All posts in “soba”

Gaijin Gourmet! マイク・ロジャース!「ザ・外人グルメ」がぐるナビの「ippin」(イッピン)のキュレーターデビュー! 

Mike has his high-falutin’ major Japanese gourmet magazine debut recommending classy wine and best ways to ask girls out on a date! Click the link to see the article: ココをクリイク:Gurunavi 「Ippin」”The Gaijin Gourmet!” (http://r.gnavi.co.jp/ippin/article-3487/)

ラジオDJ、起業家、ブロガー、映像ディレクター、文筆家と多才なマイク・ロジャース。そんな彼に新たに「料理批評家」という顔が加わった!

今夜のデート、どこに行こう?と困った貴方の救世主であるあの「ぐるナビ」の「Ippin」でマイクのレギュラー・コラムが満を辞して遂に始動!

今日も都内の何処かでワンコインの至高の逸品を探して続けている孤独のグルメ、マイクのペンから目が離せないぞ!
ココをクリイク:Gurunavi 「Ippin」”The Gaijin Gourmet!” (http://r.gnavi.co.jp/ippin/article-3487/)
Gaijin Gourmet, Delicious places to eat in Tokyo, Cheap places to eat in Tokyo, Healthy, cheap, inexpensive food, Tokyo dining

Will fame and fortune for the Gaijin Gourmet go to his already greatly inflated ego?

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Looking for great deals on cheap eats in Japan?:

Gaijin Gourmet! The Best, Most Delicious Soba Restaurant in Shibuya and Shinjuku robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-the-best-most-delicious-soba-restaurant-in-shibuya-and-shinjuku/

Gaijin Gourmet – Hamazushi! Tokyo’s Best Robot Sushi! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-hamazushi-tokyos-best-robot-sushi/

Gaijin Gourmet – Sukiya! Japan’s Best Gyudon (Beef Bowl) robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-sukiya-japans-best-gyudon-beef-bowl/

Gaijin Gourmet Advice for Foreign Gentlemen Living in Japan!
http://robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-advice-for-foreign-gentlemen-living-in-japan/

Gaijin Gourmet – Best Soba Chain in Tokyo?Yude Taro and ¥220 Draft Beer?! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-best-soba-chain-in-tokyo?yude-taro-and-¥220-draft-beer/

Gaijin Gourmet: The Best Premium Salad Bar in Tokyo? – Sizzler in Setagaya robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-the-best-premium-salad-bar-in-tokyo-sizzler-in-setagaya/

Gaijin Gourmet! Great Cheap and Delicious Soba in Gaienmae on Ginza Line! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-great-cheap-and-delicious-soba-in-gaienmae-on-ginza-line/

The Gaijin Gourmet: The Best Salad Bar Deal in Tokyo at Big Boy – My Favorite Rock N Roll Diner!! robot55.jp/blog/the-gaijin-gourmet-the-best-salad-bar-deal-in-tokyo-at-big-boy-my-favorite-rock-n-roll-diner/

Tokyo’s Best Cheap Sushi is in Okachimachi!? 東京の一番安くて美味しい寿司屋?御徒町にあるの? http://robot55.jp/blog/tokyos-best-cheap-sushi-in-okachimachi/

The Gaijin Gourmet: Soba Wars At Hanzomon Station in Tokyo robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-soba-wars-at-hanzomon-station-in-tokyo/

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At Robot55 we make video productions for businesses and services and products, but we also pride ourselves on making videos for art and music. Our starting price is ¥70,000 and we are sure we can work out something that fits your budget. Oh, and we love making band videos too! Contact us! contact@robot55.jp

ROBOT55 はビジネス、商業、製品紹介動画の制作のみならず、アートや音楽の映像も創っております。ビジネス動画においてはウェブ動画時代の到来に合わせ、お求めや すい¥70,000という格安価格より承ります。ご予算に応じて皆様にご満足のいく高品質動画を制作致します。勿論インディー・バンド向けPV制作も行っ ております。よ!
コチラよりお気軽にお問い合わせ下さいませ♬

