Shunji@West LA ★★★

Omakase Sushi with Shunji-san at the Sushi Bar. This time instead of the Shunji Omakase ($130-$160), I ordered the Sushi Special for $50 and added a few more sushi requests. It's much more economical this way. The sushi bar experience was more authentic than the table seating. Also got the gut to try Shirako, which is sperm sacs from Cod Fish...
Compare with Shunji from 2013 (3 years ago):
http://www.syorithefoodie.com/2013/02/shunjiwest-la.html

Squid Mix w/ Black Squid Ink, Uni, Truffle, & Quail Egg $10

Red Snapper

Shirako

Shirako

Trumpet Fish

Black Snapper

Sweet Lip Snapper

Shima Aji

Blue Fin Tuna

Belt Fish

Agedashi Tomato Tofu $10

Kanpachi

Toro

Uni

Blue Crab Hand Roll

Salmon Roe

Hotate Scallop

Unagi

Tamago

Shunji-san Slicing Fish Skillfully

Shunji-san Making Sushi Skillfully

Pink Orange Ice Cream $5

Shunji Japanese Cuisine
12244 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 826-4737
www.shunji-ns.com

Yoshinoya 吉野家@Tokyo ★★★

Heavenly Beef Rice Bowl. Only at Yoshinoya in Japan (not the ones in United States). I like the Yoshinoya chains in Harajuku and Shibuya. I go to Yoshinoya every time I visit Tokyo. It's cheap and has superb beef quality, especially with the raw egg, which adds texture to the dish.

Beef Rice Bowl with Spring Onion and Egg (Small) 480 yen $4.25

Beef Sukiyaki with Egg and Rice 630 yen ($5.50 USD)

Yoshinoya (吉野家 ヨシノヤ ダイバーシティ東京プラザ店)
1-1-10 Aomi Koto Tokyo
東京都 江東区 青海 1-1-10 ダイバーシティ東京プラザ 6F
03-3527-6124 (+81-3-3527-6124)
mb.yoshinoya.com/y/map/info.php?sh_no=061414

Murakami Pop Up Cafe@Tokyo ★★★

Super Cute Murakami-Themed Pop-Up Cafe in Tokyo. Nice cafe to go to after finishing the Murakami exhibition at the Mori Art Museum. Ordered Murakami-themed items as many as I could. Unfortunately, some of the more interesting items like the Flower Omelet Rice or Flower Dessert were sold out already. Pop-up means limited time, so it's no longer there.

Flower Latte 650 yen ($5.75 USD)

Flower Burger 1,250 yen ($11 USD)
flower-pressed hamburger with fries and beans

b

Murakami Shop inside Cafe

This is HUGE!!

Ohana Cafe/ Hills Cafe ヒルズカフェ
6-10-1 Roppongi Minato Tokyo
東京都 港区 六本木 6-10-1 六本木ヒルズ 森タワー　ヒルサイド 2F
03-6406-6833 (+81-3-6406-6833)
www.roppongihills.com/shops_restaurants/restaurants/cafe/209550006.html

Moomin House Cafe@Tokyo Skytree ★★★

Dining with Moomin & Friends at Moomin Cafe. A wonderland for Moomin fans. Great food and great service. They rotate Moomin & friends around to dine with you, so that you can dine with different characters. It could be a long wait for the cafe in the daytime, but if you try going there later at night, there could be no line. The cafe is not located directly inside the Skytree building, so you will have to ask around to get there.

Hot Latte with Souvenir Cup 1,500 yen ($12.50 USD)

Homemade Pancake with Souvenir Moomin Figure 1,800 yen ($15.25 USD)

Chocolate Mousse, Berry Mousse, & Creme Brulee

Dining with Snufkin

Dining with Moomin

Moomin House Cafe ムーミンハウスカフェ 東京スカイツリータウン ソラマチ店
1-1-2 Oshiage Sumida Tokyo
東京都 墨田区 押上 1-1-2 東京ソラマチ 1F
03-5610-3063 (+81-3-5610-3063)
www.benelic.com/moomin_cafe

calbee+ カルビープラス@Tokyo Skytree ★★★

Great Snack at Tokyo Skytree Mall. Freshly made Potato Sticks. It's crispy, and it tasted really good. Calbee sells potato snacks at their shop. They also have a franchise in Harakuju.

Poterico Salad Potato Sticks 310 yen ($2.50 USD)

calbee+ カルビープラス
1-1-2 Oshiage Sumida Tokyo
東京都 墨田区 押上 1-1-2 東京ソラマチ 4F
+81 3 6658 8153
www.calbee.co.jp/calbeeplus/antenna/shop

Osechi Ryori お節料理@Tokyo ★★★

Amazing Multi-Course New Year Celebration at Home Stay in Tokyo. Impressive traditional Japanese home-cooking with 48 hours of preparation. Exquisite presentation. This tradition lasts for a few hours with endless food, alcohol, chatting, fun, and laughter. Lucky enough to have this lifetime experience.

First Course - Appetizer
yam, egg from Tsukiji, candied fish, salmon roe, egg, fishcakes, herring roe cubes

Egg from Tsukiji, Fish, Egg, Fishcakes

Bamboo Shoots, Sweet Peas, Konnyaku, Carrots, Lotus Roots

Sweet Beans

Salted Fish Covered with Salt

Breaking Open the Salted Fish "Shell" with a Wooden Hammer

Salted Fish after Breaking the Salted Shell

Endless Alcohol

Kirin Bitters 8% Vodka Hard Liquor with Lemon Lime

A Wide Selection of Sake Glasses to Choose from Like Traditional Japanese Restaurant

My Pick for the Day - Double Phoenix

Champagne

Salmon

Roasted Beef - the feast with a blend of Western Culture

Freshly Grated Wasabi

Rice Cake Soup with a Hint of Yuzu

The Amazing Watabiki Family with Great Hospitality

Japanese Floral Arrangement