I visited the famous Korean restaurant, Saikabo, located in Yotsuya Sancho-me for the first time. The first floor is a takeout area for kimchi and Korean ingredients, while the second floor is a sit-down restaurant. The dishes here are what I would call classic Korean cuisine, with basic and authentic flavors. Everything I tried tasted delicious. There is a wide variety of menu options, making me want to try them all. Personally, I think the kimchi here is top-notch.

The wife's house room often seen in department stores, but the Yotsuya main store is worth a visit. To be honest, with the increase of high-quality Korean restaurants and authentic Korean eateries easily found nowadays, the value of our store in terms of dining has decreased significantly. Department store food outlets and relatively simple dining places adhere to the manual and do not serve unappetizing food, but they lack in taste. However, we take pride in spreading Korean cuisine and at least at the Yotsuya main store, we offer authentic and textbook-like Korean dishes in a casual way. At night, you can eat to your heart's content at a relatively low price, and even during odd hours, you can easily enjoy dishes like jeon, naengmyeon, and bibimbap. The kimchi and namul are also made with care and without shortcuts. Instead of raising prices for better-tasting food, we serve casual Korean everyday dishes. A light meal with makgeolli is perfect. It feels cheap compared to snacking lightly at a cheap izakaya and drinking beer or sake. Also, the Yotsuya main store has an impressive display of items inside the store. For me, half of the reason for coming to our store is to appreciate the displays. The Yotsuya main store of the wife's house room is definitely worth a visit. Furthermore, since this is a review about food, I will not give extra points based on the appeal of the displays. As an aside, the Yotsuya Fire Station has a Firefighting Museum attached. I have never been inside this museum, but you can see some of the exhibits from the outside. It's right nearby. Our store, in a way, combines a retail store, a restaurant, and a museum under one roof.

Today, I had a lunch meeting with a South Korean government official, and I made a big mistake by forgetting to take a photo of the main dish, Sundubu-jjigae. The lunch meeting, using a senior translator from a competitor company, was enjoyable. Thank you for the meal!

I tried to go to a nearby beef tongue restaurant, but it was closed just before the last order, so I came here and ordered the Bulgogi Bibimbap. It was around 1400 yen for a single item. However, the amount of meat in the menu photo and the actual dish were completely different! It was like a vegetable stir-fry with meat on top of stone-cooked rice, and to be honest, it was disappointing. Well, I guess it's good for getting your vegetables, but I wish it matched the menu photo. The taste was sweet, and I might get tired of it. I felt like adding some Gochujang or egg yolk. At first, I resisted, but when I asked for some Gochujang, it turned out that it was missing only from my table! I wanted to mix it from the beginning! Maybe I should have just ordered the stone-cooked Bibimbap. The kimchi and appetizers that came out first were consistently tasty, but not incredibly delicious. There are many kimchi with deeper flavors at kimchi specialty stores. However, I do like the Korean style of serving kimchi and appetizers first. If I have the chance, I will try a different menu next time. Thank you for the meal.

I used it for lunch. I was torn between stone bibimbap and ended up ordering pure tofu stew. It was surprisingly ordinary. But I think other menu items are delicious. The staff on the 1st floor were unfriendly, but the staff at the dining room on the 2nd floor were normal (lol). I was interested in buying kimchi on the 1st floor.

I used to enjoy eating "Yukkejang Udon" at the Tobu Department Store in Nishi-Ikebukuro. The udon noodles had a thick and chewy texture that I loved. After finishing work in Roppongi, I headed to Yotsuya San-chome for more Yukkejang Udon and Makgeolli. The portion size was a bit too much for one person, especially for takeout. The other dishes like Chapchae and Seafood Jeon were okay but not outstanding. The vegetables served with the meal were more suitable for a barbecue than a Korean meal. The Makgeolli was decent, with a good amount of foam. However, the Yukkejang Udon was a bit disappointing as the soup was thin and lacked flavor. Overall, the quality has dropped, and the value for money is not great. It's not a place I would recommend for dining alone.

