Sadahiro Nakamura explains the four hottest restaurants opening in Tokyo, the city of gourmet food, in 2019

The unknown international food culture is fascinating

Nakamura says the reason he brings restaurants from various countries to Japan is because he feels that it would be great if his favorite overseas restaurants were in Japan.

"As you all know, Tokyo is home to a wide variety of cuisines from all over the world. However, there are still many genres that have not yet taken root. We run our own restaurants and produce our own restaurants, but I also think it would be interesting to find great restaurants overseas and open them in Japan. In this way, I would like to spread international food culture even further." (Nakamura)

The common thread among the restaurants he has worked on so far is that they have a great atmosphere, delicious food, good taste, and are highly innovative. Nakamura says that he unconsciously chooses such restaurants.

"I'm concerned about whether the restaurant has been loved by the locals for a long time and is a part of the town. Another thing is getting along well with the owner. The newly opened restaurant, "THE PIG & THE LADY," is a Vietnamese restaurant in Hawaii that I've loved for a long time. I went to meet the owner in person one day and expressed my love for him, and then the owner came to Japan with his family. We ate meals together and sang karaoke, and we hit it off right away." (Nakamura)

Nakamura has recently become particularly interested in Indian food, pizza, and Argentine beef, and is focusing on food culture rather than countries.

"For example, I'm interested in foreign cuisine in other countries, such as Indian restaurants in the UK. I also found an interesting restaurant in Iceland, although I can't reveal any specifics. I'm also going to nearby countries like Taiwan and China to see if there are any restaurants that would be interesting if we ran them. I'm also interested in hotels and beauty, not just food, and would like to get started on that at an early stage. Please look forward to more in the future." (Nakamura)

[From Hawaii] "THE PIG & THE LADY" in Ebisu is a modern Vietnamese restaurant with a touch of French cuisine

First, let's start with "THE PIG & THE LADY," which Nakamura mentioned in the interview above. This just opened in Ebisu on November 30th. The local store is located in Chinatown, which lies west of downtown Waikiki, Hawaii, and serves innovative Vietnamese cuisine with a touch of French cuisine.

The reason for this lies in the background of the owner and chef, Andrew Lai. A second-generation Vietnamese, he graduated from a culinary school in New York and is a talented chef who worked his way up to the position of sous chef at Chef Mavro, a five-star contemporary French restaurant in Hawaii.

Representative menu items include "Andrew's Fried Chicken" (3 pieces/1,300 yen, tax included), which features crispy and juicy fried chicken wings topped with a refreshing, sour sauce, and "Pho 75" (1,500 yen, tax included), which has a rich beef flavor and deep richness.

For lunch, there is also a new type of sandwich, "Beef Belly Banh Mi French Dip Style" (1,200 yen, tax included), which is made with beef, coriander, onions, and other ingredients in a spicy BBQ sauce, then dipped into a light pho soup. Be sure to try this unique and innovative Vietnamese dish early.

In addition to the restaurants set up by the Transit General Office, Tokyo is packed with restaurants from overseas. Our editorial team has picked out three recommended restaurants.

[From Taiwan] Enjoy exquisite Taiwanese cuisine with champagne at Fujin Tree in Nihonbashi

The second half of 2019 saw a rush of new commercial facilities opening in Shibuya, but don't miss COREDO Muromachi Terrace in Nihonbashi, which opened on September 27th. Among the restaurants in the building, one that has been attracting particular attention is Fujin Tree, a restaurant from Taiwan.

It first opened in Taipei in 2014. Since then, it has gained popularity among local food celebrities, as well as Japanese entertainers and creators, and repeat visitors to Taipei, and has become one of Taiwan's leading restaurants, having been selected as one of the "Top 50 Tourist Attractions in the World" in 2014 and as one of the "Top 10 Foodie Spots" recommended by the Taiwanese government in 2018.

