Tokyo Hidden & Unique Eats (+prices) | Akihabara, Ueno & Harajuku Food | Japan Food Journey Ep. 3
Welcome back to East Wester. If you haven’t seen our first Tokyo food journey and our day trip to Mount Fuji, make sure to check those out first. We will link them below. Now, we are back in Tokyo for our final few days. And of course, we’re continuing our favorite part, discovering local food gems around the city. From cozy ramen bars and izakayas to hidden dessert spots, we’ll show you where to eat like a local. No tourist traps, no long lines, just real Tokyo food. Let’s get started. Tokyo has still plenty to surprise us with. After coming back from our day trip to Mount Fuji, we decided to make a quick stop before dinner at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. They have an amazing laser show here in the evening, lighting up the whole building with colors and patterns. It’s one of those things you might not plan for, but it’s definitely worth seeing it if you’re in Shinjuku at night. Then we headed to this small isakaya Udon place. It doesn’t even have a name in English, just Japanese letters on the sign. The place looks super cozy and pretty small with most people eating while standing. It felt like one of those real local spots you just have to try. So we were really curious about how the Udon would be. So now we went to very local udon place and um only locals are here. So we’re quite excited to try it even like a limited menu in English. But I think probably it’s the place where locals are going and we’re standing. Maybe we’ll get a table soon as well. But we’re going to enjoy this food even when we’re standing. I think it will be interesting experience. And we have got our drinks. It’s a cold beer and cold dry ginger al. Cheers. Cheers. So we got our first um starter. So it’s like a horse Macarel fish. This looks good. [Music] Try it. I think I’m going to use chopsticks because [Music] it’s very fresh. Go a bit close. It’s very hot. Very fresh and uh crispy. Yeah. Sound crispy. Crispy. Like a bit buttered, but it does not um ruin the taste of the fish. So, I think a good starter. I like very good beginning so far. I recommend. And what do you think about this fish? Oh, super crunchy, super fresh. We have that also in Germany, but this is a new idea to cook. You can hear how crunchy it is. Good. So, we got our dog and I ordered with seafood. Looks good. It’s like tempura shrimps. I think some fish as well. Looks really good. But we try start with um a little bit of noodles and some broth. I think it’ll be dinner. And please don’t laugh at me using uh chopsticks. Let’s try very good. The broth is so clear. It’s kind of has a bit smokeoky taste. I don’t know how to explain but really good bit smokeoky and a bit sweet. I like it. Let’s maybe try the drinks. [Music] Super fresh. It’s um not very crunchy because it’s in a broth already, but it’s super fresh and I think it’s very suitable with this noodles. I personally really like it. Good stuff. I order with beef and tambula shrimp. It smells so good. So, let me try the broth first. Oh, that’s so different. It’s a bit of salty and sweet together. Good combination. And um the the broth itself is so clear and then I can feel it’s really fresh. Let me try beef. [Music] I think this beef is cook a little bit long time. So, it’s like very easy to chew. Tender. Yeah, tender. And yeah, good combination. I love it. Good morning, guys. Today is another day in Tokyo and we’re going to start our day with going to 7-Eleven to try another onigiri. We’ll try to find the same as we tried on our first day. Let’s go. Yay. Yeah, slightly different from the first day, but there’s some uh good options. These sandwiches are really popular, but you know, I don’t know. I’m not sure. I don’t want to try it cuz this type of sandwich is not my type. Need to make a smoothie on our own. Quite a smart machine. We need that in Germany. And I’m also waiting for my iced coffee. Almost ready. [Music] So now it’s time to have this oniiri. Looks good. Oh, wait. Looks very juicy. Meow. Good. Very juicy. Let’s try one bite. It’s good. Same good as the first day. Yeah. So juicy, you know. I like um fish eggs and with um salmon. It’s a really good combination. I love it. Let me confirm whether it’s the same. So good. We also had this um sur. It was like quite big. I mean, we didn’t record it, but uh you can find at 97 7-Eleven and tastes really good. It still tastes better than in Europe. I love it. Really. So, we have arrived to Aikiabara area, which is famous for its um anime stores. I