9 of the best restaurants in Shaw
Picking a place to eat in Shaw can feel a bit overwhelming.
More of a 'Which rabbit hole shall we tumble down?' conundrum than a 'Know anywhere good around here?' scenario.
When you've got nationally recognized Peruvian chefs, multiple Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurants and buzzy Panamanian coffee shops around every corner, the world really is your oyster. Poke around the neighborhood like an insider with these dining tips from Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, Post food writer Tim Carman, Travel editor Gabe Hiatt and your intrepid local dining reporter.
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CNBC
8 hours ago
- CNBC
Where a Michelin-starred Japanese chef eats, drinks and shops in Tokyo
Shingo Akikuni is best known as the chef at SHINGO, a one-Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Miami. He grew up in Japan and returns yearly as a visitor. The fourth-generation sushi chef told CNBC Travel how he spends his time there. Ginza Sushi Aoki Akikuni's first recommendation is where he was trained as a chef. The restaurant — which was opened over 50 years ago — is led by a chef who "makes himself available for not only locals, but also people that are visiting from abroad," Akikuni said through a translator. Noda For more contemporary flavors, Akikumi recommends visitors try fusion restaurants run by chefs who were trained in different parts of the world. One such restaurant is Noda, which marries Japanese techniques and ingredients with French influence. "In addition to the cooking, he really loves the wine pairing," his translator told CNBC Travel. Restaurant reservations are usually made over the phone in Japan, Akikuni said. To avoid language barriers, he recommends that travelers make reservations through their hotel concierge. Toranomon Yokocho Akikuni also suggests eating at a Yokocho, an alleyway lined with street vendors and bars. Toranomon Yokocho, a newer food center in Japan, is a modern take on the Yokocho concept — although it is set up in a "nice development," he said. Food there goes beyond Japanese cuisine, and visitors can "try a little bit of everything all in one place." Good Music Bar Akikuni recommends the vinyl music bar with an extensive record collection and live acts from Monday to Saturday. The bar has great cocktails, a high-quality sound system and is big enough for groups of friends, he said. Kasumicho Arashi The hidden bar is known for its fruit-based cocktails, Akikuni said. It's tucked in the basement of a house in the residential area of Nishiazabu. The speakeasy incorporates "great farm fresh items" in its menu, he said. The SG Club This one is owned by Shingo Gokan, whom Akikuni called "one of the most famous bartenders of this generation." Gokan, who won the 2021 Industry Icon Award from the World's 50 Best organization, also owns a speakeasy, Sip & Guzzle, in New York City. The bar, which "has been popular for a long time," has three unique floors with different menus and a cigar room, Akikuni said. Tokyo offers many spots for sightseeing, and Akikuni's favorites are the Meiji Jingu Shrine and the Toyosu Fish Market. Meiji Jingu Shrine The shrine — arguably Tokyo's most famous — is a must-see, he said. The shrine was built in 1920 in the busy neighborhood of Shibuya. "It's a great break from the hustle and bustle of the city," he said. It's free to enter and lies within a man-made forest. It opens around sunrise and closes around sunset. Toyosu Market Akikuni said he visits the Toyosu Fish Market every time he's in Tokyo. At the market — the largest in Japan, at around 4 million square feet — he sees the vendors and suppliers who stock his Miami restaurant, he said. The early morning tuna auction is a popular attraction there. Visitors can ballot for the chance to view the auction up close, according to Japan National Tourism Organization's website. In January, a 608-pound bluefin tuna was sold for around $1.3 million dollars – the second-highest price paid since the auction began in 1999. Visitors who do not win the lottery can still watch buyers bid for their choice from farther away, and also buy some fresh fish for breakfast after. Toyosu Fish Market is known as the "best in the world," but fewer people know about the Toyosu Fruit and Vegetable Market, Akikuni said. "Japanese people generally are very dedicated to whatever craft that they have," he said. "So if they're a strawberry farmer, they're trying to grow the very best strawberries." Omotesando and Harajuku While the neighborhood of Ginza is home to many international brands, Akikuni recommends shopping on Omotesando or in the neighborhood of Harajuku instead. Both have stores that visitors will "only find in Tokyo," he said. Omotesando, referred to as the Champs Élysées of Tokyo, is an avenue with iconic Japanese fashion houses like Comme des Garçons and Issey Miyake. It's also home to Omotesando Hills, a shopping complex with more than 130 shops. Harajuku, however, is known for its subculture and quirky fashion. Both areas are walkable and easy to explore, said Akikuni, with vintage shops where visitors can pick up luxury and trendy pieces. The Imperial Hotel and Aoyama Grand Tokyo Akikuni prefers two hotels in Tokyo, both of which offer different experiences. The Imperial Hotel is close to the Royal Palace. It opened in 1890 to welcome foreign visitors, according to the hotel's website. The traditional concept of Japanese hospitality — or "omotenashi" — is what draws him to the hotel, Akinkuni said. It's like looking "into the past of how the standard of hospitality was created" in the country, he said. The contemporary Aoyama Grand Tokyo is a good option for shopping in Harajuku or Omotesando. It's close to both neighborhoods and the food is excellent, he said.
Business Insider
13 hours ago
- Business Insider
I've been traveling across Southeast Asia for 30 years. 3 cities have changed for the better.