Taiwanese cuisine may conjure up an image of B-grade gourmet, but the concept of this restaurant is to enjoy it with champagne. The restaurant's specialty is the "Spicy Stir-fried Flower Chives, Century Egg and Minced Pork" (1,848 yen, tax included), with an appetizing aroma and lingering flavor of the ingredients. Other dishes include the "Stir-fried Pork Belly with Jujube and Hibiscus Sauce" (2,398 yen, tax included), which melts in your mouth with its sweet richness, and the "Stir-fried Water Lotus and Nuts" (1,628 yen, tax included), a water lotus dish that is rare in Japan. You can enjoy the same dishes as at the Taipei main store.

On the same floor of COREDO Muromachi Terrace, you will also find the much talked about Taiwanese lifestyle shop Eslite Spectrum, which is also making its first appearance in Japan. Taiwan is a popular travel destination, but why not also take a casual, fun little trip to Tokyo?

[From Spain] Shibuya's "Jose Luis" is a long-established restaurant loved by the King of Spain

Among the many new facilities opening in Shibuya, the one that has been the hottest topic is Shibuya Scramble Square, which opened on November 1st. The building also has several stores that are opening in Japan for the first time, but if I had to choose one, I would choose Jose Luis.

The reason for this is the presence of a long-established restaurant that was founded in 1957. The main store is in Madrid, Spain, and it is a famous restaurant that is loved by not only celebrities but also the King of Spain.

Although it has a high level of formality, it also has a bar-like atmosphere where you can enjoy reasonably priced tapas and pinchos, or you can casually come for lunch or cafe time. The menu is based on the theme of "tradition and innovation," and is a fusion of Spanish tradition and Japanese culture.

The specialty is the pasta paella "Famous rich shrimp broth fidewa aioli espuma" (1,760 yen, tax included) and "Soufflé tortilla with rich melted cheese" (Small 1,540 yen, Large 3,080 yen, both tax included). It's hard to choose from these exquisite authentic Spanish dishes that go well with wine.

The building is known for its many shops and experiential observation space "SHIBUYA SKY," but if you'd like to enjoy a meal, be sure to visit this restaurant.

[From Singapore] Marina Bay Sands' "CÉ LA VI" comes to Shibuya

If you want to enjoy food and drinks with a spectacular view, you can't miss "CÉ LA VI TOKYO" at Tokyu Plaza Shibuya, which reopened on December 5th. "CÉ LA VI" is an entertainment restaurant located on the 57th floor of Singapore's famous landmark, Marina Bay Sands, and has branches in Hong Kong and France, and you can enjoy a luxurious experience at this new store.

The location, which is located on the rooftop of Tokyu Plaza Shibuya on the 17th and 18th floors, is a spectacular open space. The two floors will house three CÉ LA VI establishments, with the 17th floor housing the first CÉ LA VI café and bar, BAO by CÉ LA VI, and the entertainment space, CÉ LA VI CLUB LOUNGE. The 18th floor will house the CÉ LA VI RESTAURANT & SKY BAR, which has a sophisticated atmosphere.

The menu at "BAO by CÉ LA VI" is known for its creative-style burgers made with Chinese buns, and this dish is actually called "bao."

It is available with six different ingredients, including squid cutlet and sukiyaki style, and the prices start from 1,320 yen. "CÉ LA VI RESTAURANT & SKY BAR" only offers courses with three dishes for 2,900 yen for lunch and five dishes for 10,000 yen for dinner (all prices include tax and are separate from service charge), but they plan to offer ala carte dishes in the future.

There is also a rooftop garden called "SHIBU NIWA" on the 17th floor, which is free to use. Why not drop by just to enjoy the view?

This time, we have narrowed it down to four particularly noteworthy restaurants, but there are many other "landed" restaurants, such as "Gino Sorbillo Artista Pizza Napoletana," a long-established pizzeria from Naples, Italy; "Moriyoshida," a popular Parisian restaurant run by world-famous Japanese pastry chef Morihide Yoshida; and "Eggslut," an LA egg specialty restaurant that specializes in the "ultimate egg sandwich." Check out each restaurant and enjoy a diverse gourmet tour that can only be done in Tokyo.