A tiny machiya of a restaurant, serving Kaiseki ryori to no more than 12 pax at a time. Tucked away in the alleys of the main Karasuma-Dori, the inconspicuous restaurant promises to serve up a great value for money meal. With a relatively affordable 5000yen price tag per pax, the flavor is traditionally Kyoto/Kansai, with a slight tinge more salty than I usually prefer. Nonetheless, a great pleasure and a great NYE dinner with the family.

Silky soft cakes and confectionary made from Rice! Japanese traditional roots in the Rice culture mixed with French baking influence, this is a highly recommended sweet treat!

Kyokashi (京菓子), the traditional dessert/sweets representative of Kyoto.

Kikusui - over 100 years history in serving Western food in Kyoto. The “Western” concept is certainly one that’s been defined by the Japanese. The “hamburger” patty, is very representative of what Japanese consider Western food, along with Omelette rice, Beef stew, and Fried Croquette. While these aren’t what we would typically find in a single Western cuisine restaurant, American or Continental, it is a montage of the “Western concept” that’s stirred up in Japan since the Meiji restoration era. Served up in a historical site, Kikusui’s interior still vibes of the early 20th century industrial revolution era American/continental style.

Good to have a bit of change in flavor after days of cheesy western food.

Fortune cookies! It’s a first for me, and how I look forward for this one to be true!

Ramen and Tonkatsu. Pretty much my favorite things in Japanese cuisine amongst others (Sashimi, Sushi, Curry.....) While I was kind of excited combining the 2 in a Ramen bowl, I wasn’t too impressed with either. The ramen lacks its Charsiew, and the Tonkatsu starts getting soggy, and the waiter refuses to serve it with the Tonkatsu separate. So it’s ok, but not exactly my favorite place for my favorite things.

Low key, but very popular joint.

It’s surprising that good Sushi comes at a lower price tag than Shanghai! A low key, traditional Japanese joint, but in prime property near the Rock. Quiet, unpretentious. Quite the contrast from Rockefeller center.

Simply the best ever Yakitori I’ve had in my life! Especially surprising is the Pork Belly + Tomato skewer! While I’m not a huge fan of mini tomatoes, the combination of pork belly and the sweet tomatoes is literally cooked to perfection, and explodes in your mouth. The sweet/sour lightness of the tomato swirls in your mouth and counteracts the grease of the pork belly. Service is impeccable, and taste is perfect. It’s amazing!!!

Amazing! A good break from our hectic schedule. Upscale seafood restaurant at the Rock. The grouper is fresh and chewy, and cooked to perfection! Love the ambience, and great for dates or business meetings.

We HAD to be ironic. The stereotypical “Chinese Food takeout”, and it has always been my dream to try it out. After trekking around Chinatown in search of the most Gwai Lou joint, we finally chanced upon HK Wanton garden. General Tso’s kitchen and Mushu Pork are must haves, given they are the cover girls of “Chinese Takeout”. But they turned out to be pretty awesome. Definitely had fun being ironic in this 30+ years joint.

Amazing!!!! I love the hipster vibe, and why wouldn’t it be? Organic and healthy, truly delicious, and chic ambience set in a chic neighborhood. What’s not to like?

This came as a recommendation from a friend and yelp. Close enough, and reviews look too notch. The Standard sushi set comes with 10 items, and are the standard array. The sashimi is fresh, and sashimi:rice ratio is relatively balanced. But to be honest, at that price range, I’d expect more from the menu and the chef. So while it’s tasty, it wasn’t awesome.

Chic lounge bar like setting, which hints a upscale Thai fusion cuisine. But the menu disappoints on that note, even while the food was served decently. Not impressive for someone who comes from South East Asia, where Thai food is a staple cuisine.

Reminds me of Keen’s steakhouse. The same rustic look and energetic but chauvinist ambience. This is the joint Warren Buffett takes the winning bid of Buffett’s annual charity drive, where bidders bid to have a private dinner with the investment guru. The steak is impeccable, but given the context of our dinner that night, it wasn’t easy to enjoy the succulent and huge portioned prime rib. Definitely amazing, and worth savoring properly next time.

Ok. Like I said. Luke’s is my new favorite for New England Lobster rolls and Clam Chowder. Yes, this is not Boston. But unfortunately, I didn’t get to visit the Bostonian joint of Luke’s but even the NYC outlet is AMAZING. So I can only imagine how great the Boston one would be!

A grilled cheese sandwich certainly soothes the frazzled nerves of staying in one of the most dingy hotels ever. The Manhattan diner on 92nd and Park shines bright in the cold winter night, and serves a MEAN grilled cheese sandwich in an authentic classic/retro American diner setting.

Last minute Clam Chowder from Legal Seafood at Logan International. Legal Seafood seems like the most convenient option for Lobster rolls since I started visiting Boston. But it seems, Legal Seafood has been replaced by Luke’s in our hearts as the de facto standard.

Chinatown in Boston has always been interesting for me, with a random pot pourri of definitions of “Asian” all mashed up into a small shop. But New Dong Khanh is more pure blooded authentic Vietnamese with a savory bowl of Pho to remember. Yes, Pho again. Cos a warm bowl of beef soup in the blistering cold, and a stay away from cheesy western cuisine is a comforting change.

Fast food noodles joint next to our hotel on Monroe. A variety of renditions of pasta from Vietnamese, Korean, Thai flavors to the classic Mac & Cheese. A large bowl of savory BBQ Mac & Cheese, with too little time to savor. Pity the BBQ Pork was a little dry for my liking.

The oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago. Gently close your eyes, and you may be able to see/feel Al Capone in the corner table enjoying dinner with his henchmen and plotting his next heist and power struggle. Authentic flavor coming in massive portions. But nothing really comes close to the ambience and imagination that rakes up when you sit in here sipping on a glass of wine.

Fried chicken! Simply missed the guilt-striking chicken & waffles. Waffles as the bun instead of the base.

The first taste of Vietnam for Jason when he was a kid in San Mateo/Burlingame. Family ambience restaurant with full house mix of Asians and Caucasians. The Beef Pho is succulent and authentic, and the spring rolls are self wrapped, with a cool gadget with a large rounded water wheel to moisten the rice paper before you start wrapping. A very interesting advancement from having to dip the rice paper in a plate of water.

Dinner with Jason & Elle upon touch down. Godfather and Hollywood mafia theme (Sopranos, Godfather, etc.) adds interesting flavor to the joint. Huge portions make this spot even more value for money.