think it’s really perfect for anime lovers. Me personally, I’m not super big fan of anime, but even though I still want to visit it, and I think it will be interesting for everyone. And indeed, Akihabara turned out to be everything we expected. Full of anime and manga stores, computer game shops, souvenirs, and all kinds of collectibles. Everywhere you look, there is a color, sound, and energy. It’s honestly a paradise for animal lovers and one of the most unique neighborhoods in Tokyo. So, now we’re going to play some game. I think killing some zombies. There are so many arcade machines here where you can play. [Music] Want to do something better. Good drama, Alex. [Music] [Music] After playing some games, it was time to grab something to eat. And honestly, what could be better than some freshly grilled Kobe Vagu beef. The smell alone was impossible to resist, so we just had to go for it. [Music] So, we got our lunch snack. So, one of the sticks is a Kobe beef wagu beef um grilled and another one it’s a pork um stick. So, everything smells so good. Oh. Oh, guys, really cannot describe it. It’s so good. Let’s obviously start with the Kobe beef because look at this. So good. Let’s try one bite. So good. So juicy. Like really melted in my mouth. Really good. Super delicious. And um I like the way the fried. It’s super tender. I guess it’s also has something to do with the beef quality itself. Well, really good. The beef was great. And now it’s time to try this pork. Look at this. Looks very juicy. And I think also they cook with a bit of um soy sauce during um grilling it which I think makes it a bit um more flavorful. So let’s try. It’s good. You know, reminds me a little bit of pork sulaki from Greece. Apart from the fact that they use Japanese seasoning and some soy sauce, but reminds me of this sublaki or kalamaki stick, but good, very tender. And what I really like, it’s not fat because sometimes pork can be really fat, but this one it’s good. Not not fat, but still juicy. I like it. Smells so good. It’s finally it’s my turn to try. So juicy. Oh, it’s literally like melting in my mouth. I I don’t know another words, but it’s actually that melting. So good. I’m in love with way beef. So, we like the meat so much. So, we decided to try normal beef because they say it’s the most popular there. Look, looks very, very juicy and a lot of soy sauce. Let’s try. got a bit bigger piece than you’re supposed to take, but it’s very good despite like it’s not really good beef, but it still tastes very good. I think Wu was slightly more tender, but this was so good. And especially it’s cheaper. It’s just 600 yen for this stick. Tastes good. And then it was time to grab something fresh. We found a local market nearby and it looked like the perfect spot for some sashimi. Everything looked incredibly fresh straight from the counter. So, we couldn’t miss the chance to try it again in Tokyo. So, we came to the local fish market which is actually located inside the mall downstairs. So, we’re eating, you know, a bit uncomfortable conditions, but I think it’s just the only way what we can know to eat. Yeah. So, we got um sushimi from um salmon, tuna, and this fish. To be honest, I don’t even know what is the fish. Maybe it’s a red snapper. Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know. But we’ll try. And also some um fish clicks, which I think um not everyone likes, but try it. You know, in Ukraine, we do it, for example, with um bread, butter, and a bit of um fish eggs. Tastes good for breakfast, especially not for everyone, but maybe you want to try it. That’s a point. So, let’s start with this sashimi. Looks really fresh. I think it’s very important. Sashimi is fresh. So, we put a little bit of soy sauce and um and a bit of masala. I think it’s the right way. Let’s try. Super good, super fresh. Wasabi gives some special taste. Makes it a bit spicy, but together with soy sauce and um so tender. Oh, really good. The next um sashimi which we’re going to try is made of tuna. Looks good. Looks very fresh as well. Like the same as salmon, but I think they got a bit thicker. smells fresh. Not that I’m eating fresh fish that often, but I don’t know how they make it um that tender because it’s not cooked, but it’s so tender and um flavorful. Really good. Really good tuna. And this one, guys, I have no idea what is this. My assumption it’s a red snapper, but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe if you if you if you know what is this, let me know and put in the comment. I mean, comment this video. So, let’s try