It was our second day in Tokyo and after a very interesting night exploring Shinjuku, we got ready to go out for something to eat.
I have to mention how much I loved the Japanese-style shower room and amazing Japanese heated toilets. Once you go Japanese toilet, it’s really hard to go back.
We walked out the back of our hotel building and we’re ready to eat. Need a coffee? No problem. You’ll find vending machines all over the streets of Japan. They serve cold and hot beverages, as well as other things like noodles, socks, electronics, fruits, toys, and beer. There are over 5.5 million vending machines throughout Japan.
My sister went back to the vegan restaurant she tried the previous day after her arrival. I walked along a nearby street and decided to try this place. It had a picture of a lunch set on the door that looked really good.
I walked inside and sat at a table towards the back of the small restaurant.
The nice lady served me tea and gave me a menu. I just pointed to the picture of the lunch set I saw out front.
It didn’t take long for the food to appear in front of me. The main dish was unadon which is a bowl filled with steamed white rice and topped with grilled unagi (eel).
It was served with cold soba noodles. Unlike the hot version that’s served in a bowl with the broth, the noodles, garnishes, and dipping sauce are all separate.
I put some of the wasabi and green onions in the dipping sauce. You dip the noodles before every bite. I tried to practice slurping as well. In Japan, it’s actually considered a compliment to the chef and shows that you’re enjoying your food. The louder the slurp, the better.
The eel was prepared in a fairly common way known as kabayaki. The eel is split down the back, butterflied, cut into fillets, and dipped in a sweet soy sauce-based glaze.
Another typical side dish is hiyayakko which is a simple piece of cold tofu. This one was topped with green onions.
My unagi lunch was great and it was the perfect portion size. I left and walked around the corner to the vegan restaurant to meet my sister.
I saw my sister sitting at the counter at her new favorite eatery, Ripple. The casual cafe style restaurant serves plant-based cuisine and offers items like burgers, French toast, crispy chicken sandwiches, chili cheese fries, and desserts.
I tried some of her vegan tiramisu. It was delicious.
After lunch it was time to head to another one of Tokyo’s districts, Asakusa!
(Lunch Place)
Next to Daily Yamazaki Seibu Shinjuku
#102 Casa Shinjuku, 42-11, 2chome
Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, 160-0021
Ripple
2-46-8 Nissho Building 1F
Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, 160-0021
+81 3-6380-3205
Website