Avocado or Avocado?

Madosh Cafe is hidden in the bustling streets of Harajuku, you probably won't be able to come across it by just walking past it. Every meal on the menu is built around avocado, which is perfect if you're as much of an avocado lover as I am! 

Taco rice with Avocado
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1,190 yen

So. Good. In Japan it's hard to come across taco rice that doesn't taste sweet, and Madosh's just beats the rest! It's got a real kick from the meat sauce, and each bite is either melt-in-your-mouth from the perfectly ripe avocado or the crunchiness of the crushed nachos. Seriously see myself craving this soon!

Good food with good company! 

Fried Avocado with Mozzarella and Prosciutto
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400 yen per piece

 I never thought you could fry avocado. Not to mention stuff it with cheese and ham. This just blew my mind. Crispy on the edges and moist and chewy on the inside. 

OVERALL:

I love the cozy atmosphere and the wacky avocado decorations throughout the interior. It's a fun place to chill with friends and definitely worth popping into if you're debating what to eat in Harajuku! The only thing that bothered me was that on the weekends they require a purchase of at least 1 drink.. which isn't such a problem unless it's 600 yen ($6)! Maybe I recommend the weekday lunch menu better when the prices are more affordable. Next time I want to try the avocado carbonara!

Roku-Rinsha （六厘舎）

The first time Daniel and I came across Roku-Rinsha in Ramen Street of the Tokyo Station, we didn't even think about waiting an hour for tsukemen. It definitely lingered in our minds afterwards though, 'What if it's really good?'. Well, you know us! We went back and stepped into the line waiting to see what the hype was about. 

45 minute lines don't stop us from eating 

Decisions, decisions!

Aji-Tama Tsukemen 味玉つけめん
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Standard Size: 950 yen (plus 200 yen for XL noodles)

It was a really unique flavor, first of all I think it was one of the first times I've had fish broth soup for tsukemen! It was really rich and the aroma of fish stock definitely made its presence. Tsukemen noodles tend to be a lot thicker/chewier than ramen noodles so it tangled well with such a rich soup. The only downside was that the colder it got, the fishier and less appealing it became. Lesson learnt; you've gotta have it while it's hot! -Mari

Mari basically stole the words out of my mouth. I loved the taste, but it did get fishy as it got colder. - Daniel

Fish stock broth with all the condiments at the bottom.

Slurpy slurp slurp.

So we want to ask, who did a better job of using their paper bib?

Ichiran (一蘭)

Ichiran is not just any ramen restaurant. It offers private booths to maximize the focus of just you and the hot bowl of ramen. You are given a list of options for the ramen (hardness of the noodles, thickness of the broth, level of spice etc.) so that you can have the ramen exactly how you like it. Lines are usually long especially during the afternoon or dinner time, but service is fast so you won't be waiting longer than 15 minutes till you're seated. It's just you and your ramen bowl from there.

Focus on the ramen and only the ramen

Tonkotsu Ramen
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780 yen

This is how I always want my ramen to be, thick noodles, pork broth soup,  and with just the right amount of Ichiran's famous 'red sauce'. -Mari 

I copied Mari with almost all the options, but I got medium noodles instead. The ramen was amazing. The little kick given from the red sauce and the rich taste of the pork broth gave it an awesome flavor. The noodles weren't too soft or too hard, and the char siu was extremely tender. - Daniel Hess

Are you hungry yet?

We couldn't get enough of these char siu slices!

Slurping noodles in Japan shows appreciation towards the food- you gotta do it! 

OVERALL

Ichiran is one of those restaurants that welcomes people who want to eat ramen alone in peace. It's definitely a must go if you're in town and want to experience a totally unique eating environment. It's not often you get to really focus on your food and its flavors when you're eating with company. Not to mention all you introverts out there, it's perfect! -Mari

Amano-Ya（天野屋）

We're back! 

We totally get that we've been lacking on blog posts the past couple of weeks.. I've been settling into my new classes at university and Daniel's been super busy getting himself into activities and such for September! Of course excuses are for losers- so we'll stop there.