this fish actually. Although it’s raw, I know, but it’s actually smoky, a little bit fat. I don’t know. It doesn’t remind me of any fish, but um it tastes good. Tastes very fresh. I think like every each fish we tried was very good. Hello. This is a fugu fish or paper fish which is very poisonous. Only a licensed chef can cook it in Japan. But to be honest, I don’t think I’m going to try it. It’s just too extreme. Although people say it’s very safe in Japan. [Music] We came to this coffee shop and they only have two types of coffee. This is the coffee and ice. Let’s see. Seems like a specialty coffee shop. So, I’m curious. The coffee is really rich. Tastes really good. Even I don’t like um pure coffee only but uh for this case it’s really good. Now we’re entering park looks quite peaceful. [Music] There’s some plants which I don’t know what is that to be honest. I feel like it’s lotus or something. Is it? I mean, everything is in Japanese apparently, but looks uh different. [Music] The park is quite vibrant with shops, nice view around. [Music] It’s a good park to spend some time to relax, enjoy the nature. Quite a big ball. [Music] There’s a market around Bueno station. Load of things. Also, street food and um other stuff. Quite full. [Music] [Music] And then it was time to try something we’d really been looking forward to, authentic Japanese curry. The smell was amazing and we were so excited to finally taste the classic comfort dish. So guys, today we went uh for Japanese curry and um we came to this restaurant. We ordered some park pork cutlet um curry and I ordered with extra cheese on top. So I don’t know what to expect actually, but I think should be good. And I think also we have um rice star dish. So should be enough to be full uh this night. smells good. So, we got our food was pretty fast, actually. And um it’s like a curry sauce with the rice and also pork cutlet on top. Reminds me a little bit of German. But look, I also ordered with um extra cheese. I don’t know if it’s authentic way or not, but you know, I like cheese, so I think you can go wrong. Let’s try. Oh, so strong smell of curry. I really cannot wait to try. [Music] It’s really good. It’s like piece of pork um cutlet with curry sauce, a bit spicy and a bit of rice and of course cheese also give some flavor. I don’t know. It doesn’t taste like schnitel actually. But um I like it. It’s like, you know, I don’t know. Maybe it’s authentic Japanese, but it’s also kind of mix for me like a fusion between um um Indian and Japanese food, which is also good. Actually, I like it. I’m trying this one. The rice is really moisture with the sauce. It’s like a comfort food. Really good. Let me try this. and juicy on the inside. But do you like the sauce? Very different from any curry. Very good. I love it. And the sauce actually is perfectly balanced between being a bit sweet and also spicy and salty at the same time. Not a classic curry like you can find from Indian restaurant. But um it’s different. It’s a bit different. But I like um that it’s a bit spicy. because it’s one of the favorite. I like it. You know, like you put sauce on top of the rice, the rice tastes better. So, I finished my plate and it’s so so good. I’m very happy with this curry. Really good stuff. So, we at this Golden Guy street full of izakayas and small uh pups around. Most of the pups are full right now, but it’s a place where locals and tourists can have a drink or two before the end of the day. Golden guy looked super lively and full of people. Tiny bars packed next to each other, music and l everywhere. It definitely has a cool atmosphere, though it does feel a little bit touristy compared to the other parts of Shinjuku. Yeah, we can change the camera. Our [Music] final day in Tokyo started just right with our favorite coffee at Athel Tree Coffee. Couldn’t skip it before leaving. If you like good stuff, this uh place is for you. Everything is so cute. It was rainy outside, so we decided to spend a bit more time inside Kitty Land. Everything there was just unbelievably cute, from toys and plushies to all kinds of little gifts. We honestly couldn’t resist and pick up a few souvenirs to take back home. So, we’ve done some shopping now unexpectedly just because it’s rainy in Tokyo. Our last day in Tokyo and it’s rainy. a little bit sad. What can we do? And now it’s time for us to go to eat some lunch in Harajuku area. Yeah, for this weather, the best uh medication is uh eat some is to eat some ramen soup. This time, we’re going to find some local spot. For our last lunch in Tokyo, we