Japan - Crazy prize gourmet dinners

So after the "Great deal gourmet lunches (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6240944)" thread degenerated(?) to Pickles blowing 60,000 yen on dinner, I think it's time for the other end of the spectrum. So -- what are your most memorable, and expensive, dinners in Japan?

For me, a visit to Daigo is still top of the list. This is a very-high-end shojin ryori (vegetarian kaiseki) restaurant run by a temple in Onarimon, Tokyo. All diners get private rooms with views of the garden, laid out so that you can't see any other diners. Y14,000 per person -- the cheaper set meal option -- got us twelve courses, brought in one by one by a lady old enough to be my grandma, crawling on her hands and knees across the tatami. The first course was three (3) black beans, marinated in sake, and to finish it off we got a slice of honeymelon and hand-carved toothpicks. The bill was still a bit of a surprise though, as the single tokkuri of house sake we had (they never even showed us the bottle or told the name) was a cool Y10,000, and the total bill came to just over Y40,000 -- quite a sum for a student. :eek: But hey, I was 20 years old when I walked in and 21 when I came out, so it was worth it :cool:

Last night, at Jubako, an unagi ryotei in Akasaka. 6 people, 160,000 yen. Pretty darn good unagi (best I've had, actually), but not sure it was worth that much. I guess eel can only taste so good. The expense account we used to pay for the dinner has 7 million yen we have to spend until the end of this month (or we lose them), so you may hear about more of these escapades over the next two weeks.

The expense account we used to pay for the dinner has 7 million yen we have to spend until the end of this month (or we lose them), so you may hear about more of these escapades over the next two weeks.

Dude, I'm booking my flight now! ;)

In 1993, on my second trip to Japan two of dad's friends at Mitsubishi Corp. invited me along to their Marunouchi "najimi-no-mise". For a college freshman it was quite an experience to catch on to the last fading memories of the bubble years. Never saw the bill. :)

The most impressive meal I've had in Japan, however, must be a private tea ceremony/kaiseki lunch in a garden pavillion in Gion (Kyoto) in the late 90's. Again, this was not on my own merit but organized by my ex-GF's dad.

Pickles,

Highly advisable, in the unstable property market, to have a property specialist by your side when these more relaxed, yet extremely important gatherings of business peers occur. ;)

References Available on Demand

Last night, at Jubako, an unagi ryotei in Akasaka. 6 people, 160,000 yen. Pretty darn good unagi (best I've had, actually), but not sure it was worth that much. I guess eel can only taste so good. The expense account we used to pay for the dinner has 7 million yen we have to spend until the end of this month (or we lose them), so you may hear about more of these escapades over the next two weeks.
Dude we're in tokyo right now lol.
Cheers
howie

Pickles,

Highly advisable, in the unstable property market, to have a property specialist by your side when these more relaxed, yet extremely important gatherings of business peers occur. ;)

References Available on Demand

Dear Sir,

I understand your unselfish concern for my welfare. However, you had yer chance! We could be calmly discussing issues surrounding the buildout of the Atago Green Hills space vacated by Vodafone over a ni-man bottle of chilled sake right about now. But noooo, you had to palm me off to Yamada-kun over in accounting...

In a more, ahem, majimena note, I see that stockmanjr is ready to go, and in town. I will make the assumption that his raising his hand has nothing to do with the 7 million yen, and more to do with the excitement and anticipation that our wit and brilliance would provide to his dreary life as a Jr. Stockman. I'm around, and it is nasty hot. Heartland beckons.

I knew I forgot something when we had lunch the other day. I still have to give you the rest of that story. Dang nab it. Memory is slipping. I do remember though that I spoke to the Jr. Stockman a few hours ago and a meet at the Spider at 10pm it is. Probably something relatively quiet like the Oak Door bar for a short time.

Mike@brimming.with.unselfish.concern :)



Dear Sir,
I understand your unselfish concern for my welfare. However, you had yer chance! We could be calmly discussing issues surrounding the buildout of the Atago Green Hills space vacated by Vodafone over a ni-man bottle of chilled sake right about now. But noooo, you had to palm me off to Yamada-kun over in accounting...

I knew I forgot something when we had lunch the other day. I still have to give you the rest of that story. Dang nab it. Memory is slipping. I do remember though that I spoke to the Jr. Stockman a few hours ago and a meet at the Spider at 10pm it is. Probably something relatively quiet like the Oak Door bar for a short time.

Mike@brimming.with.unselfish.concern :)

Ar! I have a dinner in Roppongi in just a bit. If it doesn't degenerate into a niji/sanjikai, I will give you a ring.

You guys are out of control!

The most expensive meal I ever had in Tokyo was tonight at a chain called Negishi near the Ginza. Total for two was 1920 yen. Several courses including two main dishes of Chicken Teryaki and Japanese Beef Stew (a lot like my non-Japanese mom used to make). Included all the green iced tea and water you could drink.

Of course we only just got to Tokyo.

