Create meetup in Tokyochevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good Brew Lab
want to meet at fmd_good Vintage Avenue
want to meet at fmd_good Local House
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Hub or other similar bars? π€π€
if you want something less chain-pub feeling, try the standing bar area in golden gai. it's not one bar but a bunch of tiny places where everyone's packed in and talking. way easier to strike up a conversation than a hub where people go in groups. also check out the irish pub the auld penny in shibuya, it gets rowdy and people move between the bar and the standing tables
honestly if you want standing room and a bit more chaotic energy, check out The Aldgate in Shinjuku. it's got that same british pub vibe as Hub but way more cramped so people bump into each other naturally. Shibuya Hub gets too packed with tourists trying to do the same thing. also try The Open Book in Roppongi if you're out late, it's more of a dive but the crowd mixes standing and tables, easy to slide up to the bar and chat.
yeah hubs are fine but they're all pretty much the same chain formula. if you want standing and mingling try the standing bars in nishi-azabu or around hiroo, way more local and less scripted. there's one called standing bar kaz in nakameguro that gets packed with people who actually talk to strangers, not just groups of salarymen. also the hub in roppongi is a different vibe than shibuya, more expats and people wandering in solo, but it can get messy on weekends
load 2 more replies
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.