Drum roll please. Here is part 2 of my top 10 eats of 2011…
Best burrito – Libre Burrito, Aoyama
Margarita and burrito combo. APPROVED.
Thank you thank you thank you for opening a good burrito restaurant in a convenient location. The burritos at Libre are good and even though the margaritas are a little on the small side, Libre has a beany, ricey place in my heart.
I think one of my favourite Libre Burrito moments (yes, I have some) was when we got them delivered to work and they did a little presentation to everyone on how to eat a burrito. It amused me, but I suppose many Japanese have never had one before!
Good news! Hello Sandwich tells me they are opening a 2nd branch in Ebisu this January.
Menu pick: The burrito, of course.
Best French – L’Amitie, Takadanobaba
Carre D'Agneau Roti.
You do need to book well in advance to get a table at this modest little French restaurant. But the wait is well worth it. Deliciously huge portions of high quality food and inexpensive wine. What more could you ask for?
Menu pick: Get the course menu. You can’t really go too wrong with anything you choose here. The pate is the size of your head and the escargot are garlicky and buttery. Yum.
Best izakaya – Anji, Kyoto
Sushi boat.
Sorry guys, but the best izakaya I’ve been to, and probably will ever go to, is in Kyoto. Its specialty is seafood and it does this amazingly well. Great vibe, fun waitstaff, ridiculously good food and a bill that won’t make you feel like you need to eat baked beans for the next week.
Menu pick: My arteries cry every time I order this, but the cheese tempura is too good not to get. Definitely order the sashimi boat too. It’s so fresh, they come out and present you the fish before slicing it up for you.
Best hangover food – Freshness Burger
Okay, these are the plastic versions of their burgers. I really wanted to take one home with me.
If it’s not ramen, it’s Freshness Burger. I know I should be eating something good for me, but sometimes when I’m feeling a little fragile, Freshness Burger is the only thing that will get me through the day. That, and watching Bloodsport.
Menu pick: I really like the beans burger with a ginger ale.
Best bakery – Rose Bakery, Kichijoji
Carrot cake with really delicious cream cheese frosting.
The carrot cake is insanely good here. Make sure you leave room after your meal to get one. It’s so heavy and rich that you could quite easily share one between two.
Menu pick: Have you been reading any of this? The carrot cake, obviously. Other than that, the celery soup was much more delicious that it sounds.
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So there you go, my top 10 restaurants of 2011. I know there are a so very many restaurants out there in Tokyo, but these ones for one reason or another really stood out to me. I’m sure if you’ve been to, or live in Tokyo, you have your favourites. If you do, let me know in the comments and I’ll make my best effort to go there when I visit Tokyo next.
Have a wonderful new years! x