Little China in Roppongi

If you are craving for authentic Chinese food at authentic Chinese price, this all-night 24hour open Peking duck restaurant is the place to be. It is one of the best Chinese-food bargains in Tokyo. They attract a crowd of young Japanese club-goers and Chinese patrons of all ages. The food, the price, and service are very authentic (some employees do not understand Japanese), and this place offers quite a contrast to the more posh cafes and restaurants of Roppongi Hills just across the street.

When I walked into the restaurant I was well impressed by the atmosphere. Fantastic decor, atmosphere was buzzing, the drinks were being poured, there were a lot of food on each table. The dining room is huge, with some big communal tables, more small tables in a back dining room and tables on the balcony which is open during the summer. Some of the erotic artwork (probably for fertility charm?) decorating the dining rooms is a bit unusual for a restaurant but it's certainly fun.

Their spaciality is Peking duck - which they charge just 3,680yen for a whole duck, including soup, a stir-fry, and the usual pancakes and condiments. I actually did not try the duck this time, so I cannot comment but it looked delicious. Most of the customers had the Peking duck on the table.

Instead of the Peking duck, what we went for is the huge menu of appetizers to accompany warm Chinese liquor. There are more than fifty small-plate dishes priced at just Y200 a plate. You can try anything from stir-fried garlic, pickled lotus roots, duck egg, sauteed cucumber and pork ears, BBQ chicken, rice noodle salad, to fried peanuts. At these prices you can try whatever looks interesting without worrying about the wallet. Then there's the amazing sui-gyoza (steamed dumplings) priced at just Y100 for a plate of three. They all incorporate the meaty filling and a dollop of hot broth inside the dumpling skin. These come in 26 different varieties, choices of dumplings with shrimp, garlic, scallop, tomato, spinach and others but it there was no drastic difference in flavor among them.

There are more substantial dishes as well - noodles, clay pot items, sauteed vegetables, fried rice and so on, most priced well under Y1000.

The good news is that the menu is in English, Chinese, and Japanese and I believe some of the waitors understand English. This is a perfect place to dine like a king with very little money. And you would know what I mean once all your orders have arrived at your table!!

Address: Nishi-Azabu 3-2-13, Court Annex 2F, across from Grand Hyatt Map:http://www.mapfan.com/index.cgi?MAP=E139.43.50.9N35.39.23.0&ZM=9

Phone:03-5414-5708

Simple and modern wine bar Bongout Noh

Here is another wine bar that was opened by an owner of successful Izakaya. Casual, stand-up bars in French bistros have a long tradition, so when the popular Shibuya stand-bar Buchi decided to open a branch featuring wines rather than sake, it kind of made sense. Rather than just serving a handful of snacks to go with their wines, the kitchen here offers nearly 100 different items, with consistently high quality. You can also choose from more than sixty wines, with some twenty by the glass. And the fun keeps going every night till 3am, perfect for late-night clubgoers and other neighborhood nightowls. The wine list comprised of mostly French wine with few others and are reasonably priced, nearly all the wines run between Y2500 and Y4500. Food is priced mostly around 700yen and the menu include various French and French inspired food: duck terrine, zucchini fritters, grilled game bird served with yuzu-kosho and spicy miso, grilled white asparagus, frog's leg,... etc

The decor at Bongout Noh is simple and modern, with a roomy counter bar and a few tables facing floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the street. A couple of corner tables include railings that you can perch on, and if you get tired of standing around there's a full-service dining room in back, with slightly higher (but still very reasonable) prices and an even bigger wine list of over 100 bottles.

Address: 2Fl Miyagi Bldg 1-10-12 Shibuya Shibuya-ku
Website:http://www.gatai-psd.co.jp/noh/

Map:http://www.mapion.co.jp/c/f?uc=1&grp=all&nl=35/39/27.774&el=139/42/35.809&scl=5000&bid=Mlink

Tel: 03-5464-0858

Hour:17:00~27:00

Japanese Izakaya's French sister

"When Tokyo dreams, the city dreams in French"

Japanese admiration and fascination for France can be observed anywhere from the countless posh French restaurants, luxuriously decorated hotel lobby, the Channel and Louis Vuitton flying around Tokyo to the new French-maid fantasy cafe that emerged from Akihabara, an Otaku mecca. Relations between Japan and France have long been friendly, and exchanges take place in a wide variety of fields from politics, economy, art, culture and gourmet.

