When I was helping out in the fashion industry before, I was surprised to learn about the concept of trend colors for the upcoming year, which are not naturally occurring but rather are strategically promoted as an industry. It is interesting how history repeats itself, with past designs and colors making a comeback and becoming popular again. For example, the song "Aishiru" by PUFFY became a trend for 2022 on TikTok, even though the original was released in 1998, making it fresh for those who were not around 25 years ago. Similarly, many people associate "Choo Choo TRAIN" with EXILE, but it was actually first performed by ZOO as a campaign song for JR SKI SKI in 1991. The chairman of LDH JAPAN, which houses EXILE, was a member of ZOO. Today's lunch was at #Hiro #Hirokarasumachi. Recently, I've been exploring hard-to-find shops in alleyways, and this was my first visit to this particular restaurant. I ordered the seafood bara-chirashi, which was served promptly despite the small staff and continuous influx of customers. The seafood bowl was vibrant and included a variety of seafood like tuna, octopus, and other fish, offering a range of delicious flavors. The fluffy texture of the rolled omelette served on the side complemented the bowl well. The miso soup was hearty with plenty of ingredients like large-cut daikon radish, providing a satisfying meal. The simple yet tasty salad on the side was a nice touch. This restaurant allows smoking, which is rare these days, so it might be best to visit before it gets too crowded. I'm curious about the other menu items and would like to come back again.

Located on the 3rd floor of a building near Shimbashi and Uchisaiwaicho, this izakaya is celebrating its 5th anniversary. I had never had the chance to visit for lunch before, but on a day when the eel restaurant on the first floor was closed, I decided to try their lunch menu. I pressed the elevator button, borrowed some hand sanitizer from the front entrance, and was seated at a small table for two. The previous customers were dining without masks, and the staff, also without masks, kept their distance. I ordered the "Seafood Bara Chirashi & Miso Soup" for 900 yen from the menu. It arrived in just 6 minutes, with a tray containing chopsticks, soy sauce dispenser, soy sauce dish, a tiny salad, pickles, miso soup, and the seafood bowl. I transferred wasabi from the bowl to the soy sauce dish and started with the miso soup, which tasted a bit bland. The seafood bara chirashi had a lot of egg and lacked a strong seafood flavor. The negitoro was also minimal. As more customers arrived, some even smoked without masks, I decided to leave after 15 minutes. I paid in cash and borrowed some hand sanitizer on my way out at a nearby bank.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I had no side effects from the third dose of the COVID vaccine, so I decided to go to the office. I think it's because I had Pfizer x 3, but I can't help but worry that if there are no side effects, maybe I didn't develop antibodies. When I don't have a particular place I want to go on the day I go to the office, I eat whatever catches my eye during my morning restaurant search on Tabelog. Today, it was a seafood bowl that caught my eye. Personally, I prefer bara-chirashi over seafood bowls, and since it was chilly today, I wanted some miso soup, so I chose this place. It's located on the 3rd floor of a building with many night-only open shops, with a narrow and old elevator. If you don't know about it, it's not a building you'd enter. It's been about a year since my last visit. Last time, the place was quiet due to the peak of the pandemic when everyone was refraining from going to work. Despite that, I had seen lunch signs, so I knew they were still in business. I admired their perseverance. When I got off the elevator on the 3rd floor, the restaurant was quite crowded. And while I was there, it almost became full, with some tables turning twice. It seems like a thriving restaurant despite its unfavorable location. Many customers seemed to be regulars. The reason is clear. There is an ashtray on every table, and smoking is allowed. I'm not a smoker, but I've been working since the days when people could smoke at their desks, so I'm not bothered by other people's smoke. Nowadays, most places are non-smoking, so even if they say they are non-smoking, non-smokers don't come, but if it's smoking-allowed, smokers will come seeking that. Regardless of gender. It's a good strategy, I think. From Nishi-Shinbashi to Toranomon, there are many large companies and government offices. Although there are no official statistics, I think the percentage of smokers among people working in such places is higher than average. The Velocce I used to go to has changed its concept to a high-priced coffee shop exclusively for smokers and is thriving. Smokers feel restricted, so they gather at such places, I think. I sat at a table for two and ordered the bara-chirashi and miso soup set. The regulars probably come almost every day. They often order the daily special. When I finished eating, I ordered an iced coffee for an extra 100 yen and enjoyed my smoking time. It's kind of old-fashioned to order an iced coffee instead of regular coffee, and I like it (laughs). After a while, the dishes arrived. The visual presentation of the bara-chirashi hadn't changed, and the amount of ingredients in the miso soup was the same. That's something to be grateful for. As a wasabi lover, I appreciate the generous amount of wasabi on top. I knew from a previous visit that refills of miso soup were allowed (I didn't do it last time), but this time, the place was busy and the proprietress seemed very busy, so I couldn't bring myself to ask for a refill. (´Д⊂ｸﾞｽﾝ Next time, I'll muster up the courage. I'll visit again.

