Kichijoji (吉祥寺) is one of the most popular residential areas in Tokyo. In addition to being peaceful, it is an area with plenty of shopping malls, parks, shops, cafes and restaurants. It has been ranked as being the most desirable place to live by Tokyoites. Easily accessible from tourist hubs like Shibuya and Shinjuku, in this feature, we introduce delicious restaurants in Kichijoji for those who want to go off the beaten path.
Getting to Kichijoji
The JR Sobu line, JR Chuo line, Keio Inokashira line connect this suburb directly to central areas such as Shinjuku and Shibuya. It only takes about 20-30 minutes by train.
Spots
1. ELMO
2. Kooriya Peace (かき氷 ぴぃす)
3. Sajilo Cafe
4. Maruni (マルニ)
5. Kichijoji TKG A Story of Eggs (吉祥寺TKGたまごのおはなし)
6. Niku Dress Kaisendon (肉ドレス海鮮丼)
1. ELMO
ELMO is a Japanese-style Italian restaurant that focuses on seafood from Hokkaido. You can enjoy Italian cuisine that highlights the deliciousness of Hokkaido produce here.
The signature dish at this restaurant is Acqua Pazza (アクアパッツア), a fragrant soup with clams and fish with a slight tanginess of lemons and sweetness of tomatoes. The fish absorbs the flavor of the broth making every bite incredibly delicious. The best part, once you've finished eating all the goodies, you can request the chef to make a risotto with the remaining soup.
Beef steak dressed in red wine sauce with yamawasabi (horseradish from Hokkaido) is soft and melts in your mouth.
The dish we loved and recommend the most would be the spaghetti with cream sauce served with scallops and sea urchin. The creaminess and umami of the seafood is unbelievable.
Google Map
2. Kooriya Peace (かき氷 ぴぃす)
A famous shaved ice store that serves shaved ice all year long. The store uses seasonal ingredients to make shaved ice, no wonder there are queues every day. There will be something new on a daily basis and seasonal options. If you're not a fan of shaved ice, the items here might change your mind.
In winter, you can find strawberry and apple flavored toppings. This time, we ordered an apple pie with rare cheese shaved ice and strawberry & cream cheese shaved ice.
As you can see, the size is massive. Served in a tiny glass bowl, the shaved ice is placed like a round ball. The top is decorated with apple pieces. The shaved ice has a sour rare cheese flavor that contrasts perfectly with the sweetness of the apple. There is a dusting of cinnamon powder to give relief from the overall sweetness.
Strawberry & cream cheese shaved ice is a must have for those who love strawberries. Topped with a dollop of cream cheese and strawberry sauce, this shaved ice has flavors that complement each other really well.
You can check out the menu on Instagram.
Google Map
3. Sajilo Cafe
This is a very popular Indian restaurant in the area. There are plenty of curry options, including seafood, meat, and vegetables.
The naan is soft and chewy with a crispy crust. You can choose to have naan stuffed with cheese, drizzled with honey or both.
We tried the Japanese oyster spinach curry. Oysters are not something you see in a curry usually and this was a real treat. Plenty of vegetarian options too. If you're craving for delicious curry, stop by here.
4. Maruni (マルニ)
Maruni is an izakaya known for its kushiyaki (grilled skewers) and kushi-nikomi (stewed meat skewers). The pork here comes from Gunma while the miso sauce and soy sauce used in stewing comes from Akita.
A modern take on traditional dishes, the food here is well loved by people of all ages. The range of dishes is diverse. In addition to skewers and stewed dishes, you can find dumplings, tofu items, side dishes like pickled vegetables and more.
Look at how large the dumplings are! Stuffed with juicy meat, these are freshly steamed to order.
Mapo tofu, a popular dish from China, is served as an appetizer. A piece of tofu topped with minced meat cooked in spices is mouthwatering.
One of the best items on the menu is stewed beef. The stewed dishes are usually cooked for long periods and the meat just melts in your mouth. If you're looking for a good izakaya, check out Maruni.
5. Kichijoji TKG A Story of Eggs (吉祥寺TKGたまごのおはなし)
A famous raw egg rice restaurant in this area, the full name of the restaurant is very long: Kichijoji Tamagokakegohan Tamago no Ohanashi. TKG stands for tamagokake gohan i.e., an egg cracked over hot rice. Of course, this restaurant adds a cool twist to this simple dish. There are eggs from various chicken breeds from all over Japan. We chose a set of rice, 2 eggs, and toppings: Korean seaweed, mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and butter. All sets come with a white broth chicken soup and you can eat additional eggs for an extra cost too.
The eggs are all on display at the counter with some information in Japanese. It can be difficult to make a choice!
This egg with the dark orange yolk is rich in flavor. Just mix the rice, eggs and add a drop of the store's special soy sauce for a satisfying meal.
You can add some Chinese spicy chili oil to jazz it up. Even though basic, the fact that the eggs here are of the highest quality, elevates this simple breakfast dish.
6. Niku Dress Kaisendon (肉ドレス海鮮丼)
Our last choice is a restaurant where you can enjoy delicious seafood and A5 wagyu beef! Niku Dress Kaisendon can be slightly expensive but is worth every penny.
We chose a bowl with A5 wagyu beef, sea urchin and salmon roe topping. A kaisendon usually is a bowl of rice topped with raw seafood. Here, you can find your rice dressed in slices of premium beef. The salmon roe adds an interesting texture and the sea urchin adds creaminess. Under the meat are also chopped pieces of raw tuna and an onsen tamago (soft boiled egg cooked in a light soy broth).
The best way to end the meal is by adding bonito broth to your bowl (ochazuke). Adding this stock will cook the beef & seafood a little and result in completely different flavors. This provides a nice warm finish for a hearty feel.
Google Map
Hope you enjoyed reading this feature and if you plan to visit Tokyo, tag some of these places on your map!
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