Looking for dining options - Tokyo
 

I've been trying to read up on Tokyo reviews but oddly everything seems out of date online. I've got two reservations set for 4 nights in Tokyo so we need a couple more options.

Ryugin - 9:15pm
Sushi Mizutani - 7pm

I could fit in something before Ryugin as well. We have no lunch reservations either. I had a reservation for Usukifugu Yamadaya however I had to cancel that as the wife did not want to eat fugu :(. We are looking for a fun Izakaya and a good place to eat real Japanese steak. Since I have two pretty nice dinners set up already we'd like to keep things on the cheaper side (I know it's a joke in Tokyo).

Here's a helpful resource --- a link to the Japan Michelin Guide..... can selct for Tokyo...and steaks...etc........and not all are super-expensive!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...ee-online.html

For some ideas:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...t-lunches.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...ht=restaurants
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...ree-areas.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...ht=restaurants
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...ht=restaurants
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...taurants+steak

There are well over 150,000 restaurants in Tokyo. OP: You may have a lot more fun if for some of your meals, you don't make any bookings in advance and just wander around an area until you find something that looks interesting.

Reference on number of restaurants in Tokyo: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8364051.stm

I agree with Richard. The only time I've ever eaten in a restaurant that takes reservations is when a client treats me to some high-end place.

If you have never been to Tokyo, you may not realize that you can pass ten or twenty good restaurants on your way to the ones where you have reservations.

That's one of the great things about Tokyo. There are restaurants of various nationalities all over the place, as well as restaurants specializing in each subcategory of Japanese food.

When I'm in Tokyo at mealtime, I just start walking, and I never fail to find something good, sometimes something that I didn't even know I was hungry for.

My wife and I have never been so we wanted to try some high end stuff, but I'll leave off filling up my time with reservations to other places and see where the day takes us. I appreciate the feedback.

Tempura Mikawa in Monzen Nakacho or Roppongi

Yakitori Toriyoshi

I don't know where you'll be coming from. But - depending on your point of origin and how you deal with time zone changes - the jet lag to Japan can be formidable. For example - I live on the east coast of the United States. For the first 5 days I was in Tokyo - breakfast felt like lunch - lunch felt like dinner - and I was sound asleep by 7:30 pm.

The good news is that many higher end restaurants have lunch menus that are considerably cheaper than dinner menus. We'll be returning to Tokyo in the fall - and I plan to make mostly lunch reservations. Robyn

That's why Japan isn't too cheap for me. Every single mom-and-pop tofu store, depachika, konbini, cheap saba shioyaki I encounter, a purchase is invariably going to be made.

OTOH, in China, there's absolutely nothing that tempts me in a convenience store, yet Hunan, Sichuan and Lanzhou restaurants reel me in with their $US1.50 or less offerings...

Ippudo ramen (Roppongi, Ebisu, Yoyogi) http://www.ippudo.com/index.html

Maisen tonkatsu (Ometesando) http://mai-sen.com/

Have breakfast at Tsukiji Market (very fresh sushi, black coffee)

and lots more places to eat!

If you want to try something special, see if TAKAZAWA has any space. I can't recommend it highly enough. Life-changing food, wine program, service and setting.