I finished my errands nearby and had lunch. I usually only buy dinner side dishes at the shop on the first floor, so it was my first time at the restaurant on the second floor. There were only two groups of customers ahead of me. I came here for the stone pot bibimbap, but I also wanted to try the chijimi, so I ordered a set menu. The portions of both chijimi and stone pot bibimbap were so big that I couldn't finish them all. After finishing the bibimbap, I asked if I could take the leftover chijimi home, and they gave me a container to take it with me! I was very satisfied that I could enjoy it at home.

【Lunch Meeting】Today I was invited to this place. There were a total of 7 people. It was a rare situation where everyone except me was Korean, and we enjoyed it a lot❣️ The daily lunch special was "Naengmyeon and Bulgogi set". I was surprised that there was Bulgogi but no rice was served. I should have asked for it... Everyone, please be careful. Thank you for the delicious meal‼️

Shop name: Tsumakabeya Yotsuya Honten Nearest station: 3 minutes walk from Yotsuya-Sanchome The Sundubu set is the best here. After golf, I was craving something spicy so I decided to give it a try! I chose the Sundubu set from the extensive menu, which also comes with Chijimi, so it's a great deal! The dishes are prepared by Korean chefs and they are incredibly delicious. The silver spoon adds to the authenticity! I will definitely go back again!

It's a well-known Korean restaurant, Tsumayafusa. I often pass by the front of the store, but this time I entered for the first time. There is a staircase at the back of the food corner leading to the second floor (where you pay for your meal at the first-floor register). It was a hot day, so I decided to try the "Naengmyeon" for 990 yen. First, I was served small dishes, including the classic kimchi, which was delicious. The cold noodles were cut by the staff with scissors and served in a cold broth, which had a refreshing taste and was delicious. I wish there was more egg on top, but the broth was so tasty that I wanted to take some home. On the first floor, they also sell bento boxes at reasonable prices, so I would like to try them next time.

After a long time, I had lunch at "Saikafusa". It can be considered a landmark in Yotsuya 3-chome with its prominent sign and building. The first floor has a Korean grocery store and the dining area is on the second floor. The stairs to the second floor are narrow and steep, and Tanaka-kun always struggled to climb them slowly. It feels nostalgic. In the season filled with the presence of summer, I started to feel the preparations for the real summer, which made me crave Korean food. The restaurant was lively. This place is famous for its delicious chijimi. I ordered a lunch set with a small size stone bibimbap. The first to arrive was green onion kimchi, bean sprout namul, and cold corn tea. After a while, the bibimbap arrived. It was sizzling in a small stone bowl, and the sound of rice crackling could be heard. I dropped some gochujang and mixed it. At first, I used chopsticks without a spoon, crushed the egg yolk, and mixed it with the rice. I added various toppings like bean sprouts, komatsuna, zenmai namul, and chopped kimchi. I mixed them carefully without crushing the rice grains. When the color of gochujang spread to the rice, I flipped the contents with a spoon and mixed it with chopsticks again. After repeating this process a few times, I flattened the surface with a spoon and let it rest. When the sizzling sound and steam subsided, it was ready. When I flipped it with a spoon, the rice was slightly burnt, giving it a crispy texture. The air-filled rice was fluffy and the gochujang's spiciness, umami, and flavor spread in the mouth. The crunchy vegetables and kimchi added to the enjoyment of eating. Bibimbap is a rational and healthy food that can fill you up with a small amount of rice without feeling lonely even without side dishes. It's also enjoyable to eat it freshly cooked. I felt grateful for the simplicity and healthiness of bibimbap. The chijimi was also delicious. It had a crispy edge and a soft center with plenty of ingredients like green onions, carrots, onions, squid legs, shrimp, and clams. The sesame aroma was fragrant and the texture was light. It's a flour-based dish that allows you to eat a lot of vegetables and has a refreshing aftertaste. The tangy and spicy kimchi was delicious on its own as well. Heating it up on the stone bowl enhanced its sweetness and made it taste like a different dish. The wakame soup hydrated my stomach, and my belly was full. Now, it's time to go home.

