Il Ristorante Luca Fantin: 10 years to perfect, 10 courses to celebrate
Since Luca Fantin first arrived 10 years ago at Bvlgari's then newly opened Ginza Tower, he has won and retained a Michelin star every year since 2011, and Il Ristorante is now making its way up the ladder of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. Reason ...
Two Fingers gets two thumbs up for craft beer and cooking
Two Fingers is a bright little eight-tap, 15-seater pub in the residential streets in northwestern Ikebukuro that was opened in February by two enthusiasts who turned their shared passion for beer into a classic labor-of-love project.
Wagyu and seafood: At Imari Roaji, Saga sends its finest to Ginza
The further you travel in Japan, the more you discover that each corner of the country has its own character and food traditions. Every region produces its own distinctive strains of rice, seafood products, miso, pickles and sake. And those differences are important: They're ...
Kokushu Sakaba: Knock back a glass of Saga kokushu, then try 199 more
In Kyushu, a region famed for distilleries rather than brewing, Saga is the odd prefecture out. More sake is consumed there — and less shōchū — than anywhere else in southwest Japan. And that is all the more reason for discovering Kokushu Sakaba, a ...
A sushi dynasty grows: Jiro, Masuda and now ... Wakon
Wakon is the first offshoot in Tokyo of Sushi Masuda, whose chef, Rei Masuda, trained for nine years under legendary sushi master Jiro Ono — the eponymous star of that documentary.
StandingBar Sanpachi: Squeeze in tight for a pizza and craft shōchū night
With so many contenders, it's impossible to anoint any single bar as the smallest in Tokyo, but StandingBar Sanpachi must surely be in the running.
Stand Banh Mi: The banh mi sandwich's new home in Meguro
"Not Vietnamese, but Vietnamese." The mission statement at Stand Banh Mi is nothing but enigmatic. That is, until you actually arrive, sit down and order at this buzzy little counter restaurant on the residential fringe of Meguro Ward. Then it all starts to make ...
At Che 333, iced desserts to cool you to the end of summer
Had enough of bubble tea, whether Thai or Taiwanese? Bored with the kakigōri (shaved ice) boom? Perhaps it's time to investigate the Vietnamese alternative, known simply as che, which combines tropical fruit, nuts and jellies with plenty of coconut milk in colorful, refreshing blends. That's ...
Toripota Ramen Thank: Noodles to be grateful for
In a city the size of Tokyo, in a country that takes its noodles so extremely seriously, what does a ramen counter need to do to stand out and stay the course? Having a memorable name helps, but the real reason behind the enduring ...
Sushi Shin by Miyakawa: High-end sushi at altitude
When it comes to sushi, Tokyo is spoiled for choice. Whether traditional or contemporary, high-end, local or no-frills market counter, few enjoy a more rarefied setting or more envious vista than Sushi Shin by Miyakawa, up on the 38th floor of the Mandarin Oriental, ...
An Di, Mymot, Like: Summer's hottest restaurants are undeniably cool
When it’s hot and humid enough to feel like you’re in the tropics, there’s only one solution: Eat like you’re there.
Kyoaji chef Kenichiro Nishi's legacy lives on in Japan's top restaurants
The world of traditional Japanese cuisine has lost one of its luminaries. Chef Kenichiro Nishi, the founder of the renowned Shinbashi restaurant Kyoaji, passed away at the age of 81 on July 26.