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Gaijin Gourmet, budget dining Tokyo, ビデオ編集格安、ビデオ撮影格安、動画制作東京、格安ビデオ制作, 格安, ロボット・ゴー・ゴー,  格安, ビジネスビデオ制作, ロボット・ゴー・ゴー, Gaijin Gourmet, Delicious places to eat in Tokyo, Cheap places to eat in Tokyo, Healthy, cheap, inexpensive food, Tokyo dining, budget dining Tokyo, delicious budget soba, soba, tokyo soba

Gaijin Gourmet – Beware! The Worst Noodle Restaurant in Tokyo?

Welcome to another installment of the Gaijin Gourmet. Today we are definitely scrapping the bottom of the barrel for, er, “restaurants” and cheap places to eat. Today I was asked to write a review of “Donbei.”

Donbei is a, er, “restaurant” on Shibuya Japan Railways (JR) Yamanote Line Platform. I use the term, “restaurant” loosely because Donbei only serves instant noodles! Get it? They only pour hot water into plastic bowls of instant noodles!

Do you call that a “restaurant”? Are you kidding me?

As most of you could probably guess by the high quality prose available in the Gaijin Gourmet ®, I get paid a thousand dollars per word ® for each of these articles I write! But I was chewing off my fingernails wondering if I should accept or decline this, er, “restaurant” review. But, for the good of humanity, I decided to persevere and move forward.

I’ve eaten school lunches; I’ve eaten convenience store bento; I’ve even eaten my first girlfriend’s souffle she made for me as a bizarre dating experiement! Urgh!

But this? What had hell wroth?

A “restaurant” review of an establishment that pours hot water into instant noodles??? What? The same kind of instant noodles that the convenience store sells for ¥120 yen?

I wrote a one word review: “No!”

Then my editor said they wouldn’t pay me for just one word. Cheapskates!

I then wrote a two word review that said, “Absolutely not!”

Still, even at more than twice the letterage, that wasn’t enough for the slave drivers that run Robot55!

I explained that if I wrote more than two words, I could do nothing but devolve into lines of invective and how much I hate instant noodles and hate myself for actually even considering for a moment in accepting this assignment.

The Gaijin Gourmet® might be a cheapskate, that I often have a beer* at home before going out to drink just to save money, but even he has to draw the line somewhere! (*= Actually a cheap beer substitute like Happoshu.)

I have my pride!!!!

donbei-panel

Close up of the front panel of Donbei

Now, normally, the Gaijin Gourmet’s job is to show you, dear reader, how you can get a great meal, in an expensive city like Tokyo, for under $5 (USD). That’s my mission and I’m sticking with it. There’s a bunch of links below that point you, dear reader, into the right direction for some delicious, healthy and inexpensive food for you and the whole family (I have four kids too!)

But, today? Today is different! Today worse than a can of tuna that’s twenty years past expiration date! Today’s post is similar to my warning about asking Japanese girls on a date (please refer to: Gaijin Gourmet Advice for Foreign Gentlemen Living in Japan!); today is a warning to STAY AWAY from noodle restaurant’s that are on train platform’s or inside of the train or subway stations.

Generally, speaking, they can be cheap, but if a noodle shop is inside the train or subway station, then it’s a good bet that they are all mostly TERRIBLE!

Front of Donbei at Shibuya Station

Front of Donbei at Shibuya Station

And, of all the terrible “restaurants” that exist in Tokyo, today I have the displeasure of warning you to STAY AWAY from Donbei at Shibuya JR Station (it’s on the platform heading towards Shinjuku). This place might be the worst noodle shop in all of Japan!

There were actually three customers there at lunch time!

There were actually three customers there at lunch time! You kidding me????

