iki Roastery & Eatery: Where Light, Coffee, and Perfect Cake Meet in Kiyosumi Shirakawa, Tokyo

The interior of a bustling cafe with a high ceiling and exposed wooden beams. A white counter has a sign above it that reads, 'Be. Here. Now.' and many customers are gathered around it.

Discovering a Sanctuary of Light in Kiyosumi Shirakawa Kiyosumi Shirakawa, on the east side of Tokyo, has transformed into a pilgrimage site for specialty coffee lovers since the arrival of Blue Bottle Coffee. However, the reason I’m repeatedly drawn back to this neighborhood is concentrated in one specific place, a short walk from the bustling Continue reading “iki Roastery & Eatery: Where Light, Coffee, and Perfect Cake Meet in Kiyosumi Shirakawa, Tokyo”

Finding Tokyo’s Best Thai Food: My Unforgettable Lunch at Old Thailand

A Thai food set on a wooden table. In the foreground is a bowl of Sen Lek Nam, a rice noodle soup with minced meat and cilantro, with a side of mini Gapao and a fresh spring roll in the background.

A Quest for Authenticity: Why I Keep Coming Back to Old Thailand Tokyo Sometimes, a craving hits. It’s sudden and undeniable. You need truly delicious Thai food. As CityNomix, my days in digital marketing are filled with logic and data. But when I step out into the city, I’m on a constant search. I look Continue reading “Finding Tokyo’s Best Thai Food: My Unforgettable Lunch at Old Thailand”

The New Standard for a Stylish Lunch in Nihonbashi: My Culinary Journey at Bistro Yen

A close-up of geoduck pasta with basil sauce on a white plate. The green sauce coats the pasta, which is topped with chopped geoduck and basil leaves.

Finding a Truly Stylish Lunch in Nihonbashi: A Post-Meeting Detour to Bistro Yen Nihonbashi, Tokyo. This district, known as the heart of Japan’s finance, is shedding its stern exterior. It’s transforming into a vibrant hub of culture. Historic shops now share the streets with innovative new restaurants. At the center of this evolution is the Continue reading “The New Standard for a Stylish Lunch in Nihonbashi: My Culinary Journey at Bistro Yen”

Morton’s The Steakhouse Marunouchi: A Review of a Perfect Steak Night in Tokyo

A thick-cut Prime New York steak, sliced and arranged on a white plate. The cross-section shows a juicy medium-rare center with a well-seared, dark crust.

An Evening at Morton’s The Steakhouse Marunouchi: Where Chicago Legacy Meets Japanese Hospitality There’s a name that has long been on my personal list of must-visit restaurants, a place I first dreamed of while wandering through the Ala Moana Center in Hawaii: Morton’s The Steakhouse. Its prestigious reputation and classic, somewhat intimidating, aura always made Continue reading “Morton’s The Steakhouse Marunouchi: A Review of a Perfect Steak Night in Tokyo”

Tokyo’s Udon Gem: Maruka in Jimbocho – Sanuki Noodles, Killer Tempura, and a Jimi Hendrix Soundtrack

Overhead view of cold wakame udon noodles with kashiwa chicken tempura, chikuwa fish cake tempura, and a small dish of vinegar on a wooden tray.

My meeting today was in Jimbocho. This culturally rich Tokyo neighborhood is known for its universities, bookstores, curry shops, and record stores. For lunch, I, CityNomix, opted for something quintessentially Japanese yet with a unique twist: Sanuki udon. The place? Udon Maruka. It’s a name whispered with reverence among udon aficionados, a true institution. An Continue reading “Tokyo’s Udon Gem: Maruka in Jimbocho – Sanuki Noodles, Killer Tempura, and a Jimi Hendrix Soundtrack”