Fish Market Sashimi

The influence of Japanese food on American cuisine is huge – and we were excited to experience the real deal while we were in Tokyo.  We weren’t disappointed!  The food was definitely reminiscent of the things we’d find in the States, but much more emphasis was placed on the non-sushi items available.  Of course, sushi was to be had:

Chirashi Sushi

We couldn’t afford sushi all the time, unfortunately.  Usually there’d be bits of fish with another meal:

How Do You Say Feast In Japanese

We were dismayed to find that coffee in Japan can cost as much as $10.  This was insane!  Fortunately we were able to score a much cheaper brew because of our location outside the tourist center of Tokyo.   For around $7, we got coffee and sandwiches – a nice breakfast or light lunch combo.  We went to this place a few times, and not just for its coffee:

Late Breakfast and Coffee

Best Boiled Eggs Ever - Hanjuku Eggs!

Japan has definitely perfected the boiled egg. They are thrown in with a lot of things, and always looked like that picture – golden and soft yolk with a nice firm white. None of the sulfur smell you get from hard-boiled eggs in the States, and no crumbly yolk! What a difference!

Most of the time we got pretty creative in order to save money.  At this place we ordered tonkatsu from a vending machine, where you pay the machine and give your ticket to the kitchen staff:

Lunch from a Vending Machine?

We also frequented noodle shops and tried a whole bunch of different noodles – ramen, udon, soba, you name it.  Always delicious! Especially the tonkotsu-ramen which was just a whole new world of delicious (I’d had one like it in Hong Kong, but it’s better in Japan).

Our local Ikebukuro noodle shop

Inside the noodle shop

Did I mention that Gyoza in a soy-vinegar-chili oil sauce are divine?  We couldn’t get enough of this soup, despite the fact that you get nearly a gallon of it when you order it.

Another Japanese icon is the department stores.  What other place on earth has 10 stories up of shopping and 2 stories down of eating?  Here are a few small snaps of places in the department store food section:

Department Store Fish

Interesting Department Store Cookies

We ended up buying little sachets of cooked rice from this one stand because it was so delicious!  Just white plain rice in a triangle-shaped form.  No tricks or anything but it was completely craveable.  And the price was palatable as well.

Noodle... Sandwiches?

Never saw a noodle sub before Japan!

Tempura Udon

Udon noodles were a really neat experience.  I don’t think they are cooked right in the states, because here they were really interestingly textured – soft on the outside but nice and al dente in the middle.  It gave the simple broth an interesting twist.  Love it!

We both fell in love with the food of Japan and can safely say that if you just look around a bit you can find really accessible, delicious food.