Another vending machine place, this one seemed to have the emphasis on breakfast stuff.
Again this place was just down the street from us, so you basically can only find good food places everywhere in Tokyo, without even trying or moving very far, Quite an easy to figure out tickent machine and again very cheap.
I took the breakfast set with Clam Miso broth, Grilled Saury, Pickled Vegetables and fried then marinaded Tofu in Dashi, plus Steamed Rice. The Clam Broth had a fantastic salty sweetness, but not many Clams, I guess because its just a side. The Saury was great with that bitter edge in the flesh towards the spine and gut cavity. Something I relish in fresh Mackerel at home that is lost if you fillet them.
OH had the Chicken Katsu breakfast set with Steamed Rice, Creamy Silken Tofu and Miso Soup with Burdock Root
Another great meal again busting the expensive Tokyo idea.
This place was great, again just along from our hotel. The score in here is inside the door there is a vending ticket scenario where you select your meals pay and take your seat, no waiters involved.
We selected from the machine our meals and drinks, including Sake from the machine all at a really good price then sat at the grill tops whilst our stuff came.
I picked Sukiyaki, this was very good, nicely marbled Beef with Sweet Garlic Soy Marinade.
OH got Cubed Steak and very fresh Beansprouts. Both sets came with a Corn & Coleslaw type bowl, Steamed Rice, Miso Soup, Wasabi and Raw Egg. You cook everything on the hotpplate in front of you and if you overcook anything then no blaming the chef in the back!
Really cool Izakaya just down the street from our hotel in Asakusa, we just had somebar snacks and drink, but we will definitely stop back here later in our trip.
We got the cool square wooden drinking cups here, where they poured the Sake until it was oveflowing, a sign of generosity and good luck we're told.
For bar snacks we got excellent crispy whole in shell Shrimps, Stirfry Morning Glory and Pickled Beansprouts with Pickled Shoots.
Fantastic Sashimi on rice for about £2 each from a chain takeaway store. We found a branch just in Sumida. I picked the 3 types of thick sliced Tuna which were all incredibly fresh on fragrant perfect Rice. OH had Crab, Sweet Shrimp and ripe Avocado with burstingly fresh lightly salted Salmon Roe on Rice.
The cute plastic boxes with clear plastic lids came with chopsticks Wasabi, Pickled Ginger and Soy. I would hunt these guys down every time I am near Tokyo from now on!
Chinese restaurant in Sumida. Nice little restaurant not far past the Edo-Tokyo Museum.
OH had Pork Belly and Bok Choy Claypot Rice, which had creat savoury flavour with Star Anise backnotes in the thickened stock.
I took Clams in Butter and Soy Sauce with Garlic Stems, which were brilliant. This style of cooking Clams id something I have replicated with Mussels and Clams at home a few times now and is really my favourite way of cooking Bivalves right now.
A proper day glow food court as oppossed to seperate restaurants on the same floor. So we both went different ways...
I found a Korean Bibimbap Bar which was pretty good: Pickled Beansprouts, Greens and Seaweed on Hot Rice with Fish Roe and Raw Egg Yolk. Very moreish with great sweet spicy chilli paste served seperately.
OH got Tatoyaki with Sping Onion Mayo, very hot, temperature wise, not excellent initially, but they kind of grew on us. Will try them again.
So that with 2 cold beers came to very little, good satisfying pitstop.
We tried a good looking Chinese restaurant that had a set lunch deal displayed on a pretty exterior. Inside was good also with free Iced Tea at the table in insulated jugs.
I chose Spicy Szechuan Prawns (tangy, sweet sauce, succulent fresh Prawns) and OH picked Squid with Garlic Stems plus Morning Glory (a huge favourite of ours) and Black Bean Steamed Chicken Feet.
The Squid was tender,fresh and fragrant and the Morning Glory had good amounts of sizzled Garlic throughout.
I wasn't convinced about the Black Bean Steamed Chicken Feet, OH decided that a cripsy version of Chicken Feet might be a better starting point.
Good price and relaxing lunch in Asakusa, Tokyo does not need to be expensive if you try not to walk into the first place you see.
