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Where would you go when you miss your home country's food?

Manami TMK

Manami TMK

Tokyo Escort, fully vaccinated
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I met this gentleman from Brazil a few days ago. We had fun time as always throughout chitchat to more intimate action in bed. I casually asked him where he would go when he gets craving for his home country's food. I will try the restaurant he told me sometime soon!

Now I am curious . If you are not from Japan but live here for a while, I am sure you sometimes miss your home country's food. Where would you go? Where can I go for fine, authentic food of your country?
 
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Step #1) Book a ticket on ANA
Step #2) Fly 11 Hours
Step #3) Eat what I want.
Step #4) Fly back.

In all seriousness, I can substitute some stuff with Japanese foods. But there are good places to get steak and 'home foods' around Tokyo. (and only in Tokyo) It's hard to find the same stuff outside of Tokyo.
 
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I generally can find products in any Seijo-Ishii, Kaldi or Shinanoya. But it comes at a cost. However, with the recent trade deal between Europe and Japan, we can hope a reduction in the prices of products such as wine or cheese.
Regarding restaurants, I've never been to cheap restaurants, so it won't be fair to send you to an expensive one. Of course you can find a lot of alike restaurants, which try to imitate the food.
 
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American food of all kinds is relatively easy to find -- the stuff I usually miss is Mexican or BBQ or breakfast-type food -- it's just not cheap.
 
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krdxgm69 said:
I generally can find products in any Seijo-Ishii, Kaldi or Shinanoya. But it comes at a cost. However, with the recent trade deal between Europe and Japan, we can hope a reduction in the prices of products such as wine or cheese.
Regarding restaurants, I've never been to cheap restaurants, so it won't be fair to send you to an expensive one. Of course you can find a lot of alike restaurants, which try to imitate the food.
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Me too. I never go to restaurants that specialize in my country's food, but i do use Shinanoya, seijo ishii and Isetan department store and sometimes donki hote to get tasty Europeans foods and snacks.
I dont like the way the Japanese make sweets for example, European sweets are much tastier to me. And cheese is definitely also something.
 
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Everyone in my home country is eating shitty, fake, Japanese food these days. I haven't been able to find such dross in japan... not that I've been looking.
 
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I was going to (jokingly) suggest KFC but then I noticed the word "fine" in your post.

In that case, perhaps Ruth's Chris. This is a very good (but somewhat expensive) American steak restaurant chain. There is one about 20 minutes from my office in the US and there's one in Chiyoda that I visited. Of course, in this price range there's strong competition from other restaurants so I can't tell you if it's worthwhile or not.
 
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TAG Manager said:
Step #1) Book a ticket on ANA
Step #2) Fly 11 Hours
Step #3) Eat what I want.
Step #4) Fly back.

In all seriousness, I can substitute some stuff with Japanese foods. But there are good places to get steak and 'home foods' around Tokyo. (and only in Tokyo) It's hard to find the same stuff outside of Tokyo.
Click to expand...

Would the food be worse if it was on JAL or United? :)
 
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Lukes said:
In that case, perhaps Ruth's Chris. This is a very good (but somewhat expensive) American steak restaurant chain. There is one about 20 minutes from my office in the US and there's one in Chiyoda that I visited. Of course, in this price range there's strong competition from other restaurants so I can't tell you if it's worthwhile or not.
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That's one of my regular destinations... easy parking, quiet area in the evening and not disappointed.
 
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Gagnaire , Robuchon, Troisgros, Tour d'Argent... the simple stuff , you know :)
Seriously , I think Japanese chefs who studied in France and open their restaurants here do very good French cuisine at often very affordable prices . And much better service .
But for "like at home" food I would still go to French-chefs operated bistros. Like Le Petit Tonneau for example.
 
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Frenchy said:
Would the food be worse if it was on JAL or United? :)
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Never tried JAL. I've flown United a lot though. The food is decent when flying to Japan because they serve Asian flavors. Going back home they serve the crappiest rendition of American food I've ever eaten.
 
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krdxgm69 said:
However, with the recent trade deal between Europe and Japan, we can hope a reduction in the prices of products such as wine or cheese.
Click to expand...

That's what I was celebrating too until I read the fine print which says they have something like 15 years transition period for removing the customs. So we can expect the price of cheese to go down like 2 percent next year. Yippifuckingyay!
 
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TAG Manager said:
Just bought some chocolate there like 15 min ago, love that place.
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Love that place too. Great selection of spirits and decent for cheese as well. Location is a bit weird if you think about it . Or maybe not , after all Kabukicho has wealthy and gourmet "residents" too :)
 
Frenchy said:
Love that place too. Great selection of spirits and decent for cheese as well. Location is a bit weird if you think about it . Or maybe not , after all Kabukicho has wealthy and gourmet "residents" too :)
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Would you be surprised that it's mainly used to supply host and hostess clubs with just about any request a client could have?
 
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TAG Manager said:
Would you be surprised that it's mainly used to supply host and hostess clubs with just about any request a client could have?
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That's what I assumed too, although this market is certainly covered by wholesalers for the basics. But yeah, Shinanoya must be convenient when the clubs run out of stock or a client wants something really unique etc.
That's why I put "residents" in bracket
 
For me "food from home" means Mexican. I have done some serious research but haven't found any place that's authentic - at least not for the regional cuisine I grew up with La Jolla in Hiro is about as close as it comes - the owner-chef has agreements with farmers in the hinterlands who grow some ingredients which aren't available otherwise.

What I have done is learn to cook it myself. It helps that I know people who can get some ingredients for me from US military bases.
 
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ShowaJidai said:
For me "food from home" means Mexican. I have done some serious research but haven't found any place that's authentic - at least not for the regional cuisine I grew up with La Jolla in Hiro is about as close as it comes - the owner-chef has agreements with farmers in the hinterlands who grow some ingredients which aren't available otherwise.

What I have done is learn to cook it myself. It helps that I know people who can get some ingredients for me from US military bases.
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How about Fonda de la Madrugada in Harajuku? They have been in business for ages so I suppose they must do it right ? Not tried recently though
 
Frenchy said:
How about Fonda de la Madrugada in Harajuku?
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The place is infested with bugs and rodents. That's why they keep the lights down low. Every time I've checked there wasn't an actual Mexican in the kitchen. No Mexican staff on the floor. They're known for not paying their staff too. The last time I had anything close to authentic there was over 15 years ago.

If you're in that area head to Chile's grill right in Harajuku. The manager-owner is from Mexico City and comes from a family of food service people. Last time I stopped in all his cooks were Mexican too. Best place for authentic while still trying to please the local market.
 
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