TOKYO: Matsukan Azabu post 2

I have previously posted about Matsukan Azabu. And I think I've raved about how its a sushi restaurant I have to visit everytime I'm in Tokyo. In fact, I think I've been there so often ( actually not very la, max 2-3x a year) until the kawaii chef also recognises me and my snorlax balanciaga. hahahaha.

You may read my previous post here

The purpose of this post is just to show you the variety of sushis you may get at this restaurant. As well as you make you hungrier than you already are hahahaha.

 My kawaii chubby chef deserves 2 picture of him at work ! :D

 Kaki - sukidesu yo!

 Ootoro also deserves 2 pictures !

Matsukan Azabu ( click to get onto their website for more information)

3-4-12 Azabujuban Minato Tokyo

Tel: +81334554923

Closed on Mondays

NAGOYA: Cafe du Ciel カフェ ド シエル

A typical weekday in Nagoya for me would be 

730am - 5.30pm: Operating theatre

occasionally I'll be in clinic doing stuff like (see below)

And for an hour everyday, I'll be doing these virtual operations in the training room. 

By the end of the day, I'm so tired, my body is just in need of sweets! 

And the best way to end the day, is to be spoilt by an array of desserts in a cafe overlooking Nagoya !

Oh, did I say, I've loved skyscrapers ever since i was a little girl. I told myself that when i grow up, I wanted to work in the CBD where all the tall skyscrapers are.

Then I got into medical school, and graduated. 

But there's no hospitals built as skyscrapers. 

So my dreams are shattered.

View of Nagoya from 51st Floor

Definitely definitely choose the window seat ! Despite the fact that this is not a cheap cafe, there was still a large crowd, mostly comprising of Japanese ladies of higher social status. Well, I guess this is not unexpected since this cafe is located just above Takashimaya haha.
 I had to wait an hour before I got this seating !

Which dessert should i choose hmmmm...

YOU WILL NEVER GO WRONG WITH CHEZ SHIBATA. 

Matcha Green Tea cake

By the way, they do not only serve desserts. They also have a lunch/tea time/dinner menu.

It's really a perfect place to have a light meal and a fancy drink or one of the many delicious sweets while enjoying the splendid view of the city

I highly recommend this cafe if you want to spoil yourself after a hard day at work or your partner (:

Cafe du Ciel カフェ ド シエル

JR towers Nagoya Station 

51 Floor

NAGOYA: Yamachan

So I previously blogged about Furaibo's chicken wings.

As promised, the other popular chain store is Yamachan.

While my Japanese friends seem to prefer furaibo over Yamachan, I beg to differ. 

YAMACHAN IS AMAZING.

IT'S SALTY, IT'S SLIGHTLY SPICY, IT'S YUMMY!

Similar to Furaibo, there's mulitple Yamachan shops all around Nagoya. And it's very easy to spot. They always hang a figurine of this guy ( pictured in the box) outside their shop.

NAGOYA: Furaibo

Before I went to Nagoya, my cousin and Nick have been saying 

YOU GOTTA TRY THE TEBASAKI (deep fried chicken wing) IN NAGOYA! 

THERE'S 2 FAMOUS SHOPS. YOU GOTTA TRY BOTH AND TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU LIKE !

I love chicken wings. In fact, Nicholas and I both love chicken wings so much, there's times when we just buy 30 chicken wings and have them for dinner.

Anyway, the chain shop I'm introducing to you today is FURAIBO

The other popular chain store is yamachan (click to redirect to post)

So the reason why I'm recommending furaibo first is because, ALL my Japanese colleagues in the hospital rave about Furaibo. They say it caters more to their taste than Yamachan.

 Furaibo (click for website) have branches all over Nagoya and at several locations around Nagoya Station, but the easiest location to find is in the Esca underground shopping center. You can access Esca from outside the Taiko-Dori Exit on the west side of the station building

NAGOYA: Atsuta Horaiken あつた蓬莱軒 本店

I think I might have mentioned briefly in previous posts, but I was living in Nagoya last year for a month attached to Nagoya University Hospital.