“The worst in Japan? How that be?” you say? Well, it looks like a nice restaurant from outside, but all they serve are instant noodles! Really. No kidding. You buy a ticket from the ticket meal machine and then hand it to the kitchen staff and they rip open an instant noodle pack and pour in hot water!

And people actually go there? WTF?! Are you kidding me???? I thought people only eat this kind of instant noodles when they are at home late at night; or when there’s a typhoon and they are stuck at the office! You mean, people actually go outside and eat this stuff? Voluntarily?!

This is either a sick joke or some genius idea! I’m not sure!

Well, I can say the kitchen is spotless... Should be when the only thing they do is boil water.

Well, I can say the kitchen is spotless… Should be when the only thing they do is boil water.

You know, I don’t eat this sort of instant ramen at home anyway. I used to. But this stuff isn’t all that healthy for you, you know? It’s all just chemicals reconstituted and reformed to look and taste like food. It isn’t real food. Stay away from all these sorts of places!

donbei-tables

Ah, the second time I looked inside it was about 2 pm… It was empty. Any surprises there?

The above photo was the second time I actually looked inside this fine dining establishment. It was the last….

You know, it takes hard work becoming the best at anything, be it a restaurant, a band, a company, anything… It also takes an incredible amount of effort to be the worst…. If you think you’ve eaten at some terrible places, then I suggest that you go out an try Donbei so that you can actually realize just how lucky you’ve been so far!

I figure Donbei must be some sort of promotional gimmick… Because there’s no way they are making any money doing this since the place is always empty… And, here I am, promoting this place with today’s post. Sheesh! For all I know, because of this article, Donbei will become a famous must-see tourist attraction in Shibuya for foreigners before the Tokyo Olympics.

Move over Hachiko (the dog statue)! Donbei has arrived – and you don’t even have to leave the station!

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Looking for great deals on cheap eats in Japan?:

Gaijin Gourmet! The Best, Most Delicious Soba Restaurant in Shibuya and Shinjuku robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-the-best-most-delicious-soba-restaurant-in-shibuya-and-shinjuku/

Gaijin Gourmet – Hamazushi! Tokyo’s Best Robot Sushi! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-hamazushi-tokyos-best-robot-sushi/

Gaijin Gourmet – Sukiya! Japan’s Best Gyudon (Beef Bowl) robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-sukiya-japans-best-gyudon-beef-bowl/

Gaijin Gourmet Advice for Foreign Gentlemen Living in Japan!
http://robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-advice-for-foreign-gentlemen-living-in-japan/

Gaijin Gourmet – Best Soba Chain in Tokyo?Yude Taro and ¥220 Draft Beer?! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-best-soba-chain-in-tokyo?yude-taro-and-¥220-draft-beer/

Gaijin Gourmet: The Best Premium Salad Bar in Tokyo? – Sizzler in Setagaya robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-the-best-premium-salad-bar-in-tokyo-sizzler-in-setagaya/

Gaijin Gourmet! Great Cheap and Delicious Soba in Gaienmae on Ginza Line! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-great-cheap-and-delicious-soba-in-gaienmae-on-ginza-line/

The Gaijin Gourmet: The Best Salad Bar Deal in Tokyo at Big Boy – My Favorite Rock N Roll Diner!! robot55.jp/blog/the-gaijin-gourmet-the-best-salad-bar-deal-in-tokyo-at-big-boy-my-favorite-rock-n-roll-diner/

Tokyo’s Best Cheap Sushi is in Okachimachi!? 東京の一番安くて美味しい寿司屋?御徒町にあるの? http://robot55.jp/blog/tokyos-best-cheap-sushi-in-okachimachi/

The Gaijin Gourmet: Soba Wars At Hanzomon Station in Tokyo robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-soba-wars-at-hanzomon-station-in-tokyo/