went for ramen again. Something we will definitely miss once we’re back in Germany. There is just nothing like it. We got some welcome drinks. And this is like a salad. [Music] So, we came to the restaurant which didn’t have many lines and it seems like a lot of locals here. So, we’re quite excited to try this ramen. So, I ordered some special ramen which is made of um seafood broth and also they have some toppings like egg, I think pork and something else. I’m not even sure what is that. And for the starter, I ordered gaza. So, it should be good. I mean, it smells really good in the kitchen. And um I think uh uh it will be tasty. Fun fact, this is called large beer in Japan. You know, large beer, for example, in Germany means like one liter, one muscle beer. But this is like 0.3. I think it’s funny. It might be. We got our food. Looks delicious. I think there’s some chili sauce on top. So, would be the best if you just mix it so to make sure the broth is the way it should be. Oh, but it smells so good. I wish you guys could smell it from your screens, but it smells really good. Let’s try bro a bit. Super strong taste of seafood. Let’s try with the noodles. [Music] That’s very good. Like very strong taste of of seafood. Also, it’s a bit spicy, but not like crazy spicy. Just a little bit spicy. And um it’s um really rich um broth, you know. Let’s try a little bit of pork with the broth. It’s very tender. And with the broth, so flavorful. Really super delicious stuff, guys. I love it. Really good. I ordered the classic so it’s not spicy. Broth is always the first thing to try. Super rich and not oily, you know, like this very fresh freshly cooked. Yeah, I really love it as well. Let me try a bit noodle with the soup to make it more uh you know full flavors. [Music] I can feel the uh pork across is really strong here. It’s a perfect combination for me. So good. And today first time we try yoza from the restaurant actually in Japan. Looks good. Put a bit of wasabi. It’s a bit fried. You see classic Japanese way. There’s a lot of cabbage inside and it’s not as spicy, but I think like European spicy, not like really, let’s say, Mexican spicy or Thai spicy. I like it. Very good. Very good snack, I would say. And I like this crispiness on the outside to see how they fried it. And a lot of cabbage. So, I think actually, if I’m not mistaken, it’s vegetarian, but I don’t mind. I mean, it tastes really good. And look at this. We finished everything. It was so delicious. We loved it. And you know, did you like it? I don’t like it. I love it. That’s a fair feedback. Everything was really delicious and the shop was really local. So, guys, don’t hesitate to come here. They have English menu. It’s quite rainy today. On a rainy day, everyone is with umbrella and a lot of people. And this is Takashita Street in Harajuku. So, probably need to wait until the rain is over so we’ll not, you know, uh, be stuck in this crowd with umbrellas. So, we’re entering this Maji Jingu shrine. Even the weather is rainy, we’re still going to enter and check it out. A lot of people also Yes, a lot of people have the same idea. And I mean, why not? Tokyo doesn’t have bad weather. Maji Jingu shrine was truly amazing. Surrounded by a peaceful, almost mystical forest. Before entering, you follow the Shintu tradition by washing your hands and face at the purification fountain. Walking through the grounds felt calm and serene. A beautiful contrast to the busy streets of Tokyo just outside. You can also try a little Japanese tradition inside the shrine. For 100 yen, you can buy a small paper with a poem or fortune, almost like a lottery. It’s a fun way to see what kind of luck the day might bring and adds a charming touch to the visit. And then it was a time for some special coffee. So we came to the place where they make quite special coffee. They make a 3D like foam where you can choose different picture either your own custom design or I chose Pikachu. They just print in the form of milk. So quite interesting. It will be pricey place, but I think it’s worth, you know, checking it out, I guess. And no, I got her first. Cheaper. Yeah. Looks cute. Try the coffee. Very good. So cute. Too cute to drink. Yeah. [Music] I like cute Pikachu coffee. Yeah, Icel Pikachu. It’s good. I’m really, you know, I’m really scared to ruin it, but I will try coffee actually. Really good. I started good coffee. Strong enough, I would say, to be awake in the afternoon. And you have a cute Pikachu. Yes. [Music] So for our final dinner in Tokyo, we decided to go to this restaurant