We were walking along one of many covered shopping arcades in Dotonburi when we came across this duck udon shop. It is the quintessential local Japanese eatery – you buy a meal ticket at the machine outside the shop, hand
Kyoto: Ristorante 245 Gion At Shinmonzen Dori
We were introduced to Ristorante 245 Gion by our Kyoto hotel, Hotel Mume. The restaurant is conveniently located on the same street as Hotel Mume on Shinmonzen Dori (several streets behind Gion) which meant that we could get ourselves totally
Tokyo: Motoya Express In Daikanyama
Motoya Express is another favorite coffee joint of ours. We would always drop by for a cup whenever we are in Tokyo. Motoya does not operate out of a brick-and-mortar shop but out of a little mini bus. It is unbelievable
Tokyo: Sandwiches At Hamanoya Parlor In Yurakucho
I do not eat much bread in my diet but whenever I am in Japan, I find myself eating bread almost every day. We usually go to a kissaten close to our hotel (you can usually find one along the streets
Tokyo: Otafuku Oden In Asakusa
The husband loves oden. So do I. It is simple comfort food, best eaten in cold weather (for me) with a mug of beer. Usually, we eat oden in an izakaya in Japan. This time, I wanted to visit a
Tokyo: Cafe Kitsune In Omotesando
We visited Cafe Kitsune for the first time on this trip. The cafe is located at Omotesando – not Omotesando Hills but across the Aoyama main road, on the side where the Prada, Chanel and other branded boutiques are situated.
Osaka: Sushi Dokoro Isshin Hanare (鮓処一心はなれ）
A friend recommended us to Isshin, a small local sushi joint that is yet to be discovered by foodie-tourists. She tells me the food is excellent and the price is beyond reasonable for the quality. I always trust her food
Tokyo: Toranomon Koffee In Toranomon Hills
At Toranomon Koffee (previously Omotesando Koffee) at the swanky Toranomon Hills tower. Pity that the charming machiya at Omotesando has been demolished. The ambience of Toranomon Koffee has a slightly different vibe compared to its predecessor, but no less charming, I
Seoul: Cha Masineun Tteul Teahouse In Bukchon
I enjoy walking around the Bukchon and Samcheong-dong area, looking at the old hanoks, some of which are still residential property while others have been converted into shops. It is a place where the old juxtaposes against the new –
Osaka: Biotop Corner Stand
A beautiful cafe along Orange Street that feels like a lush floral wonderland similar to Blute in Seoul. Biotop is a concept store, with a cafe and nursery in one room and clothing, accessories and toiletries retailing in the next room. I
Osaka: Granknot Coffee
If you are in Osaka and want some good coffee, drop by Granknot near the Yotsubashi subway station. Or you could easily walk to the cafe from the Dotonburi area, the cafe is in Orange Street (which makes it an
Osaka: Hanamaruken Ramen & Other Ramen
I love ramen but with age, I don’t eat it very often because I can’t eat the amount of carbs in a bowl of ramen, not counting the slurp-worthy broth that is packed with so much calories. However, it was hard not to
Seoul: Blüte Cafe In Hongdae
I have seen Blüte being featured on a number of travel and lifestyle blogs as a beautiful garden-themed cafe in Seoul. I have never been there so during the November trip to Seoul, I dropped by Blüte on an early