Kanda Myoujin (shrine) symbolizes the authentic beauty and culture of Japan. It's a sweet getaway for small prayers in the middle of a bustling city with modern technology, and of course, a bite to eat.  

If this isn't serenity, then what is?

Kuzu Mochi
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450 yen

 So. Good. This is truly a Japanese dessert/tea time snack that you have to have if you're here. It's healthy and naturally sweet. The brown powder you see is called 'Kinako', and it's a roasted soybean powder commonly used in sweets in Japan. It's better when drenched with 'mitsu', the brown sugar syrup.  -Mari

Mix Mochi (Nori Mochi left, Kinako Mochi right)
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650 yen

The mix mochi plate was the dish that made this snack break perfect. The nori mochi was really simple, but it was delicious. The kinako mochi was perfect in every way possible. The roasted soybean powder coated the warm, soft, chewy mochi impeccably and gave it the most divine taste. - Daniel

Snack times are the best times

OVERALL

Amano-Ya is always a great place to stop for a snack. The interior is decorated with a variety of interesting antiques from Japan and has a very cozy, relaxing atmosphere. One wall also opens up to their garden, which is therapeutic to just look at and escape to from the city life. - Daniel

Cowbell

Cowbell is pretty much every kids dream place to eat. The menu covers all angles; pizza, hamburgs, pasta, and huge sticks of garlic bread. After a long day surrounded by kids, Daniel and I refueled with carbs upon carbs. 

Caesar Salad
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1,200 yen 

 The copious amount of freshly shaved cheese on top did not disappoint. It was more cheese with lettuce leaves- just how I like it. -Mari

Crispy Grilled Potatoes
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800 yen

I felt like the little one when I saw the potatoes. I just wanted to finish my bite of salad and dig into the delicious looking chunks. -Daniel  

Margherita Pizza
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1,200 yen

 Tasty margherita pizza. Nothing to complain about, but nothing super special about it. -Daniel

Garlic Bread (2 pc)
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600 yen

Every time I went to rip a chunk off, grease would pour down my hand. Not to mention fill my mouth with every bite. -Mari

Hamburg with Mozzarella Cheese
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1,350 yen

 This definitely hit the spot. This cheesy hamburg covered with demi-gras sauce (poured on after the picture) made my stomach happy with every bite. -Daniel

Tomato and Mozzarella Cheese Pasta
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1,250 yen

 Your simple tomato and cheese pasta, nothing too great or too bad about it! -Mari 

Squid and Cod Roe Pasta
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1,250 yen 

No complaints. Daniel & Mari

OVERALL

The restaurant was very family orientated (it was almost like a fancier Bob Evans). The food was tasty, staff was friendly, and it was nice to have a relaxing dinner after a busy day. -Daniel

Eishin (永新）

Hole in the walls don't get any better than this. It used to be a restaurant that I'd always walk past without giving it a second glance. Today my father craved Chinese food but because our first choice restaurant wasn't open, we reluctantly went into Eishin hoping for the best. And boy did we get it. -Mari

Dan-dan Noodles 坦々面
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1000 yen 

This is easily the best dan-dan noodles I've ever had. It completely blows the ones I've had in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia out of the water. The broth is nutty and thick and sticks to the noodles without having to gulp down soup with each bite. No matter how much I ate the amount wouldn't decrease. So if you're ever hungry and in Azabu-Juban, Eishin will not disappoint! -Mari

Wood ear, egg and vegetables rice 木耳卵丼
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900 yen

  Everything in this dish tasted amazing. I reluctantly offered Mari a bite and she almost didn't give me it back because it was so good. -Daniel

Gyoza 餃子
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950 yen

It's not a chinese meal without Gyoza!

Bara-Ya（薔薇屋）

You know how food made with love tastes that much better? An elderly couple run this hole-in-a-wall Japanese restaurant in Azabu Juban street. The husband makes everything, whilst the wife takes orders and serves rice. It's a perfect example of team work. 

