Hyperlocal Tokyo

Located a 7-minute walk from Omotesando Station on various Tokyo Metro lines, "Hotel's" is a restaurant that opened in 2021 (Reiwa 3). It is a sister restaurant of the renowned "sio" in Yoyogi-Uehara and was selected for the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2024. Having heard that the ultimate salmon set meal previously offered at sio was now available at Hotel's, I made a reservation for the "Ultimate Salmon Set Meal" at 10 am on a weekend. For your reference, the details of the Ultimate Salmon Set Meal are as follows: * Thick-cut grilled silver salmon with salt * Ikura (salmon roe) marinated in soy sauce * Wagyu beef and potato stew * Ryukyu (a dish of marinated fish) * Seasonal side dish (lotus root simmered in soy sauce, chikuwa and scallion in vinegar sauce) * Steamed rice * Premium tonjiru (pork and vegetable soup) * Pickles (cucumber, napa cabbage) The thick-cut grilled silver salmon with salt had crispy skin and tender flesh. The saltiness was subtle, making it a perfect match for the steamed rice. I could eat endless amounts of white rice. I enjoyed one-third of the salmon as a side dish with rice, another third as a mini salmon and ikura donburi (rice bowl), and saved the rest for the final treat of salmon chazuke (rice with tea and salmon). The tonjiru was exceptional, with the flavors deeply infused into the ingredients while still retaining the texture of the vegetables. The meat stew and ryukyu were also delicious! Personally, I couldn't help but eat more rice because of the deliciousness of the vinegar sauce. The spicy mustard flavor was excellent, and I could eat a whole bowl of rice with it alone. After enjoying everything, I had a second serving of rice, topped it with the remaining silver salmon, and poured broth over it to make salmon chazuke. Ah, it's good to be Japanese! While the price of 3,500 yen (as of August 2024) is on the higher side, the deliciousness is worth it. The only criticism I have is the staff's student-like behavior. They were constantly chatting with their colleagues, and instead of focusing on the customers, they were too busy talking. Other than that, it was perfect. Thank you for the meal.

I visited for lunch on a weekend, having made a reservation beforehand. It's located on the second floor of "Nono Aoyama," a short walk from Omotesando, surrounded by trees. There are counter seats and table seats, making it a cafe-like restaurant suitable for solo diners. It has a casual atmosphere. I had made a reservation for their signature "Maple Truffle Egg Benedict Pancakes," which I had been wanting to try for a while. Watching them prepare it right in front of me was exciting! The pancakes were fluffy and chewy. The colorful salad surrounding them was said to be made with over 20 ingredients, including seasonal vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, grains, and edible flowers. The poached egg on top of the pancakes was a delight. As soon as I gently cut into it, the yolk oozed out. The hollandaise sauce made with white truffle oil was heavenly. I devoured it without a thought! While it seemed like a large portion, the salad made it light, and it included vegetables and soup, making it a two-in-one meal. The taste was delicious, but one thing I found a bit concerning was the 1.5-hour time limit. It took almost 20 minutes for the food to arrive. Being asked to leave before the 1.5 hours was up, with the bill presented, was a bit disappointing.

This was a place I'd been wanting to try for a while! The salmon set meal and the slider were both incredibly delicious, I was completely satisfied. The paired tea and the seven-spice powder on the table both showed a clear attention to detail. The staff were also fantastic! This time, I asked if they could add a slider to my order, and they were kind enough to accommodate my request. Thank you so much! (^^)

A cozy restaurant. The steak with hop salt was delicious. The burger and pasta for the finale, and the oyster specialty were all amazing! Even when dining alone, I had a fun conversation with the staff. ^_^

The "Maple Truffle Egg Benedict Pancakes" on the menu are fluffy and chewy pancakes topped with crispy bacon and poached eggs. The accompanying sauce is a hollandaise sauce made with white truffle oil. The colorful salad is a luxurious blend of over 20 ingredients, including seasonal vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, grains, and edible flowers. On the first day of my Tokyo trip, I rushed to this restaurant after dropping off my luggage at my hotel in Minami Aoyama. I was relieved to make it just in time for lunch! The sparkling wine and maple truffle egg benedict pancakes were exactly what I needed after a tiring flight. I found this restaurant while searching for places to eat near my hotel and made a reservation. It's owned by Chef Toba. I was a little nervous traveling alone, but the owner came over to chat with me and told me about another restaurant owned by Chef Toba in Fukuoka. I also had a great conversation about Fukuoka with one of the waitresses. There are other restaurants in Fukuoka that specialize in salads, but I was deeply impressed by the complex flavors of this one, which uses over 20 ingredients, including nuts, spices, grains, and edible flowers. Thank you for making my first day of travel so enjoyable. I'll definitely visit the Fukuoka location too! I was also thrilled to receive a reply from Chef Toba when I posted on X about visiting his restaurant.