We're going to stay at the Westin Tokyo (points, so I don't want to consider staying elsewhere - it can't be that bad a location, can it?) on vacation - so breakfast won't be included (points stay) unless we upgrade (for continental?). Can we find reasonable places for breakfast either near the hotel or where we're sightseeing, or should we upgrade to get continental? breakfast included at the hotel (don't want to pay $25+ per person for breakfast at the hotel, points sounds more reasonable)?

Go to any place resembling a coffeeshop and check if people are actually eating something with their coffee. Then it's time for the magic words "mooningu setto" and normally A, B or even the luxurious C. :) Could be a grilled sandwich, baguette or even a full fry-up in the family run places.

I think there are bagel shops in Tokyo, just don't know if any are located near the Westin. BTW, noodle soups are not a bad way to start the day either or you could experience fancier stuff at Omotesando, Roppongi Hills or similar trendy venues.

Walk out of the Westin, turn left heading towards Ebisu Garden Place and the subway entrance (Ebisu station -JR). Just befroe you enter the moving walkways of Enbisu Garden Place, there is an American style deli/cafe/coffee shop called Benugo. As a landmark there is an Ebisu Beer Hall just adjacent. Should be a good place for bagels, coffee, pastries, etc.

Mike

Walk out of the Westin, turn left heading towards Ebisu Garden Place and the subway entrance (Ebisu station -JR). Just befroe you enter the moving walkways of Enbisu Garden Place, there is an American style deli/cafe/coffee shop called Benugo. As a landmark there is an Ebisu Beer Hall just adjacent. Should be a good place for bagels, coffee, pastries, etc.

Mike

Ah yes, the Benugo. It is actually the local franchisee of a London company, brought over by the usual enterprising questioning Japanese: if they have that there, why not here? It is usually better than the original. There are a number of them in town, one of them at the Marubiru in Marunouchi.

Of course there is always McDonalds. Sandwiches from a convinient store, pastries and stuff from Starbucks, etc.

You just missed a great place that was walking distance to the Westin. They closed their tiny Ebisu branch and now operate only their Harajuku shop. (Never been to that one)

Make sure you go for the Grub Omlet.

http://www.goodhonestgrub.com/harajukue/index.html

And don't forget Denny's and Royal Host. There's a Royal Host on the Ebisu side of Shibuya (Meiji-dori).

Why eat a continental breakfast in Japan? The one true Japanese breakfast is early-morning sushi at Tsukiji (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308954&highlight=tsukiji)!

how about any vie de France or any other bakery that offers seating (usually located in or near a JR)... gotta also get a royal mi-ru-ku tea.

We're going to stay at the Westin Tokyo (points, so I don't want to consider staying elsewhere - it can't be that bad a location, can it?) on vacation - so breakfast won't be included (points stay) unless we upgrade (for continental?). Can we find reasonable places for breakfast either near the hotel or where we're sightseeing, or should we upgrade to get continental? breakfast included at the hotel (don't want to pay $25+ per person for breakfast at the hotel, points sounds more reasonable)?

There's a chain whose name I forget--but they're a combination bakery and Italian food outlet with a dark green sign with gold lettering. Before noon, you can get an amazing (!) assortment of rolls there with coffee. When I say amazing, I mean everything from the sublime (honey raisin) to the astounding (cod roe with extra mayonnaise).
I agree with the suggestion to go for the "morning set" or "morning service" at a typical coffee shop (usually toast or rolls, an egg, and a tossed salad plus coffee or tea) or to find a "family restaurant" such as Denny's or Jonathan's, all of which serve a variety of Western-style breakfasts AND have picture menus for the monolingual foreign visitor.

Why eat a continental breakfast in Japan? The one true Japanese breakfast is early-morning sushi at Tsukiji (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308954&highlight=tsukiji)!

I don't know - - - natto is pretty true Japanese. Everybody should try it at least once. ;)

First-timers, you will love it! :D

Seriously, I am pretty fond of the traditional Japanese breakfast of fish, rice and miso soup, along with the various sides. I must be the odd man out, as I just can't handle sushi first thing in the morning.

