Five Culinary Finds in Tokyo that You Must Try

It’s impossible to eat bad food in Tokyo. From street food to haute cuisine and everything in between, the flavors of Tokyo will not disappoint. Here are five unforgettable dining experiences that should be on your bucket list.

For a special take on SUKIYAKI, the popular Japanese dish made of thin beef slices simmered at the table in a shallow iron pot with soy sauce, sugar and mirin, head over to Ganryujima in Ginza, where only the highest quality A5 grade Japanese Black beef is served. To replace sugar in the sauce, the ritual instead starts off with cotton candy that slowly melts as the sauce is added.

Address: Pacific Ginza building 5F, 7-2-20, Ginza, Chuo-ku

Contact: +81-03-5568-5555

If you want to experience Wagyu beef that melts in your tongue like butter, head over to Misuji in Akasaka for a YAKINIKU, the Japanese version of barbecue. Owned by the same amazing chefs of Yoroniku, this spot at Tokyo’s central business district has locals queuing up for Wagyu sirloin, shoulder, tongue and tenderloin cuts grilled to perfection.

Address: 2F, 3-16-3, Akasaka, Minato-ku

Contact: +81-03-5573-8929

A sinfully delightful affair that goes well with beer is the OKONOMIYAKI, a savory Japanese pancake made of flour, eggs, shredded cabbage and a choice of meat, octopus, shrimp or squid that’s best enjoyed in an Izakaya, a casual after-work drinking spot similar to pubs or tapas bars. Gyozasenka Dining-Lee in Shinjuku has an affordable, good value menu.

Address: 3-21-2 Shinjuku NANAE Bldg. 2F, Shinjuku

Contact: +8-203-3350-2228

Nagomi, a four-seater hole-in-the-wall in Shibuya serves the most amazing GYOZA. A simple menu of pork gyoza, shrimp gyoza or a combo with soup or rice lovingly prepared by the owner himself makes this no-frills experience a very satisfying one.

Address: 1-21-15 Jingumae B1f, Shibuya

Contact: +81-03-6804-5569

For the best sushi experience in all of Tokyo, book well in advance for a degustation at the 10-seater Shutoku Honten in the outer area of Tsujiki fish market. The typical pre-fixed 10-sushi menu is about Y 10,000. The sushi chefs are specialists who uphold the sushi bar’s long-standing tradition of pursuing perfection in sushi-making for 400 years.

This sushi is made of male cod sperm sac only available during winter season.

Address: 4-14-16 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku

Contact: +81-03-3541-4015

Where to Eat & Drink Like a Local in Prague

The Classic Chlebíčky

The Czechs are very fond of the chlebíčky, an open-faced sandwich made of savory toppings on a slice of baguette-like bread. They have it for a quick lunch, a snack, finger food at parties or late-night bites. Best enjoyed at Sisters Bistro paired with one of their hearty soups

Where to find it: Dlouhá 727/39, 110 00 Staré Město

Char-grilled Slab of Meat

If you’re a meat-lover, make your way to Kantyna where you’ll be greeted by the slogan “Vy si vyberete, my to ugrilujeme!” The“You choose it, we grill it” ritual starts with your choice of slab of meat which you write on a scoreboard order slip given at the entrance. Then you cross off how many glasses of beer you’d like to have with it (yes, the Czechs love beer!) and head to the counter to pick your meat to be grilled on charcoal.

Order some starters to go with the beer while you wait. You can’t go wrong with some pulled pork, potato pancake, dry-aged beef sausage with truffle, and steak tartare, along with Kozel dark lager. Rub elbows with the locals on the stand up communal table or settle in one of the cozy tables at the back.

Where to find it: Politických vězňů 5, 110 00 Prague-Nové Město,

The Best Czech Beer Experience

There’s a local pub in the trendy district of Karlin that’s become somewhat of an institution in Prague. Locals keep coming back to Local Hamburk because there’s nothing like the taste of fresh draught beer served straight from the steel tanks to your pint glass.

It’s a small space with very few tables so if you turn up without a reservation, you’ll find yourself standing outside, beer on hand next to yuppie locals London-pub-style. Not bad at all in the summer time. The Czechs are a friendly bunch.

credit: lokal-hamburk.ambi.cz

credit: tasteofprague

credit: tasteofprague

Where to find it: Sokolovská 55, 186 00 Praha 8-Karlín

Gourmet But Unpretentious

For a more gastronomic experience in a casual setting, the open kitchen and communal style tables at the Eska restaurant is a good choice. The potato in ash with potato espuma, paired with gin and tonic and fermented red wheat with raw button mushrooms and sautéed black trumpet mushrooms paired with 2016 Blauer Portuguieser are some of the unique creations of Eska the head chef Martin Štangl who combines traditional Czech ingredients with modern cooking methods for a truly unique dining experience.

The tasting menu with 8 courses is 1850 CZK (70 euros). Add 1550 CZK (60 euros) for the pairing drinks.

OMG (Oh My God) Gin

Potato in ash with potato espuma

Sautéed black trumpet mushrooms

Where to find it: Pernerova 49, Karlín, 186 00 Praha 8-Karlín-Praha 8

Sinfully Delicious Czech Ending

credit: roamrambleread

Krystal Bistro serves traditional French cuisine with a Czech touch. But if you’re only looking for dessert, the plum dumpling with poppy seeds, crushed nuts and lots of melted butter paired with a glass of walnut brandy will not disappoint.

Where to find it: Sokolovská 101/99, 186 00 Praha 8-Karlín