Lester V. Ledesma is a photographer and has been traveling across Southeast Asia for almost 30 years. He says places like Bali have struggled with overtourism, while Myanmar has faced political turmoil. But there are three cities — Siem Reap, Ipoh, and Hanoi — that he feels have improved over the years. I've spent nearly 30 years traveling around Southeast Asia, long enough to witness just how much the region has transformed. Over the years, I've watched destinations rise and fall. Some began as exotic tourism gems, but now struggle with overtourism — Bali is a good example of this. Other cities, like Bangkok, remain perennial tourist magnets, managing to thrive thanks to careful resource management. Then there are the places that showed great promise when they opened to the world — I'm looking at you, Myanmar — only to become no-go zones due to political turmoil. Nonetheless, there are a few special spots in Southeast Asia that I often revisit. Like well-made coconut wine, these three seem to get better as the years go by. 1. Siem Reap, Cambodia When I first visited Siem Reap in 2003, it was something of a cowboy town, with more bicycles than cars. "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," starring Angelina Jolie, had been released a few years earlier, with scenes filmed at Angkor Wat, but the city still wasn't a common feature on the average bucket list. Back then, its main landmark was Psar Chas — the old market — and the soon-to-be-renamed Pub Street was still just a jumble of guesthouses and restaurants that serviced mostly budget travelers. Marijuana-laced "happy pizza" was a common item on menus, and there were even places that delivered straight to your room. Two decades later, the hippie backpacker vibe has been greatly diminished, replaced by a more cosmopolitan collection of chic boutique hotels standing beside wine bars, hipster cafés, and restaurants boasting cuisine from all over the world. These days, Siem Reap is basking in the glow of a post-COVID era facelift that widened the main roads and beautified the city's parks. To the east, the recently built Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport — which opened in October 2023 — has replaced the smaller landing strip that stood close to the city. Despite more tourists, Angkor's UNESCO World Heritage sites are also managed better with an online booking app that lets you buy entrance passes without having to join the long lines. There's also more effective crowd control, especially in popular spots like Angkor Wat and the Bayon. Clearly marked walkways and "no entry" signs help keep visitors from getting lost. Angkor may no longer offer the "lost jungle ruin" experience of decades past, but stricter regulations help ensure the preservation. 2. Ipoh, Malaysia I remember when Lonely Planet's "Southeast Asia on a Shoestring" edition described Ipoh — a city in Malaysia about 120 miles north of Kuala Lumpur — as "so seedy you're unlikely to linger." Decades ago, I walked through the old quarter of this city and found little more than crumbling shophouses set alongside grand-but-aging colonial-era buildings. Still reeling from the collapse of its industry in the '80s, this once-affluent tin mining community didn't seem to be doing too well. In fact, it had a hint of seediness that kept me from lingering too long. Thankfully, much has improved since then. Renewed interest in local heritage sparked an urban revival that restored the city's venerable old structures. Colorful street murals added a quirky charm, making Ipoh an essential stopover for travelers in Malaysia on the Malacca-Kuala Lumpur-Penang route. Nowadays, the city's rediscovered nostalgia is everywhere on display, from stylish B&Bs like the Sekeping Kong Heng — built on top of a still-operating vintage coffeeshop — to the ever-busy Concubine Lane where antique shophouses play host to numerous craft and souvenir stores. And one of Malaysia's oldest bars — the 94-year-old Sinhalese Bar — still keeps its after-work crowd despite being surrounded by newfangled, IG-friendly espresso bars and watering holes. Ipoh's growing tourism industry has so far remained manageable, and I'm thankful that this picturesque heritage city has kept its soul. 3. Hanoi, Vietnam When I first visited in 2007, I struggled to like Hanoi. At that point, it had not yet become a mainstream tourist destination. Sure, it had interesting neighborhoods and a vibrant street scene, but I found locals in Vietnam's capital to be cold and indifferent toward outsiders. At times, it felt like everyone — taxi drivers, market vendors, even public toilet attendants — was just waiting to make a quick buck off me. Maybe my not-so-great first impression had something to do with Vietnam 's tough postwar years, when the country had to fend for itself. But fast-forward 18 years, and the city feels completely different. Hanoi has not lost any of its timeless character, and its ancient corner temples and ornate French colonial-era mansions still proudly display their patina. Motorbikes continue to zoom recklessly, and conical hat-wearing vendors still roam the streets with their merchandise on their shoulders. But today's Hanoi seems to have put on a friendlier face. Since my first visit, the city has upgraded its infrastructure and services to a more international standard. A new metro now provides a direct connection to the countryside, while price-regulated taxis and regular buses now transport travelers from the airport. Young Hanoians come across to me as more welcoming, offering more smiles and fewer scowls. In fact, during recent trips, I've had random folks help me navigate fish-out-of-water situations. Like when a local customer scolded a noodle vendor who was trying to rip me off. There was also a friendly couple at a dessert stall who proudly taught me how to order ca phe in Vietnamese. Friendly interactions like these — a quick translation, a helpful tip, or even a friendly chat — now color my view of the storied and beautiful city.
Washington Post
14 hours ago
- Washington Post
Safe travel, cold plunges and hot flashes: The week in Well+Being
You are reading our weekly Well+Being newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Thursday. If your summer travel plans start with a trip to the airport, you might be a bit concerned about one infectious disease that's making a comeback: measles. Although it was officially eliminated 25 years ago, the United States is now experiencing a pretty big outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Washington Post this week that there have been 62 known cases of people with measles who traveled on commercial airlines, and at least one person who caught the infection presumably from someone seated nearby.