which is called the fun baby. And um there will be some set menu including koba beet and also okonomiyaki and other stuff. So should be interesting as well. experience for us. But uh little bit sad because it’s the last dinner in Tokyo. So, but anyway, we’re excited. So, let’s go and try it. The food will make up uh for your sadness. Yes. Excuse me. And now let’s try our first dish, which is beef soup with some tender onions and fried green onions. everything right now. Come on, chicken. It was very tender. And the sauce flavor of it is spicy, maybe a little bit sweet as well. Tastes really good. I think I like it. It’s actually really fun to watch live cooking. Quite entertaining when it’s just like next to your table in front of you. Really cool stuff. So, we got another dish. That’s a scallops. Looks really good. And this is onion salt. to make it more flavorful with lemon and then maybe a little bit to be sure. Yeah. Let’s um have a really high expectation this taste good. Right. And with lemon. Oh, so fresh. I love it. Really? Oh, I wish we had the same in Germany. So good. [Music] So, another dish we got, it’s a grilled octopus. Probably you saw before how they were cooking for us. Looks really delicious and super hot. Let’s put a bit of lemon. Make sure It should be. And um let’s try one bite. Smells so good. So fresh. A bit of soy sauce, I think. And then lemon cuc. I like it. [Music] Okay. Princess So, next thing we got is beef. So, you can’t go wrong with beef. So, little bit of salt. Just make sure you can put a little bit of masala on top. like this and then put the beef with the soy sauce a little bit like this. And now let’s try. Wow, it’s so juicy. And um what I like is actually not fatty, you know, like it’s very juicy but not fat and very tender. Maybe this is like that’s why um very good beef is famous in the world. But I like it really. And also I mean wasabi it’s good sauce and gives some special taste. So I like it. gorgeous. It’s full of noodles, cabbage and seafood. I will put in my plate. Then we can try first by still to handle uh chopsticks better. But um hey, we’re getting there slowly. [Music] It’s a bit different. I never tried something similar before because it’s like a mix of noodles, egg, seafood, and cabbage. Quite interesting combination. I don’t know how to describe it, but I think I like it. It’s a It’s a has a good taste. This is my first time trying this. [Music] I think it’s really good combination. It’s familiar to me. I like Asian taste. Thank you. And also at the end we got one scoop of vanilla ice just to refresh taste. So what do you think about uh Tokyo so far? Well, it’s very different city. I mean first of all is the largest city in the world but it’s kind of minor thing I would say. I think one thing I will definitely remember it’s is it’s the smell on the street everywhere you can smell ramen like grills like a lot of real stuff like everything smells so delicious and you know even if you are full but this smell still makes you hungry of course like another thing you can see a lot of advertisement with you know cute anime way and I like it I mean it’s different from different from any European city agreed
After a peaceful evening back from Mount Fuji, we dove into Tokyo’s vibrant local scene — exploring Akihabara, Ueno, and Harajuku for amazing food, cozy cafés, and unique vibes you won’t find in any travel guide.
From late-night udon and city lights, to Kobe beef skewers, fresh sashimi, and 3D latte art, this episode captures the perfect mix of local eats, hidden gems, and Tokyo’s playful energy.
🍜 What you’ll see in this video:
• Light show at Tokyo Metropolitan Building 🌃
• Local udon dinner @ なにわ食麺処
• Akihabara & Ueno street food & arcades 🎮
• Kobe skewers, sashimi & caviar tasting 🍢
• Coffee at Yanaka & cute vibes at Harajuku ☕
• 3D Latte Art @ Café Reissue 🎨
• Teppan Baby dinner & Shinjuku night walk ✨
💡 Perfect for:
Food lovers, Japan travelers, Tokyo itinerary planners, and anyone looking for authentic local experiences beyond tourist spots.
📍 Location Highlights: Tokyo Metropolitan Building | Akihabara | Ueno | Harajuku | Shinjuku | Café Reissue | Teppan Baby
⸻
👉 Watch Previous: Ep. 2 – Relaxing Mount Fuji Day Trip 🗻
📺 Subscribe for more Japan travel & food stories: @EastWestWander
#TokyoFood #JapanTravel #MountFuji #EastWestWander
1 Comment
Cool food video; but tempura should never be served in a soup as it eliminates the crispy concept. So, I got lost on that one. But the rest looked fun; and the last day ramen looked fantastic! Thanks for sharing.