalds, KFC, Shake Shack, etc. in Japan. As part of our travel traditions, we tried out Japan KFC. It did not disappoint, though KFC in Korea and Singapore is still the best for me. A pack of 3 pcs. chicken, 1 pc. Chicken fillet, 1 side of potato mojos, and 1 side of nuggets, with 2 glasses of drinks will cost you 1,600 Yen. 

We spent less than Php10,000 / US$200 / 21,000 Yen for 6 days and 5 nights, with around 3 meals each day. You can even spend less than this because this already includes our special meal of wagyu and kobe beef which is priced a little high because of the kind of beef served. This costs Php 3,980 / US$80 / 8,330Yen, almost half of our total spend on food.

Kobe Beef Karbi @ 5,800 Yen and Wagyu with Side Dishes and Drinks @ 1,500 Yen. Drinks and additional taxes sums it up to 8,330 Yen..

To have a taste of this affordable yet very delicious special beef, head over to No.1 Yakiniku Shabu-shabu Shinjuku Higashiguchi Store / No.1 焼肉しゃぶしゃぶ 新宿東口店 located in 1F FCC Bldg, 1-8-3, Kabuki-cho. Below is a picture of the place, for reference.

Where to Eat in California

So it was my first time in America last November 2016. One of my concerns then was where to eat. Of course, not only am I concerned with not having rice for two weeks, but also about my budget! Just thought I'd share the list of some places in LA where you can grab a bite without hurting your wallet. 

Flame Broiler

When you want rice, meat, and veggies in one go at just the right amount.

China Cafe at Grand Central Market

Wanton Soup

I've read in some reviews that this place is always full, so I decided to go there a little early, around 11 I think, and the line is already long. The place seems to be managed by "Latinos" Mexicans", they were talking spanish, so I was a bit unsure if it would really taste good as I was expecting the servers to be chinese. They memorize your name. No numbers. You just give your name, and they remember to whom to serve. It's tasty, it's filling, and it will surely make your day.

Chipotle

Hard Tacos

It's a create your own taco kind of place. You can add more cheese, more greens, it's really up to you, but you should definitely have some of that steak. 

Shake Shack

Burger, Fries, and Chocolate Milkshake

This comes with a happy story ~ the kind that makes you think destiny or "it's meant to be". So we were asked by my friend's relatives where do we want to eat and we just mentioned this. I've read it in some blogs, watched it in some movies, but it seems they themselves who were living in LA were not familiar with it. It turns out that the stores in LA just recently opened. So they did not know how to get there since they do  not know of Shake Shack.... then we were stuck in traffic for sometime and was just passing along Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood.... and boom! It's there right in front of us, Shake Shack in LA!

I'm not a big fan of burgers but if this is the kind of burger I'll have, I am surely converted!

The bread is soft, the burger grilled just right, the fries are crispy but not too much that it tastes like junk. Also a big plus is the guy manning the counter who was very helpful as we were new and we did not know what to order. 

Luigi's Pizza

Good food in Universal Studios though the pizza was a little bit salty

Panda Express

Go to this place and your chinese food cravings will surely be satisfied!

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

That big serving of awesome Mexican flavors! What more can you ask for?

In & Out Burger

Another one of the must try burgers in the U.S.! The serving is bigger, though Shake Shack is really tastier.

The Cheesecake Factory

Fresh Strawberry Cheesecake

Grilled Rib Eye Steak

That mouthwatering cheesecake! It's a bit pricey though, and the line in this place is always looooong.

Food Trippin' in Taipei, Kainan sa Taiwan

If there's anything you shouldn't dare miss in Taiwan, it would be the tasty food that is served everywhere! From posh restaurants to foodcourts, from small eateries to food stalls, from day markets to night markets, steaming hot and delicious food can be found anywhere and everywhere! 

Plus, these are very affordable! Real value for money!

Just a note though, most of the restaurants are in Chinese characters, which I can't read so I can't share the specific names. Instead I am mentioning the locations of where these yummy food can be had.

Noodle Soup in Taipei Zoo

 

Complete set in Taipei 101 Foodcourt

Dumplings in Guang Hua Shopping Mall

Candied Strawberries and Tomatoes at Tamsui Old Street

Fried Octopus at Tamsui Old Street

Dumplings in Ximending Night Market

Spicy Fishballs in Jiufen Old Street

Candies at Jiufen Old Street

Mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooooms!!!

Chinese Sausage at Jiufen

Juices and Snacks at Juifen

The famous Taoyuan Noodle Soup

Tea Time @ Ah Mei Tea House

8way Dumplings and Potstickers in Shi Lin Market

Egg Pancakes in Ximending Night Market

Fried Quail Eggs

Various Eats on Sticks (Mushrooms, Pork, Squid, etc.)

That Bacon Wrapped Mushrooms!

Shaved Ice near Ximending

Fried Rice at the Airport

Siomai at the Airport