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Recommended lunch spots in the "Shibuya area"! Introducing 5 restaurants carefully selected by Kago-san, who works in Shibuya
2024-06-21
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Kago, who works for a major company in Shibuya, has been eating his way through Shibuya's restaurants every day for over 10 years, and is known as "Shibuya's No. 1 lunch and cafe explorer," having visited more than 2,000 restaurants. Each episode features Kago's recommended restaurants, which are based on a theme. He will secretly tell you about restaurants that are a little different from those found on gourmet review sites.
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Shibuya's best lunch and cafe seeker
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.
This time's theme: "Shibusan Area"
The "Shibusan area" is located south of Shibuya Station and is divided by National Route 246. The area mainly refers to the area with addresses in Shibuya 3-chome, and is roughly triangular in shape, located inside the intersection of Hachiman-dori, which runs southwest from Aoyama Gakuin University towards Daikanyama, and the tracks of YAMANOTE LINE Line and other lines, which run southeast from Shibuya Station towards Ebisu Station. It was once called the "B-side of Shibuya," but in 2018, "SHIBUYA STREAM" which opened on the former Shibuya Station platform and tracks of the TOKYU TOYOKO LINE Line, created a new flow of people and greatly changed the bustle of the city. In addition, in July of this year, a new complex called "SHIBUYA AXSH" opened along Aoyama-dori, and is expected to significantly increase the working population and visitors to the city. So this time, we will focus on the theme of "Shibusan," where the bustle of the city is becoming more and more intense, and Kago-san will introduce five recommended restaurants for lunch.
Want to eat fresh fish? A hearty seafood set meal / Nojima
From Shibuya Station, head towards Ebisu along Meiji Dori, near Namikibashi intersection along the Shibuya River. Look for the blue facade.
Name of restaurant: Nojima Fish Cuisine
Address: 3-15-9 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
About the restaurant: Founded at the end of the Meiji era. A seafood restaurant and izakaya run by a fishmonger. At lunchtime, you can enjoy dishes made with fresh fish, such as "sashimi set meals" and "yellowtail rice bowls."
Image from Kagosan's Instagram
The sashimi is rich in fat and extremely fresh. It's also very filling. You can fully enjoy the delicious sashimi. The miso soup is full of clams and has a strong umami flavor. There are also plenty of side dishes such as beans, kelp, and pickles. Furikake and sesame salt are also available on the table, and you can have more rice and miso soup!
The aroma of Asia wafts through the air! Singapore's specialty "Bak Kut Teh" / Shiten Chicken Rice
It's located on Meiji Dori, close to SHIBUYA STREAM. It's on the second floor of the same building as "Gyukatsu Motomura," which is very popular among foreign tourists.
Name of restaurant: Shitenkeihan
Address: 2nd Floor, Ohno Building 2, 3-18-10 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Introduction: A Singaporean restaurant that opened in April 2022. In addition to the famous Singaporean chicken rice, Hainanese Chicken Rice, they also serve other Chinese dishes.
Image from Kagosan's Instagram
We recommend Bak Kut Teh, Singapore's representative soul food. The unique aroma of Southeast Asia will whet your appetite. The pork bone soup, made with Chinese herbs and various spices, has a unique aroma that will make you feel like you're traveling abroad. It is probably adapted for Japanese people, but it has no odor and a strong flavor, making it easy to eat. The tenderly stewed spare ribs are not only delicious, but also easy to eat. The soup is delicious as is, but we recommend dipping it in fragrant jasmine rice. The taste is similar to dashi chazuke, and the B-grade feel is irresistible.
Enjoy rice balls in a "set meal" style / Katsuo to Bonta
Along the passageway on the second floor of SHIBUYA STREAM, there are many popular lunch restaurants, including "Donabe Takigohan Nakayoshi" across the street.
Store name: Katsuo to Bonta
Address: SHIBUYA STREAM B Building 2F, 3-21-3 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
About: Opened in 2018. The rice is milled by a five-star rice master, of which there are only 260 in Japan. The onigiri rice balls are made only with the highest quality rice. The light oden with bonito broth is also popular. Shibuya TOQ Pass is accepted.
This is a smartphone app that provides information on special benefits and other benefits to people working in Tokyu Corporation's office buildings and commercial facilities in Shibuya.
Image from Kagosan's Instagram
The "Freshly-formed rice ball plate" is a satisfying dish that comes with piping hot miso soup with green nori seaweed and a large plate full of side dishes. There is a generous amount of salad, fried chicken and potato salad, and you can change the rice to brown rice. The two main types of rice balls are freshly-formed and fluffy, with the firm seaweed being excellent. There is also plenty of mentaiko and takana ingredients, making it very filling and a very satisfying lunch. It's also nice that you can drop in casually like you would at a fast food restaurant.
