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DEN
I will have whatever Zaiyu Hasegawa is having. Always. Originally, met him in New York but I have never met a chef who is so happy and wants everyone else to be happy around him. His menu is fun and just that, happy. The staff are happy. The salad is happy. The fried chicken is happy. Happy Happy Happy.
Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 2 Chome−3−18 建築家会館ＪＩＡ館
SAVOY
I asked Chef Sean Gray (Momofuku Ko) before my first trip to Tokyo to give me a list of restaurants to go to in Tokyo. I was hoping for ramen spots, udon, sushi, yakitori, etc. But being Sean, he gave me only one spot: Savoy. A pizza joint. However, this pizza joint does so with ninja-like precision and graceful approach to a famed art that can rival anything in Italy, yeah I said it.
Japan, 〒106-0046 Tokyo, Minato City, Motoazabu, 3 Chome−10−1 中岡ビル201
BEN FIDDICH
I could spend weeks talking about Tokyo bars. However, many of them I don’t know the name but can probably just “take you” the way that someone took me. What stands out about Ben Fiddich is his use of abstinthe and sometimes the way he doesn’t use abstinthe but instead uses a ridiculous amount of fennel. Creative without being annoying and truly drinkable drinks in a cool old office building in the red-light district.
Japan, 〒160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 1 Chome−13−7 大和家ビル 9F
THESE
It is a bar but with a lot of books. Drinks are made entirely of fresh fruit and usually served tall with ice. Oh yeah, the space feels like a bit of a tree house with a bunch of nooks and crannies but oh yeah about the books they have the complete Visionaire Magazine series. Get in, get tippled and get inspired.
Japan, 〒106-0031 Tokyo, Minato City, Nishiazabu, 2 Chome−15−12 カルテットビル 1F
SEIRINKAN
Seirinkan have been doing pizza from well before "pizza from Tokyo” became a thing. Actually, pretty much every great Tokyo pizzeria can somehow trace their roots back to this marinara only spot. There is a ton of oil which I don’t really mind and to appreciate the kids, you have to meet the mater.
2 Chome-6-4 Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0051