So it is quite natural that the owners of Izakaya Fujiya, a popular spot for after work salarymen, opened its sister store Winebar Fujiya. 2 years ago, the owners renovated their original liquor shop into a fashionable wine standing bar. It is quite a small pub and it gives off a warm comforting atmosphere. Since it is located just 2 minuites walk from the Shibuya station, there is always a diverse crowd of people.

Although the food, atmosphere, and the crowds are completely different from the original Fujiya Izakaya, one thing that the wine bar and the izakaya have in common is the price. This wine bar Fujiya serves descent wine and delicious appetizers for very reasonable price. Glass wine (300yen~), bottle wine (1300yen~), appetizers such as german potato, cheese plate, prosciutto, italian salad, and stewed pork are all priced 300yen or 400yen, with the exception of Miyazaki Beef Steak 1300yen.

Address: Shibuyaku, Sakuraokacho 2-3

Tel: 03-3461-2128

Hour: Weekday 17:00～23:00 Saturday 17:00～22:00

Recommendation: prosciutto (300yen) , Guinness (550yen), Stewed pork (500yen)
Map:http://www.mapion.co.jp/c/f?uc=1&grp=all&nl=35/39/13.604&el=139/42/17.827&scl=5000&bid=Mlink

Japanese Otsumami 101

So you walk into a nice Japanese Izakaya, greeted by energetic "Irasshaimase", find yourself a seat, clean your hands with the warm wet towel (oshibori) and order a glass of beer.

Great.

Now what to order...

Most of the Izakaya do not carry English translated menu, and it is often difficult to understand what it is that you are going to eat, or even what it is that you are eating!!
Most Otsumami are realtively simple dishes flavored with salt or soy sauce that stimulates your thirst.
However, there are certainly more complicated otsumami that uses parts of fish that you have never heard of or peices of meet that you never thought you would put it into your mouth.
So in this article, I woud like to give you a lesson on Otsumami -the tapas of Japan- 101, giving a basic sense of Japanese drinking food

Beginner's course: The most basic, safe, deliciou otsumami

• Edamame （えだまめ） : One of the most popular snack items in the beer party and Japanese restaurants. This simple boiled Edamame soybeans flavoured with salt goes very well with Japanese beer
• Yakitori （やきとり）: Grilled chicken speared on sticks. It is usually served with salt or tare (BBQ sauce) All different parts of the chicken, thighs, skin, liver, etc. can be used for yakitori. The most classic most loved yakitori is "Negima", a combination of chicken breast and negi scallion
• Chicken Karaage （からあげ）: Japanese chicken nugget. Quite different from the western fried chicken for flavor and texture. Should be tried
• Coroquette （コロッケ）: Japanese style coroquett made of potato and beef
• Asazuke　（浅漬け）: Japanese pickles of eggplant, cucumber, Japanese daikon radish, carrot,...
• Tempura　（天ぷら）: Some izakaya carry large variety of tempura of vegetable and seahood
• Kushikatsu　（串かつ）: Kushikatsu is a dish made up of pieces of pork and vegetables fried on a skewer after being coated in bread crumbs.
• Hamukatsu　（ハムかつ）: Fried thin peice of pork
• Potato salad　（ポテトサラダ）
• Kimchee　（キムチ）: Korean spicy pickles smothered with red hot chilly pepper
• Atsuyaki Tamago　（厚焼き玉子）: Japanese style omlet eaten with soy sauce
• Tebasaki　（手羽先）: Japanese style buffalo chicken
• Tofu　（豆腐）

Intermediate course: A little more adventurous flavor

• Oden　（おでん）: Japanese winter dish consisting of several ingredients such as boiled eggs, daikon radish, konnyaku (yam cake) and processed fish cakes stewed in a light, soy-flavoured dashi broth. Ingredients vary according to region and between each household. Karashi (Japanese mustard) is often used as a condiment
• Toriwasa　（鳥わさ）: Sashimi of chicken and parsley with wasabi
• Itawasa　（板わさ）: Sliced Kamaboko fishcake served with wasabi
• Shishamo　（ししゃも）: Shishamo, a smelt, is a dried fish about 15 cm long. Their season starts October 10, but the most delicious ones are caught around November 10, when the eggs in their bodies are about to hatch. Shishamo is broiled and served as an appetizer with sake. It has a simple taste, bit salty with the eggs.
• Gyu-tataki （牛たたき）: Gyu-tataki is essentially marinated thin slices of raw beef (perhaps imperceptibly seared), served with a dipping sauce. Sometimes appears on menus as "beef sashimi".

