Hyperlocal Tokyo

Exceptional Value! BRONZE AWARD Japanese Cuisine Located a 5-minute walk from Omotesando Station, I visited "Japanese Cuisine Taigetsu (Tagetsu)," a BRONZE AWARD winner in the prestigious "Hyakumeiten" (100 Best Restaurants) guide for Japanese cuisine. I made a reservation for Saturday at 12:00 PM. I ordered the lunch short course for ¥11,000. This season, the menu focused on chilled dishes, visually refreshing and aesthetically pleasing. The delicate flavors were truly satisfying. Among the dishes, the chilled softshell turtle, the donchitti sashimi, and the Nagara River ayu (sweetfish) were particularly delicious. The enjoyable conversation with the affable owner, Mochizuki, added to the delightful experience, making the meal both delicious and fun from start to finish. 【Today's Menu】 ① Chilled Softshell Turtle in Jelly - Both the slices and the jelly were incredibly flavorful, capturing my taste buds from the very first dish! ② Steamed Pike Conger Eel and Scallop Dumplings in Soup with Kudzu Noodles - The dumplings were exceptionally delicious. ③ Sashimi: Donchitti (Horse Mackerel) from Shimane Prefecture Perilla, Japanese Mint, and Green Onion - The fat was refreshing and flavorful. ④ Nagara River Ayu (Sweetfish) - The seasonal ayu was juicy around the bones, especially delicious. ⑤ Eight-Course Appetizer: Shamo Chicken Liver with Pine Needle, Yamaka Nasu (Eggplant) with Zunda (Edamame Paste), Mozuku (Seaweed), Fresh Chili Pepper and Chirimen Sansho (Dried Pepper), White Bai Gai (Chinese Cabbage), and Hozuki (Chinese Lantern) with Tortoise Shell Egg - Both the appearance and the taste were exceptional! ⑥ Chilled Simmered Dish: Kuruma Ebi (Tiger Prawn), Pumpkin, Lotus Root, Kabocha Squash, and Conger Eel Kimchi - The jelly-like broth was excellent! ⑦ Meal (Clay Pot Rice) Fruit Corn Rice, Beef Tendon Simmered in Soy Sauce, Pickles, and Burdock Root Miso Soup - It was so delicious I had two helpings. ⑧ Dessert: Chilled Zenzai (Sweet Red Bean Soup) with Matcha (Green Tea) Mochi Balls Matcha and Mascarpone Ice Cream in a Mochi Wrapper ⑨ Dessert: Kuzukiri (Arrowroot Jelly) - The volume was amazing! Unmistakably delicious! The menu composition was incredible for a short course, and it was a very affordable course that left me completely full.

Located on a quiet backstreet in Omotesando, 'Taiyori' is a renowned Japanese restaurant that has been awarded a Michelin star every year since 2015. They use carefully selected seasonal ingredients from all over Japan and serve exquisite Japanese cuisine with delicate techniques. Their most notable feature is their meticulously prepared kombu and bonito dashi, made using both cold and hot water extraction methods, which forms the foundation of all their dishes. Despite being in Omotesando, the restaurant offers a tranquil atmosphere, making it a very relaxing experience. The lunch menu is also quite affordable for Tokyo, making it suitable for business lunches and other special occasions.

This restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine. They are meticulous about their ingredients and cooking methods, constantly evolving their traditional dishes with modern techniques. It's a place where you can enjoy seasonal flavors. Many foreign visitors come here, so you can feel at ease experiencing authentic Japanese cuisine. However, the chef is a bit strict and serious, so be mindful of etiquette and manners.

A Japanese cuisine specialty restaurant located a 3-minute walk from Omotesando Station. It's a high-end establishment offering multi-thousand yen course meals. I dined there for dinner and enjoyed sake and the 'Omakase Special Course.' The delicate dishes, featuring many unusual ingredients like Kyoto vegetables, were visually stunning. The earthenware rice pot with firefly squid and fuki no tou (Japanese butterbur) was particularly memorable for its exquisite flavor. However, the lack of a menu and the fact that the price for a half-size serving of sake was the same as a full serving were negative points.

The seasonal dishes were incredibly delicious, leaving me deeply impressed. The atmosphere and clientele were both excellent, allowing for a leisurely dining experience. I was delighted to be served matcha tea for dessert. The leftover rice dish was thoughtfully prepared for takeout, which I enjoyed at home. The owner's warm farewell as I left was a lovely touch, showcasing their genuine care.