Die, die, must try! -- Eating outside Singapore

[jjpb3]

Thanks to KeithMEL for keeping this thread updated.

Work + age = no energy from me to keep up with SQTers' recommendations.

[kluau88]

Here I am in Tokyo and my BTC has worn off so I need to find some food. Low and behold no recommendations in Tokyo

Guess I'll have to go to Takashimaya and have some Fauchon

[HUGE AL]

Tokyo

Park Hyatt Tokyo for the pastries and New York Grill on top. Expensive, but well worth it.

Sushi Dai at Tsukiji Fish Market (get there at 5:30am when the open or you'll be waiting quite a while).

Shisen at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel in Shinagawa for Chinese. The chef is the other dude in the picture with Iron Chef Chen.

Those are some top three that come to mind...

[9V-JKL]

Sushi Dai at Tsukiji Fish Market (get there at 5:30am when the open or you'll be waiting quite a while).

I've been there and agree with the recommendation. Since then, I've not eaten any fresher sushi

[KeithMEL]

Updated with HUGE AL's recommendations in TYO and NYC. Thanks mate.

Now if you could tell us a bit more about your recommendations for NYC. [HINT: details about location, cuisine ]

Just to get in on the jjpb3 / KeithMEL action...some of my favs in NYC:

Bette
Da Silvano
Lucky Strike

[jhm]

Park Hyatt Tokyo for the pastries and New York Grill on top. Expensive, but well worth it.

Sushi Dai at Tsukiji Fish Market (get there at 5:30am when the open or you'll be waiting quite a while).

Shisen at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel in Shinagawa for Chinese. The chef is the other dude in the picture with Iron Chef Chen.

Thanks for the recommendations, HUGE AL. Anything else for Japanese food (in particular, an izakaya (Japanese bar) serving beer, yakitori etc) ? I've been to Tokyo now a few times but have never been to Tsukiji (the 5:30am start puts me off somewhat! ). I will try to make it next time I'm there (4 nights this May).

One place which I visit every time I'm in Tokyo is:

Katsudon (a fried pork cutlet coated in breadcrumbs; mixed with egg and onions and put on top of a bowl of steamed white rice) - there's a place which specialises in this (the bill says "pork cutlet restaurant") inside the Keihin Hotel a minute's walk from Shinagawa station. I walked in by chance one lunch time and whilst the decor (and staff) are ancient, I saw that it was full of Japanese workers eating lunch and thought it had to be good. You can see the katsudon being prepared by one of the masters and it arrives moments later at your table. The best katsudon I've ever had!

[jhm]

Shisen at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel in Shinagawa for Chinese. The chef is the other dude in the picture with Iron Chef Chen.

I've stayed at the Miyako and it's a very nice hotel but the location is not so good.

If anyone wants to go there to eat at the Chinese restaurant mentioned by HUGE AL (I haven't tried it), just to mention that the hotel is actually quite some way from Shinagawa.

The closest station is Meguro on the Yamanote JR line (the circular one) - once you exit the station, you'll see a sign saying Miayko hotel pointing to the right outside the station where the hotel shuttle bus picks up (every 15 minutes; free of course; it takes about 5-10 minutes). There's also a shuttle bus which goes from Shinagawa to the hotel but that only operates in the morning.

[jhm]

Katsudon (a fried pork cutlet coated in breadcrumbs; mixed with egg and onions and put on top of a bowl of steamed white rice)

The final stage of preparation



The finished product

[KeithMEL]

Looks yum! Thanks for the pics jhm. I'd be sure to check that Katsudon place out on my next visit.

[SQ LPP]

Vancouver
Malay
Banana Leaf at Denman Street -- recommended by CGK and validated by YVR SIN Doers

Just a note, the one in Denman Street is small. The tables are too close. Service is hit and miss. But yes, the food is great. The other place on Broadway is a better place to go. Bigger restaurant and better service.

As you may have seen the ad in SilverKris, there is a Prima Taste restaurant in Robson Street (near Seymour). The branch (fast food style) at Changi T3 seems better in my opinion. I had ordered few things from the franchise here in Vancouver, such as Hainan chicken rice, Char Kay Teaw, and Hokkien noodles, but surprisingly, it doesn't taste great. A let down I must say. (In fact for Singaporean food, there is another restaurant near Kitsilano has better food.) The funny thing about this Prima Taste, I had tried to order mee goreng (since it's one of their signature dish), but it's always.... no mee goreng today.