Advanced course: For the real (courageous) food lover

• Motsuni　（もつ煮）: Motsuni-Nabe is mostly pork and cow and pig intestines stewed in miso based soup, which sounds disgusting but some claim a cup of sake and a bowl of Motsuni is all about life. It's a very popular dish in Japan.
• Shiokara　（塩辛）: Fermented squid meat with ink
• Geso Karaage　（ゲソ）: Deep fried soysauce marinated Calamari usually served with mayonaise.
• Nankotsu Karaage　（軟骨から揚げ）: Fried chicken cartilage are definitely not for the middle of the road diner but the adventurous will savour the crunchy-chewy joints
• Surume　（するめ）: It is a dried squid which undergoes very complicated process of cooking. A squid gets gutted, eyes removed, split and dried. Then afterwards boiled, pressed, and dried again, after seasoning

The magic of Tachinomi

What is Izakaya… The closest Western equivalent to a traditional izakaya experience may be that of going to a British pub. In the North America, the equivalent would be a neighborhood pub, but instead of wings and nachos, choices yakitori (skewed BBQ chicken), oden (Japanese hotpot), tempura, along with many other Japanese ala carte. Food is something that average Japanese will not drink without and chips and peanuts just won't do.

The izakaya is the Japanese answer to this drinking and eating activity and, just like anywhere, there's a pub for all tastes. From mom and pap style, chain izakaya, trendy up scale izakaya, to small dirty izakaya in the backstreets in the business districts. But in all of them, the first thing you'll hear is an enthusiastic " irrashaimase!" (welcome) from the staff.

Despite some differences among izakaya of different style, one thing that all izakaya share is the multi-facet food menu. You can expect to find anything of traditional Japanese food, from sashimi, tempura and oden, various deep-fried meet, grilled fish, skewered foods and of course, edamame. You will also find food that you have probably never heard of like sunakimo (chicken gizzards), natto (fermented soy beans), ikanuta (squid stuffing), that have been enjoyed by Japanese as drinking food. But don’t be afraid to go in and try. With any luck your helplessness with the menu will bring out the okami-san (the lady owner of the store) and she'll look after you from there. You will also get a sense of having experienced a little Japanese hospitality too.

A common format for izakaya dining in Japan is known as nomihodai/tabehodai (drink all you can, eat all you can). This is more popular in larger izakaya, especially those which are part of a chain. Since a typical Japanese cannot hold too much alcohol, izakaya can still find profit from nomihodai of 2 or 3 hours.
In more traditional, smaller izakaya the dishes and drinks will be priced individually, generally around 300 to 600 yen, with the bill being added up and paid at the end or at times takes form of “pay as you order.”

Izakaya serve a mixed crowd of youngsters, college students, regular locals, and professionals in their 30s to 60s. But traditionally, an izakaya is a place between home and office, where a 'salaryman' can loosen his tie and his tongue escaping from harsh and rigid business world. Now more and more women and students are entering the scene, giving Izakaya more cosmopolitan feeling.

Another trend in Izakaya these days is the emerging popularity of Tachinomi, or standing bar. Tachinomi has long been a part of salaryman culture yet it is only recent it has become trendy and sometimes even fashionable. The casulaity and the easiness of getting a drink and some food has gained much popularity among the younger generation, resulting in birth of trendy Tachinomiya like Buchi (in Shibuya) or Buri (in Ebisu) But the custom of drinking while standing is now no longer limited to disgruntled businessmen. More and more trendy bars and restaurants have been setting up their own standing counters, which have proven particularly popular among young women.

At a typical Tachinomiya, you will see the customers packed shoulder to shoulder along a long, narrow counter after work hours to even 4am. A big attraction here is the prices of the food and drinks. Typically a small bottle of Japanese sake, a mug of beer, and a glass of shochu (distilled spirits) are priced somewhere below ¥500. A daily selection of appetizers is priced anywhere from ¥200 to ¥600 per dish. So for just around ¥1,000 or ¥2,000 a customer can have two or three drinks and some food on the way home from work.

