#ATXFoodGuyAbroad – Tokyo

*Updated 7/3/19*

I’ve had the absolute privilege of visiting Japan three times in as many years and It’s my belief that you could spend years in Tokyo and never scratch the surface of what the city has to offer. These are all of the amazing places I visited when I was in Tokyo over the last three years.

7 Eleven

View this post on Instagram

First meal in Japan is a delicious onigiri rice ball filled with salmon. Our @airbnb is right next to Tokyo Skytree so we popped on over to @7eleven and picked up some early morning snacks before starting our day. My posts may be a bit irregular while I'm in Japan but hopefully you all enjoy them!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 15, 2019 at 2:59pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

One of the best places to get cheap snacks in Japan is at convenience stores like @7eleven. I needed one yesterday so I picked up an umebashi onigiri which is a rice ball stuffed with a pickled plum paste. I also picked up this juice flavored soda which clearly has an orange on the label but tasted more like pineapple with a hint of orange. Onigiri is a pretty hearty snack to help keep you going since there's a ton of walking when you're over here.

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 4, 2018 at 1:14pm PDT

Achikoko Shibuya

View this post on Instagram

Okinawan soba noodles! A very clean broth with soba noodles and a side of pork filets with rice, and braised spare ribs with rice. . . . . . #travel #traveling #vacation #visiting #instatravel #instago #instagood #trip #fun #travelling #tourism #tourist #instapassport #instatraveling #igtravel #tokyo #shibuya #soba #noodles #noodlesoup #pork #spareribs #atxfoodguy #texanintokyo #japan #okinawa

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 12, 2017 at 11:59am PDT

Akihabara Caligari

View this post on Instagram

A dish with Indian curry and Japanese curry with fried chicken and quail eggs and a scoop of rice from Akihabara Caligari. Sooooo good! . . . . . . #travel #traveling #vacation #visiting #instatravel #instagood #trip #holiday #travelingram #igtravel #food #foodporn #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #foodgasm #hot #foods #atxfoodguy #tokyo #texanintokyo #curry

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 14, 2017 at 8:05am PDT

Butcher Brothers – Chuo

View this post on Instagram

My last dinner in Tokyo was at a place called Butcher Brothers in the Nihombashi area. I ordered the 180g steak, the duck, and the "American style chili beans" which was a lot of food but everything was pretty reasonably priced, so why not? Funny thing about the chili beans appetizer, this steak place, all the way in Japan, knows how to brown a tortilla better than most taco places in Austin. Such an awesome meal from a random place I stumbled upon while walking from Tokyo Station to Akihabara!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 18, 2018 at 9:57am PDT

Diver City Mall Yakitori Pub – Odaiba

View this post on Instagram

How open minded are you when traveling? I'm the type to try just about anything and that's the theme of this post. This, my friends, is uma sashimi. Uma means horse in Japanese, so, yes, I tried raw horse yesterday at Wagyu Motsuyaki Sakaba Daihachi. As for flavor, it doesn't really have any which was strange in and of itself. The texture is very dense, like a super lean piece of tuna, but flavorless, unlike tuna. I do these things because I'm curious and open minded but I can tell you, I see no reason in doing it again. . What about you, what's the 'weirdest' thing you've tried? Would you try horse meat?

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 17, 2019 at 5:17pm PDT

Excelsior Café – Shibuya (multiple locations)

View this post on Instagram

So, sure, this isn't any form of traditional Japanese cuisine but my friend really wanted to try this place and get some coffee. I don't really care for coffee (*gasp*) but I agreed and ended up ordering French toast and orange juice and she ordered a ham and Gouda pressed sandwich with coffee. This was a tasty, and cheap, way to start our first full day in Tokyo!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 4, 2018 at 4:37am PDT

Han No Daidokoro – Shibuya

View this post on Instagram

Hit up a Kobe beef restaurant in Shibuya one night for dinner. The meal consisted of beef sashimi, six different cuts of Kobe to grill ourselves, and capped off with house-made mascarpone ice cream. All of it was freaking delicious! Ironically, I was wearing my @beeflovingtexans hat when we decided to choose this as our dinner, thanks again for the hat!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 9, 2018 at 5:28am PDT

