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 Market Deli
want to meet at fmd_good The Spot
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Cool birthday discounts/freebies in Central Tokyo?
My friend group has birthdays in January, February and March, and back in my hometown shops would give you little freebies like dessert or 10% off your bill on your birthday… Happy New Year, r/Tokyo!
My friend group has birthdays in January, February and March, and back in my hometown shops would give you little freebies like dessert or 10% off your bill on your birthday month. We joked about abusing our consecutive birth months, which is why I thought I'd ask:
Have you had any experience, info, or recommendation for places we could go to make the most of these birthdays?
Thank you in advance, and have a wonderful 2024.
The birthday culture here is more about points and app signups than walk-in freebies. If you're near Shinjuku, the Isetan department store's app gives you a 5% off coupon for your birthday month that works at most of their restaurants and food counters. You need to register at least two weeks before your birthday though, and you have to use it at the store itself, not online. For something more casual, the Gonpachi chain (the one in Nishi-Azabu is the famous Kill Bill restaurant) gives you a free dessert plate if you mention it's your birthday when you book a table, but it's only on the actual day.
fwiw the tokyo tower observation deck used to do a free entry on your birthday if you show ID, not sure if it's still running post-pandemic but worth checking their site. also if you're into onsen, odaiba's oedo onsen monogatari gives a small discount and a free drink on your birthday month, just bring your residence card. for a more lowkey thing, a lot of the bouldering gyms in akihabara will let you climb for free on your actual birthday if you ask at the counter, u just need to sign a waiver
oh yeah plenty of places do birthday perks in tokyo, just gotta know where to look. if you're near shinjuku, swing by a karaoke place like big echo or shidax, they'll give you a free drink or a small dessert platter if you show ID on your birthday month, no booking needed. also a lot of the family restaurants like gustavo or royal host will comp a dessert or a mini cake if you mention it's a birthday, just ask when you order. for a more specific spot, i like the cafe at the tokyo metropolitan building's north tower, free coffee with a birthday pastry if you show them your passport, and the view's solid. just bring your ID or residence card, some places are strict about checking the date
load 7 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.