Nakameguro for gourmet

Every now and then, i take my foureign friends (mostly they are English) around Tokyo when they come to Japan. There are quite few vegitalians within my friends, but if they are not, there are places around Tokyo i like to take them to eat.

One of the place i strongly recommend is Nakameguro.

Only takes 4mins from Shibuya by Tokyu-Toyoko line. There is a pretty little liver right in front of the station, and if you are lucky to be here around spring time, you will see beautiful cherry blossom trees alongside the river where people sit around and drink at night.

Nakameguro is not a major shopping place, but there are some tiny cute second hand shops and a lot of yummy restaurants around. If you are confident about reading maps and direction, you can easily walk from Shibuya via Daikanyama.

So, here are two Japanesy restaurants in Nakameguro i would like to recommend.

"chano-ma"

add: Kamumeguro 1-22-4-6F, Meguro-ku, Tokyo (2mins walk from Nakameguro station)

tel: 03-3792-9898

open: 12:00 - 26:00 (- 28:00 only on Fri, Sat, the day before National holiday)

There are as you can see some chairs and tables but my very recommended sheats are a floor you have to take off your shoes and step up on it. For some foreigners, especially ones who have looooooong legs, might feel the difficulty to sit and eat. They don't know how to sit on the floor Japanese style but you don't have to fold your legs under yourself, you can sit cross-legged, too. From the floor sheat, you can look over the river and cherry blossom tree through the window.

There are many of recommended plates but if you don't know what to try, i would recommend you to go for "deli-lunch" 880yen. You get rice with Japanese pickles, good-old miso-soup, and you can pick three little plates on your choice.

My personal recommended plate has to be "Avocado, tuna fish and cod ovum with rice." mmmm yummmmy!

"Tohachi"

add: Kamimeguro 1-3-16, Meguro-ku, Tokyo (3mins walk from Nakameguro station)

tel: 03-3710-8729

open: 17:00 - 23:00 (closed on Sun and National holidays)

If you want to try a very Japanese style pub-restaurant, Tohachi is a place to go. Outside of it kinda looks shabby but it is always crowded with Tohachi-lovers from young to old. They offer you tons of Japanese style dishes. All are cheap and taste great! Most of the plate cost from 300 to 600 yen. Bargain!

How inside looks. (there are floor sheets at the back, too.)

Menu written on paper strips all over the place.

My recomendation at Tohachi has to be "Hanpen (minced fish)"(left) and "Kama (head of Tuna fish)."(right)