Ichiran Ramen – Shinbashi (multiple locations)

View this post on Instagram

Hit up @ichiranjp in Shimbashi with the crew one night on the way back to the neighborhoods we were staying in. I got their lovely tonkatsu ramen with woodear mushroom and some smoked pork added in. If you've never been to an Ichiran location, it's a ramen shop that provides a very private dining experience with everyone eating in single person booths where you never see the staff serving you the food. Perfect for solo dining or for people that want to be alone and undisturbed which generally never applies to me but it was worth checking out as the ramen was delicious!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 25, 2019 at 8:27am PDT

J.S. Curry – Shibuya

View this post on Instagram

Butter chicken curry from J.S Curry in Tokyo's Shibuya area. This little gem is only a couple blocks from where I'm staying this week. . . . . . #curry #butterchicken #whiterice #tokyo #food #foodporn #yum #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #photooftheday #fresh #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #atxfoodguy #texanintokyo #chicken

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 9, 2017 at 7:17am PDT

Kamiya Bar – Asakusa

View this post on Instagram

Denki Bran from Kamiya Bar – a supposedly gin based liqueur that is between 30-40% ABV. Quite strong but also very tasty. Stay tuned in the next couple of days for a sushi gallery! . . . . . #drink #drinks #bar #liquor #yum #yummy #thirst #thirsty #instagood #cocktail #cocktails #drinkup #glass #gin #denki #denkibran #asakusa #tokyo #texanintokyo #atxfoodguy #secretrecipe #alcohol #burnsallthewaydown #firewater #itburns #itburnssogood

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 15, 2017 at 8:29am PDT

Ore-Shiki Jun – Ramen Alley – Tokyo Station

View this post on Instagram

This was the absolute last meal I had in Japan before headed to the airport and I picked it up on Ramen Street which is a row of some of the highest rated ramen shops in Tokyo located in the Tokyo Station mall. This bowl is from Oreshiki Jun which is the best tonkatsu in town according to @tokyocheapo's Ramen Street coverage. A beautifully rich broth accompanies delicious noodles, pork, woodear mushrooms, and green onions to really send me home full and happy.

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 30, 2019 at 9:43am PDT

Rainbow Pancake – Harajuku

View this post on Instagram

Can we take a second to talk about how lovely Japanese pancakes are? They're thick but still light and airy and when paired up with a bit of vanilla ice cream and maple syrup they become even more magical. This was my last breakfast in Tokyo at @rainbowpancakee in trendy Harajuku. I highly recommend giving them a try if you're ever in Tokyo, I bet you'll love them too!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 19, 2018 at 8:49am PDT

View this post on Instagram

When you think of Japan, do you think of pancakes? Chances are high that you don't but maybe you should. These beautiful things are light and fluffy and with a smidge of syrup and some ice cream you've got the makings of an awesome meal! If you find yourself in Tokyo check out @rainbowpancakee for a great breakfast, brunch, or lunch.

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 16, 2019 at 7:33am PDT

Rokurinsha – Ramen Alley – Tokyo Station

View this post on Instagram

Tsukemen style ramen from a very popular Tsukemen shop in Tokyo Station. If I could read anything here I'd have a much better description. The flavor was very rich with a hint of shellfish flavoring, think clammy or crabby. It was amazing and too much for me to finish, surprisingly. If you go, this is their house special dish and it costs 1060¥ on the ordering machine. . . . . . #food #foodporn #yum #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #photooftheday #fresh #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #ramen #tokyo #tsukemen #atxfoodguy #texanintokyo #noodles #asahi #beer

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 10, 2017 at 8:22am PDT

Seirinkan Pizza – Meguro

View this post on Instagram

When you think of Japan, I'm sure pizza is not one of your first thoughts but those guys at @seirinkan.info are tossing up some fantastic Neapolitan style pizza! As seen on @davidchang's @uglydelicious this is the two pies they had on menu the other night, a traditional margherita pizza in the background and their marinara pizza in the foreground with that beautiful basil, tomatoes and garlic. Definitely wouldn't have expected to find such high quality pizza in Japan but here I am. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #pizza #neapolitanpizza #napoli #napolipizza #pizzaslicetokyo #tokyofood #atxfoodguy #italia #italian #atxfoodguyabroad #Japan #pizzapizza #italianpizza #infatuationtokyo #travelingfoodie #travellingfoodblogger #foodblogging #uglydelicious #asseenontv #pizzagourmet #pizzagoals #foodgoals #tasty #eeeeeats #tokyolife

