2009 Tokyo Day 2

Place: Tsukiji market and Shinjuku. Tokyo, Japan.

Sake in carton, at 5:30am at Tsukiji market.

Uni, followed by half a dozen pieces of the day's fresh catch.

Grilled oysters and giant scallops (not shown).

Slightly torched o-toro just off Tsukiji market.

Ramen, at Inoue Ramen (井上拉面) just off Tsukiji market.

Grilled maguro head. Shinjuku.

Cream puff and caramel eclair, at Pâtisserie Sadaharu AOKI Paris, inside Isetan's food court. Shinjuku.

Chilled sake at 東方見聞錄, an izakaya. Shinjuku.

Ebi Filet-O (Shrimp burger), at McDonald's. Shinjuku.

Pan-fried dumplings, at 天狗, an izakaya. Shinjuku.

2009 Tokyo Day 1

Place: Various locations. Shibuya, Tokyo.

Ramen, at Ajino Tokeidai (味の時計台).

Sesame tofu, at Toriyoshi (鳥良).

Yakitori, featuring chicken skin two ways...torikawa (left), and deep-fried skin with light batter (right). Shibuya, Tokyo.

Suntory Premium Malt, at 鍋七.

Tomato and seafood hot pot.

The hotpot is effectively a Japanese version of a Marseillaise bouillabaisse.

Rating: 1 star to the tomato and seafood hotpot at 鍋七.

2009 Tokyo Day 5

Place: various. Tokyo, Japan.

Toro, at Sushi Dai (壽司大). Tsukiji market, Tokyo.

Tamago.

金目魚，佐口魚.

Uni.

膠魚.

赤貝.

鰤魚.

海蝦.

金槍魚.

海鰻.

Wagyu beef and Hokkaido hairy crab, at Seryna (瀬里奈). Shinjuku.

The shabu shabu spread.

Ramen, at Hakata Tenjin (博多天神). Shinjuku.

Rating: 2 stars to Sushi Dai (壽司大), for its impossibly fresh sushi and for maintaining its reputation as the restaurant in Japan with the longest wait lines.

2009 Tokyo Day 4

Place: various. Tokyo, Japan.

Course #1: Hors d'oeuvre, at a wedding at Hikawa Kaikan (氷川神社). Kawagoe.

Course #1: Sweet beans with gold-flake blemishes (left).

Course #2: Steamed sea bream with sakura tartar sauce.

Course #3: Lobster sashimi with three-sauce combination.

Course #4: Shark's fin soup royal.

Course #5: Baked seafood wrapped in origami with Spanish mackerel spring roll.

Course #6: Filet Mignon with truffle sauce.

Course #7: Three-color termari ball sushi (wrapped).

Course #7: Three-color termari ball sushi (unwrapped).

Course #8: vanilla ice cream sandwich with a decadent fruit sorbet.

Course #9: Wedding cake.

Chicken nugget at 鳥芳 in Takashimaya. Shinjuku.

Fried crab salad at Takashimaya. Shinjuku.

Sashimi platter at Sakai (酒意), an izakaya. Shinjuku.

Rating: 2 stars to the chicken nuggets at 鳥芳 in Takashimaya. Shinjuku.

2009 Tokyo Day 3

Place: Tokyo, Japan.

Uni (from Tsukiji market) rice (from convenience store). Akasaka.

Tonkatsu, at まい泉. Omotesando Hills.

Tonkatsu shootout...Kagoshima kurobuta (left) vs. regular kurobuta (right)

Cring, at Choux Cring. 表参道 station.

Ramen, at Mutekiya (無敵家), with its famous soft-boiled eggs and thick-cut chashu. Ikebukuro.

The empty bowl, a few minutes later.

Ratings: 3 stars to the cring, at Choux Cring. 2 stars to the Kagoshima and regular kurobuta tonkatsu, at まい泉; 1 star to the restaurant for its exceptional dedication to service and top-quality food. 2 stars to the ramen, at Mutekiya.