Hyperlocal Tokyo

My daughter and I went there together. We arrived around 1 p.m. on a Sunday. We were just a little hungry, so we only ordered a set meal and an orange juice. My toddler daughter enjoyed it too.

My friend invited me to try shabu-shabu, so I visited this place for the first time. It's located near Harajuku Station, close to Takeshita Street, but tucked away down a narrow alley, making it less visible and quieter. The atmosphere is very calm and relaxed. There are five tables that seat four people each. We were a group of two, so we had a spacious four-seater table. The walls are adorned with paintings, adding a sophisticated touch. We were hoping to try the snow crab course, but it wasn't available that day, so we opted for the Agu pork shabu-shabu. The course we had was ¥6,600 and included: * Appetizer assortment: Soy milk and bottarga, burdock fries, duck roast with cream cheese on canapés, pickled radish * Colorful vegetables: Cauliflower, bean sprouts, various mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, scallions, red heart radish, etc. * Agu pork shabu-shabu meat: Loin and belly * Special rice balls * Dessert: Japanese sweets The course is centered around shabu-shabu, but the variety and abundance of vegetables were truly impressive. We wondered if we could finish it all, but we had plenty of room in the end. The Agu pork was incredibly flavorful, with a sweet fat that melted in your mouth. It was delicious simply dipped in the homemade ponzu sauce, and we couldn't stop eating it. The vegetables cooked in the broth were exceptional. The cauliflower and tomatoes softened quickly and were incredibly tasty. We finished with the broth itself. They also offer rice balls for lunch, but they let us choose our own ending for the shabu-shabu, so we went with cod roe. The rice balls were fluffy. We ended with a beautiful, rose-shaped Japanese sweet, which was a lovely touch. Drinks start at ¥800 for beer. We had a Chita highball for ¥1,000 and a white wine for ¥800. Shabu-shabu is a watery dish, so we only had two drinks. The total came out to about ¥8,500 per person, which is quite reasonable. There were two groups of regulars there that day. It was nice to find such a calm and relaxed place in Harajuku. It's definitely worth seeking out!

I went to Ichigen with a friend to enjoy their pork shabu-shabu course. The meat platter was beautiful, but the vegetable platter was even more impressive. It had so many different kinds of mushrooms I'd never seen before, and it really felt like a celebration of the season. The food was delicious, of course, and we got enough for four people even though there were only two of us! It was a huge portion! We finished with udon noodles in the golden, shimmering broth made from the pork and vegetables. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the amazing rice balls! We even made a porridge with the leftover broth. It was a perfect meal from start to finish! I heard that they don't get many new customers because they're mostly known by word of mouth, but you can definitely make a reservation through Ichigen directly. I highly recommend giving it a try. I was so satisfied, I'll definitely be back!

The appetizers are delicious, but the vegetables are the real star! They're amazing! From mushrooms and leafy greens to root vegetables and even flowers, there's a wide variety. The meat is Agu pork, which is rich and flavorful. It was a bit too fatty for my taste, so it would be great if they could offer more condiments or sauces. They also have a limited-time crab pot during the winter. The rice balls at the end were delicious, with a fragrant seaweed flavor. The restaurant is pet-friendly.

Located just a few minutes from Harajuku Station, this restaurant boasts a beautiful interior and serves delicious, affordable food. The Agu pork shabu-shabu course costs 6,600 yen, and with two drinks and an onigiri, the total came out to around 8,500 yen per person. It seems like a good place for groups, and the clientele seemed to be a more mature crowd.