The trend of Tachinomiya has even caught on in some of Tokyo's most upscale districts, such as Ginza, Nishi-Azabu, and Marunouchi, where drinking is traditionally a formal and expensive affair. Other cousins are also involved in the trend; Spanish, Italian restaurants and Latin music bars are also part of the stand-and-drink trend. Asked why so many tachinomi counters have sprung up recently, a bar owner says, "The prices are attractive, so it's not a financial burden for salarymen or young people who may have limited pocket money to spend on going out."

What was once the territory of tired salarymen, a respite from the stresses of the working day has now opened itself to young women and others and became a popular hangout spot for many, and this will likely ensure that the tachinomi revival is more than just a passing fad.

A Real Japanese Pub in Shibuya

Vibrant, lively, fun, faddish, crowded, cramped, and busy...the streetwise love it! Shibuya is another shopping and entertainment district situated in the west of Tokyo. Since the emergency of "kogal culture" in the the 1990's, Shibuya, especially center streets and countless department stores, is filled with youngsters. But, here in the Pub Fujiya, you will find good old Shibuya.

Now, if you are up for real Tokyo Shitamachi style bar, and you can forget about all the grossy push attractiveness and stand by salarymen drinking, eating, and communication with Japanese, this is the right place for a visit.

Descending the stairs that leads to the underground floor, you will see the crowd of salary men standing by the counter that surrounds the kitchen. The peices of paper pinned to the wall all around the store are the menu. The menu is large and there is no English translation so it would be wise to bring your Japanse language book to make some order. The menu consists mostly of special of the day, from sashimi, salad, stewed fish to tempura. As for alcohol, they have the usual suspects: beer, sake, shochu, and chu-hai (the shochu cocktails).

When I went with my friend, we ordered a large bottle of sapporo beer (shockingly cheap 450yen), mixed vegetable tempura (200yen), tuna sashimi (350yen), boiled tofu (200yen), fried pork (2ooyen) and walked out satisfied with only 1400yen bill! The food was all freshly cooked in the open kitchen, the portion was impressively big, and the service is very good. No wonder it's the hot spot for afterwork salarymen. It's cheap, tasty, and a lot of fun.

Address: Shibuya Sakuraokacho 2-3 B1F

Tel: 03-3461-2128

Everyday is a fiesta in One Coin Girl's Bar in Shibuya

Maffick One coin Girl's Bar opened in the east of Shibuya station in June, 2006. The interior is decorated gorgeously with red, black and gold as base color with big projector and chandelier (Japanese eternal fascination with chandelier also shows in here) and its theme is fiesta! Despited its fanciness, the bar is a one coin bar, which means that the drinks and food are worth one coin of 500yen coin. While the name is little deceiving since there are, in fact, some drinks and food that are actually priced 1000yen, most of the food and drinks are priced 500yen.
The 500yen food menu consists of standard drinking food: fried chicken, fried caramari, baked potato, steamed clams, ... they would keep your thirst for 500yen cocktails, wine, beer, and schofu for sure.

It's a perfect place to stop by for few drinks and snack to take a break from the busy streets of Shibuya.

Location: Shibuya-ku, Shibuya 2-9-8 Matrix One bldg B1

Casual Spanish Bar in Omotesando

Omotesando is the Champs-Elysee of Tokyo. It has opened the largest Louis Vuitton shop in Japan in 2003, and queues are frequent. It is one of the rare avenue of the Japanese capital to be planted with trees all its length. Since the Omotesando Hills, an upscale shopping mall, opened this year, Omotesando has become more popular than ever.



Located just off the main street of Omotensando, Bar De Itchoh,
which literally means a pint in athe bar, is surprisingly reasonably priced restaurante bar which is crowded with young attractive crowd of Omotesando. This stylish restaurant bar combines a standing bar(the patio outside), a restaurant (counter around the kitchen), and a sports bar (it's equipped with plasma tv in the back).

Draft Beer (390yen), house wine (500yen), and Cocktails (600yen+), the bar offers very reasonably priced drinks for Omotesando neighborhood. With wines that have traveled from places as far as South Africa, Spain, France, California and Italy, Bar De Itchoh's goal is to take the snobbery out of sipping wine. Patrons have the choice of ordering by glass, bottle or flight. Or, if you're in the mood for something a little more hip, try one of the bar's martini. French, Italian, and Spanish dishes dominate the menu. Quiche, Ibelico pork prosciutto, cappage and anchovy pasta, home made liver pate, pork chop,... priced under 1000yen.


