58. Chain Restaurant Review: Tsukiji Sushiko

Tsukiji Sushiko is your standard sushi shop. There is a long counter with chairs facing the sushi chefs, plus a number of regular tables. Order piece by piece, or from a number of sets. Individual pieces fall into price categories of: 50, 110, 160, 210, 270, 320, 370, and 400 yen.

There is no English on the menu, but almost everything is written in hiragana and katakana. If you know your sushi, it won't be a problem.

There are a handful of cooked items on the menu, although we didn't order anything except miso soup (of which there are some choices).

The chef who waited on us was very friendly and professional. My husband and I will eat here again.

Address: Kitazawa 2-3-12. Located on the left side of Chazawa Street, if you are heading toward the town hall. (*There are also over 20 other locations around the city)
Phone: 03-5486-0505

57. Shop Review: Fizz

Fizz is one of those shops where you won't buy anything, but you should at least take a look. It will be a walk down memory lane. Although it advertises itself as "unisex good taste clothes, accessories, and goods", 99% of what they sell targets ladies. There is a very interesting selection of dresses - mostly thrift store 60's and 70's styles. I didn't see any sizes above an American 6. They also have costume jewelry, hats, belts, some shoes, scarves,... I was particularly surprised to see the collection of 'string art' on the wall, and the tiny plaid suitcases (of which I had when I was a child). The only think I saw to interest men were the Hawaiian shirts out front.Hours of Operation: 12:30 - 20:30

Location: A short walk from the north exit of Shimokita Station. It is close to the Odakyu line tracks, just around the corner from Mos Burger.

Address: 1F 2-32-8, Kitazawa, Setagaya 155-0031

Phone: 03-3468-4601

56. Cafe Review: K's Cafe

K's Cafe's sign says, "The place for developing international friendships". Don't let that scare you off. It is just a regular cafe that welcomes foreigners.

The interior is peach with dark wood accents and light wood tables. It is nicely decorated, and there is no clutter. In the summer it is a cool oasis; a great place to people watch, drink something tasty, and enjoy the mellow jazz that plays in the background.

Along the front window are 7 stools overlooking the shopping alley below. There are also 3 regular tables for two, one table for four, and a small sofa with a coffee table. The cafe also displays the work of a local artist, mostly cutesy postcards.

Before you enter, take a good look at the menu outside and decide what you want. The menu is in Japanese, with a good bit of English. Order and pay as soon as you enter, sit down, they will prepare your food and drinks, and then bring them to you. Don't worry about your dishes afterwards, they'll take care of them.

Food Menu
Cinnamon toast / French toast with ice cream 550

Green salad 500 / Tomato salad 550
Pizza toast / Bawloo sandwich / Omelette sandwich 550 (come with salad)

Chicken cutlet sandwich / Teriyaki chicken hamburg steak sandwich 600 (come with salad)

Drink Set: add coffee or tea (hot/ice) for 300. If you add 150, you can choose any drink except alcohol.

Drink and Cake Set: add coffee or tea (hot/ice) and dessert of the day 450.

Special Lunch Set: Cheese toast or scrambled eggs + toast, salad, fruit, coffee or tea 650

+200 for the dessert of the day

Homemade Cake Menu
Gateau chocolate / Baked white chocolate cheese cake / Homemade Pudding / Vanilla ice cream / Affogato (ice cream with espresso) / Banana cake / Fruit yoghurt
*Chose the two sweets you like! ￥500　(One\300)

Special Cake Sets: Your three favorite desserts + choice of drink 1100

*Four favorite desserts + choice of drink 1300

Hot Drinks:

*Coffee

Coffee ￥450
Espresso single ￥350
Hot Dutch coffee / espresso double ￥500
Coffee latte / cappuccino ￥550
Cafe mocha ￥600

*Latte with syrup
Hazelnut, coconut, blueberry, caramel, irish cream, cinnamon, almond 600

*Chai spice tea
Hot chai tea 500 / hot chai milk 600

*Herb tea
Rosehips & hibiscus flowers, peppermint, apple & mixed herbs, camomile flowers 500

*Other

Warm milk 450
Korean yuzu tea, hot cocoa 550
Matcha milk, caramel milk, banana chocolate milk, brown sugar milk, sweet potato milk 600

Cold Drinks:

*Coffee
Ice coffee (Dutch coffee) 500
Cafe au lait / ice coffee latte / ice cocoa 550
Ice coffee mocha 600

*Latte with syrup - hazelnut, coconut, blueberry, caramel, irish cream, cinnamon, almond 600

*With ice cream
Strawberry milk, banana milk 600 / Ice coffee 650

*Other

Ice tea / coka cola / ginger ale 450

Apple juice 500
Pink lemon soda / mango nectar juice 550
Ice chai milk / yuzu soda / orange juice / orange yogurt drink / strawberry yogurt drink 600

Special 'Healthy' Drinks:

Coka cola+ citric acid 500
Lemonade (ice/hot) / ice green tea 550
Ice lemonade + citric acid / wild strawberry soda / soy & sesame milk / hot wild strawberry tea / hot milk with CoQ10 + collagen 600

I just ordered an iced chai milk. It was tasty and came in a big glass. I'll visit this cafe again as it is great for people watching and the atmosphere is very relaxing.

K's Cafe has an English website: http://homepage.mac.com/myluckychan2/K

Hours of Operation: 13：00 - 21：00, last order 20:30. Closed on Thursdays.
No smoking time: 13：00 - 15：00

Address: 2-25-18, 2F, Kitazawa, Setagaya.
Phone: 03-5454-0047

Directions: Turn right out of the north exit of Shimokitazawa Station. You will see a cigarette shop on the left side within a minute. The is located on the second floor, above the cigarette shop.

e-mail: kscafe@mac.com

55. Cake Shop Review: Second House

I'm really not much of a dessert eater, but this cake shop had always enticed me. I guess it was mainly the quiet, outside dining tables.

