Nibbles pt. 3
Tokyo bits & bites
Caroline and I landed at Haneda Airport (Tokyo!) at 4:30am. We couldn’t check in to our hotel until 3pm, so at 7am, we dropped our bags and set out for the day. Little did we know nothing in Tokyo opens until 9am. Not even coffee. Only Konbini (7-11). Bellies full of Konbini egg salad sandos, we strolled around Ebisu and Daikanyama, biding time until my 11am hair appointment (see below for more details on that).
At 10am, Laekker (across the street from my hair apt) opened. The laminated pastries were just three or four bites each. The rillette flavor (pork mince) was my favorite.
Hair. Shout out my girl Sakie @ Fleuri in Daikanyama.
we somehow stayed awake until dinner time. Landing at Ramen Jazzy Beats promptly at 5:30pm. First in line, again. This was my first lesson in the importance of ratios in Japanese food. Each component was the perfect amount and worked harmoniously in the dish. The chashu was succulent, sweet, and smokey. The red onion fresh and crunchy. The egg yolk was so incredibly jammy. And not one noodle out of place.
Lunch #1 at Katsudon-ya Zuicho. Crispy katsu that is placed on top of a partially set omelette while it is still in the pan, served on a bed of perfectly cooked rice and topped with a sticky soy glaze. 6 seats. and silence. simple and delicious.
Lunch #2 at Nasu Oyaji. Calm, cozy, nourishing. Jazzy records being played. Cool eggplant logo. Great vibes on the street outside too. Many buildings in Tokyo were tiled on the exterior. I liked how one building across the street took it to the next level with this mosaic style.
nothing like a pork belly and citrus toastie and banana bread with espresso butter from Omnibus Coffee after an evening with a healthy helping of whiskey highballs.
after braving Ginza crowds, we stopped at Nihonbashi Kaisen Don Tsujihan in Ark Hills (very business center vibes) for lunch. You start with a big pile of fresh seafood on rice. When you get 2/3 of the way in, the chef adds a rich sea bream dashi to your bowl and you add in extra sashimi. multi-dimensional. and delicious.
we met up with friends at Chanko Shibamatsu Nakameguro for dinner. They serve chanko nabe, a style of Japenese hot pot that I learned is traditionally what sumo wrestlers eat to bulk up. Also the first vegetables we consumed in Tokyo :)
Tofu Shokudo for tofu 9.different.ways. my favorite was top left - soft tofu simmered in soy broth over rice. Caroline got a kimchi pork and beef bone broth soup with silken tofu that was incredible.
all the many kinds of tofu outside of the tofu shop - my favorite were the glass pots of silken tofu. plus chic mom fit.
Our final food stop of Tokyo: Flippers for souffle pancakes. Warning it does take them about 40 minutes to make these…only about 3 minutes to eat, though.
will leave you all with this photo of our Tokyo nails - shout out Biddie Tokyo xoxo