Recently, I started going to HARU, a building with small shops, continental Chinese restaurants, and slightly shady places, which seems very Shinbashi-like. It is located next to Chin-Chikurin, a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki restaurant. One day, as I was leaving HARU, I noticed a lunch sign outside the building. They were offering seafood chirashi, and it caught my attention because I had been missing the bara chirashi from Yamato Sushi near the station, which was not available for lunch. The price was a bit high at 900 yen, but it came with miso soup, which was actually tonjiru (pork miso soup). I love pork, so I was excited. Due to the unexpected spread of COVID-19, the company requested that we use paid leave or work from home during the year-end and New Year holidays. So, I decided to visit the restaurant on the last Tuesday of the year. The restaurant was located on the 3rd floor of the Shinbashi-like building. I had to pass through a narrow, dark corridor between the shops and take the elevator to the 3rd floor. When the elevator doors opened, there were only two shops on the 3rd floor, and one of them was closed. Perhaps due to the impact of COVID-19. The open shop did not have a sign outside, so I was unsure if it was the right place. However, I took a chance and asked if it was the seafood chirashi restaurant, and it was. I sat down and found that the restaurant mainly had table seating, with the counter area being unused and filled with items. It seemed like the restaurant was heavily affected by the pandemic. I was the only customer. The chirashi arrived after a short wait. It was topped with various seafood cuts on a bed of shredded egg, with negitoro on top. The side dishes included a vegetable salad, macaroni salad, pickles, and tonjiru. They also brought shichimi spice. I started with the tonjiru, which was filled with large chunks of root vegetables like daikon, burdock, and carrot. The vegetables were cooked perfectly and added a nice texture to the soup. It was really delicious. Next, I tried the chirashi, which had a variety of fish including tuna, white fish, yellowtail, and octopus. The vinegared rice was well-balanced, and the shredded egg added color and flavor. The restaurant also had a good selection of sake. Seafood chirashi is often served with either plain rice or vinegared rice, and I prefer the latter. It is usually more expensive for lunch, especially at sushi restaurants. Considering the price, quality, and the addition of tonjiru, which was a highlight for me, this place is great. Despite its location on the old and dark 3rd floor of a building, the restaurant seems to have been around for a while. However, today I was the only customer. It's a tough spot to attract customers, but I would like to visit occasionally to show my support.

