B u y  i t  o n l i n e ! Tokyo Night City

Word of Mouth

Ramen shops are usually the haunts of students and ojisan, so the opening of Fuga in Asagaya (2-13-2 Asagaya-Kita, Suginami-ku; http://tinyurl.com/fuga-tokyo) is something of a surprise. This sleekly designed eatery is stylish and clean, with jazz BGM and a variety of tables in addition to counter seats. The owner is said to have visited “countless” ramen shops gathering information on how to make the best tantan-men—and it shows. Fuga’s award-winning version of the dish comes in several varieties, including regular (above, ¥880), shrimp (¥1,180), chicken (¥980) and even cheese (¥980). Other ramen dishes include chuka soba (¥700), the ever-popular chashu (¥950), wonton (¥950), and a variety of salt-broth-based noodle bowls: plain (¥700), chashu (¥950), butter (¥800) and chicken (¥700). A plate of five gyoza dumplings costs just ¥350, and Fuga also offers rice dishes like chashu donburi (¥400).

Cremamore serves up exactly what Tokyoites are hungry for during the dog days of summer: authentic Italian gelato. Recently opened in Shiodome’s Nippon TV Tower (B2, 1-6-1 Higashi Shimbashi, Minato-ku; www.cremamore.co.jp), the new shop joins branches in Hiroo, Jiyugaoka and LaLa Port Tokyo Bay, as well as overseas locations in Italy, France and Switzerland. All of Cremamore’s gelato is made from scratch following the original Italian manufacturing process. To ensure freshness, milk, eggs and fruit are purchased in Japan, and no preservatives, artificial coloring or additives are used. Besides traditional flavors like lemon, strawberry, pistachio and chocolate, Cremamore offers offbeat gelato like tomato, pumpkin and even “sparkling wine.” Limited time-only flavors include pineapple-basil and strawberry with bitter chocolate. A small (single-flavor) cup or cone is ¥400, while two flavors cost ¥450 and three go for ¥500. Dieters will be happy to learn that gelato contains less than half the dairy of normal ice cream—so dig in!

Ma Chambre in Roppongi Itchome (Izumi Garden Tower 3F, 1-6-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku; www.ma-chambre.com) is also doing its part to help locals get through the summer. On Friday, September 4, the elegant French restaurant will host a "vegetable tasting" event featuring produce from Nishiwaki Farm in Nagano. The ¥8,000 full-course dinner includes herbed cucumber and feta cheese cocktail; "Kita Akari" potatoes and foie gras confit seasoned with black sesame; red bell pepper and Mimolette gateau; fresh fish from Numazu with creamy eggplant; stuffed French quail with corn galette; and, for dessert, soufflé glace with tomato confiture and Tawny Port. Seating is limited to just 50 people, so book your spot now by calling 03-3560-5013 or via the website.

The owners of Hanabi in Nakameguro are so confident you’ll enjoy your meal that they’re offering an eye-opening deal to repeat customers: bring the receipt from your first visit, and 40 percent of that total will be discounted from your next one. Located on the Meguro River and melding the flavors of Europe, Japan and the rest of Asia, Hanabi (2-16-11 Aoba-dai, Meguro-ku; www.hanabi-nakame.jp) offers dishes like spicy Korean cucumbers (¥480), tandori shrimp (¥580) and vegetable terrine (¥580). Kushiyaki items include the usual chicken and pork skewers (from ¥150), plus shiitake (¥200), eringi mushrooms (¥180) and quail egg (¥200). A lineup of four pizzas is accompanied by a full page of pastas, as well as main dishes like stir-fried pork with oroshi ponzu (¥980), chicken Nanban with housemade tartar sauce (¥880) and yougan yaki (a tabletop stone grill). Top off your meal with desserts ranging from traditional Japanese wagashi (¥980) to banana-caramel parfait (¥1,080), gelato and gateau au chocolat (¥880). —Eds