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 18, 2019 at 6:10am PDT

Sushi Kyotatsu – Narita Airport

View this post on Instagram

This is what sushi at Narita airport looks like in Tokyo. Guess what, it tasted as good as it looked, too! This was my absolute final meal before flying back to the States. Got a nigiri platter with a few extra pieces of unagi, fatty blue fin, salmon, and lean tuna. Of course I paired it up with some sake to really round out my final Japanese meal.

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 21, 2018 at 9:48am PDT

Sushi Yoshitake – Ginza

View this post on Instagram

This will have to end up being 3 posts, here are the first 9 offerings from an amazing 2+ hour omakase sushi dinner at 3 Michelin star rated Sushi Yoshitake in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. Pictured we have baby squid and baby scallop smoked in a miso paste, clam in a clam sauce, hairy-crab meat mixed with sushi rice topped with caviar and additional crab meat, octopus, tuna with two different toppings, flounder, more flounder with flounder liver, a sardine type fish in a jelly, and abalone. . . . . . . . . #omakase #3michelinstars #michelin #sushiyoshitake #sushi #tuna #octopus #flounder #babysquid #squid #scallops #tokyo #ginza #atxfoodguy #texanintokyo #abalone #clams #miso #foodporn #instafood #amazing #instagood #fresh #tasty #foodie #delicious #eating #foodpics #eat #foodgasm

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 18, 2017 at 7:45am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Post 2/3 of the amazing 3 Michelin star Sushi Yoshitake omakase dinner in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. We have four tuna pieces ranging in fattiness from lean to super fatty, gizzard shad, salmon, sushi rice with abalone liver pate, grilled trout, and yellowtail. . . . . . . . #omakase #3michelinstars #michelin #sushiyoshitake #sushi #tuna #abalone #trout #gizzardshad #salmon #fattytuna #tokyo #ginza #atxfoodguy #sushirice #texanintokyo #abalone #leantuna #foodporn #instafood #amazing #instagood #fresh #tasty #foodie #delicious #eating #foodpics #eat #foodgasm

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 19, 2017 at 8:59am PDT

View this post on Instagram

3/3 of the great 3 Michelin star Sushi Yoshitake omakase dinner in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan. Pictured we have mackerel, surf clam, shrimp, two types of sea urchin, the two sea urchin types in their box, a tuna hand roll, anago aka saltwater eel, miso soup, and tomago aka an egg custard. . . . . . . . #omakase #3michelinstars #michelin #sushiyoshitake #sushi #shrimp #mackerel #seaurchin #tomago #anago #handroll #tokyo #ginza #atxfoodguy #tuna #texanintokyo #eel #nori #miso #foodporn #instafood #amazing #instagood #fresh #tasty #foodie #delicious #eating #foodpics #foodgasm

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 20, 2017 at 8:30am PDT

Sushi Zanmai – Tsukiji

View this post on Instagram

Revisited the amazing Sushi Zanmai in Tsukiji today with all my traveling buddies @kaypeedoesathing @withhighspirits @soniamtz_atx and @robpol86! Sushi Zanmai is a high quality coveyer belt sushi spot right in the heart of the old market. Check out these beautiful pieces I picked out. Eating sushi is a great way to spend your Friday, so where's your favorite sushi spot?

