In the bustling dining area near Tokyo Station’s Yaesu Exit, there’s a restaurant zone filled with options. Taking the escalator to the second floor brings you to the Tokyo Station First Avenue Gourmet Zone, where a picture of beef tendon dashi-maki tamago catches the eye.
The restaurant is called “Tokyo Kotobuki.” Since I was alone, I was seated at the counter. I received an oshibori (hand towel) and a quick introduction to the group’s membership card, which supposedly offers discounts on drinks. I ordered a draft beer to start.
The appetizer was chawanmushi (savory egg custard) with broad beans, which was quite tasty.
I ordered “Namerou Miso Cucumber” to make sure I got some veggies. You can choose from three types of miso: “Kurobuta Miso,” “Myoga Miso,” and “Kinme Miso.” I went with the Myoga and Kinme miso.
The “Simmered Pork Belly Cartilage” was incredibly tender, melting in the mouth with a deep, rich flavor. Paired with some good sake, this could be all you need for a happy meal.
For the dashi-maki tamago, there was an option with beef tendon, but I wanted to start with the standard version. The dashi flavor really stood out, making it the best dashi-maki tamago I’ve had in a while.
If you have time to spare at Tokyo Station, this is a place that tempts you to stop in for a drink.
Notably, I noticed the staff advising nearby groups that their time was up, so some menu items might have a time limit. Since I wasn’t reminded about any time restrictions, it’s probably menu-dependent.
