Modern food trucks are all the rage in Tokyo, with several offering various cuisines from Mexican and Middle Eastern, to even Singaporean. Mrs Charlotte is one such food truck known for its eclectic, pastel-themed desserts.
Not only is Mrs Charlotte a hit among locals, it’s also fairly elusive, open only on selected weekends for up to five hours. One reviewer reportedly took three attempts before being able to get her hands on the sought-after crepes and ice cream.
While ramen and sushi are the first things that come to mind when Japanese food is mentioned, Tokyo is no stranger to hip, new places with all sorts of cool foodie creations to try.
American work clothing brand, STABLER, marked its foray into F&B with the opening of STABLER Meatsand. Its second outlet, STABLER Shimokitazawa Meatsand 2nd, is situated in reload, an enclave of hipster cafes and eateries in trendy Shimokitazawa.
Leave it to social media to unearth another “hidden gem”. Once Tokyo’s best-kept secret, Tsujihan Zeitaku Don‘s fame has exploded online, thanks to the proliferation of its one and only dish – kaisendon piled high with chopped tuna and shellfish, and topped with overflowing ikura and uni that would make a seafood lover weep.
While Tsujijhan is one of the numerous food chains to dot Tokyo’s foodie map, its Nihonbashi branch is the most famous and visited among locals and tourists. Queues are known to run around the block, with average wait times spanning over two hours.
Fancy eating a piece of Japan’s history? Ginza Wakamatsu is a traditional dessert shop whose history spans over 100 years. Tucked away in an unassuming corner of Ginza Core Building, right next to the Prada store, this storied place was the very one to introduce anmitsu.
A classic dessert comprising agar gelatin, sweet bean paste, and black sugar syrup, anmitsu used to be exclusively available at Ginza Wakamatsu, which first created it in 1930, about four decades after it opened.
It’s become a habit of mine to stock up on my favourite Japanese snacks at the duty-free shop before my flight home. Of course, this pre-flight list includes the iconic Tokyo Banana.
Originally sold exclusively in Tokyo (before a pandemic-induced sales slump forced its expansion to Osaka), this Japanese-style twinkie has become synonymous with Japan, prompting many a traveler to pick them up for their own consumption, or as omiyage for their co-workers back home.
Here is my (non-definitive) list of Tokyo Banana treats that are worth your luggage space!
It’s no secret that Japanese convenience stores – or conbinis as they’re known locally, are on another level. The sheer variety of to-go food and goods makes our convenience stores back home look poorly stocked.
At the center of this so-called institution is conbini chicken, a deep-fried, breaded chicken cutlet sold at many a counter. It is so legendarily delicious that some even claim you haven’t experienced Japanese cuisine at its peak if you’ve not sunk your teeth into one of these sinful cutlets.
This begs the question: with as many as three major conbini chains in any Japanese city, whose fried chicken is the best? Needless to say, I set out to undertake this mission against my better judgment, and to my stomach’s great delight.
While its wholesale compound has long relocated to Toyosu, Tsukiji Outer Market continues to be *the* bustling destination for foodies far and wide. After all, what could be better than hopping from stall to stall, sampling fresh seafood and other delicious street food?
Best of all, most eateries and stalls are open by 8am. With most food spots in Tokyo only opening their doors around 10am, Tsukiji is an excellent spot for breakfast, especially if you’re staying in the Ginza or Taito areas. Here’s everything I ate there!
Chue On It 