Japanese Food Bites: Indulging in the Taste of Summer

With our final days upon us, every moment counts. Whether that’s going shopping or sightseeing in places we haven’t crossed off our lists yet, or re-visiting our most memorable restaurants and shops, many of us embarked on our own adventures prior to our last class session held at Ochanomizu University. 

Hello everyone! Jo here again :)) Upon arriving back in Tokyo, I was ecstatic to come back to the Super Hotel Premier in Ikebukuro and to return to my favorite spots around the city. I spent a slower morning in the hotel, enjoying the breakfast buffet and then completing some project work, before heading out to grab a quick bite before class. Upon meeting Mandy, Daniel, and Rachel, we decided instead to indulge in our last Saizeriya feast! Luckily, we’d be returning to the same location, right off of Myōgadani station, where we had first tried this reliable and affordable Italian-adjacent cuisine.

Rachel splurged on buttery escargot and countless mini loafs of focaccia, while Mandy opted for spinach, mussels, and clam spaghetti. Daniel and I both ordered the same spinach, mushroom, and cream spaghetti, but he also added a plate of chicken wings and garlic toast. I think we all somehow ended up carbo-loading in preparation for our biology final with the iconic DPJ (Dr. Professor Jared).

After a grueling exam, we were rewarded with the joy of listening to our fellow classmates’ final food writing presentations. Slideshows, speeches, and narratives galore, with a nostalgic vlog at the end to conclude the afternoon (shoutout Kerem and Val for an awesome collection of footage!).

Once class was over, many of us split off on our separate ways. My next quest, was to meet up with a family friend for dinner. My mother’s best friend from college, who was also dubbed my sister’s godmother, invited me out to meet her and her husband for one last meal with them before leaving Japan. Her name is Gemma and is Filipino like myself, but lives in Japan now with her husband Tom! They met while traveling for scuba diving which is a whole other super cute story, but for now, dinner. The important part.

We started off at a yakiniku restaurant (Yakiniku Kokokara) located near Ningyōchō station, about a hop and a skip (it took me 40 minutes) away from where I was at Ochanomizu. After making my way through the Tokyo metro, I finally arrived at the establishment where Gemma met me with gifts of sunblock and green tea. As we waited for Tom to arrive, we ordered drinks (I got a peach sour) and sipped them slowly as I had the opportunity to reminisce about my entire month of traveling by showing her my endless rows of photos in my camera roll. She was amazed to see all the destinations we had visited, applauding me for having been able to experience the variety of landscapes that Japan has to offer, especially impressed by my stay at Nakamatsuya Ryokan in Ueda. Memories and stories were shared until Tom arrived…and this is where we really got down to business. 

He ordered several plates of meat for us to grill—beef tongue, harami skirt steak, filet, short ribs, and ribeye, accompanied by some pickled vegetables and salad to balance them out. The charcoal grill was set ablaze, and once it was hot enough, the sizzling hisses and smoky scents began to fill the air around us. I ate piece after piece of deliciously tender beef, overjoyed to finally experience a full yakiniku meal, but it all came to an end too quickly as my stomach capacity began to surrender.

“There’s a sushi place on the block over, it’s my favorite to go to for lunch!” Tom smiled. “Just a few bites and some sake, okay?”

Just the thought had me keeling over, borderline afraid to burst my stomach. But I couldn’t say no (that would be rude of course), and who was I to reject a little surf-and-turf moment as one of my last meals in Tokyo?

We paid the bill and crossed the street, entering another establishment (Sushi Tochinoki) with a completely different vibe. With wooden panels, softer music, and more tame clientele, this sushi restaurant contrasted the bustling and boisterous BBQ place from before, immediately calming my senses as we were able to wind down at our table. 

After some mild chatter about my plans for my last 2 days, a glorious platter of perfectly sliced seafood was set down in front of us. Somehow despite the month that I’ve been here, I was still trying new types of sashimi almost every time I had it.

Tuna, squid, scallop, red snapper, sea bass, red shrimp, abalone, herring roe…my eyes widened at the sight of the spread. My favorites were the tuna and the scallop, the tuna surprising me especially as it holds one of my lower sashimi rankings. With perfect stripes of buttery fat, the deep red flesh created a delicious blend of flavor on my tongue, unlike any tuna I had ever had before. The three of us enjoyed those pieces especially, enough to order a few additional nigiri to round out our post-dinner “snack.” Between bites, Tom and I folded several origami creations out of the sheet of paper meant to be a placemat (?), commenting on each other’s skill. 

Accompanied by an entire flight of regional sake, we finished the meal with a warm bowl of miso soup, a comforting end to the most fulfilling meal (literally, I thought I would pop a button on my shorts!).

They walked me back to the station where we parted ways, Gemma enthusiastically reminding me to return once again in the future, and to send my sister and brother-in-law along as well. With several hugs goodbye, I descended the stairs and set off back to Ikebukuro to turn in, looking forward to a quick onsen session and cozy Netflix night awaiting me. 

Alas, tomorrow will truly be my last day in Japan…for now. Until next time, じゃあね !!