After wandering around the Marinouchi center and checking out the prices on the 36th floor restaurants we were in shock.

Negishi was a good antidote for the shock.

Where should we go tomorrow? No expense account, dammit!

Where should we go tomorrow? No expense account, dammit!

If you're in the Shinjuku area - I can't recommend anywhere more than here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/reviews/review.php?review_id=181 (there are links with photos and a map along the top)

Otherwise check out http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=468207 (this thread which is in the original post (which this thread is supposed to be the antithesis of).

And I suggest anywhere in post 6 in this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=566927) for a wonderful evening meal that won't break the bank.

And I'd also suggest trying Hokkaido milk bread (address in post 8 here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=580679) )

Back to you guys - I'm sure there's a fugu joint you're dying to add here.

Not that much sanity. Made a reservation for Pierre Gagniere's in Tokyo on Friday, August 25th at 1:30pm (the "cheaper" lunch). Any FTers who would like to join us are more than welcome. We will see how it compares with the original in St Etienne which was really really really great.

Not that much sanity. Made a reservation for Pierre Gagniere's in Tokyo on Friday, August 25th at 1:30pm (the "cheaper" lunch). Any FTers who would like to join us are more than welcome. We will see how it compares with the original in St Etienne which was really really really great.

Ar! I'll still be eating my way through the expense account, and that day we've chosen Tempura Kondo for that. Otherwise, I'd be inn like flynn.

Back on topic, yesterday lunch, 16000 for two at Les Saisons at the Imperial. Not worth it. 40000 for dinner, two people, just a little while ago, at the Dai San Harumi sushi (which I've mentioned here before). I took a good Japanese friend of mine who knows his stuff. He was impressed, so I won that round. Now, he's got to up the ante, which means he's on the hook for an even more expensive dinner....

Almost done eating our way through the expense account.

Pickles, back onto food, what hotel restaurants in Tokyo do you think are worth it?

Anyway, I haven't been to too many expensive restaurants in Japan lately; however, I remember that visit to a "Club" in Ginza. I believe my business associate spent at least 300,000 yen for two dehydrated guys. Of course, we are talking about Ginza... Anyway, there are Japanese "Clubs" in New York City as well (quite numerous); however, they don't charge that much (FYI, 4 individuals drinking and singing for 4 hours-- one will be charged approximately $1,200 in New York City Japanese "Clubs").

Note: Grand total of $1,200-- not per person.

JALFAN

Let me guess: 2-3 bottles of Scotch, a lot of beer, dried squid w/hot sauce and mayo, a fruit plate and ramen?

Anyway, I haven't been to too many expensive restaurants in Japan lately; however, I remember that visit to a "Club" in Ginza. I believe my business associate spent at least 300,000 yen for two dehydrated guys. Of course, we are talking about Ginza... Anyway, there are Japanese "Clubs" in New York City as well (quite numerous); however, they don't charge that much (FYI, 4 individuals drinking and singing for 4 hours-- one will be charged approximately $1,200 in New York City Japanese "Clubs").

Note: Grand total of $1,200-- not per person.

JALFAN

Pickles, back onto food, what hotel restaurants in Tokyo do you think are worth it?

Tokyo is unusual in Asia in that hotel restaurants as a whole do not stand out. I can only think of Kyubei at the Keio Plaza (not as good, not even close, as the one in Ginza), and the Kozue at the PHT. Outside of that, think good, but overpriced places you wouldn't visit if you knew only slightly better.

I know I am a piker by this thread's standards, but thought I'd report back anyhow.

Went to Pierre Gagniere's today for lunch. Great experience although a little surreal (are we in France or Tokyo--answer: Tokyo but it sure feels like some place in France except for the view of the Tokyo Prada store and everyone but us being Japanese).

For around $250 we had two lunch specials and a great bottle of Alsation wine. About 20 courses if you count all the little things which appear on the table. Wasabi sorbet very interesting.

I'd go back. When you reserve see if one of the booths is available.

Let me guess: 2-3 bottles of Scotch, a lot of beer, dried squid w/hot sauce and mayo, a fruit plate and ramen?

:) Yup, you're right on the money... at least in Tokyo.
As for New York City Japanese "Clubs", I'm never served ramen.

I forgot the seaweed. ;)

Most expensive dinner I've had? Now now, don't laugh but I paid only $52 dollars equalivent in canadian dollars (Appx 5,200 yen) for dinner at the top of the Tokyo Dome Hotel.

Caesars Salad + noodle dish with meat. I'll have to hunt down the reciept again and update this post when I find it.

Sanosuke!

