Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2012
Amenro La Fiesta
Amid Roppongi’s international kaleidoscope is a haven of home-cooked Mexican cuisine—with a free-flowing party vibe to boot—in the form of Amenro La Fiesta.
All the dishes at La Fiesta are made with natural ingredients and no chemical seasonings. Classics like nachos (¥880-¥1,080), quesadillas (¥660-¥880), tacos (hard or soft, ¥800-¥1,180), or fajitas (¥1,760-¥2,280) are on the menu alongside cheeky curiosities like the queso fundido (¥790), a rare-in-Tokyo dish of melted cheese with chorizo (a cauliflower-and-broccoli option is available for veggies).
The margarita (¥780) is made with fresh lemons, and Mexican beer and tequila are on hand, too, to lubricate your adventure. And the drinks are reasonably priced—Negra Modelo, Tecate, Dos Equis, Sol and Corona all cost ¥700. The drinks list also features sangria (¥500) and a half-dozen varieties of piña coladas (¥1,180).
But it’s not just about Tex. The menu also includes authentic Mexican meals such as mole poblano (¥1,980) and beef a la tampiqueña (¥2,480), plus appetizers like camarones al ajillo (garlic grilled shrimp, ¥1,230). So, whether you’re looking for the US take or real South-of-the-Border cooking, this friendly and colorful restaurant has the meal for you. And if you fancy opening up a La Fiesta taste sensation in your own office or home, they’re happy to deliver their delicious dishes to your door.
2F 3-15-23 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3475-4412. Email: lafiestaroppongi@yahoo.co.jp. Open daily 11:30am-2pm (LO) & 5-11:30pm (LO). Nearest stn: Roppongi. http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g258900
Burger Mania Shirokane / Hiroo
Imagine you’re stepping into a New York City hamburger café in downtown Tokyo, at one of two branches of Burger Mania. Their woody, open-plan design marks them out from your typical Japanese burger house, as does the tasty, wide-ranging menu.
The burgers have become a favorite with Japanese and foreigner alike—a common phrase heard when walking past their front windows, open during warmer months, is a declaration that these are the best burgers in the city. And the gushes of praise are often accompanied by punters buying their kawaii burger keyrings.
So what’s the fuss about? Well, the Ultimate Blue Cheese Burger (¥1,300) and the Bacon Cheese Burger (¥1,250) are the most popular orders on the slate. Sides include French fries with sour cream and sweet chili (¥600). Customers can select toppings to give sandwiches a personal touch, too.
In a sumptuous twist, you can enjoy the fine sandwiches of Burger Mania without even leaving your home or office, via a delivery service operated by FineDine. To keep the delicious dishes piping hot, insulation packs are used on all deliveries. Please note that delivery prices can differ from the restaurant menu.
Look out for Burger Mania’s revamped menu coming out in November, with many more elegant varieties to choose from.
Shirokane: 6-5-7 Shirokane, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3442-2200. Delivery: Tel: 03-5791-3130 (FineDine Azabu).
Hiroo: 2F Hiroo Rokkoukan 5-15-25 Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5422-7899. Delivery: Tel: 03-5775-1860 (FineDine Aoyama).
www.burger-mania.com
Domino’s Pizza Japan
Foreigners in Japan rarely get used to Japanese pizzas with mayonnaise, corn, and other strange toppings. Fortunately they don’t have to. Domino’s Pizza Japan offers authentic US-style pizzas with all the right ingredients. And they get it to your door with no hassle.
Ordering stuff in Japan can be tricky without the lingo. That’s why the kindly folks at Domino’s have set up an easy-to-use, all-in-English website. All you have to do is browse the pictorial menu, punch in your choices, and sit back. Your food is freshly prepared and delivered hot and steaming half an hour later. Choose from specialty pizzas, build-your-own where you choose the toppings (they even offer mayonnaise—just in case), and gain access to succulent special offers.
One such bargain is valid until September 30. Order up a Brooklyn Pizza and get a whole other one absolutely free. There are four delicious varieties, including the Brooklyn Kings, with ground sausage, fresh, juicy tomato, and a tasty range of other toppings. To claim the deal, just sign up to the English website of Domino’s Pizza Japan (registration is free, quick, and easy), and go to “Special Offers.”
If you’re not keen for pizza—or fancy branching out—Domino’s also offers tasty subs, fried chicken, pasta dishes and a whole menu more. And with over 200 stores around Japan, you won’t have any trouble getting your meal, wherever you live.
Open daily 11am-midnight (can vary by store). Email: customer@dominos.jp. www.dominos.jp/eng/
Munchies Catering
In the context of growing fast-food consumption in Japan, Munchies Deli Tokyo was born out of a desire to promote a healthy eating lifestyle for today’s busy urban folk. Putting this philosophy into action, this versatile catering business is highly selective in its sourcing, using only the safest additive-free ingredients.
Chefs use these raw materials to create a variety of healthy dishes to cater for the most extravagant of events. Munchies aims to please a full range of customers, whether they be large corporate groups, bands of old friends coming together, or teenagers at a birthday party. The folk at this friendly, family-style company believe parties needn’t be the realm of greasy snacks, but can be a place where the best features of fresh food can be enjoyed.
Munchies is happy to deliver the fodder to the venue at a time of your choosing. For hot food, special heat packets are included, so that the dishes can be reheated and served steaming to guests whenever you wish. The menu is awash with delicious original recipes, but some of the most popular are the finger foods and pinchos.
For orders exceeding ¥30,000 Munchies will even throw in a free bottle of wine to help boost the party spirit. Get in touch with any questions you might have, or peruse the website to see what’s on offer.
2F Loop-X Bldg, 3-9-15 Kaigan, Minato- ku. Tel: 0120-875-191. Email: order@munchiesdeli.com. Open daily 10am-8pm, closed New Year season. www.munchiesdeli.com
YoyoMarket.jp
Tired of spending your precious time off driving hours in traffic to Costco or IKEA? Never bothered going because you don’t have a car? Trips to those far-flung outlets are a thing of the past thanks to Tokyo’s sprightly foreigner-friendly delivery service, Yoyo Market. Hit them up online and get deliveries of the best of Costco and IKEA as well as a host of other imported and organic goodies.
Yoyo Market offers the fastest shipping in the business. Order before noon on a weekday to get the package on your doorstep before noon the next day—and that’s for almost all of Japan. The easy-to-read English-language info on the website clearly explains all relevant details, such as the ¥950 shipping fee per box up to 25kg (no matter what’s in it), how to access their friendly, accessible support and other features likely to make the Western consumer weep with joy. There are no hidden charges like extra shipping for chilled or frozen foods. And aside from foodstuffs (real baking powder, anyone?), Yoyo Market has a wide variety of fabric softeners, detergents, and even deodorants. Have a browse and see what you find.
If you spend over ¥30,000, you can get shipping for free. And for every ¥100 yen you spend, you’ll earn ¥1 in Yoyo Reward Points. Enter METRO-1 into the coupon code field when you check out, and receive ¥500 off orders over ¥15,000.
