Visiting Tokyo for the first time, I was keen to try authentic Japanese food. We found this little Takoyaki cafe in Harajuku, just down from JR train station.
Takoyaki are octopus balls which are fried and served with various toppings. These were being freshly made before our eyes! Ours were topped with teriyaki sauce, chopped herbs and fish flakes. We even managed to eat them with chopsticks.
Ramen was also high on my list of foods to try. This huge bowl had the most delicious broth, fresh vegetables and silky ramen. At this same restaurant we also ordered a set meal with fried chicken and rice which came with a side of pickles, chicken broth and gyoza.
Last, but not least, dessert. Although I’m not sure if this dessert was traditional, it was delicious! The mango was firm, ripe and juicy and the shaved ice-cream underneath was a welcome relief on hot, humid days.
Last, but definitely not least, if you know Japan, then you know Coolish. It may not be traditional, but it is smooth, creamy and delicious. Coolish is ice cream sold in squeeze packs from convenience stores, Flavours we found were vanilla, chocolate and melon.
All I can say is thank goodness for all the stairs we had to climb everyday and the miles and miles we walked. The food here was so fresh, tasty and delicious. I can’t wait to go back!
Thank you for sharing your experience in Japan @JustineE ,
Coolish looks a lot like a sorbet type of ice-cream that we had in Greece when I was a kid. I can still remember the brain freeze :). Did you enjoy more the original version of Ramen?
Hi @VasT . I find it amazing that there are so many similarities between foods in different countries.
Everything in Japan has a really fresh, delicious taste. The broth with the ramen was so flavourful. It’s hard to tell if I enjoyed the ramen more or the broth! Lol.
I love Asian cuisine. Really feel like tasting the mango desert. It caught my attention. The coolish ice-cream is convenient to handle but unfortunately we don’t have it Russia. It is interesting reading through the post especially for a foody like me. @JustineE thanks for sharing.
Unfortunately I didn’t get the recipe @VasT . We only stayed in Tokyo for a week. I wish it could have been longer. It was such a safe place with so many amazing places to visit.
Thanks for your feedback @Emmik20 . The mango dessert was every bit as sweet and tasty as it looked. Do you get a lot of mangos in Russia? Are there any particular types of dishes or desserts you use them in?
It all looks so good! I haven’t tried Takoyaki yet, but they seem tasty. Those gyoza seem perfectly cooked, and the ‘Snowy Village in Harajuku’, traditional or not, seems delicious too.
Thank you for sharing this part of your experience in Japan with us, @JustineE , I would love to read more about it if you are willing to share more of it with us
Excellent! I had this today for lunch. The branch I went to in Shibuya near my bus stop. We ordered two and had the watermelon sour. [ summer drink menu is out]
