Toliuo @ Ebisu

May 31, 2018 Dave Perry

***Zensai moriawase - boiled egg with ikura***

**Zucchini, tomatoes and genovese spaghetti**

Lamb chops with lotus root and grilled tomato — ***Lamb chops with lotus root and grilled*** ***tomato***

The abundance of izakaya-bistro-baru fusion restaurants in Tokyo makes Toliuo feel less original than once it did, and yet its yakitori and tapas wine bar concept is still enjoyable.

Seasonal changes ensure the menu remains interesting, ranging from yakitori basics and sashimi to Spanish, French and Italian inspired dishes supplemented by a small selection of reasonably priced wines.

The signature dish, a bountiful omakase zensai moriawase, is not to be missed.

Toliuo

03 3446 3381

Ruuust @ Honmachi

April 30, 2018 Dave Perry

Situated in the more hospitable part of Honmachi around the Goryo Shrine, Trattoria RUUUST offers pared down Italian dining and interior design aesthetics befitting the Hipster-traveller crowd its host hotel, Hotel androoms, is intended to serve.

The concept hinges on handmade fresh pasta paired with surprisingly good local wines (in this case a Kobe red). Breakfast is reserved for hotel guests, but lunch and dinner are open to the public.

The risotto lunch, while not as voluminous as that a block over at Italian Sasuke, is rather good, offering excellent cost performance paired with pleasantly calm surroundings and attentive service.

Ruuust

06 6479 3922

Mikiya's @ Jiyugaoka

March 28, 2018 Dave Perry

**Smoked quail eggs with octopus and red cabbage salad**

Pasta Bar Mikiya's is a combination of traditional Japanese spaghetti house and urban izakaya, with an (somewhat less than contemporary) infusion of fresh pasta and Jiyugaoka chic binding the two.

The formula - belting out delicious, uncomplicated fresh pasta supplemented by a variety of grilled meats and Mediterranean inspired dishes, with a convivial atmosphere, attentive staff and near unrivaled cost performance - is a winner for impromptu lunches and casual dinners.

Mikiya's

03 5731 9272

Izakaya Yama @ Jiyugaoka

March 19, 2018 Dave Perry

***Wood ear mushroom with fluffy eggs and onions***

The Chinese cuisine at Izakaya Yama sits at the better end of the authenticity spectrum, for the most part being home-style cooking from China’s north-east with occasional Japanese accents.

Hospitality at this popular hole-in-the-wall izakaya is at times less attentive than it could be, the pricing sometimes erratic, and meals often costlier than the premises and barebones kitchen set-up might suggest, but the quality of the cooking is invariably excellent.

Owner-chef ‘Yama-chan’ makes regular visits to his native Chinese province to source scarce or seasonal ingredients, ensuring a regularly updated dining experience.

Signature dishes include the spicy mābō dōfu, yuba and coriander salad, and what is perhaps the best fried rice to be had in Tokyo.

Taro @ Hiroo

March 18, 2018 Dave Perry

***Pork with fluffy egg and greens stir fry***

Amidst Hiroo’s more upmarket establishments, Taro is the quintessential old school chūka ‘rice and noodles’ joint.

They serve excellent gyoza, fried rice and ramen, as well as numerous stir-fried dishes such as the popular ‘stamina liver itame,’ in a snug Hong Kong diner like setting; all to the dulcet tones of 1980s British pop music.

The BGM may not be reason to return, but the coupons for complimentary gyoza provided at the end of every visit are.

Update: As of July 2020, Taro has relocated to Meguro.

Taro

03 3449 8301