Location: Minatoku, Minami Aoyama 5-9-3 1F

Inexpensive Fun in The Fancy Ginza

Ginza is the most exclusive and expensive shopping area in Japan. It is also known for having the most expensive real estate on earth!!The streets are lined with neon signs, department stores, boutiques, bars and restaurants. And most famous (notorious?) of all is the very high-end Ginza hostess clubs in which no-one escapes without paying handsomely (300,000yen+ in an evening minimum).

However, that's not all there is to Ginza. You can have great fun in Ginza bar/club, with just paying 300yen, not 300,000yen! Take a visit to this fun stylish standing bar, 300yen bar in Ginza. The 300yen Ginza Bar, as its name suggests, has a food and drink menu that are all priced 300yen. From beer, gin tonic, cosmopolitan, wine, tequila sunrise, margarita to shochu, everything is priced 300yen. They have an impressive cocktail menu which is so large that I could never choose what I should drink. On top of that, they even have their original cocktails and special of the week written on the board above the bar! But don't worry, the friendly bartenders are willing to recommend you a good cocktail based on your needs and preference. Each cocktails are neatly made and you can enjoy the sound of cocktail shakers shaking. (Pretty impressive for just 300yen drink, don't you think?) And when you are hungry, they have small finger food such as mini pizza, chicken nuggets and edamame.

Located just 5 minuites from the Ginza's shopping streets and 5minuites from the business sector of Shinbashi and Uchisaiwaicho, this bar attracts many young professionals as well as Ginza shoppers and even at times, some hostesses and hosts on the way to their work. With the cheap drink and gaijin freindly atmosphere, the bar attracts many gaijin as well. It’s the perfect meeting place for post-work or late-night drinks. It has just been renovated and looks fancier than ever. On Friday nights, they even have DJs in the bar for some Friday night dancing.

Location: Chuo-ku, Ginza 8-3-12 Daini Ginza Colum Bldg B1
Website: http://www.300bar-8chome.com/
Recommendation: Taste the cocktails that you have not tried yet in your life

Combine Books, Food, Good drinks in Nakameguro

In a city where it doesn't seem possible to be hip and laid back at the same time, a neighborhood called Nakameguro has managed to be exactly that, quietly, and hidden away from trend loving crowds. Spend some time in the quiet river side walk in Nakameguro and you’ll get the vibe of this new funky, alternative neighborhood of Nakameguro. From cutting-edge cafés and bars, an apartment, office and retail complex, the streets of "Nakameguro" are turning this shitamachi into Tokyo's most stylish neighborhood.

Combine, a book and cafe bar, stands by the Meguro river providing a cozy place where its customers can relax and enjoy the food, drink, music,books, conversation and a view of the Meguro river. Combine is a small, comfortable place; very casual. The decor is designed to let you unwind: soft lighting, lounge tunes like air and beck in the background and big couches and benches. The menu is in a little blue notebook, and a big collection alcohol in the bar. I must say I was truly impressed by the truly chilled out atmosphere in this place, as well as the generous portion of drinks at very reasonable price. The cocktails are priced from 600yen ~ 800yen, delicious deserts are 450yen, and an impressive choices of otsumami priced around 600 yen.

Combine is a rebirth of a used book shop Ballad-do that used to be located in Takaido. Combine opened in May 2005, as a book and cafe bar where customers can read their book collection, purchase the books, or bring in some books in exchange for alcohol. Combine will soon host DJs, small live music sessions, photo exhibition, CD release,.... etc.

Location: Meguroku, Nakameguro 1-10-23-103
Recommendation: Grab a book+ kalua milk (700yen) + Banana Cake (450 yen)

Hitting 300yen Bar On The Way Home in Shirogane

Since 3Coin Tachinomiya in Takanawa was the starting point of my pilgrimage to Tokyo cheap eateries, I cannot talk about my passion for Tachinomi (Standing bar) without introducing this bar. 3Coin Tachinomiya is a neighborhood bar that attracts young and old professionals on the way home from work. We all know of the harsh and cruel Japanese businessone world and one way to relax at the end of the day is a friendly post-work drink at a bar. 3 Coin Tachinomiya is truly a perfect place for such drink. You open a door, and friendly energetic bartenders welcome you in with echoing "irasshaimase,"and you know you can relax. 3 Coin Tachinomiya is an unpretentious spot to spend a low-key night or meet up with friends for a post-work drink.

