Dinner in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Shibuya is a fantastic area of Tokyo.  Bustling and teaming with people, almost to the brink of overflow.  A never-ending zigzag of streets and alleys, curving and twisting as far as the eye can see.  Skyscrapers lace the sidewalk and car paths, peeking and peering and keeping watch over those below.  A never ending stream of people heading home, on their way to work, a few minutes for a bite to eat, endless hours to waste before the long trek home.  Many reasons, many lives, intersecting, joined and yet isolated, everyone together and yet so far apart.

This is Shibuya

and I'm headed for dinner

This is what lies ahead, in mass quantities

Sake and fresh fish

The location is a half a block up some random street that starts at Shibuya Station.

As mentioned countless times in previous posts, I have no idea where I'm at really.  I am a guest, merely following.  Joining the party.

Up we go (no, this wasn't intended to be a shot some dudes ass)

I totally wish I knew what this says.....

These are not only for wiping your hands but it's totally Kosher to wipe your face, neck, back of the neck, etc.. and then you keep it next to you on the table to wipe your mouth as you go.  Periodically fresh towels are offered.  It's a pretty great system to be clean, and to stay clean.

Appetizers, all different, and the one I had was pretty terrible

The red one is a spicy Korean Squid I think

This was mine.  Really salty fish liver or heart.  Some sort of internal organ

Did I say really salty?  COMPLETELY!

One of the worst things I've ever eaten

Shrimp, raw with a small amount of rice gruel-ish-stuff?

Crab brains

Yes, you read that right, crab brains. And it wasn't all that bad

Sashimi plate, standard, delicious

Salad with dried mini fish.  Looked weird but was awesome

The first round of sake.  We did this another 3 or 4 times.  Yeah, a little overboard

Kaneda san wants to offer you some deep fried yummies on a stick

Shrimp something, fish cake thing on a stick???  Guesses anyone?  Was pretty good, not wow but OK

And the star of the show, and the best thing I ate all night.

Apparently this fish is quite rare or expensive, or a delicacy.  I know it was delicious, all of it, eyeball included.

I loved it so much that I ate 2 (Thanks Kaneda san!!!)

Please know that I'm not trying to blow this up for any shock value or freak factor.  This was truly awesome.  If you've ever heard of pork jowls or tuna cheek, this is along the same lines as those.

There are pockets of meat in the head that don't get much work, and so they are soft and tender.  

And ALSO because of the large quantities of fat nearby they can be quite flavorful as well. If you can get your head around the head.... yeah, I said it, then this is the best way to eat fish EVER.

The eyeball was another story, certainly more of an acquired taste.  I love it as well, but the texture and flavor can be a bit much for some.  Very similar in texture and taste to beef liver, and wrapped in a hard shell that needs to be crunched through.  I completely recommend it.  

The tail portion was good too ;-)

This small wooden sign says---

"Eat something new, try something daring, jump off the cliff and fly"

"DVA"

Japanese Hotel Lunch, Cerulean Tower, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo

It's a huge bustling city sprawling out as far as the eye can see.  Overwhelming for sure.  Newly arrived I am a bit disoriented, yet it's midday, day one, and I am hungry.  Laking the energy to brave the subway station or navigating the catacombs of the city I simply give up and head to the lobby of my hotel to quench my hunger.  It's lunch time but it feels like the middle of the night still.  

I need food.  

Carmelo is the lobby restaurant.  Their menu varies greatly.  But, as this hotel is away from the normal tourist area, there is a very nice offering of Japanese food.

This was the starter, and it tasted as slimy and as terrible as it looks.

Okra and seaweed maybe?

A wide selection of Japanese food, yet typical of lunch.  A bit of this and a bit of that.  

Pickled somethings.   

This is an iron plate sitting atop a sterno can and it was sizzling very loudly.  On the plate is beautiful beef slices atop sliced mushrooms.  

Sashima plate, below is a layer of rice.

Marinated bamboo shoots

Tempura.  The ponzu sauce to the side is for dipping.  The small pile of salt in the upper right corner is for dipping as well, but it is to be used sparingly.

A very light miso soup with two large clams.

Dessert

I don't think there's a need to explain this one

Grapefruit and orange

Green tea cake-et (meaning small, but good)

Almond cake?

A nice start to the trip, getting me back in the game.

The air was crisp and clear.  The view as endless as the city.  Fuji rises above keeping watch, protecting, just being.  It's an amazing view and one that lasted the entire day and on into the night.

Green flash, Tokyo Style

Konbanwa

DVA