This is a Korean restaurant that has been around for quite a long time. They offer a variety of delicious dishes, and it's fun to shop for kimchi and beauty drinks on the first floor before heading home. They have dishes like samgyeopsal, and the variety of vegetables they offer is quite extensive! Wrapping the meat in the vegetables and eating it is also delicious. Since it's run by Koreans, the menu is diverse and everything is tasty. It's nice that the atmosphere is not too casual. Lately, it's been quite empty, so it's easy to dine there. Although places like Okubo and Akasaka are nice, I like the calm atmosphere of this place. And to finish off, I always have the ginseng chicken soup.

Cold noodles and chijimi set with draft beer (large) for lunch at Tsumagoiya Shiba Main Store. Despite being the main store, it is quite small inside. Going up the narrow and steep stairs at the back of the store leads to a dining area with a Korean atmosphere. We were served namul and beer first, followed by the ordered cold noodles and chijimi. The cold noodles had a light and refreshing soup with a hint of sesame oil, and a nice tanginess. The noodles were cut with scissors and the chijimi was absolutely delicious. It had a fragrant sesame oil aroma, crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, paired perfectly with the sauce. It was so delicious!

This is the flagship store of a chain restaurant that is also located in the department store basement. I had visited it a long time ago, but decided to go back after a while. I was surprised to see that it was full during lunchtime. I ordered the seafood stone bibimbap. The soup and kimchi that came out first were delicious, so I had high hopes. However, when the seafood stone bibimbap arrived, it was different from what I had imagined. It was like a stir-fry of seafood, cabbage, and lots of gochujang (red chili paste) mixed with bibimbap. I had thought that it would be a traditional bibimbap with seafood added, so it was not what I expected. But when I took a bite, it was delicious with plenty of gochujang. The squid and shrimp in the stir-fry were tasty. If there had been more seafood, it could have been a standalone dish. It was quite spicy and hot as I mixed it with rice, so I ate it while huffing and puffing. I realized that I had a preconceived notion, and it was more like the gochujang mixed rice dishes seen in Korean dramas. Despite having eaten Korean food before, it felt fresh. This dish with lots of gochujang is something that Japanese people may not be able to make, so it's something I would like to eat at a place like this.

This is my second visit. I went for lunch on a Sunday. I went up the stairs to the second floor of the restaurant. The second floor only has table seating, but there were a few solo diners. I ordered the Sundubu jjigae. It had a good seafood broth, with plenty of tofu and a mild spiciness. It also came with rice, namul, and Korean seaweed. The cost performance is good. Order total (including tax): Sundubu jjigae 1,190 yen. Payment can be made with PayPay at the first floor register.

I visited during lunchtime on a weekday. It wasn't very crowded. I ordered the cheese bibimbap, which was delicious. It was nice that it came with side dishes. The portion size was just right for lunch. Overall, it was neither good nor bad.