A stylish neighborhood pub which is directly managed by sake brewery in Nagano, Ito Shuzo. In Ito Shuzo, everything is handcrafted. 3 Coin Tachinomi Bar is the only place that you can taste Ito shuzo's self praised- Yokobue sake. Along with its ebisu beer, variety of shochu, chuhai (shochu cocktail), and numerous choice of traditional Japanese drinking snack, this special sake Yokobue is also priced 300yen.

If you want some snack to keep your thirst going, try ordering some traditional Japanese drinking food, ranging from Tamagoyaki (Japanese flavored omlet), Asazuke (pickled vegetable), Edamame or Tofu. If you are brave enough, try the Stir fried gizzards with ginger, Sunakimo (deep fried chicken hearts), or Ikanuta (Japanese squid, seaweed, pickled cucumber). After all, you are in a traditional Japanese bar!

Location: Minatoku, Takanawa 3-11-5 Takanawa Biew Heights 1F
Access: 30 sec from Takanawadai station exit on Asakusa line
Recommendation: Beer + Tofu + Fried chicken

Dancing to A Life (with 500 yen drink in my hand)

Although Nishi-Azabu has an abundance of small restaurants, clubs, and bars all dispersed around its main intersection, it's a quieter area than the Roppongi circus up the road. ALIFE is located in the middle of Nishi-Azabu and Roppongi, but a quite bit closer to Nishi-Azabu and is certainly different from clubs in Roppongi.

ALIFE is one of the most successful disco style japanese club... which mean that they gather young Japanese office lady and salaryman with gorgeous decoration and shiny bar. It has 3 floors: The basement is the dancefloor with the usual mix of trendy hiphop, old disco and some trance as well, the 1st floor is the restaurante and a bar, and the second floor is the hiphop floor. As many of Tokyo's best clubs do, ALIFE too begin the night as restaurants before turning up the music after midnight.

Now if you are looking for underground club parties then its not for you but if you are looking for a typical popular japanese disco style spot then its the place to be. I had to say it was an experience to go to such Japanese disco after spending much time in Roppongi. It's really amazing, how the atmosphere, the drinks, people, dance style are completely different just a station away from Roppongi.

I must really give credit to ALIFE for their 500yen drinks. In addition, if you go early, that is before 11pm, the entrance fee is 1000 yen for girls and 2000yen for boys. With 2 drink tickets that they handout, the cover is really not that bad. Make sure to break your IDs since this place does check the ID for your age.

It is worth a visit if you 1. get there before 11pm 2. drink as much 500 yen drink as possible before they slowly raise the price starting from 2am 3. want to experience Japanese clubbing (i.e. saying "hai hai hai hai" when the dancefloor is heated, seeing Japanese girls and guys dancing completely separately like a school dance)

Location: Minatoku, Nishiazabu 1-7-2 Myojo Nishiazabu 70 bldg
Website:http://www.e-alife.net/

Stand 300yen of Joy in Daikanyama

At 5pm everyday, Espresson and Bagle cafe transforms itself into standing 300 yen bar Stand 300 yen of Joy that reminds me of an English pub...

This cozy quiet pub delivers a laid-back vibe with none of the attitude plaguing the neighborhood. Think modern, minimal furniture, exposed brick walls, small garden where a barrel serves as a table, and 300 yen drinks and snacks. You might want to settle in for the night!!

The drink menu includes beer, wine, cocktails, all for 300 yen, and also include expresso, cafe au lait at a cheaper price from the cafe menu.


Location: Shibuya-ku, Daikanyama 15-10-2 Hayashi bldg 101

Map: http://www.mapion.co.jp/c/f?uc=1&grp=all&nl=35/38/48.498&el=139/42/21.848&scl=10000&bid=Mlink

Recommendation: Cheese and salami mix plate + gin tonic

Around Japan with One Cup Sake!

Ebisu is the transit point for riders from the JR Yamanote line and Hibiya subway line. The area offers a good array of eating and drinking establishments, including the Ebisu Garden Plaza - a pleasant, slightly Kremlin looking open-plaza area with a variety of shops and restaurants. Around the Ebisu station too, there are countless izakaya and bars for business men and women to enjoy post-work drinks on the way to home. Ebisu is truly an oasis of good drinks and food.

