When I think of the one restaurant in Tokyo I most want to go back to, Kameido Horumon is the first place that comes to mind. The prices are good, the atmosphere is casual, and as long as you queue up you can eat without a reservation. This time too, without much deliberation, I just lined up and went in.

Fresh lemon sour and a Coke

At this place the sours suit the food better than beer. You have to eat a lot of good meat here, and beer just fills you up..

Bean sprouts

As always, the portion is ridiculous. Japan has no free-refill culture, so a freebie like this is really welcome.

Tokujo gyutan (premium beef tongue)

I noticed there was a premium grade of gyutan too, so I ordered it, and it was an absolute knockout. The balance between chewy and tender is just exquisite. I saw a whole new level of beef tongue, no, a whole new level of beef.

Nikomi (offal stew)

Cheap and delicious nikomi. Big, cheap snacks to go with drinks are great, but they are so tasty that you end up drinking a lot too.

Shimacho (large intestine)

It is expensive in Korea, so in Japan you have to hoover it up without mercy. I did the maths, and two or three visits to Kameido Horumon are enough to make back the airfare to Tokyo.

Horumon

Had to have some marinated offal too. This was already my fifth visit and I have tried pretty much everything on the menu by now, so ordering one plate of each kind and calling it a day seems to be the most satisfying way to do it.

Tontoro (pork jowl)

Nice and fresh. Slowly getting full now.

Harami (skirt steak)

Have to eat some proper meat too, not just offal. Hanwoo beef is so expensive in Korea these days that stuffing yourself in Japan before you go home is the only way to come out ahead.

Kalbi (short rib)

I skipped the premium kalbi this time. The regular kalbi was plenty delicious on its own.

If I ever end up in Tokyo again, I am sure I will be dropping by this place once more. I hear there is also a branch near Ebisu Station, and it gets very good reviews too. I would like to try that one as well.

한국어로 읽기日本語で読む