As our first entry to the list, we would like to introduce you a restaurant that is located in Tamachi.  The restaurant is a typical "Izakaya" (a traditional Japanese bar joint) where you will inevitably listen to Enka (the Japanese folk songs) as a background music, and where flocks of Oyaji's (Japanese stereotypical middle aged businessmen) head after hours of hard labor. Understandably, the atmosphere is far from being fashionable or stylish, but they do serve you great Gyozas here. Gyozas are meat or vegetable dumplings originally from China, but it's quite common and very popular even in Japan. Minced pork are mixed with tiny sliced vegetables, and wrapped by flour dough. It is fried until golden brown, crispy on the outside, chewy just below the skin, and juicy when you reach the core. Each piece is small enough that you will soon forget to count how many you have consumed. Chopped garlic is usually an important ingredient in any Gyoza, but here at Shu-mi, they use a special ginger that reduces the potent smell afterwards. So there's another excuse for you to serve yourself that extra piece.  This restaurant is not only a Gyoza restaurant, but it is also a Japanese-style dining bar, where you can eat other variety of dishes. The prices are not expensive, very reasonable (half a dozen of Gyoza are 190 yen). The restaurant may be a far cry from the likes of fashionable eateries, but you can taste the delicious Gyoza while immersing yourself in down to earth atmosphere of this typical Japanese dining joint. It's definitely worth a try if you are ready to have a glimpse of real Japanese culture under the skin.Shù-mi Tel. 03-3456-3100 2-17-11, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo (About 8 minutes on foot from Tamachi Station) Open: 17:00 - 23:00  MAP |
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