Bites

For those of you who feel unfairly excluded from the gyaru community, specialists Galt Pop have opened the themed bar 10sion (7F KN Shibuya 2 Bldg, 13-9 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku; http://galtpop.jp/10sion) on Center-gai, to initiate you. Men and women are welcomed alike, and the entirely female staff do away with polite speech in order to create an unpretentious atmosphere. Cocktails and soba, including the hopefully dogmeat-less “Hachiko soba,” accompany a cosmetics service for those craving fake lashes and doe eyes. There’s a fee of ¥1,000 per hour—but who said going gyaru wouldn’t cost you?

May 23, 2012 | No Comments | 18 views

Abraham Puthoor

Once confined to expat-heavy districts like Roppongi, shisha bars are now cropping up all over, in various guises, from Persian fast-food bars to hipster hangouts. Here are three of the best: Aladdin in Kichijoji (http://aladdinshishabar.com), housed in a wooden shack as narrow as its menu of ¥600 cocktails is wide; Galata in Jiyugaoka (http://shop.jiyugaoka.net/galata), a cosy Turkish-run kebab joint with outdoor seating and good Turkish wine; and Shisha Cafés 1 & 2 in Shimokitazawa (http://shisha-tokyo.com), with a winning combo of good value, trendy appeal and shisha accessories on sale.

May 21, 2012 | No Comments | 170 views

David Labi

To be the king of the swingers—in a harmless sense—Mahika Mano (1F Sun Palace, 2-8-1 Kichijoji Minamicho, Musashino-shi; http://mahikamano.com) provides you with an opportunity to get away from the kids (babies allowed). The bar/café is a hammock showroom where you can pick up your choice for around ¥15,000, or quietly relax in one (for a maximum of an hour and a half) while you enjoy a bowl of coffee (¥600), cake (¥600), four-bean curry (¥900), Brooklyn lager (¥780), or herb cocktail (from ¥850) to name a few of the proferred treats. The cool, relaxed staff play great music, and check their site for news of regular live events with harps and such like.

May 14, 2012 | No Comments | 255 views

For the sounds, smells, and—most importantly—tastes of Africa, Calabash (B1F Hamamatsucho Bldg, 2-10-1 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku; www.calabash.co.jp) is your central Tokyo location for the cuisine of Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Ghana. Apart from their standard menu featuring regional treats such as chicken stew in mustard sauce (¥1,000) and plantain fritters (¥500), they hold a monthly bash to explore African countries of the Mediterranean. Their recent Moroccan event featured non-stop belly dancers and magicians to complement the regional beer, wine and food available, whetting diners’ appetites for the upcoming Tunisian (Jun 1) and Algerian (Jun 29) extravaganzas.

May 10, 2012 | No Comments | 440 views

Courtesy of Diamond Dining

Themed-restaurant specialist Diamond Dining has opened its fifth Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant in Ikebukuro. Kojo no Kuni no Alice, or “Alice in Old Castle Land,” (B1 Tokyu Bldg Higashi 3 Gokan, 2-16-8 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku; www.diamond-dining.com) gives a gothic, decadent twist to the story. A girl in rabbit costume (more Playboy than Lewis Carroll if you ask us) will conduct you to your table, perhaps surrounded by aquaria—or inside a large chandelier. Food (from ¥480) is arranged in kawaii Wonderland shapes, to be washed down with themed fruity cocktails (from ¥920). Expect to see cosplay folk and the occasional Mad Hatter.

May 7, 2012 | No Comments | 568 views

David Labi

For homemade noodles so long and thick that you could use one to escape from Mordor, Taka (1-7-20 Jindaiji, Mitaka-shi; www.taka-udon.com) is where this kind of gem is usually located—deep in a nondescript suburban area. In this case, 15 minutes’ walk from Chuo line station Musashi-Sakai. Taka’s massive interior, replete with tatami and table areas, is decorated with bizarre objects, leafy plants, and games for kids. But the real star is the udon, served in a set for ¥1,000. Nabe yaki udon comes in at ¥1,250, and chili-miso nabe udon for ¥1,050. Warning: the omori is damn big.

May 4, 2012 | No Comments | 412 views