Summer may not be the best time of year to travel to Tokyo since it is very hot, it rains and there is a lot of humidity but the common of the mortals cannot choose when to take vacations so, sometimes, we have no other option.
The good thing is that Tokyo is a city with so many people that the summer exile is practically not noticeable and there are a lot of activities to do. Also, here the beer is always taken cold and there are some Summer dishes that are to die for. Aim!
Tokyo Restaurants
First it is time for some recommendations since the Japanese are particular and in Tokyo you have to know how to move to enjoy. One may be used to restaurants setting tables outside and eating and drinking on the sidewalk, under colorful umbrellas, in the sun, watching people go by. This is not the case here.
Tokyo is an excessively populated city so what abounds are buildings and although it is a seismic country buildings both go up and down. Each one usually has subsoil so the vast majority of Japanese restaurants are nowhere to be seen. And to that one has to get used to. In addition, unless the signs outside the building have photographs of what the environments are like as well as the food they serve, we cannot give us an idea of what we will find ...
But the appeal is precisely that. Not knowing what you will find but with the certainty that it will be a unique place with good food. Once you try going down to a couple of basements or taking a couple of elevators to unknown restaurants, you learn your lesson. It doesn't matter where the restaurant is!
Cold soba
Yes, noodles, cold pasta. It is a matter of getting used to it. The Japanese flavors are exquisite so soon you pass the surprise barrier and enjoy. The buckwheat noodles, soba, they are very rich and although they are served all year round in the heat of summer they come wonderfully.
They do not provide much carbohydrates, contain a lot of vitamin B and stamina. The soba bowl is served with a cold sauce accompanied by thinly sliced onions and of course, a touch of green and spicy wasabi.
kakigori
It is seen everywhere, it is eaten quickly, it is always repeated. It's about a type of ice cream made with slush ice topped with sweet sauce It is usually served with regular ice cream or sweet red beans. It's super refreshing even though the beans are weird ...
Hiyashi chuka
Nothing better than a salad for the summer and more or less that's what it's all about. Even if has noodles, in the best Japanese style. The noodles are cold and served with many vegetables colorful. The idea is that the dish is the closest thing to a rainbow, you know the more colors the more vitamins.
So there is carrots, cucumber, red ginger and even chicken meat. It is then seasoned with vinegar and soy sauce.
Come on
This dish is worth it even just to get up close to the stall and snap a photo of your cooking technique. It is so picturesque! It is seen a lot at festivals and is typical of the summer: freshwater fish, with a mild flavor and texture, they are called ayu, cooked on the grill: they are stuck in toothpicks and placed in a circle.
Ayu are similar to carp, they swim against the current like trout and are very popular in Japan because they are considered courageous.
Unagi
Since the Edo Period, that's how Tokyo was formerly called, this dish is the undisputed king of summer. It is a dish rich in B vitamins and Omega-3 fats, so a snack is an energy pump.
The most popular way to serve it is Kabayaki, steamed eel with sweet soy sauce on a mattress of Japanese rice. Hmm ...
Rei shabu
This is a plate with pork. Once the pork is cooked it is placed in cold water and served with julienned carrots, green beans and salsa. They serve you a tray with several bowls, the big one with the pork cut into bites on a mattress of vegetables, some sour pickles in another smaller bowl and two small containers with sauces.
Somen cold
It is called somen to the very thin noodles… They are cooked in the blink of an eye and in summer they are part of a cold soup which may have other extras. There are places where ice cubes are even added. Everything is to drive away the suffocating humidity of Tokyo.
Goya
Goya? Yes, it is the name of a fruit, a kind of melon According to Chinese medicine, it provides a lot of energy since it is rich in vitamin A and C and antioxidants. The way that the Japanese display food is extremely flirty so you'll see it a lot out there. But he has a surprise ...
It's bitter! It is not a sweet melon, nectar and stuff. If you go to Okinawa, a classic summer destination in Japan, you will end up trying it because it is so popular. Be part of goya shampoo, a dish with fried tofu, eggs and pork.
Sushi
I have gone to Japan in winter and the truth is that I have never wanted to eat suhi when it is cold, but in summer it is another story. If you decide to visit the popular and now touristy Tsukiji Market You can go to eat sushi at Sushi Dai and Daiwa Sushi. There are always customers but the wait is worth it. The sushi is super fresh.
Waku Tonkatsu
Tasty. It is panko breaded pork, Japanese breadcrumbs, thick, and fried. Very crunchy, very tasty. In general served with white rice and plain and lots of shredded cabbage, some pckles, and miso soup. Everything on a tray, Japanese style.
You can order the pork fillet, hire-katsu, or rosu-hatsu, meat from the tail or back of the animal. The second is juicier, with more streaks of fat. In this case, what you should know is that depending on the cut the flavor varies although, luckily for those of us who do not understand Japanese or understand very little, all varieties are delicious. There are many restaurants that specialize in Tonkatsu waku. In Shunjuku try Inaba Wako, inside Takashimaya, at Tokyu Hands.
These dishes are exquisite, simple, popular and cheap. One last tip: as in many cities in the world the lunch menu is cheaper than dinner so if you like a restaurant try going at noon. I have had lunch in spectacular places, of movies, for 1000 yen, about 10 dollars.