652414 Mon Sep 14 20:03:28 -0700 2009 18 45 Japan 0 5030268 After making the mistake of trying to eat at the Sri Lankan festival at 3pm on Sunday, I gave up and headed to Shibuya. The first moderately interesting place I saw was this place: http://jsb-cafe.jp/index.html I had a regular sized cheeseburger and gf had the small size avocado burger. When they say small, they really mean it. The patty was McDonalds sized. Each burger comes with a side of fries which were my favorite part of the meal. The fries are seasoned and lightly battered, they reminded me of America. In fact, I really really liked them, they were thick and crispy with a molten hot soft inside. The onions ring were pretty sub-par, especially compared to Kua Aina's offereings. The burger itself is a touch smaller than Kua Aina, but it seemed to be hand formed and it came with a much better texture. I find Kua Aina to be far too dense and often overcooked. The JS burger was cooked to a healthy medium, with a good char on the outside. This is the only picture I have available. In it, you can see the relish that's put on each burger. Mon Sep 14 20:03:28 -0700 2009 101545 lost squirrel 1 5030390 Ha, those were really long lines at the Sri Lankan festival, weren't they. I think it's because there are so few actual Sri Lankan restaurants in Tokyo. The Vietnamese and Indian festivals should be a lot better. Mon Sep 14 20:49:23 -0700 2009 5030268 12676 Robb S 2 5030560 Yea, I went also around 3:00 PM on Sunday (didn't see lost squirrel, although he'd be hard to miss with all the short people going around). Yes, lines were pretty bad, but some of the stuff looked pretty good. I got a mango kakigori instead, and my wife scored some fine uva tea for 1/3 the price of the regular shops. Mon Sep 14 22:27:15 -0700 2009 5030390 161889 Uncle Yabai 1 5030563 For burgers, you ought to try Goro's or maybe Michi's. Both conveniently located 30 seconds walk from my home. Mon Sep 14 22:28:05 -0700 2009 5030268 161889 Uncle Yabai 2 5033356 How convenient for you. This place is just a few hundred meters from my new place: http://www.barrybergmann.com/page8/files/cf08386f39010dd8938203d4f01ed16e-17.html Authentic Burgers - it sounds good but I haven't tried it yet. The carnitas taco at Junkadelic wins everytime. Wed Sep 16 00:35:17 -0700 2009 5030563 101545 lost squirrel 3 5038702 Junkadelic is good, if very expensive for what you get. The same can be said about Mexico Lindo just down the hill from Junkadelic. Lost Squirrel, if you want a good burger in the Akasaka area, walk over to Akasaka Mitsuke station, cross the busy street in front of the station, and go to West Park Cafe in Akasaka Tokyu Plaza. Over there, you will find the best value burger in Tokyo: the plain, unadorned WPC Burger. Mmmm-mmmm good. http://www.maysfood.com/wpc/wpc_akasaka.html Thu Sep 17 21:47:32 -0700 2009 5033356 130570 maclock 4 5043327 Thanks maclock, I've had the burgers at other locations of WPCafe but not at my newly local joint. Maybe I'll give it a try next time I'm around there. As for lamb burgers, Robb has my appetite whetted to the extreme. I'm remembering a local Greek diner from college days and salivating :-) Sun Sep 20 04:35:43 -0700 2009 5038702 101545 lost squirrel 5 5043942 There's nothing particularly wrong with Authentic; I just prefer thick patties like those offered by WPC. The patties at Authentic are thin. A lamb burger does sound rather good, doesn't it? Sun Sep 20 11:46:41 -0700 2009 5043327 130570 maclock 6 5044639 The Great Burger in Harajuku also serves a lamb burger. I haven't tried it yet though. Sun Sep 20 17:30:25 -0700 2009 5043942 12676 Robb S 7 5066047 OK, now I've tried it, and the lamb burger at Great Burger is also pretty good, and very nicely grilled. Their corned beef sandwich is strange though - they use corned beef hash and alfalfa sprouts. Tue Sep 29 02:43:50 -0700 2009 5044639 12676 Robb S 8 5066521 Robb S, while not quite the same thing as a corned beef sandwich, I recommend that you try a large pastrami sandwich at M-One Cafe in Akasaka. It's the closest thing to an American deli sandwich that you're likely to find in Tokyo. http://www.m-onecafe.jp/delicatessen/index.html Tue Sep 29 08:04:03 -0700 2009 5066047 130570 maclock 9 5068167 Wow, the pictures look good - thanks for the tip. For deli-style sandwiches, so far I've been most impressed with David's Deli in Shirogane-Takanawa. Tue Sep 29 18:51:21 -0700 2009 5066521 12676 Robb S 10 5071005 It's much more expensive than David's Deli, but it puts David's Deli to shame in my opinion. Wed Sep 30 19:04:41 -0700 2009 5068167 130570 maclock 9 5068342 A Reueben with emmental cheese? Hmm Actually, I may go try this tonight. Tue Sep 29 20:13:52 -0700 2009 5066521 101545 lost squirrel 5 5045301 If you like onion rings, don't forget to substitute onion rings for the fries that come with any of the burgers at the Akasaka location of WPC. Enough ex-pats go there and ask for this change that at times other than lunch, the waitstaff seem happy enough to accommodate this request. They will do so at no extra charge to you and the onion rings at WPC are very good. Mon Sep 21 04:00:59 -0700 2009 5043327 130570 maclock 2 5041588 Thanks for the burger tips. Goro's was pretty good, and it's nice to have a gourmet sandwich option other than delivery from Pez Magic. The Kobe beef burger at Michi's was nice, but wow, their Cajun lamb burger with roast paprika was just fantastic! And I really liked the asparagus salad - not a ton of asparagus, but lots of radicchio, heaps of blue cheese and a great Caesar-style dressing. The clam chowder was pretty hearty, with lots of mushrooms, but unfortunately way too salty for my taste. They seem to have a lot of daily specials. Have you tried their mains like the crunchy Cajun chicken steak? [If anyone else is looking for Michi's, it's actually called Eat. 03-6459-2432. On Gaien-Nishi-dori just off Aoyama-dori, next to Mujirushi.] Sat Sep 19 04:50:18 -0700 2009 5030563 12676 Robb S 3 5054671 Good onions, good meat and good bread I admit it can be good... I tried the both Michi's-Eat and Goro7s on Sundays lunch. Thu Sep 24 07:07:22 -0700 2009 5041588 1082452 Ninisix 4 5056936 and how were they? Thu Sep 24 22:33:05 -0700 2009 5054671 101545 lost squirrel 5 5059459 The Goro's burguer, the impact is on spice, sauce, soft slitly grillet buns, grilled onions... felt more happy about the onions than the spicy paty. The Mitchi`s-Eat is more meaty, aseasoned nicely with guatamale (spread ??), and fried potatoes are plain (different sorts of seasoning). More fresh. Sat Sep 26 00:28:53 -0700 2009 5056936 1082452 Ninisix