Green Asia makes all the culinary stops around the region with dishes from Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Located in the lower levels of Roppongi Hills, a fusion of Asian foods is waiting to dazzle your taste buds.
Set apart from the flurry of commuters exiting the station nearby, the restaurant makes for a peaceful hideaway. From the outset, the worn-in wooden tables, chalkboard walls, and delicate fairy lights beckon you. Among other fun pop-art illustrations, you spot a parody of the Star Wars logo on the wall.
(Photo by Mari Obi)
Between 11am and 4pm on weekdays, the lunch menu—in both Japanese and English—offers a concise list of nine main dishes starting at ¥950. The staff are friendly and considerate, and the wait is surprisingly short at less than 10 minutes.
For starters, help yourself to the shrimp crackers dipped in avocado sauce (¥620). The cilantro and onion slices are refreshingly sharp, the creamy avocado paste melts in your mouth, and the deliciously crispy crackers are as large as your palm. Or you could go with the fried spring rolls stuffed with shrimp and sweet basil (¥620), arguably the most exquisite side dish on offer. A toasty shade of brown, the rolls make a satisfying crunch as you bite into them. The interior is filled with crushed herbs and soft, bite-sized shrimps that perfectly complement the crisp exterior.
The gapao rice with a soup and salad (¥1,050) is the option for spice lovers, consisting of ground chicken, basil, egg, and rice. The egg yolk offers a cooling respite from the chili peppers sprinkled throughout the dish. If you can’t quite stomach the hotter delicacies, the Vietnamese soup noodle with clam pho and salad (¥950) is a milder but equally gratifying choice. The soup includes bean sprouts, green onions, clams, a slice of lemon, and of course the staple pho noodles. Finish off your indulgent meal with the dessert of the day (¥100), two scoops of vanilla ice cream lightly sprinkled with coconut shavings.
Whether you’re looking to unwind for lunch, afternoon tea, or dining out with friends, Green Asia is sure to meet all your needs. Sitting outdoors on the shaded terrace during the warmer months is a must, as you’ll be treated to an unobstructed view of Tokyo Tower and the city that lies sprawling behind it.
As Green Asia’s cheery neon sign says, “I like food, I like eating, and I don’t want to deprive myself of good food.” You can’t help but wholeheartedly agree.
Green Asia. Roppongi Hillside B1F, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5786-7795. Open daily, 11am-11pm. Nearest station: Roppongi. www.greenasia-tokyo.com
