Okonomiyaki in Tokyo • 2 comments • Okonomiyaki is a savory "pancake" that's typically made of cabbage, eggs, and a batter plus whatever else you'd like to throw into the mix. Okonomi means "how/what you like" and yaki translates to "grilled". After hearing good things about the dish, we were curious to try it and found Furyu Okonomiyaki Sometaro. The day we visited was quite hot outside (and inside) so, it wasn't the best idea to be sitting next to a grill in a non air conditioned restaurant. While we loved it, I'd recommend going on a chillier day - it would be a great meal to warm you up. In true Japanese fashion, the ladies working there were very concerned about our comfort and turned on the air and gave us hand fans. I'm afraid that these photos and our poor preparation skills really do a disservice in selling this dish, so click here to see what it could have looked like if we knew what we were doing. The ladies working there were so amused by us and thought that Alex's stirring lacked the vigor necessary, so they stepped in. It was pretty funny to see people who were typically reserved suddenly become pretty pushy. They take their Okonomiyaki seriously! Since this trip, a friend of ours from Japan has made us Okonomiyaki for dinner. I'd definitely suggest giving it a try if you're curious. She gets her ingredients at Japantown in San Francisco but you can buy Japanese mayo at a lot of grocery stores or order it on Amazon... and our friend recommends Otafuku sauce (so good)! Other toppings include bonito flakes, which I hate and think ruin everything but you do you. I'll stick with kewpie, otafuku, and some green onions. There's a potato version that I think I'd like. Let me know if you try it! - Mina
Harajuku & Deus Ex Machina Cafe • 3 comments • Takeshita street is 4 blocks lined with crepe stands, jewelry and trinket shops, and costume stores profiting off the “Harajuku Girl” trends of the 90s. Continuing a block East lead us into the rest of Harajuku, an area saved from the tour group visits and accessory stores. During our walk around the neighborhood, we discovered vintage clothing stores, underground galleries, and laid back cafes - and we popped into one for a break. Deus Ex Machina's website describes the cafe as "small and concentrated, like an espresso". Apparently the head Barista, Yoshi, is known for for his "skills to the coffee machine" and is "famous throughout Japan for his bean whispering". We wouldn't know because we don't really drink coffee, but Alex's pulled pork sandwich and my PB & J were delicious. Personally, I didn't want to waste my time eating American food while there are so many amazing Japanese dishes to try, but was curious to check out the space. The meal was great, so if you're one of those people who look for creature comforts while abroad, this is a good option. - Mina
Afuri Ramen | Tokyo • 5 comments • My first and last time eating ramen was years ago at the Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York. I wasn't terribly impressed and it's typically too much food for me so, I haven't had a reason to order it again. Alex heard a tip that Afuri’s signature yuzu shio ramen (a more balanced ramen, with citrus) was one of the best in Tokyo, so I figured I should give ramen another shot. I'm still not a huge fan, but apparently I’m alone since Afuri has several locations in Tokyo and recently expanded to the United States with a restaurant in Portland, OR. - Mina