For me, a visit to Daigo is still top of the list. This is a very-high-end shojin ryori (vegetarian kaiseki) restaurant run by a temple in Onarimon, Tokyo. All diners get private rooms with views of the garden, laid out so that you can't see any other diners. Y14,000 per person -- the cheaper set meal option -- got us twelve courses, brought in one by one by a lady old enough to be my grandma, crawling on her hands and knees across the tatami. The first course was three (3) black beans, marinated in sake, and to finish it off we got a slice of honeymelon and hand-carved toothpicks. The bill was still a bit of a surprise though, as the single tokkuri of house sake we had (they never even showed us the bottle or told the name) was a cool Y10,000, and the total bill came to just over Y40,000 -- quite a sum for a student. :eek: But hey, I was 20 years old when I walked in and 21 when I came out, so it was worth it :cool:

I've been casing this place out, since it is near the T's restaurant (in the cheap gourmet lunches thread), down the street where Mrs. Pickles has her Japanese class, next door to one of my clients, and word of mouth has been very favorable.

They do serve lunch, but the cheapest lunch set is 10,000 yen, and it goes from there. Cheapest dinner is now 15,000 yen. When I asked the tencho if he had a saabisu lunch teishoku, he just laughed that hearty Japanese laugh of the self-assured Japanese who really don't give a damn about appearances. I liked the guy, maybe I'll try the place someday.

I know a guy who works for the company that owns the building where that place is located. He said he ahs never been there himself but would be curious to try it out. Mind if he tagged along? At lunchtime, natch.



I've been casing this place out, since it is near the T's restaurant (in the cheap gourmet lunches thread), down the street where Mrs. Pickles has her Japanese class, next door to one of my clients, and word of mouth has been very favorable.

They do serve lunch, but the cheapest lunch set is 10,000 yen, and it goes from there. Cheapest dinner is now 15,000 yen. When I asked the tencho if he had a saabisu lunch teishoku, he just laughed that hearty Japanese laugh of the self-assured Japanese who really don't give a damn about appearances. I liked the guy, maybe I'll try the place someday.

I know a guy who works for the company that owns the building where that place is located. He said he ahs never been there himself but would be curious to try it out. Mind if he tagged along? At lunchtime, natch.

Is the landlord paying? In that case, I'm happy to clear my schedule at said employee's convenience.

If T, yes, if veggie place, then he says he will give you a tour of the roof of the building for free afterwards. ;)

Is the landlord paying? In that case, I'm happy to clear my schedule at said employee's convenience.

If T, yes, if veggie place, then he says he will give you a tour of the roof of the building for free afterwards. ;)

But the landlord doesn't own the grounds where T is (unless I misheard and his name is Kamisama), so I'm a bit confused.

On the other hand, if you want to go on a mano-a-mano at Daigo, I can probably bill my part to somebody (or pay for it myself), while you can bill yours to the landlord (or not). Then the landlord's rep can give me a tour of the roof of the building. We can call it the blow-the-budget-nemawashi.

Here is my most expensive food day in Tokyo which took place last month. First I had lunch at Ukai-tei in Ginza which was about 100,000 yen for three of us. Then I had drinks and appetizers at Trader Vic's at the New Otani Hotel in Akasuka for about 30,000 yen. After that we went to a blowfish restaurant where we had blowfish, toro, king crab, and other sashimi. We also had a ton of drinks. Our bill was over 70,000 yen here. This was a crazy night. After this we went to an Udon shop that made hand made noodles in the front window, where we had some udon and drank even more to a tune of about another 20,000 yen. This day was my most expensive food day ever at more than 220,000 yen and that didn't include the 150,000 yen we spent in Roppongi at the end of the night. What a great time we had that day and the next few days that were cheaper. I just hope I can enjoy days like this in the future.

My first 12 years in Japan a friend used to take me out once a month for dinner and....bar fun. He had a nice expence account.
He would spend at leaste 200,000 each time. One time he brought along an American Business friend. Our first stop was Kobe Beef. His friend ordered 10 extra steaks, at 20,000 yen each. When the steaks arrived the friend said "Im not hungry anymore put them in the garbage".

I replied "Im the garbage".;)

I guess I've been mostly a low-budget traveler.

The most expensive meal I've had that I know about is one where my favorite translation agency took me out for one of those dinners where you get little tiny servings of about ten different things with a different alcoholic beverage to match each one. (We were lucky that we could find the subway after that.)

I have no idea how much it cost, but as we were walking in, I caught a glimpse of a sign that said that the next day's bargain lunch special was ¥7,000.

I was impressed (my usual lunches are closer to ¥700, or maybe ¥1700 if I'm splurging), but compared to what some of the people up-thread have been saying, it actually sounds reasonable.

But the landlord doesn't own the grounds where T is (unless I misheard and his name is Kamisama), so I'm a bit confused.

On the other hand, if you want to go on a mano-a-mano at Daigo, I can probably bill my part to somebody (or pay for it myself), while you can bill yours to the landlord (or not). Then the landlord's rep can give me a tour of the roof of the building. We can call it the blow-the-budget-nemawashi.

Had a walk past, and it appears to be "Tokyo Table" a.k.a. T. Sound about right?

Lunch there and then, a much more special occasion than March Madness somewhere down the road for the budget blowout at that other dinner place in the apartment building.

Having a special on post-lunchtime tours this month though. T for 2 or 3 or 4....?

Mike