Restaurant Review
Kyoto’s 3 best izakayas of all time
As a local/native in Kyoto, I’ve been in search of the best izakaya (居酒屋: Japanese tavern) for as […]
8 star
Restaurant Review
Ura Stand, Kyoto: Chicken sashimi and kushiage at hip retro izakaya
Chicken sashimi (raw chicken) sounds impossible to eat. So does it in Japan in general. But some know […]
Restaurant Review
Rakuan: Best soba noodle in Tokyo’s gay district Shinjuku Nichome
Tokyo’s Shinjuku Nichome (新宿二丁目) is considered one of the biggest gay districts in the world. It’s definitely Japan’s […]
Restaurant Review
Hokodo Coffee: Japan’s oldest cafe’s Kyoto branch at Imperial Palace
Hokodo (放香堂) is a Kyoto-based tea company that opened Japan’s first cafe Hokodo Coffee (放香堂加琲) in Kobe, Hyogo […]
Restaurant Review
Port Sa’id, Tel Aviv: Israel’s star Eyal Shani’s restaurant by synagogue
Shalom Aleichem (שלום עליכם). During my 3 year stay in Tel Aviv, a Jewish song ‘Shalom Aleichem (שלום […]
Restaurant Review
Kushihachi Honten: Unrivaled, Kyoto-based kushikatsu izakaya chain
Background music at Kushihachi Honten. Kushihachi (串八) is a Kyoto-based, kushikatsu (串かつ: deep-fried skewers)-focused Japanese izakaya chain. Its […]
Restaurant Review
Rokuzaemon, Kyoto: Speakeasy John Wick izakaya downtown
So John Wick izakaya means a Japanese izakaya (居酒屋: tavern) that looks like it could appear in the […]
Restaurant Review
Saiko People OSAKA, Japan: Contemporary pan-Asian izakaya
Just one station away from garish, John Wick 4-featured Namba (なんば) is quiet Sakuragawa (桜川) where posh Saiko […]
Restaurant Review
Kafu, Kyoto: Retro hip Okinawan tavern
On a historical street market/commercial district ‘Sanjo-kai Shotengai (三条会商店街)’ is a retro hip Okinawan tavern ‘Kafu (かふー)’. It’s […]
Restaurant Review
Din Tai Fung, Kyoto: Upscale Taiwanese dim sum chain
Din Tai Fung – once rated as one of the top 10 gourmet restaurants in the world by […]
Restaurant Review
Watte Chai: Kyoto’s only Indian tea stall
In Uji (宇治), the mecca for Japanese green tea ‘Uji tea (宇治茶)’, tea shops and cafes are everywhere. […]
Restaurant Review
1G, Kyoto: Ruin bar in abandoned kamaboko factory
One might have heard of Naruto. It’s a Japanese manga series about ninja students / its protagonist’s name. […]
Restaurant Review
Suba, Kyoto: THE contemporary soba shop
Soba shops (or buckwheat noodle bars) are as popular as ramen shops in Japan. One of a few […]
Restaurant Review
Imai Shokudo, Kyoto: Legendary simmered fish shop
Simmered fish (煮魚/nizakana or 魚の煮付け/sakana no nitsuke) is a quintessential seafood dish in Japan. Especially with mackerel (鯖の煮付け/saba […]
Restaurant Review
Ki: Kyoto’s only Lebanese bistro
Ki (汽) is such a sophisticated, fast casual bistro in chic Gojo in Kyoto City. It’s impossible to […]
Restaurant Review
Mustafa’s Gemuse Kebap: Berlin’s best kebab
Here’s what Mustafa’s Gemuse Kebap (Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap) in Berlin looks like. There are also a menu, a […]
Restaurant Review
Men Tenten: Tel Aviv’s best ramen bar
In Tel Aviv, Israel’s Tokyo (but not the capital city), sushi is as popular as sandwiches in Tokyo. […]
Restaurant Review
Seirinkan: Best Neapolitan pizza in Tokyo
Seirinkan (聖林館) is considered as one of the best pizzerias in Japan partly because it appeared in a […]
Restaurant Review
Best restaurants at Ace Hotel Kyoto
Ace Hotel Kyoto is the first Asian location of an American hotel chain “Ace Hotel.” Here’s a list […]
Restaurant Review
Mr. Gyoza, Kyoto, Japan: Realest chuka joint
Chuka joint (中華食堂 / chuka shokudo) means Japanese-Chinese restaurant. It’s got a vibe. Like people don’t call diners […]
Restaurant Review
Uri Buri, Acre: Best seafood in Israel
Sashimi, Coquille St. Jacques, and more. *I last visited the restaurant in 2018. Uri Buri is a legend […]
Restaurant Review
Tacofini, Osaka: Mexican Japanese taco stand izakaya
Tacofini (タコフィニ / Tacos Del Infinito) offers authentic tacos and classic izakaya repertoire with a Mexican twist. It’s […]
Restaurant Review
4 coolest coffee chains in Kyoto
Kyoto City’s coffee consumption is the biggest in Japan (according to nikkei.com). It’s the war zone for coffee […]
Restaurant Review
RESTAURANT KIEV, Kyoto: Ukrainian/Russian eatery in Kyiv’s sister city
A Studio Ghibli anime-like eatery, legendary RESTAURANT KIEV (レストラン キエフ), offers exquisite Soviet cuisine with a Japanese Chinese […]
Restaurant Review
Itosen, Kyoto: Japan’s geisha-optimized Chinese food in oldest geisha district
Itosen (糸仙) in Japan’s oldest geisha district Kamishichiken (上七軒) offers Kyoto Chinese Japanese cuisine (KMC / Kyoto machi […]
Restaurant Review
Ikura Mokuzai, Kyoto, Japan: Understated, lumber supplier izakaya
Who knew a lumber supplier could supply exquisite Japanese seafood? It’s so Kyoto. In Kyoto, being understated seems […]
Restaurant Review
Aketotemoro, Kyoto, Japan: WTH izakaya
A contemporary izakaya with a red light. Japanese bar food at its best. A red light at Aketotemoro. […]
Restaurant Review
Koin Agaru, Kyoto, Japan: Exquisite pork butakushi in the ’80s dreamy vibe
Japanese pork skewer (butakushi) izakaya, Koin Agaru, offers bistro-esque Japanese contemporary dishes. It is to savor pork tongue […]
Restaurant Review
Muraya, Kyoto, Japan: Akira-esque cyberpunk izakaya “in da hood”
In an edgy neighborhood, Sakyo Ward known as a “makai” (hell or demon world in Japanese), cyberpunk izakaya […]
Restaurant Review
BURGER ELEVEN, Kyoto, Japan: Chic and swish French bistro hamburger joint
Brasserie Café ONZE – the locally famous French bistro in Kyoto City – opened its first hamburger joint, […]