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At Robot55 we make video productions for businesses and services and products, but we also pride ourselves on making videos for art and music. Our starting price is ¥70,000 and we are sure we can work out something that fits your budget. Oh, and we love making band videos too! Contact us! contact@robot55.jp

ROBOT55 はビジネス、商業、製品紹介動画の制作のみならず、アートや音楽の映像も創っております。ビジネス動画においてはウェブ動画時代の到来に合わせ、お求めや すい¥70,000という格安価格より承ります。ご予算に応じて皆様にご満足のいく高品質動画を制作致します。勿論インディー・バンド向けPV制作も行っ ております。よ!
コチラよりお気軽にお問い合わせ下さいませ♬

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Gaijin Gourmet, budget dining Tokyo, ビデオ編集格安、ビデオ撮影格安、動画制作東京、格安ビデオ制作, 格安, ロボット・ゴー・ゴー,  格安, ビジネスビデオ制作, ロボット・ゴー・ゴー, Gaijin Gourmet, Delicious places to eat in Tokyo, Cheap places to eat in Tokyo, Healthy, cheap, inexpensive food, Tokyo dining, budget dining Tokyo, delicious budget soba, soba, tokyo soba

 

Gaijin Gourmet! The Best, Most Delicious Soba Restaurant in Shibuya and Shinjuku? Shinshu Soba!

It’s time once again for the original and world famous Gaijin Gourmet!

The votes are in folks, there is a winner for the best and cheapest while being extremely delicious soba restaurant in Shibuya and Shinjuku and that winner is Shinshu Soba.

Now, I know I announced the best Soba Chain in Tokyo as being Yude Taro. Please refer to: Gaijin Gourmet – Best Soba Chain in Tokyo?Yude Taro and ¥220 Draft Beer?! and I stand by that recommendation. But, if you are within 1 minute of Shibuya station or within 3 minutes of Shinjuku station then I must make an exception and recommend Shinshu Soba as the best, and most delicious for the price.

Shinshu Soba’s shortcoming? Even though it is a chain-restaurant, there are only two restaurants in the entire chain! Yude Taro is almost everywhere inside of the Yamanote Train Line loop around Tokyo!

Today, let’s look at what is undoubtedly my, and my close friend’s, very favorite soba shop in Shibuya; Shinshu Soba!

Front entrance of Shinshuu Soba at Shibuya

Front entrance of Shinshuu Soba at Shibuya

Incredibly, the best soba in Shibuya is also the closest to the station (how did that happen?) Shinshu Soba is about 1 minute walk from Shibuya. It’s 10 seconds from the Mark City Building… Walking directly from JR Shibuya station, when you see the escalator to go up into Mark City, keep walking straight (The pachinko places are to your right). turn right at the second small street. There is Shinshu soba on your left. Can’t miss it.

Menu outside the door of Shinshuu Soba

Menu outside the door of Shinshuu Soba

Shinshu Soba caught my eye because the first time I went there, the place was packed with women. Why is this important in Japan? Because if an establishment (especially a basically stand-up eating place that caters to businessmen, is packed with women, that can only mean one thing: The food is great and the prices fantastic and the place is clean!)

The kitchen at Shinshuu Soba

The kitchen at Shinshuu Soba

Fast service, delicious food, great prices and a spotlessly clean kitchen. What more could you want? Oh, and the Shibuya restaurant does have seating for about 10 people… But if you want to sit down, do not go there during the lunch or dinner rush. There’s a line of people to get in at those times. Another sign of a great place to eat at excellent prices.

The traditional soba dishes and a much larger selection of tastes that even women and children like!

The traditional soba dishes and a much larger selection of tastes that even women and children like!

The prices at Shinshuu Soba and Yude Taro are comparable. But! Shinshu Soba does beat out Yude Taro for the Mori Soba (pictured on the right above). That’s a plate of delicious healthy cold soba noodles for $2.00 (USD) and, of course, in Japan, no tipping! Can’t beat it anywhere!

