Hyperlocal Tokyo

I made a reservation for the "Hana Gokoro" Kaiseki set two days in advance and visited on a weekday in mid-October 2024. The beef cutlet and steamed chicken were incredibly tender and delicious. However, the most delicious dish was the "Enbu-daki" rice cooked in a Zojirushi rice cooker, which was highly recommended. There were three varieties, and refills were free, but I was too full to have more. Interestingly, I found the slightly cooled rice to be more chewy and flavorful than the warm rice. I was tempted to buy an "Enbu-daki" rice cooker after this experience. The rice ice cream dessert was like a lighter version of American rice pudding, with less rice and a distinct rice grain texture. The restaurant was decorated with old Zojirushi product posters, which sparked nostalgic conversations about the past.

The name of this restaurant is so intriguing that I went without doing any research. To be honest, I was prepared to wait. I was the first customer and waited for about an hour. But it was definitely worth the wait. The food was incredibly delicious, the best I've ever had. Every single dish, including the small side dishes, was exquisite. The rice ice cream at the end was also amazing, both in terms of texture and flavor. On this floor, there's a long queue for a famous sushi restaurant, but I highly recommend this place.

Zojirushi Official Dining Hall The rice, which you can choose from three varieties, is absolutely delicious! Men can easily eat three large portions. Overall, the prices are a bit high, and the 60-minute time limit for walk-ins is questionable. [It would be acceptable for a restaurant under ¥2,000.] The original beer is made by Ise Kadoya, so if you're a fan of Kadoya beer, be sure to try it.

Located on the 5th floor of KITTE Marunouchi, a building housing the Japan Post Bank headquarters, right in front of the south entrance of Tokyo Station, this restaurant is operated by Zojirushi. You can enjoy all-you-can-eat rice cooked in Zojirushi's premium rice cooker, the "Enbutaki." As a huge rice lover, I was very curious about the rice cooked in the "Enbutaki." On a rainy Saturday, I went there for a solo lunch. I arrived around 11:30 am, but there were already many people waiting in front of the restaurant. I got a ticket and was told it was a 35-group wait! About 20 groups left before their turn, so it was faster than I expected, but I still waited for an hour and 10 minutes. The interior is bright and narrow, with tables quite close together. However, the large windows offer a nice view of Tokyo Station. From the lunch menu, I ordered the standard "Zojirushi Gozen" set. The "Zojirushi Gozen" includes rice, miso soup, a choice of three main dishes (fish, meat, seasonal), three side dishes, three rice accompaniments, thinly sliced sea bream with sea bream broth, and dessert (rice ice cream). The rice tasting includes three types: healthy brown rice, Zojirushi's recommended white rice, and white rice cooked to either a chewy or firm texture (on this day, it was firm). You can also choose the amount: large, standard, or small. There are three rice cookers placed on a counter near the center of the restaurant, each containing one of the rice types, and you can refill as much as you like. I chose the fish main dish (cod and seafood in a Japanese-style bouillabaisse). The main dish was much smaller than I imagined from the menu photo, so it might not be enough for those who want a hearty meal. However, for me, who prefers rice as the main focus, the side dishes and rice accompaniments were sufficient. I enjoyed the thinly sliced sea bream as sashimi with sesame sauce first, and then I put it on top of rice with sea bream broth for a sea bream rice bowl. The rice was delicious, but I couldn't really tell the difference because it was cooked in the "Enbutaki." I was disappointed with the main dish. The concept is very interesting, but if you asked me if I would wait in line again, I'd say it's not worth it.

I arrived before 1pm on Saturday and was able to get a table after waiting for about 10 minutes. I ordered the Kuroge Wagyu Cutlet Set. The cutlet meat was tender, but it was stringy and difficult to chew. I had to tear it in half before I could swallow it, and even that was quite a struggle. I'm not sure what the correct way to eat it is. There were three types of rice to choose from, and it was great that you could try them all and get refills. The rice was delicious, and there were plenty of side dishes, so I enjoyed the meal even though the cutlet was a bit of a challenge. They also had a thermos of dashi broth, which you could use to make a tai (sea bream) dashi tea rice. The dessert was a rice ice cream, which had a crunchy texture and was delicious. It was a new and interesting experience.