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want to meet at fmd_good Wildlife Reserve
want to meet at fmd_good Market Deli
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Best Shabu Shabu Recommendations?
Few things to note:
- I don't care about price
- I'm super particular about my Goma sauce. I like it… I looked at the past recommendations thread, but I don't see anything about shabu shabu places?
Few things to note:
- I don't care about price
- I'm super particular about my Goma sauce. I like it smooth and thicker than most (the type that actually clings to the meat). Anything with watery goma sauce is an instant no.
- I'm also picky about the thinness of the meat. I don't like the meat to be see-through but also don't want it thick enough to be a cube chunk.
Appreciate any help :D
if you're that picky about goma sauce texture, skip the chain places entirely and go to seryna in roppongi. their sesame sauce is house-made and has this almost creamy thickness that coats every slice perfectly. the meat is cut by hand so it's not some machine-shaved nonsense, you get that nice balance where it's thin enough to be elegant but still has some chew. they also have a sukiyaki option if you want to compare, but the shabu shabu is the move there
honestly for that thick goma sauce texture you're after, try Zakuro in Shinjuku. they grind their own sesame tableside so it's way thicker than the pre-made stuff, almost like a nut butter consistency. the meat is sliced a bit on the thicker side too, not paper thin but still melts in the broth after a few seconds. just go to the one near Isetan, the other locations aren't as consistent with the sauce
tbh the goma sauce thing is a big deal and most places in Tokyo water it down. you might like Imahan in Ginza, their sesame sauce is super thick and almost paste-like, really sticks to the meat. the beef there is sliced just right too, thin enough to cook in seconds but still has some bite to it. just be ready for the price tag, it's definitely a special occasion spot
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.
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