Buri is an inviting neighborhood bar with great drink menu and gourmet yakitori. The big attractions: a bar that circles around the bartender, fast and friendly service and their gourmet yakitori.

This stand-up bar specializes in one-cup sake from around the country all priced around 500~600yen. Don't be afraid to ask for the bartender's recommendation. The bartender is equipped with most detailed information on each sake and will offer your the best fitted sake that will suit your taste. Yakitori are priced from 100~300 yen and are cooked in front of you and served hot and juicy. They have classic chicken yakitori but try their original menu of pork, vegetable yakitori as well.

It's rather small, and is always crowded with many of its faithful customers, yet its smallness and the large round table creates casual, friendly atmosphere where customers can easily start conversation with one another. If you are going with a large group, you should avoid 8~11 peak time, you will be on the line for hours!!

Location: Ebisu-Nishi 1-14-1

Map: http://www.mapion.co.jp/c/f?uc=1&grp=all&nl=35/38/40.448&el=139/42/39.488&scl=10000&bid=Mlink

Recommendation: One cup sake (ask for bartender's recommendation) + Negima yakitori (chicken and negi)

200yen Draft Beer Anyone?

At Tasuichi, literally meaning "plus one", everyone feels comfortable to ask for plus one of their draft beer. For just being 200 yen, Tasuichi's fresh Kirin draft beer is amazingly cheap and delicious. When you want to drink other drinks, don't be afraid and try their great collection of shochu and sake that are all priced 500 yen.

Tasuichi, a standing sports bar with 200yen beer, 500 yen drinks, and traditional Japanese bar food draws in everyone from Shibuya gals, salary men, couples, and gaijins. Yes, this bar is always packed with foreigners whenever I walk by. This gaijin-friendliness must have something to do with the ¥200 draft beers on the menu and the full-contact sports on the TV...
200 yen beer is truly magnetic for just anybody around.

Aside from traditional Japanese bar food of edamame, tofu, stewed beef and all, Tasuichi is proudly presenting tsukemono -pickled vegetable- from many different regions of Japan. Priced from 300 ~ 400 yen, the pickles are another cheap fun way to taste different regions of Japan.

Location: Shibuya-ku utadagawa 33-14 １F
Website: http://www.tasuichi.co.jp/shibuya.html
Recommendation: 200 yen beer + 300 yen tasuichi tebasaki (buffalo wings) + 400 yen Senmai zuke (Kyoto style pickle)

Map: http://www.mapion.co.jp/c/f?uc=1&grp=all&nl=35/39/27.691&el=139/42/01.018&scl=5000&bid=Mlink

Drinking and Eating for 300 yen in Shibuya

Shortly after my arrival in Tokyo, I learned that Tachinomi -standing bar- has gained quite popularity in Japan. Cheap, casual, fun bar where people don't have to worry about paying for entrance fee or for otoshi ( some izakaya automatically bring a small bowl of appetizer called tsukidashi or otoshi, which are often added to your bill at checkout). It is much like Western drinking pub where one can enjoy going to a pub for just "couple of pints" freely.

Although many of such standing bars have very standard menu of Japanese beer, sake, shochu, and some appetizers, Coins bar in Shibuya has unusually large selection of drinks and food, both Japanese and Western. Olive, edammame, cheese, nachos, kimchi, caesar salad, tsukemono (vegetable pickles), rice balls, dumplings ... the list goes on. The drink menu also include beer, shochu, cocktails, wine, chuhai, and liquors. And just for a reminder, they are all for 300yen.

In the middle of Shibuya, 5 minuites from Shibuya station, this stylish bar equipped with DJ booth serves 300yen quality food and drinks. Open from 16:00 to 23:30, if you can successfuly walk straight to the station at the closing time, you might even get lucky enough to catch the last train home! Or you can wonder off into the crazy streets of Shibuya for more fun.

Location: Shibuyaku, utadagawa-cho, 36-1 Noa shibuya bldg B1F
Website: http://www.suntory.co.jp/gourmet/shop/0334633039/index.html

Map: http://www.mapfan.com/index.cgi?MAP=E139.42.1.0N35.39.32.0&ZM=9