Where to Dine - Tokyo - page 145

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least bit hesitant. The rustic interior was imported intact from the mountain region of
Takayama. Four set meals are offered (vegetarian meals are available on request). My
¥5,250 meal came with sashimi, yakitori, tofu steak, scallops cooked in their shells,
shrimp, and vegetables, all grilled one after the other. Watch your alcohol intake—drinks
can really add to your bill.
Jojoen Daini Shinjuku Building, 2-22-5 Kabuki-cho. & 03/3209-5672. Reservations recommended. Set
dinners ¥4,200-¥7,350. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 5-11:30pm. Closed holidays. Station: Shinjuku (east exit,
10 min.). On the northern edge of Kabuki-cho; you'll know you're getting close when you see Godzilla
hanging from a building; the restaurant is just a bit farther to the north, on a corner.
Tribecks CONTINENTAL On the 20th floor of the sleek Hotel Century Southern
Tower, this upbeat, contemporary restaurant with an open kitchen offers great city views
of Shinjuku Park and central Tokyo along with Continental fare. Although the dishes,
ranging from French-inspired cuisine to original creations, don't always live up to expecta-
tions, the service is great and the views are sublime, making it popular with shoppers from
nearby Takashimaya Shinjuku (make reservations or avoid peak hours). Dinner selections
may include roast lamb with garlic and estragon sauce or grilled Iberico pork with orange
and basil sauce, while the very popular set lunches offer a choice of main dish such as tuna,
sautéed scallops with prawns, or grilled chicken, along with a salad bar, dessert, and coffee.
Hotel Century Southern Tower, 20th floor, 2-2-1 Yoyogi. & 03/5354-2177. www.southerntower.co.jp.
Reservations recommended, especially for lunch. Main dishes ¥2,310-¥5,775; set dinners ¥6,930-¥9,240;
set lunches ¥2,100-¥2,940. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm; Sat-Sun and holidays 11:30am-4pm;
daily 5:30-10pm (last order). Station: Shinjuku (south exit, 3 min.).

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i Tsunahachi TEMPURA Inside a small, old-fashioned brown building in the
heart of fashionable East Shinjuku is the main branch of a restaurant that has been serv-
ing tempura since 1923. Now there are several dozen outlets in Japan, including one on
the 13th floor of Takashimaya Shinjuku ( & 03/5361-1860 ). The Shinjuku location is
the largest outlet, with an open kitchen and counter plus table seating. Though it has an
English menu, the easiest option is to order one of three set meals, the least expensive of
which includes six pieces of tempura, including deep-fried shrimp, conger eel, seasonal
fish, shrimp balls, and vegetables, along with miso soup, Japanese pickles, and rice.
3-31-8 Shinjuku. & 03/3352-1012. Reservations recommended. Tempura a la carte ¥470-¥1,200; tem-
pura set meals ¥1,995-¥3,990. AE, DC, V. Daily 11am-10pm. Station: Shinjuku Sanchome (2 min.) or
Shinjuku (east exit, 5 min.). Off Shinjuku Dori on the side street that runs along the east side of Mitsuko-
shi department store.

INEXPENSIVE
Donto, on the 49th floor of the Sumitomo Building ( & 03/3344-6269 ), offers a Japa-
nese lunch buffet and set meals for dinner and is open Monday to Saturday from 11am
to 2pm and 5 to 11pm (p. 131). Also, Tengu, on Yasukuni Dori at 3-20-5 Shinjuku
( & 03/3354-3046; p. 156), and Toriyoshi, 3-34-16 Shinjuku ( & 03/3225-1922;
p. 152), are popular Japanese-style pubs with inexpensive meals, both open from 5pm.
Din Tai Fung CHINESE The Tokyo branch of Taiwan's most popular dim sum
(dumpling) restaurant is so popular, you'll probably have to join the long line of people
waiting to get in. Luckily, the line moves fast and soon you'll find yourself either dining
inside the noisy restaurant or outside on the spacious terrace (unfortunately, there are no
views). The English-language menu lists various dim sum, including the signature
steamed pork dumplings, served in piping hot bamboo steamers, along with various
soups and other dishes such as mashed black sesame seeds and fried pork spareribs.