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Japan Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Tokyo's top bites — in a suburban mall food court
Whether you're cycling, canoeing, strolling, golfing or simply resting your eyes on the unaccustomed sight of open space and an actual horizon, Futako-Tamagawa has long been one of Tokyo's best escape hatches. Now there's an extra reason to direct your feet to that sunny side of the city. Or, actually, four reasons in one. The Tamagawa Takashimaya department store is marking a major refurbishment, and its focal point is a new food court that brings together some of the most dynamic independent restaurateurs in town. Here, under one spacious, stylish, well-curated roof, you will find South Asian curries; coffee, pastries and Southeast Asian noodles; smash burgers and craft beer; and the latest outpost of the city's most popular purveyor of New York-style pizza. Launched on April 29, the enigmatically named Food Court P. — the 'P.' is short for 'Public,' meaning it's open to everyone, and yes, the dot is an essential part of Takashimaya's branding — is far from being a generic food court. For a start, the proprietors of all four restaurants are kindred spirits, and most of them have already collaborated in pop-ups and tap takeovers. Now they are working side by side not as competitors but as colleagues, as witnessed by their communal posts on social media under the umbrella persona of P. Friends . Mini Massif has the whole day covered, from morning coffee and pastries to lunchtime noodles and then charcuterie with a range of natural wines. | ANNA PETEK Morning, noon or night, they have all options covered. Mini Massif , an outpost of Ikejiri-Ohashi's eclectic Massif , is the first in the day to open, serving its excellent Overview coffee from 9 a.m., along with home-baked pastries and cookies. Later on, the focus is more on punchy noodle dishes, inspired by Malaysian-born head chef Jck Sng Tan. And by evening, it serves charcuterie and a selection of natural wines. The other three outlets open at 11 a.m. Well before the lunch rush starts, subtle aromas of spice and chai start wafting from Adicurry next door. As the name suggests, this is the first offshoot of chef Kanchan Adhikari's Adi , a brilliant little modern Nepalese dining haven in Nakameguro. Each day there is a choice of two curries, served on a wide platter with rice, dal, condiments and achar pickles, all topped with a crisp papadam. In the afternoon until 5 p.m., Adicurry offers a teatime chai and samosa set. As at Adhikari's Chiya-ba tearoom in Nakameguro, the chai is neither too aromatic nor overly sweetened. It's highly refreshing in its iced iteration, but those seeking stronger beverages can try the Nepal Ice lager or Timur gin and tonic. Or you can just move a few paces away to the Mikkeller Burger stand. Apart from 10 taps of the Danish indie brewery's eclectic and (mostly) high-alcohol craft beer, it also stocks cans and limited-edition bottles. And now that its Kanda branch is sadly closed, this is where you have to come for a fix of Mikkeller's signature beef smash burgers, cooked to order in front of your eyes. As the summer heat builds, the beer-and-burgers combination is likely to make this one of the busiest corners of the hall — especially as it stays open each night until 11 p.m. (the other three outlets close an hour earlier or whenever they've sold out). Pizza Slice P., the fourth Tokyo branch of this steadily expanding chain, offers eight varieties of its New York-style pizza, including its ever-popular pepperoni slice. | ANNA PETEK And then there is Pizza Slice P. , bringing the same tried-and-true formula that has made its sister branches in Daikanyama, Harajuku, Nihonbashi and Shizuoka such a success. Here you have seven varieties to choose from, with toppings ranging from plain cheese and mushroom to the standout homemade meatball, plus a special of the day. As sides, there are buffalo wings, chicken nuggets, fries and more, with Budweiser or a slew of cocktails to wash them all down. Unlike the other three restaurants, which occupy an island in the center of the room, the Pizza Slice counter has been placed in the far corner, closest to the main section of tables. The location is no doubt intentional, as pizza is always likely to attract the most attention and the longest lines. Everything at P. has been carefully thought out, from the easy-access layout and warm color scheme to the mix of seating areas. Perhaps the best feature is its most obvious: the sense of space, with its glass frontage and windows opening wide onto the street. However you treat it — as a sidewalk cafe, a fast-food stopover, a weekend brunch spot or a late-night beer bar — the neofood court has arrived. Tamagawa Takashimaya S.C, West Bldg. 1F, Tamagawa 3-17-1, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo; 03-3709-2222; open 9 a.m.-11 p.m. (hours and menus vary for each individual outlet); nearest station Futako-Tamagawa; no smoking; cashless/major cards accepted; English menus; English spoken
Tokyo Weekender
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Tokyo's Best Restaurant and Bar Openings: April 2025