JR

I don't know - - - natto is pretty true Japanese. Everybody should try it at least once. ;)

First-timers, you will love it! :D

Seriously, I am pretty fond of the traditional Japanese breakfast of fish, rice and miso soup, along with the various sides. I must be the odd man out, as I just can't handle sushi first thing in the morning.

JR

Snif, and I thought I would be the only one...Our numbers are small but the spirit is strong. ^

Why eat a continental breakfast in Japan? The one true Japanese breakfast is early-morning sushi at Tsukiji (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308954&highlight=tsukiji)!

This is quite a good suggestion.

Failing that: Regardless of the budget, I always enjoy buying a bento box at one of the stations and having it with a cup of coffee. It's no Western breakfast, but I enjoy every bit of it.

I'm too cheap to pay US$25 per person at the hotel, too.

I must admit that I've had a few breakfast goodies (wrapped in plastic, too) from the AM-PM convience store down the street.

BTW, if you do stoop this low, don't miss the (plastic wrapped) hot dog and pastry with wasabi catsup! It's great and I even sneak some home with me back in the US for my fam to try. they love them!!

I'm too cheap to pay US$25 per person at the hotel, too.

I must admit that I've had a few breakfast goodies (wrapped in plastic, too) from the AM-PM convience store down the street.

BTW, if you do stoop this low, don't miss the (plastic wrapped) hot dog and pastry with wasabi catsup! It's great and I even sneak some home with me back in the US for my fam to try. they love them!!

Just my opinion, but the only foodstuff I would touch at a conbini in wintertime are the oden simmering at the counter. For deli style hot dogs, ahem, my handle tells it all...

To save paying Y3000 for breakfast at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, head down to B1 where you can get a straightforward coffee shop breakfast at Excelsior Caffe (it used to be Exceisior Cafe, but they couldn't correct one mistake without making another) for about Y600.

When I stayed at the Westin, I have to admit I often gave in to the Egg McMuffin at the nearby MickeyD's.

I further second the notion on sushi breakfast at Tsukiji, but if you're not up for that trip, a bento box can be good. Check the department stores the night before at closing, and you can often find bento w/ or w/o sushi at half price. It's still fine in the morning.

And I love natto!

I must be the odd man out, as I just can't handle sushi first thing in the morning.

JR
No, here's another...

I further second the notion on sushi breakfast at Tsukiji, but if you're not up for that trip, a bento box can be good. Check the department stores the night before at closing, and you can often find bento w/ or w/o sushi at half price. It's still fine in the morning.

And I love natto!

All supermarkets carry sushi and other bento and the normal price is not that bad, is it? While I would consider eating leftover piz...kara-age or korokke, raw fish should be as fresh as possible. :)

There's a chain whose name I forget--but they're a combination bakery and Italian food outlet with a dark green sign with gold lettering. Before noon, you can get an amazing (!) assortment of rolls there with coffee. When I say amazing, I mean everything from the sublime (honey raisin) to the astounding (cod roe with extra mayonnaise).
I believe you are referring to Pronto.

I'd just say to go to any cafe type place. There's certainly no shortage of them. There are also many places that sell bread and pastries. Or you could even go to a grocery store (something I would reccomend in the first place).

Come to my place , I serve a mean oatmeal with fruit or delicious homemade granola every morning..........you will have to fight the bull terrier for the yoghurt though........

My thing, I pay for the expensive buffet breakfast at the hotel (and at least go up for seconds or thirds to make it worthwhile) then I go cheap for lunch and dinner.

Lunch and dinner for me would normally consist of fares served at the salaryman places around the train stations (Gyudon, Curry Set, Ramen or Udon, Omurice) or top floors of department stores and if too lazy, like everyone posted, combini (convenience store) bento warmed up in their microwave. They're surprisingly good and cheap if you time it when they're changing out from the day's bentos to the next day's.

combini (convenience store) bento warmed up in their microwave. They're surprisingly good and cheap if you time it when they're changing out from the day's bentos to the next day's.

I often see discounts for prepared foods (bento, sushi etc.) at regular supermarkets, a few hours before the store closes for the day. But I can't recall the last time I saw a "must sell soon" discount for bento at a convenience store.