Tekka-Don 鉄火丼
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1000 yen

 The maguro in the tekka-don melted in my mouth. It was so fresh and the marinade turned each bite into a bite of heaven. Even the sides took me to cloud nine. I made sure to pretty much polish my rice bowl after this meal. -Daniel

Ten-Don 天丼
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1100 yen 

Tempura is always a hit or miss. It either comes out too oily or too dry. This ten-don amazed me though. At first I was a little sad that the amount of rice seemed a little scarce, but it was actually the perfect ratio to the amount of tempura I had. Kudos to the wife, great eye-measuring skills! Not to mention the home made taste of all the side dishes which included tofu, tsukemono (pickled vegetables), a mini salad and miso soup. It's a home away from home kind of meal. -Mari

A little London in Tokyo

It was 4:15 and we hadn't eaten all day. When we came across The Tipplers Arms, the Sunday Roast and Fish and Chips looked like they would hit the spot. The lunch menu was only served until 4pm,  but it was a few minutes past. Daniel went in and asked if we could still sit down and have their lunch- you should've seen how thrilled we were when we got a 'Yes'.

A little tinkering with the Fish Eye effect on my camera

Sunday Pork Roast
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1200 yen

When the food came out I was amazed at how much there was for the price. The plate was almost overfilled with a mountain of melt in your mouth pork, delicious caramelized onions, yorkshire pudding, steamed veggies, and roast potatoes. There was a little wasabi sauce on the side to try out on the meat, which was an enjoyable little twist. -Daniel

Fish and Chips
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1200 yen

Having lived in England before I'd like to think I know good fish and chips when I see it. I was worried I was going to have to eat defrosted fish and chips, so I was surprised when I looked over and saw the owner batter the fish and fry them himself. A wave of nostalgia hit me when I took the first bite of my fish with malt vinegar. Flashbacks of being back in Cobham and eating at their local pub hit me instantly. A problem I had though was that the plate was too small and it made my eating experience a little difficult. -Mari 

Tabe-Aruki

Department stores in Japan like Seibu, Tobu and Mitsukoshi always have a floor full of bento stores, bakeries, chocolatiers and confectionary. So when we went to the biggest depachika in Japan (over 250 food stores) we were in heaven. We did what we're great at, 'Tabe-Aruki' (eating while walking) and we're here today to talk about what we ate! 

Matcha Cream Taiyaki (from Aji-Saki)
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147 yen

Matcha flavored cake filled with milky cream; fluffy on the inside and crispy on the edges. Devoured in seconds. -Mari

I didn't want to share this with Mari because it was so freakin' delish. I easily could have ate 100 or more of these and not had any post-"snack" guilt.  -Daniel

Matcha Mochi Bread with White Chocolate (from Don Q)
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242 yen for 5-6 pieces

Any time I come across food labeled 'Limited Edition' I subconsciously pull my wallet out and find myself buying it. These Spring edition mochi bread with white chocolate chips were chewy and filling. They were tasty but it's not something I'd consider buying again. -Mari

These matcha mochi breads weren't bad but they didn't stick. The flavour was pretty neutral and I have to agree with Mari. -Daniel

Mini Chocolate Croissant (from Don Q)
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185 yen for 4-5 pieces

Regarding both the croissants, they are the most nostalgic things to put in my mouth. Growing up and spending my summers in Japan, Don Q's mini pastries were seriously part of my childhood. I bought 5 of each yesterday and was reluctant to share them with Daniel. -Mari

Both of the croissants were awesome. I loved how the chocolate croissants had melted chocolate in the middle. -Daniel

Mini Croissant (from Don Q)
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152 yen for 4-5 pieces

Ten-Musubi 5 pieces (from Jiraiya)
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550 yen (but we got it on time sale for 450 yen! woop woop!) 

Fried shrimp in little rice balls are seriously the bomb dot com. Perfect for the cherry blossom season picnics! -Mari

Simple and tasty. -Daniel

久楽 (ku-Ra)

One of the first things I told Daniel about Japanese eating culture is it's okay to slurp ramen. Slurping emphasizes appreciation towards the ramen, so we slurped really loud today at ku-Ra.

