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Shibuya's best lunch navigator

He usually works for a major company in Shibuya. In 2012, he started going around eating lunch and posting about it on his blog and social media. Now, he visits restaurants not only in Shibuya, but all over Tokyo and the country.

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The recommended dish is "Garlic, Tomato and Chili Pepper." This popular dish has the sour and savory taste of tomatoes and a strong hint of garlic. The chili peppers are also strong, so it's fun to eat it while yelling "Heehee!" It can be topped with cheese, but you can also eat it as is without making it milder. It uses a lot of oil, but the end result is like soup pasta. The "complex" flavor brings out an addictive deliciousness.

There is always a line when you go there around lunchtime. They have stores in "Shibuya Fukuras" and other locations, but started out in this multi-tenant building. The impressive menu item "Zetsubou" (Despair) is also popular. Please try this as well.

The recommended dish is the "Pork Stamina Teppan Set Meal." The hot plate topped with pork, bean sprouts, and fried egg is covered in soy sauce, which makes a sizzling sound that whets your appetite. You can eat it as is, mix the yolk with the pork, or add the kimchi that comes with it, and enjoy the variety of ways to eat it to get excited. The kimchi itself is not too spicy, with a mild spiciness that goes perfectly with rice. The ohitashi and pickles served as palate cleansers are also exquisite.

Also noteworthy is the pork soup, which is actually miso soup. The bowl is packed with burdock, taro, carrots, konnyaku, daikon, and pork, and you can have as many refills as you like. You can also have as much rice as you like... it's a sin for dieters (lol). You're sure to be very satisfied with the nostalgic menu provided by this izakaya that has been in business for 50 years.

The "Pork Vindaloo" contains pork, which is rare for an Indian curry. It also has a distinctive sour taste that is quite pronounced for a curry. When you actually try it, the spices, spiciness, and flavor all combine together to make it the best. On the counter table are soft-boiled eggs, papadum, and four types of seasonings, so it's fun to arrange them however you like. It's amazing how the same combination of spices can have slightly different flavors depending on how you use them.

The ever-changing flavors never tire of the dish, and before you know it, you've finished it all. A little while after you've finished eating, you'll notice that your body is warm from the core. You'll feel warm from the inside and start to sweat comfortably. There's something about this sensation that makes you feel happy.

The ramen is a must-try. You can also order it with a seasoned egg as a topping. The thick and rich soup is made by simmering chicken and pork for a long time. It is not as heavy as it looks, probably because it contains ginger, Chinese cabbage, green onion, and a seafood-based soup made from dried saury and kelp.

Above all, the soup and noodles go perfectly together. The slow-cooked, soft pork slices also have a superb taste. The egg-topped rice, which can be added as an extra, is flavored with white soy sauce made from saury stock. The taste is so refined that it's almost a shame to have it as an extra. Overall, I was very satisfied.

The recommended dish is the "BP Beef Hotpot." The aroma that rises from the pot is reminiscent of a Taiwanese night market. The "Taiwanese" aroma can be felt, and you can feel Taiwan not only from the taste but also from the smell. The dish is a beef hotpot. There are plenty of types of vegetables and the portions are plentiful, so it feels healthy and delicious. The essence of the ingredients is dissolved in the soup, giving it an exquisite taste and texture. Even if you drink only the soup, it is spicy but the flavor is well concentrated.

For lunch, there is only one option: the "Daily Small Dish Set Meal." However, you can choose two from eight main dishes, so there are plenty of options. I'm happy that there is a wide variety of fish and meat options. This time, I chose the well-flavored ginger pork and freshly fried horse mackerel. The sauce is served in a sake cup, which is fun and interesting.

The set meal also comes with five small side dishes selected by the chef. All have a Japanese flavor befitting a small restaurant. The dashi stock is strong, and the taste is gentle and comforting. There is also miso soup with dashi stock, and fluffy rice cooked with Hokkaido Yumepirika rice. It was a hearty set meal where you can taste a variety of dishes in small portions, befitting a small restaurant.

Oyamada Takioto

Started writing and editing in 2014. Mainly covers and writes about "food" and "city things", and works on local news and free papers in Akasaka, Minato-ku, Roppongi, Toranomon, etc. Recently, he has also expanded his reach to Shibuya and Tamachi. Every day, he searches for stories and news that can only be found by visiting the area in person. His favorite food is katsudon.