Itadakimasu ー２ー

Authored by Anum Bajowa 

This is more on the modern, upscale, pricier side but koé donuts in the markets of Kyoto (I think Teramachi but I’m not sure) was a great treat. They have a beautiful store with super modern and interesting architecture. They had a bunch of flavors of donuts but I got the matcha because when in Japan…! The donuts were yummy! 9/10

I found this on TikTok so it is a popular place to go when in Tokyo! Totoro cream puffs from a small bakery is the perfect place to go for a Ghibli fan. Make sure to go early though because it is a popular spot so many people go early and sometimes they are sold out. My favorite one was the chocolate, but the strawberry was equally as yummy and cute. It’s a little out of the way in Tokyo depending on where you’re staying but definitely worth it. 10/10 come on… it’s a Totoro cream puff!

This is a traditional Japanese restaurant we went to for our Survival Japanese course to practice our ordering skills. We took off our shoes and ate on low tables. On the menu, you could choose 2 side dishes to go with your rice and miso soup. I got fried fish and shrimp tempura and they were both amazing and freshly made. It was a great experience both to order in Japanese and to eat such an authentic meal. 10/10 shrimp tempura is always my favorite!

Takoyaki is a snack that I had been meaning to try for a while but never got the chance until I met with my old neighbor who lives in Tokyo. It was her favorite so we had to split one. It is like pancake batter balls with octopus inside and seasoning on top. It was my first time trying octopus and for a picky eater, it wasn’t bad at all! It was very flavorful and my friend told me people often make it at home for lunch. 9.5/10 I was proud of myself for trying something different!

During our overnight excursion in Nara, we stayed at a ryokan and had a traditional Japanese dinner prepared by the hotel staff. It was my first time trying a full Japanese course meal like this and I found it interesting how many little dishes there were. There was something for everyone thankfully, and I found I liked some dishes more than others. It was light and refreshing and by the time I was done, I was extremely full. 10/10 and a great experience overall!

This is one of my favorite dishes I had during my time in Kyoto. This is a halal ramen place and they had lots of choices in spice level. They had the vending machine ordering system so you pay and take your ticket to them. I got the super spicy one but needed lots of water. It was absolutely delicious and I recommend it to everyone who stays in Kyoto. Halal Ramen Ayam Ya Karasuma Kyoto is the name but be careful as they are only open at certain times and days of the week. 100/10 can’t recommend it enough!!

This was a shake from a small shop in Kyoto called Banana for Human by Gorilla. The concept of the store is super creative and silly and the triple chocolate banana milkshake was super good and I wish I got to go again. The workers wear gorilla masks and the store is covered in leaves and gorilla themed stuff. Basically, it’s a gorilla serving humans bananas. 10/10 Super fun and refreshing especially in the heat!

This was a shake from a small shop in Kyoto called Banana for Human by Gorilla. The concept of the store is super creative and silly and the triple chocolate banana milkshake was super good and I wish I got to go again. The workers wear gorilla masks and the store is covered in leaves and gorilla themed stuff. Basically, it’s a gorilla serving humans bananas. 10/10 Super fun and refreshing especially in the heat!

Last but not least, Kobe beef! This was the last meal I had in Japan and it was so well worth it. The place my friend and I went to was halal certified which was a rare but appreciated find. They prepared it infront of us and mixed it in with rice. It was super flavorful and soft and I could understand why it was so popular. It was definitely worth the price. 11/10 super fancy place and great, authentic Kobe beef. This was only some of the great food I had in Japan and I am so thankful for every meal as it was an experience in itself. Again, these were some of the things I had with my dietary restrictions and not everyone’s experiences and tastes will be the same. There were many nights of butter pasta and convenience store dinners along the way but they were delicious in their own right as well. Happy eating! Gochisosama (ごちそうさま)!