It was the second time being in Nagoya for me. The first.. I hardly did anything, it was just a flight in because all the tickets for direct flight to tokyo was sold out. I remember just having the kaiseiki dinner at Marriot Hotel ( which was amazing) and going to Nagoya castle.

So because I was living there for a month, I had plenty of opportunities to check out good places.

One of Nagoya's famous dishes is hitsumabushi, a dish in which cut eel is dipped and broiled in soy sauce and put on top of rice. 

My favourite place to have this dish is definitely at Atsuta Horaiken ( main shop). They do have a branch at Matsuzakaya department store, which is really convenient for travellers if you're downtown ( Just in front of Yabacho subway station). I've been to both the main shop as well as the branch ( seeee this is how much I love hitsumabushi), they both taste good. However, I would recommend to go down to the main branch if you have time, just for the ambience :D 

The main branch is located at Atsuta Jingu Shrine, it was founded in 1873. It's usually very crowded so my advice is to try and avoid weekends. I went in the middle of the week at 6.30pm and I surprisingly got in without a reservation/without waiting at all !

I always say go for the most expensive one, but this time, I went just for the regular 3600yen hitsumabushi.

I can't stomach so much rice and eel hence I couldn't do the 5100yen.

As per the instruction above, divide the hitsumabushi into 4 parts. This first one is to eat without any seasoning

The next part is to eat with all the condiments

This third part is to eat with the soup

This is my favourite way of eating. I think it's because I love soupy stuff. 

My friend and I Kendra enjoying this meal.

This restaurant is really not difficult to find ( hahah, I'm a hypocrite in saying that because I got lost trying to find this restaurant, again. lol. That's because I'm just hopeless at directions) But if you use your google map properly, and follow the smell of the smoked eel. You'll reach this main shop in no time (: 

Atsuta Horaiken ( main shop)

503 Godocho, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya

Closed every wednesdays

lunch: 11am-2.30pm

Dinner: 6.30-8.30pm

Atsuta Horaiken (matsuzakaya branch)

3 Chome-30-8 Sakae

Open everyday

lunch: 11am-2.30pm

Dinner: 6.30-8.30pm

Sat & Sun open from 11am-8.30pm with no break time in between

ADELAIDE: Ramen and Izakaya Himeiji

When it comes to eating sushi in Adelaide, my to go person is ALWAYS Chef Shozo Ikeda. He owns 2 restaurants in Adelaide, both in Chinatown, called Genki sushi bar and Ramen and Izakaya Himeiji. 

Himeiji is more of an upmarket place with very nice deco, while genki is your sushi conveyer belt casual restaurant. 

I feel the most comfortable whenever Chef prepares my food. He's like the Japanese father I've never had. He always makes sure I eat the best. He knows my favourite are Uni and Toro, so everytime there's fresh and good uni and toro, he always asks me to order.

And the manager, Jason Shih, he is the BEST person. He's like this older brother I've never had. He is always taking care of me. 

Anyway, Chef Ikeda makes the most authentic sushi in Adelaide, hands down. 

TORO!!!

 KING SALMON!

so much better than regular salmon.

SUSHI BOAT - FUNAMORI!

This is the best grilled squid ever. A little expensive, but so good. 

MAYURA STATION BEEF

IS THE BEST BEEF.

Maze-soba!
Did I say Himeiji also serves up mean ramen ? I especially like their chicken base ramen.

I've so many posts on instagram on both genki sushi and himeiji. Words and pictures are just impossible to describe my feelings towards this place. I'm so grateful that we have these 2 Japanese restaurants in Adelaide. I remember prior to them opening, I used to eat Sushi Train. Which, thinking back now, I feel a little ashamed that I could eat such sushi. Anyway,  definitely my favourite Japanese restaurants in Adelaide.