Hyperlocal Tokyo

At "Tsumami de" (meaning "with snacks"), I enjoyed a variety of dishes. The "Mugen Piiman" (meaning "infinite peppers") was a simple yet delicious dish of peppers with a sesame oil aroma, perfect for pairing with sake. The "Garlic Pickles" were a real treat, with a strong garlic flavor that was simply irresistible. The "Hummus" was a refreshing and flavorful chickpea paste, a taste I had never experienced before. The "Baba Ganoush" was another unique dish, with a smoky flavor from the roasted eggplant. It was also a new taste for me. Trying these new dishes really enhanced my enjoyment of the sake. Next up was the "Koshari", a dish of short pasta with a variety of toppings. It had a unique combination of flavors, reminiscent of both a Japanese beef bowl and an Italian dish. The tomato sauce was a perfect complement to the spices. It was a delicious and satisfying dish, with a unique blend of ethnic and junk food flavors. The spice aroma was particularly pleasant. It felt familiar yet new at the same time. I added some sour and spicy sauces, which were homemade and incredibly delicious. They would go well with anything. The owner kindly offered me a taste of dates. I'm not usually a fan of dates or prunes, but these were delicious. They had a rich, sweet flavor, similar to a high-quality dried persimmon. Experiencing these different cultures and cuisines was a truly refreshing and exciting experience. I will definitely be returning to this restaurant. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I've been going here regularly since autumn six years ago. The location isn't ideal in many ways, but that's part of its charm. A short walk away, there's a cheap love hotel where a cockroach, my elementary school classmate, had an affair a few years ago. October 1st Update: Since my first visit in autumn 2018, I've always come during the day, so this was my first time having dinner here. It was probably my last visit before the pandemic. It was good to see it still bustling as usual. The food was also good. The clientele seemed a bit more international than usual. Maybe it's due to word-of-mouth marketing? Also, just a random observation, the owner (or someone who looked like the owner) seemed to have changed quite a bit since six years ago.

I went to an Egyptian restaurant in Kinshicho. "Koshari" means "to mix" in Arabic, and it's a dish made with rice, pasta, macaroni, beans, fried onions, and tomato sauce, all mixed together. They said to add a sour sauce to taste, but I love sour things, so I added a lot of sauce and it was twice as delicious! The soup was a molokhia soup. Koshari is apparently Egypt's national dish, like gyudon or ramen in Japan. I'll definitely go back again.

This restaurant serves "Koshari," a national dish in Egypt, but it's not very familiar in Japan. It's a classic B-grade gourmet food that's made with rice, macaroni, pasta, chickpeas, and lentils, topped with tomato sauce and fried onions, and then mixed together. The staff recommended the "Kofta Koshari" with "Kofta," an Asian meatball. I ordered it with camel meat, which is a secret menu item within a secret menu! When I mixed it all together, I was surprised by the different textures: crunchy, chewy, and fluffy. It was really interesting! I expected the flavor to be more heavily spiced, like Asian cuisine, but it wasn't that spicy. It was sweet and savory, a flavor that Japanese people would enjoy. The camel meat was also very flavorful and delicious!

I tried Koshari, an Egyptian dish, for the first time. It had lamb on top, and the rice was mixed with short pasta and beans. It was served with spicy and sour sauces, which you mix in well. It ended up being like a semi-risotto. I also had a hot Mulukhiyah soup.