[HUGE AL]

Updated with HUGE AL's recommendations in TYO and NYC. Thanks mate.

Now if you could tell us a bit more about your recommendations for NYC. [HINT: details about location, cuisine ]

Bette: Amy Sacco's trendy restaurant put together by the guy who did Bond Street. Trendy Trendy Trendy http://www.betterestaurant.com/

Da Silvano: Another trendy Italian place that Robert De Niro goes to over his own restaurants. http://www.dasilvano.com/

Lucky Strike: Home of the best Steak Tartare. http://www.luckystrikeny.com/

[HUGE AL]

Thanks for the recommendations, HUGE AL. Anything else for Japanese food (in particular, an izakaya (Japanese bar) serving beer, yakitori etc) ? I've been to Tokyo now a few times but have never been to Tsukiji (the 5:30am start puts me off somewhat! ). I will try to make it next time I'm there (4 nights this May).

One place which I visit every time I'm in Tokyo is:

Katsudon (a fried pork cutlet coated in breadcrumbs; mixed with egg and onions and put on top of a bowl of steamed white rice) - there's a place which specialises in this (the bill says "pork cutlet restaurant") inside the Keihin Hotel a minute's walk from Shinagawa station. I walked in by chance one lunch time and whilst the decor (and staff) are ancient, I saw that it was full of Japanese workers eating lunch and thought it had to be good. You can see the katsudon being prepared by one of the masters and it arrives moments later at your table. The best katsudon I've ever had!

A bar that's not izakaya, but we frequent is the La Boheme in Shinagawa near the Sheraton Miyako. It has great Italian food (I know I'm way off base here) and a killer rooftop bar that overlooks the city with probably the coolest elevator you'll be in.

As for Yakitori, I'd go to Nenohi, 2-3-3 Yuraku-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tel: 81-(0)3-3571-9132.

Regarding katsudon, I would forgo it altogether and save my money for Nagoya, where it's MUCH better and less expensive...even at the airport there...

I've stayed at the Miyako and it's a very nice hotel but the location is not so good.

If anyone wants to go there to eat at the Chinese restaurant mentioned by HUGE AL (I haven't tried it), just to mention that the hotel is actually quite some way from Shinagawa.

The closest station is Meguro on the Yamanote JR line (the circular one) - once you exit the station, you'll see a sign saying Miayko hotel pointing to the right outside the station where the hotel shuttle bus picks up (every 15 minutes; free of course; it takes about 5-10 minutes). There's also a shuttle bus which goes from Shinagawa to the hotel but that only operates in the morning.

You know, it's really not so bad with the shuttle and all. Heck, the PHT also is a hike to Shinjuku without that bus ride.

I love this hotel because of it's proximity to La Boheme (see above) and the BEDS! They are by far some of the best in the hotel industry. Add to that the variety of pillow you can choose from (when you check in there is a minimum of nine on your bed), this place ROCKS.

The only reason I occasionally stay at PHT is because it takes the entire hotel business to another level...and yes, I know the Pen is also very nice, but the PHT is home.

[jhm]

Regarding katsudon, I would forgo it altogether and save my money for Nagoya, where it's MUCH better and less expensive...even at the airport there...

I was in NGO last X'mas but didn't know about this. Next time. I did try their local speciality of misokatsu though (a fried breadcrumb covered pork cutlet, just like katsudon, but served with a red miso sauce rather than egg and onions).

You know, it's really not so bad with the shuttle and all.

Definitely - particularly when the shuttle operates every 15 minutes. I was thinking more of people like KeithMEL who want to return late in the evening (after 10pm or whenever it is that the shuttle stops).

[KeithMEL]

Definitely - particularly when the shuttle operates every 15 minutes. I was thinking more of people like KeithMEL who want to return late in the evening (after 10pm or whenever it is that the shuttle stops).

I don't recall starting my evenings earlier than 10pm in TYO...

[cawhite]

...The bagel (or "beigel", to be precise ) shop is good by London standards, but I'm too conditioned by Noo Yawk, so it doesn't make my recommended list. The main thing that recommends it is that it's a ritual for LON SIN Do's, thanks to the beautiful cawhite.

Rumour has it there was another introduction to the "beigels & brownies" a couple nights ago.