味噌卵らーめん (Miso-Tamago Ramen)
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880 yen 

The miso-tamago ramen was amazing. When I tried the first spoonful of the broth I fell in love. It had a subtle kick that added the fifth star. The meat was flavorful, the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the egg had a semi-boiled yolk that seeped into the base. I felt bad leaving broth in the bowl when I was full because it was easily the best ramen I've had. -Daniel

Slurping away.

OVERALL:

The ramen was excellent, but the atmosphere could be better. The music choice was a little odd for a ramen restaurant ('Talk Dirty to Me' but hey if the ramen did that I wouldn't mind).

Whoopi Goldburger (You heard that right)

W.P. Gold Burger was another one of the restaurants on our must-try list. We stopped by two or three times, but they were either out of burgers or closed. When we walked by and they were open we knew we had to try it.

Skate boarding videos constantly playing.

Helena Bonham Burger (with Avocado)
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1100 yen

The presentation, atmosphere and obviously the names of the burgers won me over, so you can imagine my disappointment when I bit into a hard, chewy and dry patty. The condiments were packed with flavor, and I imagine it would've been the perfect blend had it been paired with a moist and juicy patty as I had hoped for. -Mari

 

Kevin Bacon Burger
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1300 yen

My burger was the other side of the story. The patty, unlike Mari's, was moist, juicy, and tender.  It was seasoned well and the meat was delicious. The bacon was very thick and tasty and the cheese was perfectly sharp cheddar.  The mashed potatoes were delicious and left me wanting more even after the last bite. -Daniel

OVERALL

Whoopi Goldburger has a really chill, bro-den feeling atmosphere. The two that run the place are childhood friends, and are self-taught so the flavor is unique. When we got there they were just opening so they were still semi-preparing for the night. I think that's what caused Mari's unluckiness, and I want to give it another try someday. -Daniel

Chil-YES!

We were trying to find shelter from the pouring rain in Tokyo when this vibrant store caught my eye in a secluded corner. We came across this little Mexican restaurant, Chiles, from making the wrong turn in Harajuku- and let me tell you all things happen for a reason. 

Guacamole Chips
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350 yen

The amount of guacamole was a little disappointing only because it was so good! The chips were warm and I couldn't help but scoff them down trying to re-energize myself from being in the rain all morning. -Mari 

Cheese Chorizo Quesadilla
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750 yen

This is the melt-in-your-mouth kind of quesedilla. Perfectly combined with the authentic chorizo chunks in every bite! -Mari

When Mari let me taste her quesadilla I was back in Mexico City at Gloria's stand in front of my school. These quesadillas were easily the best I've had outside of Mexico. -Daniel

Pork Carnitas Fajita Wrap
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880 yen

The pork in this was so tender and burst with flavour every bite. Everything went together extremely well in this wrap of perfection. -Daniel

OVERALL

The owner, Carlos, achieved his goal of bringing a small slice of Mexico City to Harajuku. This is the most authentic Mexican restaurant in Tokyo I've been to. The service was great, food was excellent, and the ambiance was the cherry on top. -Daniel

Afuri

Aaaaand we're back in Tokyo! Of course the first thing you have to eat when you're back in Japan is ramen.

Soy Sauce Ramen 醤油ラーメン
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750 yen

Afuri's ramen is more of a modern approach on one of Japan's most iconic dishes. The soup broth isn't as rich as locals might be used to, which is why it's great that you get to avoid the food coma afterwards. The char-siu (pork slice) is grilled in front of you as you order it, none of that packaged meat laying on the counter since the morning! The egg isn't completely boiled to the core either so the yolk melts into the soup and it's oh-so-great. It's definitely not heavy on the stomach so it's refreshing to the last bite. -Mari 

OVERALL

Afuri is the place to go if you're craving ramen but want to feel good about it afterwards. The service is great, the food is even better, and the atmosphere is interesting. The music is a little out there (listening to Nicki Minaj while you eat ramen), but it makes it fun. It's open until 4 a.m. so all you party goers (or night owls) could finish a great night with a great bowl of ramen. -Daniel