Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2014

The first thing you should know about the new And the Friet in Hiroo is that fries are Belgian, not French. That explains the appearance of classic bintje, used in Belgian fry shops, on the menu. A surprising number of sauces, including sweet chili sour cream, are available, as well as the homemade mayonnaise Belgians prefer. Service can be slow but the fries are worth the wait.
5-16-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku. http://andthefriet.com

Fans of the Streamer espresso bar in Haraku will be able to get their caffeine fix at a sister shop in Tsukiji, Turret Coffee, named after the little motor vehicles that scuttle fish from point to point in the nearby seafood market. Just down the street from Starbucks, it serves some of the best coffee in the area.

2-12-6 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku. http://meturl.com/turret

The Alsatian dish flammkuche—thin and pizza-like, topped with onions, ham or crème fraîche—is irresistible. And now you don’t have to take an international flight to try some. Katrin’s Flammkuchen, recently opened in Roppongi, serves both savory and sweet varieties.
7-3-17 Roppongi , Minato-ku. www.flammkuchen.jp

The nationwide chain Yoshinoya is famous for its cheap rice bowls topped with thin slices of beef, but now they are serving two new, upscale dishes. A sukiyaki-style gyū suki and a spicy, Korean gyū chige are both served in individual hot pots. And at ¥580, it’s still a bargain.
www.yoshinoya.com

Catering to the increasing diversity of visitors, notably Islamic tourists, the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum is now serving vegetarian ramen.
www.raumen.co.jp/english/

Marriott has opened a new hotel near Shinagawa station and the restaurants include Nadaman, a famed kaiseki restaurant.
4-7-36 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku. www.meturl.com/nadaman

Oboro Sakéten is a new saké shop in Shinbashi run by Okuma-san, who studied at university in the United States and speaks English. His website lists the saké kura that he has partnered with, including some great labels like Taka, Shichi Hon Yari, and Jikon.
5-29-2 Shinbashi, Minato-ku. www.oborosaketen.com

Pepper Foods has opened a standing steak bar in Ginza, Ikinari! Steak. Following the lead of other upscale standing restaurants, it’s a concept that should take off and a 300-gram steak for ¥1,500 is quite a bargain. A second shop is already scheduled to open in the area later this month.
4-10-14 Ginza, Chuo-ku. http://meturl.com/ikinari

Fun Function, a restaurant group promoting regional food and sake has opened up two new shops near Tokyo station. Saga-ken Mise-mura Fumuto Akadori (1-3-17 Yaesu, Chuo-ku. www.meturl.com/akadori) features yakitori and Kaki Sakaba Hokkaido Akkeshi specializes in oysters and the seafood of Hokkaido. (B1F Nihonbashi Teito Bldg, 2-2-15 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku. www.meturl.com/akkeshi)

Craft beer bars are popping up left and right and it seems there is still room in the Tokyo market for more. Scottish beer maker BrewDog will be opening a bar in Roppongi this spring. The company’s website says that they are hiring.
www.brewdogbar.jp