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 17, 2019 at 6:58am PDT

View this post on Instagram

I wish I knew everything I ate so I could share it with you but the truth is I was too busy enjoying the food to keep notes. I know salmon, tuna, amberjack, and unagi are present but the rest I'm unsure about. This was a lovely converter belt sushi restaurant at the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo which means it's easily some of the freshest fish I've ever had! I can't even tell you the name of the place because it only had a kanji sign but I'm sure you can find it, if you try…

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 11, 2018 at 7:11am PDT

Tokyo Disneyland

View this post on Instagram

More Tokyo Disneyland treats! Starts with a Mickey Mouse shaped waffle with chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Then there's the spicy shrimp and avocado waffle sandwich. Finally there's the Mickey Mouse hand steamed bao bun stuffed with pork belly and Chinese broccoli. To me, eating at Tokyo Disneyland was just as fun as riding the rides!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 6, 2018 at 2:50pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

@killapeeez and @withhighspirits really wanted to go to Tokyo Disneyland so that's where we spent a day. Started with an awesome breakfast consisting of Japanese chicken curry with white rice and an egg with a Mickey Mouse yolk, which baffles me, but let's say it's magic. Later I had a pizza spring roll as a snack which was basically an Asian style Hot Pocket. More snacks to come!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 6, 2018 at 5:06am PDT

Tokyo Food Show! – Shibuya

View this post on Instagram

Oh you know, just chilling with some train station sushi from @tokyufoodshow in the Shibuya area of Tokyo. I love the variety and quality of the food in the train stations in Japan, it's always pretty easy to find something tasty that isn't expensive. . . . . . . . . #sushi🍣 #sushispot #foodhall #foodcourt #trainstation #tuna #nigiri #makirolls #maki #rawfish #raw #atxfoodguy #atxfoodguyabroad #nori #sushirice #cheapeats #japan #tokyojapan #japanesesushi #sushiporn #sushiroll #sushilovers #sushi #cheapanddelicious

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 22, 2019 at 1:17pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

You know what I love? Sushi! You know what's awesome about Japan? Getting sushi that's better than 95% of the stuff in the US from a train station food court in a to-go container. What we have here is a bit of tuna nigiri from The Food Show food court in the bottom of Shibuya Station before hopping on a train back to the airport on my way back home to Texas.

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 20, 2018 at 8:38am PDT

Tonbo Ramen – Shibuya

View this post on Instagram

Garlic oil tonkatsu ramen with BBQ pork, green onion, wood ear mushroom, and bean sprouts. Must eat all the ramen! This is from a tiny spot in Shibuya called Tonbo Ramen right next door to the tagged location. . . . . . #travel #traveling #vacation #visiting #instatravel #instago #instagood #trip #holiday #fun #travelling #tourism #tourist #instapassport #instatraveling #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #igtravel #tonkatsu #ramen #pork #tokyo #shibuya #texanintokyo #noodlesoup

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 13, 2017 at 8:06am PDT

Tonkatsu Wako – Odaiba

View this post on Instagram

Stopped in to a katsu restaurant yesterday for lunch in Odaiba. I ordered one of the lunch specials that came with one fried pork cutlet, one fried shrimp, and a minced beef and pork patty stuffed with cheese. The lunch specials all came with miso soup, white rice, pickled veggies, and shredded cabbage. A ton of delicious food for a small price, can't beat that!

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on Apr 5, 2018 at 4:41am PDT

Toritetsu – Akihabara

View this post on Instagram

A quick little lunch at an izakaya in Akihabara. Six skewers – first one from the left was chicken, second was gizzard, third was pork, fourth was beef, fifth was quail egg, sixth was bacon wrapped asparagus. I'm not going to lie to you, I've never been able to eat gizzard so I left that one but everything else was great! . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #fresh #tasty #foodie #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #foods #atxfoodguy #tokyo #akihabara #texanintokyo #izakaya #skewers #beef #pork #chicken #bacon #baconwrapeverything #quaileggs #gizzards

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 17, 2017 at 9:42am PDT

Toriyoshi Harajuku

View this post on Instagram

Chicken katsu for lunch in Harajuku at Toriyoshi! With shredded cabbage that was like coleslaw and potato salad with rice, and pickles. . . . . . . . . #food #foodporn #yum #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #photooftheday #fresh #tasty #foodie #delish #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodpics #eat #hungry #foodgasm #hot #foods #chickenkatsu #chicken #friedchicken #atxfoodguy #texanintokyo #tokyo #harajuku

A post shared by ATXFoodGuy – John Kulow (@atxfoodguy) on May 11, 2017 at 8:52am PDT