Katsudon (fried pork cutlet on bed of rice) and plate of cold soba for ¥600 (about $4.80 USD)

Katsudon (fried pork cutlet on bed of rice) and plate of cold soba for ¥600 (about $4.80 USD)

If you want to eat healthy soba noodles and you are near Shibuya or Shinjuku station, the you can’t beat Shinshuu Soba. Anywhere else in Tokyo? Yude Taro is hard to beat.

Shinshu Soba Shibuya: Shibuya Ku, Dogenzaka 2-6-4

Open weekdays from 7:30~23:15 Sunday and holidays 9:00~22:00 Open 365 days a year!

Shinshu Soba Shinjuku:  Shinjuku Ku, Shinjuku 3-35-5

Open weekdays from 7:30~23:30 Sunday and holidays 7:30~23:00

Tell them the Gaijin Gourmet sent you!

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Looking for great deals on cheap eats in Japan?:

Gaijin Gourmet – Hamazushi! Tokyo’s Best Robot Sushi! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-hamazushi-tokyos-best-robot-sushi/

Gaijin Gourmet – Sukiya! Japan’s Best Gyudon (Beef Bowl) robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-sukiya-japans-best-gyudon-beef-bowl/

Gaijin Gourmet Advice for Foreign Gentlemen Living in Japan!
http://robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-advice-for-foreign-gentlemen-living-in-japan/

Gaijin Gourmet – Best Soba Chain in Tokyo?Yude Taro and ¥220 Draft Beer?! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-best-soba-chain-in-tokyo?yude-taro-and-¥220-draft-beer/

Gaijin Gourmet: The Best Premium Salad Bar in Tokyo? – Sizzler in Setagaya robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-the-best-premium-salad-bar-in-tokyo-sizzler-in-setagaya/

Gaijin Gourmet! Great Cheap and Delicious Soba in Gaienmae on Ginza Line! robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-great-cheap-and-delicious-soba-in-gaienmae-on-ginza-line/

The Gaijin Gourmet: The Best Salad Bar Deal in Tokyo at Big Boy – My Favorite Rock N Roll Diner!! robot55.jp/blog/the-gaijin-gourmet-the-best-salad-bar-deal-in-tokyo-at-big-boy-my-favorite-rock-n-roll-diner/

Tokyo’s Best Cheap Sushi is in Okachimachi!? 東京の一番安くて美味しい寿司屋?御徒町にあるの? http://robot55.jp/blog/tokyos-best-cheap-sushi-in-okachimachi/

The Gaijin Gourmet: Soba Wars At Hanzomon Station in Tokyo robot55.jp/blog/gaijin-gourmet-soba-wars-at-hanzomon-station-in-tokyo/

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At Robot55 we make video productions for businesses and services and products, but we also pride ourselves on making videos for art and music. Our starting price is ¥70,000 and we are sure we can work out something that fits your budget. Oh, and we love making band videos too! Contact us! contact@robot55.jp

ROBOT55 はビジネス、商業、製品紹介動画の制作のみならず、アートや音楽の映像も創っております。ビジネス動画においてはウェブ動画時代の到来に合わせ、お求めや すい¥70,000という格安価格より承ります。ご予算に応じて皆様にご満足のいく高品質動画を制作致します。勿論インディー・バンド向けPV制作も行っ ております。よ!
コチラよりお気軽にお問い合わせ下さいませ♬

————————-

Gaijin Gourmet, budget dining Tokyo, ビデオ編集格安、ビデオ撮影格安、動画制作東京、格安ビデオ制作, 格安, ロボット・ゴー・ゴー,  格安, ビジネスビデオ制作, ロボット・ゴー・ゴー, Gaijin Gourmet, Delicious places to eat in Tokyo, Cheap places to eat in Tokyo, Healthy, cheap, inexpensive food, Tokyo dining, budget dining Tokyo, delicious budget soba, soba, tokyo soba