Increase your appetite even on hot days! Summer-only "Cold Pork Cutlet Bowl" / Katsuyoshi
From the Shibuya Police Station side, walk along Meiji Dori towards Ebisu for about 150 meters, and you will see a stone lantern. Go down the stairs and you will find yourself in a different world, like a country storehouse.
Store name: Katsukichi Shibuya store
Address: Shibuya-ku, Shibuya 3-9-10 Kdc Shibuya Building B1F
Introduction: A tonkatsu specialty restaurant founded in Nihonbashi in 1958. It is characterized by a refreshing finish achieved by the traditional method of low-temperature frying using corn salad oil. The "hiyashi katsudon" (cold pork cutlet bowl), available only in the summer, is also popular.
Image from Kagosan's Instagram
The seasonal menu item "hiyashi katsudon" is an incredibly innovative dish in which ice-cold broth floating on ice is poured over a warm, freshly fried katsudon. It has been on the menu for over 20 years. The fact that the batter doesn't become soggy is a technique unique to this restaurant. The refreshing finish comes from the shiso, pickled plum, myoga, and cucumber. The addition of mountain yam and okra is sure to give you energy. Eat the smooth broth with a wooden ladle, like ochazuke, in one go! It's so delicious that you could eat as much as you want, and is perfect for hot days when your appetite is low!
Healthy and satisfying "Grilled vegetable curry" / Kimidori
This street-front store is quietly located in a residential area. From Shibuya Police Station, go straight along Meiji Dori towards Ebisu, turn left at the corner of Starbucks and you will find it.
Store name: Kimidori
Address: 1F, 3-12-24 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
Introduction A natural standing bar popular with foreigners. The U-shaped counter seats occupy the center of the bar, and in the evenings it becomes a lively place for conversation.
Image from Kagosan's Instagram
The popular "Grilled Vegetable Curry" is full of grilled vegetables such as okra and onions, and is finished off with a filling pesto sauce. The roux also contains enoki mushrooms and vegetables, giving it a taste that brings out the sweetness of the ingredients. Of course, it is well-spiced, and although it is not hot, it is hearty and satisfying. It is served with a mizuna salad, and you can also choose from two side dishes, so you really feel like you've eaten a lot of vegetables. By changing the base rice to brown rice, the more you chew, the more natural sweetness you can taste. The soup in the set is also full of vegetables, so you won't feel heavy even after you've finished eating, and it's truly a natural dish that will make your body happy!
SHIBUYA AXSH, a new landmark connecting the Shibu-San area
SHIBUYA AXSH, a large commercial facility directly connected to Shibuya Station, is expected to open on July 8th as a gateway to the Shibuya area. The first to fourth floors of this large complex, which is 23 stories above ground and four stories underground, and is about 120 meters tall, will be commercial facilities, and will house a variety of restaurants and other establishments. So, finally, we will introduce some noteworthy stores in SHIBUYA AXSH.
The tallest building in the center of the photo is the newly opened "SHIBUYA AXSH." On the left is "Konnozaka (Aoyama-dori)," and on the right is "Miyamasuzaka," and it serves as a hub connecting the two roads.
Enjoy a satisfying lunchtime experience while feeling the Spanish breeze in Shibuya.
Store name: Cerveza JPN
Address: 2-17-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, 2nd floor (inside SHIBUYA AXSH)
On the second floor of SHIBUYA AXSH, a casual beer restaurant called "Cerveza JPN" has opened, which is the first of its kind in Japan from Spain. "Cerveza" means beer in Spanish, and as the name suggests, you can enjoy over 50 types of craft beer from all over the world, both on tap and in bottles. During lunchtime, they offer a great value menu that includes a salad, appetizer, and paella, and you can choose from chicken, seafood, beef, and Japanese-style paella. The portions are generous and perfect for lunchtime. The restaurant has a lively atmosphere like a Spanish bar. Spanish music and videos are played on the large screen, making you feel like you're in Spain. It's also recommended to stop by with your colleagues after work to relax and unwind from the day's fatigue.
The Shibusan area gives the impression of having many independent shops, and some of the shops change their opening hours depending on the number of customers. While there are many shops along Meiji-dori that have long queues, if you go to the side street you will find hidden shops where there are not many queues. There are many shops that serve dishes that you would have to go out of your way to eat, so this is an area that you should definitely visit as a change of pace from work or as a part of your life experience.
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.
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