The restaurant has an adult atmosphere and seems cozy from the lunchtime reviews. It looks like there are many regular customers. The staff and customers have a good tempo. The tables have a calm atmosphere, and there are semi-private table seats as well. The female staff members move swiftly and it's enjoyable to watch, creating a favorable impression. I visited with two colleagues to find a place for a drinking party in Shinbashi (but that's just an excuse, haha). We started with three appetizers: simmered gourd, boiled conger eel, and raw white fish. The plum paste accompanying the eel was different from the usual pink plum paste, with a bonito flavor and plenty of plum paste without being too sour, showing the maker's dedication. The eel was tender and very delicious, making me want to drink sake. The menu offers a variety of sake such as Kokuryu, Matsumoto, Shira Raku, and seasonal limited sake, which is great. But since tonight is just a preview, I'll hold back. The sashimi, especially the bonito, was delicious. I think the wasabi was freshly grated, and it not only had spiciness but also a delicious aroma. Lastly, when we asked for a grilled dish, we were served grilled saury with yuzu soy sauce. I thought saury was in season in spring, but grilling it with yuzu soy sauce reduces excess fat, making it refreshing to eat. The food is delicious and the calm atmosphere is a big plus for banquets! Thank you for the meal, I will visit again.

The 26th stop on my lunch tour in Shinbashi is the izakaya "Hiro" located on the 3rd floor of a mixed-use building behind Mizuho Bank, just a short walk from Nishi-Shinbashi intersection through the underground passage from Uchisaiwaicho Station. The building, Shinbashi Pioneer Building 2, seems to have almost all the shops covered, making it feel like I've conquered most of the restaurants in the area. The elevator to the 3rd floor is quite narrow and reminiscent of those found in buildings with many hostess bars. As soon as you reach the 3rd floor, you'll find the restaurant. Despite its inconspicuous location, the restaurant has a strong point - you can smoke during lunchtime. There were ashtrays on the tables, and although there were few customers at the time, I couldn't help but notice this unique feature. The interior of the restaurant is stylish and seems to cater more to female customers than male customers. The menu includes sashimi platter, seafood three-color bowl with miso soup, daily changing miso soup, eel bowl, seafood bara-chirashi, and pork curry rice with a raw egg on top. I ordered the seafood bara-chirashi, and it was decent, considering it's an izakaya. The highlight was definitely the miso soup, which was packed with ingredients and very delicious. However, as more salarymen started smoking, I quickly finished my meal and left. It's definitely a lunch spot catered towards smokers.

Near Shinbashi and Uchisaiwaicho, there is a restaurant on the 3rd floor of a building with a lunch sign as a landmark. The lunch at this Shinbashi izakaya is quite high quality, just like many others in the area. On this occasion, I had an eel bowl and miso soup lunch (which was around 800 yen at the time, but I saw in recent posts that it has become 900 yen). The eel was finely chopped, making it easy to eat, and it was delightful to enjoy it with the shredded omelette. The miso soup was also full of ingredients, which was great. The lunch menu mentioned that miso soup refills were free, but I can't quite remember if that also applied to the pork miso soup (sorry). Unfortunately, the restaurant is closed on weekends and holidays due to its location. As I write about past visits like this, I feel nostalgic and a bit sad that I can't go now (laughs).

Seafood bara chirashi and tonjiru. The tonjiru had plenty of large ingredients.

Overall, the à la carte menu is around 5,000 yen, but the course includes all-you-can-drink options for sake, Matsumoto, and malt-scented ale. The dishes are generous in portion size, making it a good deal with a calm atmosphere and excellent service. However, if there is a mixer event, the shop itself is small, so it can get quite noisy. Smoking is allowed, so those sensitive to smells may not find it ideal.

The timing of the meal was perfect.

The restaurant is located in a mixed building with a girls' bar, but the atmosphere inside is decent. It's not exactly a cheap izakaya, as they offer all-you-can-drink options that include sake from Kyoto's Sawaya Matsumoto. What stands out the most is their selection of sake, which is surprisingly extensive for a budget izakaya, featuring brands like Kuro Ryu and KageTora. They also serve White Oak highballs. The sashimi is not as impressive as the one I had at Kin Fuji earlier, but it's still decent. They also offer wasabi, seafood salad, edamame, and sausage dumplings.

The food was surprisingly delicious and the staff was energetic, which was nice. However, the all-you-can-drink option had too much alcohol. I ended up getting pretty drunk (-_-;) Although I thought it was Japanese food, there were also Italian-inspired dishes that were tasty (^ー^)