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 Forno Centrale
want to meet at fmd_good Funland
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Belle Salle's Secret?
yeah the building's not really known for one big crazy story but the area around it has this whole underground vibe. there's a small bar called Albatross in the golden gai that's three floors of absolute chaos, staff dress like vampires and the drinks are way too strong. perfect spot to hear wild stories if you're brave enough to squeeze in
for ramen i'd actually walk toward the yotsuya side, there's a shop called Nakiryu that does tantanmen. it's a michelin bib gourmand place but the line moves quick and the broth has this sesame kick that's way better than the standard shoyu around the station
oh man i actually know someone who worked security there for a bit. said the weirdest thing was when a magician booked the space for a private show and somehow locked himself in a supply closet for like two hours during setup. they had to call a locksmith and everything. he was totally fine but apparently the event started late and the crowd was just sitting there confused
for ramen honestly just walk toward the backstreets behind the venue, there's this tiny place called Ramen Jiro that does the massive bowls with pork and garlic. not for the faint of heart but it's an
not sure about "bizarre" but there was that time a few years back when a whole wedding party got stuck in the elevator for like 45 minutes during a typhoon. bride was apparently chill about it, groom was losing his mind. not a huge scandal but always gets brought up when people talk about the building.
if you're doing ramen near the station, skip the touristy ones and hit up Menya Musashi right by the east exit. their tsukemen is solid and it's usually just locals in there. the line moves fast even at lunch.
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.