Tokyo Department store food floors

Department stores are a must visit when you are in Japan. There, you will experience one stop shopping and dining from clothes, home goods to gourmet food. Most department stores' basement floors sell a variety of food, such as fresh produce, meat, precooked food, wine, confectioneries, etc. There's even a nickname for the department store food floor called depachika, a combination of "depato", meaning department store, and "chika", meaning basement.

Depachika is a great place to experience different cuisines. French, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Italian, you name it. The list goes on. You can sample items at pretty much every shop before you purchase. There are usually areas with benches that you can sit on and eat. Some depachika even have tables and chairs. Depachika is also a great place to pick up some treats to enjoy at your hotel later.

Cafe comme ca

In the Ikebukuro area and tired from shopping? Grab a slice of fruit tart and sip on a cup of coffee or tea at Cafe comme ca. Located on the 3rd floor of Tobu department store, Cafe comme ca has a great selections of fruit tarts and varieties of drinks such as fresh fruit smoothies.

Sushisho Masa

There's no shortage of premium quality sushi restaurants in Tokyo. But if you don't speak Japanese, you are not able to get a reservation at some sushi restaurants. Even if you do speak Japanese, or being accompanied by a Japanese friend, some sushi restaurants, for example Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin three star restaurant, may make you feel like dining at a fast food restaurant, as there is almost no service and the meal ends in 30 minutes.

Wanna experience the best sushi while not letting go the service? Sushisho Masa in Nishi Azabu is one that really gets your money's worth. The owner also the sushi chef Masa speaks some English.  He explains every single piece of sushi to customers, including the seasoning. If you have any question about the fish, he would also open up his ocean animal encyclopedia to show you a picture of the fish. The meal could last 2 hours depending on the amount you have. The restaurant only has seven counter seats. A reservation two months in advance is highly recommended.

Chef Masa on the left

Breakfast @ Tsukiji Market

Tsukiji Market is a great place to grab breakfast in Tokyo. My favorite restaurants are not the ones listed in travel guides as they are flooded with tourists who are willing to get up at 5am. I like to visit the ones favored by the locals who actually work and live in the Tsukiji Market area. 

1. 高はし

This tiny restaurant, 8 counter seats, is famous for grilled/boiled freshly caught fish. Of course, it also has sashimi. But I would suggest trying their cooked fish. There's no English menu. The restaurant owner who's also the chef speaks a little bit of English. If you don't speak any Japanese, you can order by showing the owner pictures saved on your mobile.

USHIGORO

In Japanese, Korean BBQ is called Yakiniku, meaning "grilled meat". Ushigoro is a trendy non-smoky Yakiniku restaurant located in Nishi Azabu area. The restaurant offers premium beef at a very reasonable price. If you love red meat, this would be a great place to go.

Top bakeries/patisseries in Tokyo 4 - Joel Robuchon

Joel Robuchon is another bakery that worth visiting when you are in Tokyo. The bakery offers traditional French bread as well as specialty ones such as croc foie gras et pomme.

Top bakeries/patisseries in Tokyo 3 - Maison Kayser

Eric Kayser is considered as one of France's best bakers. His bakery Mason Kayser is located throughout Tokyo. You can find it at the food floor of big department stores as well as big shopping complex such as Tokyo Midtown. His signature creation is his unique sourdough breads that rely entirely on a liquid natural starter without commercial yeast. Here are some photos taken from the Mason Kayser at Tokyo Midtown.

Top bakeries/patisseries in Tokyo 2 - Pierre Herme

Pierre Herme is another must visit if you are in Tokyo. The master pastry chef is famous for his macarons. French Vogue magazine dubbed him "The Picasso of Pastry." 

 

Top bakeries in Tokyo 1 - Gontran Cherrier

Got a sweet tooth? Then Tokyo is definitely a city for your sweet addiction. The city is full of world class bakeries and patisseries. One of them is Gontran Cherrier. The famous French baker produces topnotch breads, pastries and sandwiches. His Tokyo shops offer Japanese-inspired items such as matcha (green tea) croissant. 

French Bistro in Tokyo - L'Amitie

L'Amitie is a French bistro located in Takadanobaba Tokyo. It offers high quality food at a cheap price. Dinner course (1appetizer + 1 entree) is $2700 yen (around $30CAD). Portions are huge. If you are looking for French comfort food at a casual setting, this is the place to go. The restaurant is so popular that making a reservation in a few months advance is highly recommended. Here are some pictures from my last visit in October last year. 

Restaurant front

Burgundy-style Escargot

Assorted Ham with Rillettes

Chicken White Liver Mousse (huge portion for an appetizer)

Scallops

Duck Confit

Beef Bourginion (red wine beef stew)

Creme Brulee

L'Amitie 
Address: 2-9-1 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
(東京都新宿区高田馬場2-9-1)
Reviews & info on Tabelog (the Japanese version of Yelp): 
http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130503/13004131/

Chez Inno

Chez Inno is a classic French restaurant located in Kyobashi Tokyo. It's considered by real foodies in Tokyo as one of the best French restaurants in the city. I'm not taking any Michelin Star into consideration when talking about restaurants in Japan. People may agree with me that Michelin Stars are given away too easily in this country. Chez Inno doesn't even have a star, but that doesn't take away the fact the restaurant truly is one of the best.

Chef/Owner Noboru Inoue worked at various world's famous restaurants in Europe before he came back to work in Japan and later opened Chez Inno in 1984. At Chez Inno, you will experience the classic French with heavy creamy sauce. The dishes are not modern or light, but surely are the most memorable dishes I have ever had. This is compared with the dishes I had in Joel Robuchon or Per Se. To fully experience Chef Inoue's culinary skills, choose a la carte instead of course menus. What's also great about this restaurant is that you can order a half portion of any entrees except their signature Maria Callas Lamb Pie dish, which is impossible to do a half portion. I tried 7 entrees during my visit in October 2013. Every dish was 10 out of 10.  Didn't order any wine or dessert. Total bill came to around $350 CAD, which is very reasonable.

If you want to taste the classic French cuisine, make sure you pay a visit to Chez Inno when you are in Tokyo. 

Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of this dish.

A close-up shot

Sole

A close-up shot

Another Sole dish

Chef Inoue's most famous creation Noisette d'agneau en eroute Maria Callas (Lamb Pie Maria Callas Style)

Veal

Pigeon

Fish with scallop mousse

Chez Inno
2-4-16 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
(東京都中央区京橋2-4-16 明治製菓本社ビル１Ｆ)
http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130202/13000510/
http://www.chezinno.jp/restaurant/inno_index.html