Page 118 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

116  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Tokyo is one of the major gourmet cities in does not have to be exorbitant. There are
the world, known not only for its sushi and numerous mid- or low-end diners; noodle
other Japanese delicacies, but also for the shops abound, as do fast-food restaurants
remarkable variety of foreign cuisines. (both Western and local); and, if pressed for
Humble taverns or grills that have been in time and money, you can pick up snacks in
business for centuries nestle side by side with supermarkets, convenience stores, and mid-
gleaming high-rise malls lined with delis and range restaurants clustered around train
markets serving foods from around the world. stations. Wherever you go, standards of
The quality of meals at high-end restaurants service and cleanliness are invariably high.
is matched by their prices, but eating out It is hard to get a bad meal in Tokyo.

Reservations and Prices and Paying
Dress Code
Tokyo has restaurants to suit all
Reservations are advisable at budgets. You can slurp a bowl
top restaurants in Tokyo and of noodles for less than ¥500 or
essential at the most exclusive spend an entire week’s budget
dining places. Elsewhere, you on a single meal. Many upscale
can usually find a table without restaurants that might charge
a reservation, especially if you ¥10,000–¥20,000 per head at
arrive early in the evening. dinner often have economical
Some restaurants won’t allow lunch menus for ¥3,000–¥5,000.
phone reservations, but if you A consumption tax of 8
show up in person and no percent is included in the price,
tables are free, they will put but many Western restaurants
your name on a list and call add a service charge, too. Some
you when a space opens up. traditional Japanese eateries
There is no dress code in serve an obligatory starter
Japan for eating at restaurants, (otoshi) in lieu of a table charge.
though women may find long, At coffee shops and many
loose clothing advantageous restaurants, the bill is placed on
Savoring a sushi meal at a restaurant when dining at a place with your table. Just take it to the
in Jingumae zashiki (low platform) seating. cashier to pay. At some bars and
Also, be sure to wear clean restaurants you will be asked to
Meals and Meal Times socks or stockings without pay at your table. The amount,
Most ryokan (see p110) and holes if seating on tatami written on a slip of paper, will
some hotels serve a traditional mats is involved, as you will be presented to you on a small
Japanese breakfast from 7 until have to take off your shoes. tray. Place your payment (cash
9am. If your hotel doesn’t, you or card) on this tray; your
will easily find a nearby café Set Menus (Teishoku) change will be returned on
serving coffee and crois sants or the same tray. Tipping is not
Danish pastries. When Japanese Most restaurants in Tokyo expected and may be refused.
eat breakfast out, they usually offer fixed-price menus
do so in coffee shops that serve called teishoku. These can
sets called moningu (morning), be especially good value at
consisting of coffee, toast, a lunchtime. Usually there will
hard-boiled egg, and a small be a number of menu choices.
salad. However, breakfast is not Some restaurants have
a major meal in modern Tokyo. window displays with realistic-
Tokyoites tend to eat lunch looking plastic models of
early. Typically, lunch runs their dishes, or menus with
from 11:30am to 2:30pm, and photographs. Point to an item
dinner starts at 5:30 or 6pm. if you do not know its name.
Although some upscale At many noodle restaurants,
restaurants stop serving at Japanese curry shops, and basic
9 or 10pm, most stay open diners or shokudo, it may be
until around 11 or 11:30pm necessary to obtain a ticket
(later still in areas such as from the vending machine
Roppongi) to cater to the at the entrance before you Realistic-looking plastic-food display in a
after-hours office crowd. place an order. restaurant window

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