Wife's House, a Korean restaurant. In my town, the landmarks of Yotsuya Sanchome are the Fire Museum and Super Maru Masu. Probably, this Wife's House. The first floor is a retail corner for Korean food ingredients. There is a Kimchi Museum in the back, and a small restaurant on the second floor. Almost all the people working there are of Korean descent, creating a mysterious space that makes you feel like you're on a small trip to Korea. The cheerful and friendly aunties working there add to the Korean vibe. The old building has quite a draft. Even with the heating on, the temperature doesn't rise and in the dead of winter, you end up shivering while eating. But that's not a bad thing... enjoying the sensation of warming up from the inside out with hot and spicy dishes, you might find yourself sweating without realizing it. Today, the restaurant was cool, so I decided to order the hot stone pot Bibimbap. A half-size stone pot Bibimbap with scallion pancake, soup, and kimchi. Bean sprout namul and oden simmered in soy sauce served as small side dishes. The scallion pancake is one of the specialties here. Come to think of it, the first scallion pancake I ever had was from here. It's difficult to evaluate the taste of scallion pancakes. There is no right answer, as the way it's cooked, the texture, and the taste can vary depending on the restaurant, even in Korea. Some are crispy, some are fluffy. So it's not about good or bad, but rather personal preference. This one here has a soft and gentle texture. It includes scallions, squid, and clams. The scallions make a crunchy sound when you bite into them, which is a unique experience. It's my favorite type. Now, onto the main dish, the stone pot Bibimbap. A small but thick stone pot. It's filled with heat and steam, making a sizzling sound. In the middle, there's a raw egg yolk. Bean sprouts, bracken, green vegetable namul, minced meat, and Korean seaweed are neatly arranged. You mix all these with the rice at the bottom and eat. The more you mix, the better it tastes... they say, but if you don't mix it properly, it can be ruined. You flip it over with a spoon, then mix it with chopsticks. You have to mix it without crushing the rice grains. You add gochujang, mix, taste, and adjust the seasoning. The key is to not crush the rice grains. By mixing well and incorporating air, all the ingredients heat up and become fluffy. When everything is mixed nicely, flatten the surface and let it sit for a while. When the steam settles down and becomes quiet, it's finally ready to eat. Gochujang coats the rice grains, giving a moist texture. Yet it's fluffy, dancing in your mouth. This is it, this. This is the delicious stone pot Bibimbap. He also eats it with a smile, saying there's always something to talk about, right? We finished eating, then slowly descended the dark, steep, and narrow staircase. Let's come back and eat again... my favorite place.

I ordered Ugeoji soup. While Sundubu is commonly seen in Japan, Ugeoji is not easy to find, so I was happy to discover it! It is made by simmering Chinese cabbage, horumon, and meat in miso for a long time, resulting in a rich flavor that is true to Korean cuisine. The Namul and Kimchi that came with it also lacked the Japanese touch and had a sour flavor typical of Korea. Very satisfying! Delicious!

Having lunch at the nearby Tsumakaya restaurant. Although it is a chain restaurant found all over Japan, this main store in Yotsuya-Sanchome feels special. The menu is different, and the flavors are more authentic. Inside this building, kimchi is made, and on the first floor, Korean food ingredients, kimchi, and side dishes like namul are sold. It feels like a little piece of Korea in this one place, which is charming. Going up the steep stairs to the second floor, all the unused halls are open and tables are spaced out to avoid sitting too close to each other, showing consideration for current times. They offer casual set meals. I ordered the bulgogi set with chijimi, which I had been craving. The dishes arrived promptly. First, the side dishes: bean sprout namul and simmered greens, followed by seaweed soup and napa cabbage kimchi. As I hydrated my throat with the soup, the rest of the dishes arrived. The bulgogi, marinated in a sweet sauce, was tender and flavorful, with green onions, onions, bell peppers, and enoki and shiitake mushrooms. It had a taste reminiscent of sukiyaki, with a hint of garlic, making the rice taste even better. The chijimi here was fluffy, filled with plenty of green onions and squid. The chewiness of the green onions and squid, combined with the rich flavor of the batter and the aroma of the oil, was simply delicious. The kimchi was also delicious, perfectly soaked and fresh, with a crisp texture and a good level of acidity. Eating it with rice filled me up quickly. Thank you for the meal.

Yotsuya Sanchome - Akebonobashi Development First Stop: Hachiku Yotsuya Store Second Stop: Here I purchased a takeout of "Rich Chapche with Sesame Oil Flavor" for 390 yen (2 servings). It's fun to encounter various Korean dishes and even those that can be enjoyed at home. However, the cashier seemed to be Korean, and their attitude was a bit cold, which bothered me a little.