The convenience stores in my neighbourhood refresh their food shelves two or three times per day. In the moments just before a stock refresh, the shelves of perishable foods are getting close to empty. They don't discount the bento at any time - They just make sure that the shelves never hold perishable products long enough for them to become "distressed" stock.

(I do occasionally see less perishable products at discounted prices in my convenience store - boxes of cookies, cereal etc. They usually have a couple of weeks of shelf life remaining).

What happens if that O-nigiri doesn't get sold on time? A while back, I visited my local 7-11 at midnight and tried to purchase the last sandwich on the shelf. By the time I got to the counter it was one minute past midnight and the sandwich had passed its sell-by date. When the assistant scanned the barcode, the POS terminal rejected the transaction and the assistant was not allowed to sell it to me. To my chagrin, it went in the trash.

Ok, maybe it's different in Tokyo compared to the rest of Japan, but: I have always been under the impression that the sushi bento at supermarkets is prepared by the inhouse fish counter guys. Am I wrong here?

When I go to Kaitenzushiya in Japan I never take anything from the belt but always ask the itamae ( if he can be called that in those places ;) ) to prepare the maki and nigiri fresh.

Coming from a culture where fish and also raw variants are major staples, please don't take unnecessary risks. Fish and seafood does only get worse by the hour...

Ok, maybe it's different in Tokyo compared to the rest of Japan, but: I have always been under the impression that the sushi bento at supermarkets is prepared by the inhouse fish counter guys.

From my own observation of supermarkets all over the place (not just Tokyo): The sushi boxes are often prepared by the inhouse fishmongers, but they don't make them up to order. Rather, they prepare them in batches. Not everything sells out.

At a certain point in the evening, the supermarket makes a judgement that most Japanese people have already done their dinner shopping - but there can be several boxes of unsold sushi in the chilled counter. At this point, the supermarket starts putting "Reduced by 100yen" labels on them.

Am I wrong here?
Reminds me of the Glaswegian bakery joke:
- Is that an eclair or a meringue?
- No. You're dead right. It's an eclair.

When I go to Kaitenzushiya in Japan I never take anything from the belt but always ask the itamae ( if he can be called that in those places ;) ) to prepare the maki and nigiri fresh.
He may tell you that there is some of that fish already on the belt... and then it's up to you to decide what to do.
I only go into kaiten places when they're really full and the plates are coming off the belt at record speed.

Fish and seafood does only get worse by the hour...
Absolutely (Or maybe by the minute).
If you doubt what Mosburger says, go to any kaiten sushi place - and ask for a fresh plate of akami (red tuna). Put it to one side while you eat your lunch. Take another look at the colour after 20 minutes. It will be duller and darker than when you started. And it's all downhill from there...

Supermarket sushi is kept in a box - which means that it is less exposed to the air than those pieces of akami, but it doesn't stay super fresh for long. Personally, I feel comfortable eating a supermarket sushi box which has been marked down - provided I consume it straight away.

I think a previous poster suggested buying the marked down sushi and keeping it in the hotel fridge for breakfast the following day... Well, I guess it works for some people, but I'd rather spend a few more yen and get a fresh box.

For donut afficionados, I would recommend a rare opportunity to go and enjoy a coffee and a donut for breakfast at Mister Donut (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Donut) - this American chain is no longer in America but survives in Japan.

I had wonderful donut breakfast on a snowy December morning in Nagano once... Heaven. ^

For donut afficionados, I would recommend a rare opportunity to go and enjoy a coffee and a donut for breakfast at Mister Donut (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Donut) - this American chain is no longer in America but survives in Japan.

I had wonderful donut breakfast on a snowy December morning in Nagano once... Heaven. ^

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear....

And I thought you were someone of refinement and innate good taste.... :p :)


I agree with everything mentioned above about not buying bento boxes of sushi or sashimi for consumption next day :td:

When staying at the Takanawa Prince in Shinagawa I would stop off in the evenings at either the e:cute stores within the JR station and get breads and pastries at Paul the bakers, or go underneath the station in 'Wing' and get marked down patisserie at 'Le Meridien's outlet there for breakfast next morning.

The Pain au fromage fume from Pauls was especially good the next day if you pointed the hairdrier into the paper bag containing it for a few minutes.