Inside was nice as well. It was all white, very clean and clutter free. There was wood everywhere and a collection of jazz records displayed above the counter advertised what was playing in the background. In the dining area there is a long bench with 7 '2-top' tables. There is a dessert display case as you enter, and two more 'two tops' located in front of it.

I was surprised that the menu included some lunch items (available from 11am to 2pm):

*Bagel Sandwich Set (pumpkin and cream cheese sandwich with soup and coffee/tea) 1000 yen

*Bagel Sandwich Set 2 (spam, lettuce, tomato, & cheese sandwich w/ soup, coffee/tea) 1000 yen

*Quiche Set (quiche of the day with soup, salad, and coffee/tea) 1000 yen

The coffees, teas, and other drinks are in English and Japanese, but the lunch sets are only in Japanese (but there are photos).

Drink Menu:

Coffee, Espresso, Cappuccino, Cafe Caramel Mocha, Brown Sugar Green Tea Coffee Latte, Cafe Chai, Almond Au lait, Hand dripped iced coffee, Ice coffee latte. 500 to 600 yen

There is a wide assortment of teas, from 600 to 620 yen.

Juices (cranberry, hot lemonade, cranberry grapefruit, grapefruit, orange) 500 to 520 yen

Other:

Fresh ginger ale 500

Coke 500

Milk 500

Chocolate milk 520

Brown Sugar Roasted Green Tea Milk 520

Powdered Green Tea Milk 520

Special just for summer:

Strawberry Soda, Cream Soda, or Lemon Squash 550

There is also a small selection of alcohol (450 to 470)

Corona, Smirnoff, Guiness, Heineken, Zima

The cakes and desserts are always changing. Just check the display case for the day's offerings.

If you order a dessert, you get 100 yen off tea or coffee, 50 yen off a soft drink. Add a cream topping for an extra 50 yen.

All cakes, muffins, cookies,... are available for take-out.

Second House is behind the Ozeki supermarket, just up the alley from Bana Bana and close to ES Cafe.

54. Store Review: Bana Bana

Bana Bana is a great little store. Everything is made in Vietnam or China, and many items are 100 yen. Most items are made of wood, bamboo, glass, or clay. They have beautiful glasses, delicate wooden eating utensils, incense, stationary, kitchenware, bath salts,... the list goes on and on.

The staff can make up a great gift basket, at a fraction of the cost of going elsewhere. This is a store that I definitely recommend you take a look at.

Address: Kitazawa 2-9-3, just around the back of the Ozeki supermarket.

Phone: 03-5465-0849

53. Cafe Review: ES Cafe Dining

ES Cafe is a cafe mainly for those who like to play darts. There are two electronic dart boards, and the space needed to use them takes up almost half of the cafe.

In the front of the cafe is a large window overlooking a narrow, quiet alley. For those who just want to have a coffee and relax, there are two small sofas with a coffee table, and two lounge chairs also with a coffee table.

Along the other wall are 16 chairs with a variety of tables, all of which can be moved around. There is a computer at a table for two near the front window, and another one on a 4 seat bar counter located against the wall beside the dart boards. There are also two tall tables for two, and in the very back there is a bar counter with 3 or 4 seats.

There are two small TV's to watch, both were showing an international rugby tournament the day I was there. Otherwise, there is not much atmosphere, and there is a lot of clutter.

They have a few lunch specials everyday, I opted for one of their regular menu items: terriyaki chicken with lettuce on a toasted sesame bagel. It came with french fries, salad, and tea/coffee. It was very tasty, although difficult to eat (messy).

The menu is entirely in Japanese.

Unless you are into playing darts, there is nothing special about this cafe.

ES Cafe on the street right behind the Ozeki supermarket. I do not know their hours of operation.

52. Restaurant Review: Frisco - Charcoal Grill

I must have walked past it a million times before I finally noticed Frisco. Located down a tiny alley that is sandwiched between two stores, Frisco is a simple burger joint run by a really friendly man called 'Mike'. Well, his real name is Minoru, but after living in the United States for 37 years, 'Mike' fits. If you are looking for a delicious 'American-style' burger, this is definitely the place. Mike cooks his burgers right in front of you on a charcoal grill. The burgers are made from 100% Australian beef, each patty is 150 grams. Toppings include natural cheddar cheese, Texas pickles, fresh vegetables (tomato, lettuce, onion), mustard, and mayonaise. You can request any combination of these toppings, and you can add your own ketchup.
A 'lunch set' includes the soft drink of your choice and American crinkle fries, which come out crisp and golden brown. A single patty hamburger or cheeseburger set is around 1000 yen. Double and triple burgers are also available.

Purchased separately, burgers are 600 yen, french fries (m) 200 and (l) 380. The only other menu item is draft beer (400 yen).

Frisco's is a tiny place, narrow counters line the walls, and there are about 10 black bar stools for customers. The interior is mostly white with some silver accents, and photos of San Francisco help create an 'American' atmosphere. But, close your eyes and travel back just from the fantastic smell of the charcoal grilled burgers.

Sets are served in wicker baskets with 'Coke' cups, just like traditional American diners of the 50's and 60's. Of course the menu is in English and 'Mike' speaks it fluently. Take out is available.

Frisco is open from 11:30 to 21:00, it is closed on Tuesdays.

Phone: 03-3468-5744

Location: Out the north exit of Shimokitazawa, pass MOS Burger (it should be on your left), and Frisco is a little farther down, also on the left. It is just beside a store with a blue sign that (in English) reads 'Import Clothing - Magazen'.