Michikusa — Restaurant in Tokyo

도쿄와서 처음 오는 숙소 근처 식당임. 걍 모든게 다 미쳤음.. 오늘 식당에 간 뒤로 뭄바이 오페드로라는 식당이후 내 두번째 인생 맛집으로 지정당했음 ㅠㅠ 사장님 일단 너무 친절하시고 가게에는 스모경기 를 틀어주는 아담하고 귀여운 분위기의 가게임. 가게가 작지만 음식 시켜도 그리 오래걸리지 않음. 우리가 외국인이라 그런가 다른 일본인들은 철판위에서 알아서 볶던데 우리는 직접 볶아주심. 여기서 몬자야끼 첨먹어봄. 다른 몬자야끼는 뭐 어떤지 모르겠지만 나 여기 일본에 30일 중 첫째날인데 거짓맕 좀 보태서 앞으로 몬자야끼만 먹을거고 몬자야끼만 연구할거임. ㅜㅜ 걍 몬자야끼 맛에 푹 빠져버림 먼가 넘 짜지도 않고 적당하고, 짜게 먹는사람들도 양념 더 쳐서먹으라고 소스 갖다주심. 몬자야끼랑 콘버터를 처음에 시켰는데 콘버터도 신들린듯이 맛있음.. 적당히 달고 뭐랄까 좋은 버터를 쓴걸까 아니면 일본버터가 원래 맛있는걸까? 너무 맛있어서 두번째로 프라이드야끼소바를 카라이로 부탁드리고 뭔진 모르지만 burdock tempura 라고 써져있길래 궁금해서 먹어봄. 먼 생선 튀김인가 해서 봤더니 알고보니 우엉튀김 이어씀 우엉인지도 모르고 달짝지근한 고구마를 가로로 얇게 썰었지만 약간 질기지만 바삭한 느낌인가 해서 먹어보고 집에와서 검색해보니 우엉임. 야끼소바는 첫입에 와우 존맛 미텼다. 감칠맛 대박사건 이라고 생각하고 먹었음. (약간 내 입맛에 짜긴했지만 뭐랄까 맛있게 짠.? 우리가 카라이 라고 해셔 맛이 좀 짜진걸 수도 있음) 여기 테이블도 몇개없고 로컬들도 오고가서 그런지 감성 제대로임. 계산하려는데 아이스크림이 온더하우스라며 바닐라와 유자중에 선택하라고하심. 매장에서 직접만드는 것은 아니라고 하시나 아이스크림 퀄리티가 어디 수제 젤라또 샵에서 한 오천원 주고 한스쿱 퍼먹는 어딘가 그런 맛임. 드디어 후식먹고 계산하니 어디선가 요리하시는 할머니 사장님(?)과 여자 사장님(?)이 나오셔서 바리바리 주전부리 (사탕,젤리,초콜릿) 를 봉투에 한다발 싸주심...ㅠㅠㅠ 도쿄에서 처음가는 식당인데 이 식당 때문에 다른 식당들에 대한 기대치가 높아져 실망이 클까 걱정이기도 하지만 뭐 그건됐고 이 식당은 나중에 또또또갈거임 ㅠㅠㅠ 일단 지금 도쿄뽕 심하게 맞아버림 ㅠㅠ 알코올도 여러종류로 시켰는데 (오늘의사와, 소츄하이볼(?), 가쿠하이볼) 술을 지대로 많이 타주심.. ㅠㅠㅠㅠ 일본사람들의 정... ㅠㅠ 그리고 도쿄와 사랑에 빠져버림 ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 사장님 나 책임져 ㅠㅠ 여긴 진짜... 오늘 첨가봤지만 느낌상 또또또갈집임 그리고 나 진짜 이렇게 극성으로 사랑을 담은 리뷰는 첨임

This was my first meal after arriving in Tokyo, close to where I was staying—and honestly, the whole experience was unreal. After eating here today, it’s officially my second-favorite restaurant. The owner was incredibly warm, and the atmosphere was cozy and intimate, with sumo wrestling playing on the TV. Despite the small size of the restaurant, the food came out surprisingly fast.