And much as I adore a good sushi breakfast at Tsukiji and would strongly recommend it (especially if you eat this on the way home after a great night out ;) ), it's a little out of the way for the OP, and perhaps isn't the best way to start every morning. But then, I'm very happy with a slice of seared salmon, or some pieces of marinated tuna, miso soup, an egg cracked over steaming rice and some pickles and nori. I assemble this at home on the weekends, much nicer than a greasy fry up IMHO.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear....

And I thought you were someone of refinement and innate good taste.... :p :)


Oh but I am! I am! ;) ^ :D

On a more serious note, I am very much opposed to treating American cultural influences (not least in Japan) as something fundamentally evil. From my point of view, American food in Japan is just as valuable as Chinese food in Japan (think China Town in Yokohama or Ramen outlets in Sapporo). Or, for example, would one sneer at tempura simply because it is essentially a Portuguese import?

Don't get me started on New York Bar at Tokyo Park Hyatt or similar establishments that have refined and perfected an American bar idea to the heights that are now practically unreachable in the country of its origin...

For donut afficionados, I would recommend a rare opportunity to go and enjoy a coffee and a donut for breakfast at Mister Donut (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Donut) - this American chain is no longer in America but survives in Japan.

I had wonderful donut breakfast on a snowy December morning in Nagano once... Heaven. ^

Mr. Donut also offers the rather rare free refill on coffee. Think you have to be pretty hard up to want to drink more than one cup of their coffee, but it is free.

For the brief period of time that there was a Peet's next to the Paul in that newish Sumitomo development near Ark Hills, I was a very happy camper.

For the OP, there are definitely bakeries/cafes in the Atre building above Ebisu station if you exhaust your options in Ebisu Garden Place, of which there are many Don't know what time Mitsukoshi in Ebisu Garden Place opens, but the food floor there would be a good hunting grounds if the time works for you. There's also a Paul Robuchon bakery tucked away in the bowels of the complex. The "buy pastries in the evening and then have them for breakfast with the free tea in your hotel room" is a strategy that's worked well for me, although I haven't done it at that particular hotel.

Mr. Donut also offers the rather rare free refill on coffee. Think you have to be pretty hard up to want to drink more than one cup of their coffee, but it is free.


Misuteru Donutu coffee did not impress me as fantastic, but by God it is better than IHOP coffee... :D

Yeah, but do you really like the DONUTS at Mister Donut? They hardly count as edible to me!

However, aren't they the ones who had the sign "San Francisco Donuts and Yumcha?" I almost want to patronize them just for that marvelous Engrish slogan. San Francisco is just full of places selling donuts and yumcha, right? First 10 trips I made to Tokyo I didn't even know that "yumcha" seems to mean the same thing as "dim sum." :)

Edited to add:


Don't know what time Mitsukoshi in Ebisu Garden Place opens, but the food floor there would be a good hunting grounds if the time works for you.

Don't think it opens until 10am or so. Also it stays closed on some Mondays, which ones that is are determined by an algorithm that I could never figure out.

Yeah, but do you really like the DONUTS at Mister Donut? They hardly count as edible to me!


I don't remember anything particularly bad about them, although they're no Krispy Kremes, that's for sure.

Maybe, as a UK resident, I am less spoilt for quality donuts... ;)

When staying at the Takanawa Prince in Shinagawa I would stop off in the evenings at either the e:cute stores within the JR station and get breads and pastries at Paul the bakers, or go underneath the station in 'Wing' and get marked down patisserie at 'Le Meridien's outlet there for breakfast next morning.

The Pain au fromage fume from Pauls was especially good the next day if you pointed the hairdrier into the paper bag containing it for a few minutes.



Dearest LapLap, It's not Paul the baker.......it's Paul Maison de Qualite, Fondee en 1889 :D A bread chain which uses it's own flour from France and contrex water to make their breads all over the world. I can't get enough of the poppy seed baguette.......(among many specialities). Sunday shared a delicious baguette and a good strong coffee with my S.O.

I don't remember anything particularly bad about them, although they're no Krispy Kremes, that's for sure.