Japan's capital regularly welcomes new and exciting hospitality venues and April was no exception. Here's a look at some of Tokyo's best restaurant and bar openings last month. List of Contents: Imperial Treasure Sushidokoro Kanpai Hyatt Regency Tokyo: Nineteen Eighty Bar & Lounge The Tokyo Two Rooms Reopening Mori no Beer Garden P.: Mikkeller Burger, Mini Massif, Adicurry and Pizza Slice Uchu Brewing Toranomon, The Glass Rock Building Related Posts Imperial Treasure First opened in Singapore in 2004, Imperial Treasure now boasts more than 20 restaurants around the globe in locations such as Hong Kong, London and Paris. On April 27, it finally launched in Japan in Tokyo's upscale district of Ginza. The Michelin-starred fine dining eatery offers a wide variety of Chinese dishes, including Shanghainese, Cantonese and dim sum. The star of the show is probably the Peking duck, which is slowly aged for around 40 days. Dishes exclusive to Imperial Treasure Ginza include sautéed egg whites with Hokkaido sea urchin and deep-fried amadai with crispy rice. It's a heavenly gourmet experience enhanced by a carefully curated wine list and a spectacular setting. See here for more information. Sushidokoro Kanpai An intimate space with darkened windows, Sushidokoro Kanpai feels like a luxurious hideaway restaurant despite being in the lively district of Shimbashi. The hospitality group Isseki Sancho has teamed up with the Kanpai Sushi Bar & Grill in Los Angeles to create a modern sushi space where Edo-period techniques and Californian free-spirited ideas intersect. It's like a show as the chef works his magic with his knife to present an array of creative dishes using the freshest ingredients. From the horse mackerel to the flounder, everything was sublime and was nicely washed down with some nihonshu. That was then followed by a couple of cocktails at the adjoining Bar Trillion, which will officially open in May. See here for more information. Hyatt Regency Tokyo: Nineteen Eighty Bar & Lounge The Hyatt Regency in Nishi-Shinjuku is currently undergoing its most extensive renovation in the hotel's 45-year history. The symbol of this renovation is Nineteen Eighty Bar & Lounge, a stylish all-day venue offering breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. It then transforms into a bar in the evening, when guests can choose from a rich lineup of classic cocktails. Highlights include King of Fruits, a drink crafted using every part of the melon, and Time for Tea, a beverage that represents a quiet and elegant moment. In front of the bar are the hotel's famous Swarovski crystal chandeliers, while behind it is a large clock, inspired by the iconic timepiece at New York's Grand Central Station. See here for more information. The Tokyo This place actually opened at the end of March, but we thought we would include it anyway. Located in the trendy neighborhood of Nishiazabu, The Tokyo is a sophisticated space that's been described as 'a cutting-edge playground for adults.' Main features include an illuminated long counter, five private rooms and an immersive DJ bar floor. The bar offers a variety of drinks such as champagne, wine and cocktails, in addition to several grilled dishes and light bites. For those going there to eat, though, 2nd Edition Teruzushi Nishiazabu is the place. Hidden in the corner of the lounge, it's a highly acclaimed sushi bar with an omakase course curated by Takayoshi Watanabe. See here for more information. Two Rooms Reopening A hugely popular destination in the heart of Aoyama, Two Rooms closed its doors at the start of the year to undergo a full-scale renovation. It reopened on April 2, and the cuisine, produced by Matthew Crabbe and his team, is even better than before. The wagyu beef tartare and uni nori wraps, in particular, are well worth trying. As the name suggests, there are two distinct rooms: the elegant Atelier 246 and the Vista Lounge, which has a more contemporary feel. One of the main attractions of Two Rooms, though, is its refined terrace, which overlooks Tokyo's dynamic cityscape. As part of the company's new entertainment dining experience, guests can now enjoy live jazz performances followed by DJ sets. See here for more information. Mori no Beer Garden On April 15, Mori no Beer Garden opened for its 40th edition. Located in Meiji Jingu Gaien's Niko Niko Park, the popular beer garden seats around 1,000 people. Of those seats, approximately 600 are under tents, so guests needn't worry if it rains. There's also a mist system to provide relief from the summer heat. The standard menu features an all-you-can-eat barbecue including assorted meats, various vegetables, french fries, yakisoba and popsicles. From the all-you-can-drink menu, guests can order from seven types of beer, as well as whisky, wine, highball and soft drinks. The 40-year edition plan also includes a seafood plate of black tiger prawns and scallops and four types of craft beer. See here for more information. P.: Mikkeller Burger, Mini Massif, Adicurry and Pizza Slice P., a high-quality food hall with four stores, opened in the riverside neighborhood of Futako Tamagawa on April 29. It is a welcoming open space with large windows, lots of plants and cobblestone flooring. In the center is a terracotta-colored counter that is shared by three of the stores: Mikkeller Burger, Mini Massif and Adicurry. The popular Danish craft brewery Mikkeller serves wagyu crispy smash burgers along with 10 taps of beer. Those looking for something spicier can try Adi's delightful Nepalese curry. Or you can indulge in some scrumptious pastries and natural wine at Mini Massif. Away from the counter, it's worth sampling the fantastic New York-style slices of pizza from Pizza Slice. See here for more information . Uchu Brewing Toranomon, The Glass Rock Building The Glass Rock Building, the final piece of the Toranomon Hills Station Tower project, opened on April 9, with seven shops being added to the complex. This included Uchu Brewing Toranomon, which is known for its space-themed beers brewed in the natural environment of Yatsugatake. It features six draft beers on tap, canned beers and other goods. Opposite Uchu Brewing Toranomon is Magma Books, a beautifully designed bookstore that is spread across two floors. On the first floor, you'll also find Tully's Coffee, the chocolate brand Benoit Nihant and the specialty flower shop Rose Gallery, which are all connected. Down to BF2 is the premium lifestyle retailer Banana Republic and the eyewear brand Owndays. See here for more information. 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