Hot Places to Visit!! Unique Specialty Stores Unveiled
In Japan, the autumn season is the perfect season to have a good appetite. Recently, there are many new shops in Tokyo, especially specialty stores such as not only chocolate, but also French fries, rice balls, and French toast.
Let's provide an introduction to these groovy stores!!
Must-visit for chocolate-lovers!!
"Chocolate"... That sure sounds like a sweet and definitely attractive dessert. BUT! Can you imagine that this restaurant, "Charlotte Chocolate Factory," offers you not only dessert dishes, but also many other options such as pizza, pasta, curry, Hayashi rice (Japanese-style hashed beef and rice)—all made with chocolate! I ordered "Chocola Butter Chicken Curry" on the day.
"Chocolate gravy sauce" comes with this curry, and this is poured on the curry before eating. The taste is a collaboration between sweetness, pungency, and sourness: the perfect combination!!
There are Koala's March cookies, a much-loved chocolate cookie snack in Japan, too, added to my small set's salad for a little extra bit of fun!
Let's enjoy the special chocolate dishes for today's lunch and dinner!!
French toast specialty store from Fukuoka now in Shibuya!
On April 2014, a famous French toast restaurant in Fukuoka opened up a store in Tokyo's Shibuya Koen-Dori. They focus on the ingredients of French toast such as bread, appaleil, and butter. Also, there are several kinds of unique menu items, not only for dessert-style French toasts, but savory options are well.
This French toast, pictured above, is called "Berry Deluxe." The one in the photo is actually half size, but your stomach will be satisfied. Order a mix of different dishes and share them among your friends! Sounds like fun!!
No more French fry orders from fast-food!?
To all French fry lovers, a French fry specialty store has opened near the Hiroo shopping street, which is just a three-minute walk from Hiroo Station. They specialize in the use of potatoes not only from Japan, but from Belgium as well. You can also create "custom" French fries at this store.
How to order!?
1. Select your favorite potato type from six different options.
2. Choose your choice of dipping sauce from 10 different types.
The texture is soft and flaky, and the flavor of the potato spreads in your mouth. There is a famous park, Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park, near this store, so I recommend ordering your favorite fries to enjoy at the park, too!!
The oldest specialty in Japan!?
Since 1954, our oldest onigiri (rice ball) specialty store has been located on Kotodoi Street behind the historic Sensoji temple in Asakusa.
Once you step inside, you will feel a distinctly traditional Japanese atmosphere. There are more than 10 different kinds of ingredients they offer, so you get to create your own "custom mix" onigiri fillings, too.
Today I went for "yamagobo" with "narazuke." Delicious!
Once in a while, it's great to just enjoy a relaxed, quiet meal here.
More specialty stores
All dishes are rich in iron in Kichijoji
Body Blow: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/eu75au860000/
Gai Building 1F, 2-8-7, Minami-cho, Kichijoji, Musashino, Tokyo
Open: Mon through Sun: 16:00~24:00 (L.O. 23:00)
Close: Irregular, plus New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (Dec. 30th, 2014 to Jan. 4th, 2015)
Tel: 0422-24-9100
The first bowl of miso soup!!
Misogen: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/gd1n600/lang/en/
Kitte B1F, 2-7-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Open: Mon through Sat: 10:00-21:00 (eat-in till 20:30)
Sun and Holiday: 10:00-20:00 (L.O. 19:30)
Closed: Same as the general closing times of the Kitte Building in which it is located.
Tel: 03-6256-0831