Maybe, as a UK resident, I am less spoilt for quality donuts... ;)

If you want doughnuts go to my homeland(Canada) where there is a doughnut shop on every corner........

For donut afficionados, I would recommend a rare opportunity to go and enjoy a coffee and a donut for breakfast at Mister Donut (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Donut) - this American chain is no longer in America but survives in Japan.

I had wonderful donut breakfast on a snowy December morning in Nagano once... Heaven. ^
My fondest memory of living in Japan was visiting Mr. Donut. A taste of home, for someone who grew up with Dunkin Donuts. I had a visit with Mr. Donut last summer and they still tasted fine. I don't do coffee, so can't help you there. However, one night I tried a donut for dessert as I walked back to my hotel. This was a mistake; they do not age well. Do they still play that jingle incessantly? Ohayo, Mr. Donut. Konnichi wa, Mr. Donut. Komban wa, Mr. Donut ........

My other fond ex-pat memory was venturing all the way to Tokyo to visit ... Shakeys! I'm sure it was just awful, but again it was a taste of home. This was back in the mid-70s before everything appeared everywhere.

For a quick relatively cheap breakfast, I just kept popping into all the coffee places that have popped up in Tokyo. Not just Starbucks, but Excelsior and Tully's. Get a cup of Engrish tea, some baked goods, I'm ready for the day.

Do they still play that jingle incessantly? Ohayo, Mr. Donut. Konnichi wa, Mr. Donut. Komban wa, Mr. Donut ........

Yes, they do. I last heard it about a month ago. :rolleyes: Although the last couple of times I haven't heard it, so maybe the employees had a revolution. After all, we get to leave the store when it's too annoying to bear...

I just can't bring myself to go to Starbucks (even in America), though I must admit I have a soft spot for Tully's. Aside from the name, you can tell it's a foreign-owned place because there aren't any bendy straws!

My fondest memory of living in Japan was visiting Mr. Donut. A taste of home, for someone who grew up with Dunkin Donuts. I had a visit with Mr. Donut last summer and they still tasted fine. I don't do coffee, so can't help you there. However, one night I tried a donut for dessert as I walked back to my hotel. This was a mistake; they do not age well. Do they still play that jingle incessantly? Ohayo, Mr. Donut. Konnichi wa, Mr. Donut. Komban wa, Mr. Donut ........

My other fond ex-pat memory was venturing all the way to Tokyo to visit ... Shakeys! I'm sure it was just awful, but again it was a taste of home. This was back in the mid-70s before everything appeared everywhere.


We must be related. My discussion on the other thread on Shakey's and Mr. Donut was before I read this continuation of this thread. I swear. This is a clear sign that you and I must unite and average our minimum times needed to visit Tokyo and use that in our battle against the evil LapLap tanuki gremlin who's been giving you so much grief.

We must be related. My discussion on the other thread on Shakey's and Mr. Donut was before I read this continuation of this thread. I swear. This is a clear sign that you and I must unite and average our minimum times needed to visit Tokyo and use that in our battle against the evil LapLap tanuki gremlin who's been giving you so much grief.


LOL......so Laplap is a tanuki......I thought she/he was a schnauser...... :p my the things one learns on this board!

Pon poko pon! :p :)

If you want doughnuts go to my homeland(Canada) where there is a doughnut shop on every corner........

Ah! Now I have an excuse ;)

Pon poko pon! :p :)

Too bad you're not a boy, you could use your kintama as a parachute (one of the more memorable scenes for me in Miyazaki's Tanuki Gassen).

That's always a fun one to explain to kids--"That? That's, um, the tanuki's feet." :o

We must be related. My discussion on the other thread on Shakey's and Mr. Donut was before I read this continuation of this thread. I swear. This is a clear sign that you and I must unite and average our minimum times needed to visit Tokyo and use that in our battle against the evil LapLap tanuki gremlin who's been giving you so much grief.
And yes perhaps we are somehow related. I went to BC, and my mom lived in a highrise on Boylston St. There were 2 Dunkin Donuts near her place, and one inside the hospital where I would go visit here. It struck me as odd that a hospital would have a donut shack inside; why not just hand out cigarettes and whiskey too? :o