SHIMO-KITAZAWA RESTAURANT REVIEW #1

Shimo-kitazawa, offers a range of numerous cafes, restaurants, izakayas and bars. On either side of the station you will find restaurants of all sorts, ranging from your typical ramen bar to the famous izakayas like Horumon and watamin-chi. These are my restaurant review, in no particular order.

Outdoor seats

 TOTOSHIGURE

A popular restaurant among both the Japanese and foreigners . This particular restaurant specialises in sea food, mainly shell fish and Tuna. The menu is a bit too standard for a restaurant that claims to specialise in one particular food type. They have the usual sweet and sour prawn, roasted tuna gills, Japanese and western Salad. Nothing that can be regarded as their original or signature dish.

The atmosphere is lively, they have open air sittings outside on a clear weather however its too close to the side walk, there is nothing blocking you from the passerby. The only advantage is that the beer price outside is much cheaper than if you are sitting inside.

The restaurant is very beautiful, a typical Japanese sitting style. You sit on the floor but they raise the floor so that your legs dangle as if you are actually  sitting on a chair . The price  range can get a bit too expensive, prepare to spend more than 10000yen if you love your beer too much. The food price range from 800yen - 1200yen/ dish.

The service is perfect, the waiters are attentive even on a busy night.

From the south exit, take the road between MacDonald and the game center/mizuho ATM corner, Go straight til you see the convenient shop (7/11) and its on the opposite side, first floor. Its hard to miss.

SAMUGYOPUSARU  (サムギョウプサル）

If you love Korean food, this is another excellent place to visit. They have a wide range of Korean cuisine at a much cheaper rate than what we are use to. Everything in this restaurant is delicious and affordable, their famous Pork wrapped in lettuce *their speciality* is questionably cheaper than other restaurants I have been to.

The service can get  a bit hostile sometimes and a bit slow. The atmosphere is too cheap, because of all the lights they have which they didn't think twice about turning them all on. This place is too bright which always reminds me of MacDonald or yoshinoya.

The price ranges from 800yen and all their alcohol beverages starts at 290yen including their famous Korean beverage, Makori.

Take the south exit and take the road between MacDonald and the game center, go straight 2 minutes its on your left. Opposite mister donuts, second floor right above ABC Mart, shoe shop.

IKUDON (いくどん)

A yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant that offers " All you can eat/All you can drink" meal plan for less than 3000yen. Located on B1, this is not just any other Yakiniku restaurant. The restaurant looks great, you can see all the pipes for the ventilation and it has this great atmosphere, Its spacious with long tables in the middle that can seat up to 10 customers. When I first walk in, I have the feeling to be in a temporary army base cafeteria. But in its own way it is beautiful and awesomely original.

The quality of the meat is excellent, totally worth the 3000yen. And unlike other restaurants, each time you will order and they bring it over instead of fetching it yourself. The service is great, its an all male Waiter system probably due to the fact that it opens til late.

From the south side take the road between MacDonald and watamin-chi, walk  down that street for a minute, its on your left downstairs, B1.

ASSO

In front of ASSO

A cafe/restaurant/bar with a groovy/homely atmosphere, behind the bar are two lovely middle aged women that adds a homely feel to this place. The restaurant is small that can seat 8 people on the tables and maybe 10 along the bar. During the day its usually frequent by the elderly and families, at night its a totally different crowd, the younger generation. They have open air seats out side however I do not recommend it, the side walk is always crowded with people leaving or heading towards village vanguard or the supermarket.

Their food is really basic, pasta, pizza, toast and egg with ham or salads. They serve Ice cream and alcohol beverages as well. From the south exit make a U turn on your left that goes under the railway bride, then once you reach the supermarket turn right and go down straight, its the one with the Huge Ice-cream sign in front.

TSUNAMI

 Tsunami Restaurant

Tsunami, what a name for a Hawaiian restaurant. This restaurant claims to serve Hawaiian dishes and beverage. Personally, I find Japanese influence in all the dishes and its  a bit disheartening. The price ranges from 900yen-2000yen, the food is standard for most restaurants without the Hawaiian theme. The service is very poor and the waiting time is longer than normal. They really failed in the order which your food arrives, I remember receiving my salad in the middle of the course, my side dish arrive later than the main course.

The restaurant have a tropical theme, with palms every where, an artificial fire burning on a pole, the waiters wore Island printed uniforms with flip flops and greets you in Hawaiian which comes out sounding like " AROHA".To be honest it feels more treasure Island than Hawaii, when you see the palms, fire and evil eyed carvings staring back at you while you try not to choke on your wasabi based dressing. 

From the west exit, turn right walk straight til you reach the first turn, right in front of a shoe shop, take that turn (left) and its on your right.

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Ive been to this restaurant twice over a 3 year period and the menu remains the same, I even ate a few things I did the last time I was there. This got to be the most famous restaurant in shimo-kitazawa among Tokyo dwellers. It is always packed throughout the week and it gets worse during the weekends and holidays. It is quite big with 2 floors, the seating can take at least  50 customers.
The food is great, I assume thats why they never change their menu. 
The price ranges from 800 yen but the alcohol beverage is over priced like all other izakayas.
The setting is typicaly Japanese and very beautiful, the service is excellent.If you are interested in a quiet dinner then this is a place to avoid, can get really noisy. Since its always packed its best to reserve before going and if you are in a large group, more than 10 entry will be denied if you have no reservation.

Take the south exit, and head down straight til you reach Mister Donuts, turn right in front of Mister Donuts and again left, go straight and its on your right.