Maybe because we were foreigners, and unlike the locals who grilled their own food, the owner graciously took care of the cooking for us. It was my first time trying monjayaki, and though I don’t have anything to compare it to yet, I’ve only been in Japan for a day and already feel like I could spend the entire trip just eating and learning about monjayaki. I was blown away by the flavor—it wasn’t too salty, just perfectly balanced. They even brought over extra sauce for those who like a bolder taste.

We started with monjayaki and corn butter, and that corn butter was heavenly. Slightly sweet, almost like they used premium butter—or maybe Japanese butter is just that good? It was so tasty we ended up ordering a second dish: spicy fried yakisoba. I also got intrigued by something on the menu called ‘burdock tempura’—I thought it might be fish, but it turned out to be burdock root.(i didnt know burdock is what i know.) I didn’t realize it right away; it looked a bit like sweet potato—thinly sliced, slightly chewy, and crisp. I looked it up when I got back and learned more about it.

As for the yakisoba, the first bite left me speechless. The umami was unreal. It was a touch salty for me, but still delicious—probably because we asked for it to be spicy. The restaurant only has a few tables, and it feels like a local hidden gem, which adds to its appeal.

When it was time to pay, they surprised us with complimentary ice cream and let us choose between vanilla and yuzu. Even though it wasn’t homemade, it tasted like something from a high-end gelato shop that would easily go for 500 yen a scoop.

After dessert, an elderly woman—maybe the chef—and another lady, possibly the manager, came out and handed us a gift bag filled with treats: candies, jellies, chocolates, all beautifully packed. This was my very first restaurant visit in Tokyo, and now I’m a little concerned other places won’t match this experience. I’m definitely coming back here again and again.

We also sampled a few alcoholic drinks—today’s sawa(?), a shochu highball, and a kakuhai. They were generous with the pours, and it truly felt like we were being welcomed with open arms into Japanese hospitality.

I think I’ve fallen in love with the food, the people, and Tokyo itself. This place is already a forever memory for me, and I’ve never felt so passionate writing a...

On our last night in Japan, we were suddenly hungry for okonomiyaki, and a quick Google Maps-search of the area led us to this little restaurant in the middle of a quiet residential neighbourhood. How lucky we were! The restaurant in itself is a cozy little place with a lovely homey atmosphere, not too loud nor too quiet. There is a well-written English menu available and communicating in English was no trouble at all. The chopstick covers doubling as origami paper complete with folding instructions was a great little detail we appreciated. Food and drink was great value for money (I especially recommend the Shiso soda) and the okonomiyaki fillings spared no expense. Really, coming here is worth it for the service alone. The people running the restaurant were attentive, caring and genuine, turning what we expected to be "just" a quick dinner into a very fond memory of the restaurant as well as our last night in Tokyo. I won't spoil any details so other patrons can be pleasantly surprised! Sadly we don't have the time to go back ourselves to try more delicious meals, but hopefully this review will help lead other travellers to Michikusa's rabbit-curtained...

This was probably by far my very best experience in Japan! A cute little restaurant that seems quite unassuming, but has the authenticity to embody all of Japan. From the beginning you were warmly welcomed here, it's nice that everything is in Japanese and not translated. The menu is clear and not overcrowded with dishes. The tables are low and the chairs small, but that's what generates even more charm. The communication was bumpy, but not impossible the woman who served us tried very hard and we honored that very much. We thought we would only have a short meal, in the end we ordered round after round! The food is incredibly delicious and prepared with so much love. And please forgive my bumbling preparation of the dish! It was my first time cooking on a hot plate. We can only consider ourselves lucky that we had the honor to visit this great restaurant and enjoy their delicacies! In addition, we were pleasantly surprised at the end when the bill came, we would have expected with this quality with far more! I will definitely stop by again on my next visit to Tokyo. Thank...