Restaurants around Osaka

Namba:

1. Shabuzen  
   • 7F 2-4-2 Shinsaibashisuji, near the Glico man and D&G
   • Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki.
   • It’s a yummy place, though not a franchise of the Tokyo Shabusen resto.
2. Sumiyakiyo
   • a quaint yakitori place
   • located in a small street off Dohuya-Suji St.
   • there is supposed to be a nice small bar around the corner for a night cap called Dandelion.
3. Daruma Kushi-Katsu
   • Daruma Bldg., Hozenji-Yokocho St. (look for the statue of the angry man signifying “no double dipping)
   • convenient place to try this delicacy
4. 5-Oh Ramen Noodle Soup Restaurant
5. Honfukuzushi
   • 1-4-19 Nishi Shinsaibashi-suji, behind Daimaru department store
   • look for the huge sushi mold above the door
   • this sushi shop has been in operation for more than 180 years
   • watch sushi being pressed in wooden molds, Osaka style or oshi-zushi (Osakan sushi).
   • order the hakozushi, which comes with six pieces for ¥590
   • Tokyo-style nigiri and maki-sushi are also available.
6. Fugetsu
   • Famous for its okonomiyaki
   • try the squid, octopus, and yakisoba (pork-fried noodles) or the butatama (an okonomiyaki with pork and egg from the English-language menu)
7. Bar Tachibana
   • 1-9-19 Dotomburi, kust around the corner from the famous Ezaki Glico neon sign, walk south to the crossing with Tsutaya, at the basement of the Shochikuza Theater
   • ispecializes in tofu and izakaya food and has a microbrewery
8. Kimukatsu – Tonkatsu
9. Kani Doraku
   • 1-6-18 Dotonbori, Osaka
   • specializing in kani (crab)
   • has a huge model crab on its facade, moving its legs and claws.
   • dishes range from kani-suki, ckani-chiri (a kind of crab sukiyaki), and fried crab dishes to crab croquette, roasted crab with salt, crab salad, crab sushi, and boiled king crab.
   • very expensive, the cheapest interesting lunch set is P1,750.
10. Ichiran Ramen
    • Hi Tech  computer-button activated, booth-type ramen place.
11. Takashimaya Department Store
    • the basement has loads of prepared food and free tastings, opens at 10am
12. Gyoza
    • look for the gyoza place beside Pablo cheesecake and diagonally across to Nike on Hachiman-Suji St.
13. Luke’s Lobster – Shinsaibashi
    • fresh Maine lobster, crab and shrimp Rolls  (try Their Bisque too!)

Umeda:

1. Bar Tachibana
   • located in the basement of the Hilton Hotel in Umeda
2. Okonomiyaki Kiji
   • 1-1-90 Oyodo-naka, Osaka, near the Osaka Station.
   • Takimikoji Village, located in the basement of the same building as the Floating Garden Observatory.
   • it serves what some Osakans swear is the best okonomiyaki in town

Restaurants around Sapporo

1. Dai-Akkeshi at the “Hug Market” for appetizers
   • located at Tanuki-koji market 5
   • get the oysters at ¥700 for 2 pieces (you can get it fresh, grilled or steamed. fresh was better) or grilled scallops at ¥400/piece.
   • another alternative oyster place nearby is Gotsubo (TA#6) – 4 Minami 6-jo Nishi, but it’s closed for lunch.
2. “Ramen Yokocho”  
   • an alleyway of noodle shop after noodle shop
   • most are open daily from 11:30am to 3am
3. Nijo Market (Nijō Ichiba)
   • A few steps from Tanuki-koji
   • it’s a public market that occupies about one city block
   • offers fresh seafood and local produce
4. Wagyu Ishizaki!
   • prices range from Y1,700-3,600 for 5-6 pieces
   • the “Jo Kalbi” meat was the best
   • assorted veggies (Y1,200), Tongue (Y2,000)
   • inside the Elegance Fujii building. Look for the sign that has a cow inside a circle
5. Sushizanmai open 24 hours
   • must get the crab paste, sweet shrimp, minced tuna, and sea eel sushis; deep fried river shrimps; and Gindara·
6. Le Gentilhomme
   • the best French resto in TA was 30 minutes away by cab.
   • Menu A listed just 5 courses (hors d’oeuvre, fish, a choice of main, dessert; café et mignardiese) for Y6,831 with tax.
   • you’ll actually 2 hors d’oeuvres, fish, main, dessert, then a dessert bar that you can have as many choices as you like

Restaurants around Niseko

1. The Barn by Odin
   • fine dining
   • good Beef Fillet
2. A-Bu-Cha 2nd
   • nice Setting and good Japanese Fusion Food
3. Bang Bang  
   • Yakitori and Wagyu
   • a bit on the Pricey side
4. Rosso Rosso
   • good Hokkaido Beef Steak
5. Karabina
   • not many items in the menu but mostly delicious
   • try the mushroom with cheese, clam with soupy rice , grille mackerel with salt, potatoes with butter, fried chicken
6. Villa Lupicia
   • serves International Dishes from the freshest Hokkaido ingredients
   • go for lunch instead as dinner is expensive
7. Niseko Loft Club
   • Indoor BBQ Restaurant
   • lamb/venison, beef available; cook your own meat and local vegetables at the table
   • their delicious home-made raspberry juice is famous throughout the area.
8. Hilton’s Rera Restaurant  
   • amazing quality of sushi, but this comes at a price
   • lunch is more reasonable pricewise as you can get as much sushi as you can eat within one hour
   • the selection at dinner time is wider
   • some favorites were tuna toro and squid with yuzu salt
9. Niseko Supply Company
   • Known for its Crepes

Restaurants around Tokyo 

1. Mon cher ton ton
   • Kobe beef teppanyaki
2. Uka tei
3. Imahan Ginza  
   • best sukiyaki
   • shabu shabu
4. Fuunji (tsukemen)
   • known for its ramen
5. Ichiran
   • there are various location all over Tokyo
   • known for its ramen
6.  Tenichi
   • the original Ginza location is at 6-6-5 Ginza, Namaki-dori Chuo-ku
   • great tempura
7. Tempura Tsunahachi