Minato City, which has a face as a gourmet town, also attracts B-class gourmet foods from all over the country. The deliciousness of these delicacies is exceptional, as they have been selected by the local community and refined in Tokyo. Here are some B-class gourmet foods that you must try when you come to Minato City.

"Odaiba Takoyaki Museum" is a hands-on food theme park featuring five famous takoyaki restaurants. The five restaurants are Tennoji Aveeno Takoyaki Yamachan, Imotoko, Dotonbori Akoni, Takoyaki origin store Osaka Tamade Aizuya, and Takoya Dotonbori Kukuru. Alcoholic beverages and snack menus are also available, and will satisfy all ages and situations, including friends, couples, and those with children.

Our recommended takoyaki is the ""Thick Butter Soy Sauce"" from ""Tennoji Aveeno Takoyaki Yama-chan. This one boasts a batter made from chicken bones and more than 10 kinds of fruits and vegetables simmered for about 4 hours and combined with Japanese soup stock made from bonito and kelp. When it is slowly grilled on a thick, custom-made griddle, the aroma and flavor of the ingredients hidden in the broth rush over you at once. Enjoy the harmony of homemade soy sauce and butter topped on top.

For adults, we recommend the "takotonomi" (octopus drinking), where you can enjoy drinks with takoyaki. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of snacks, such as "snack cheese assortment" at Imotoko and "authentic thick-sliced beef tongue" at Takoyaki origin store Osaka Tamade Aizuya. Relax in the spacious 180-seat indoor space with plenty of sofa seating, or enjoy the night air on the terrace! Why not enjoy hot takoyaki and snacks with your favorite drink, such as beer or highball?

Odaiba Takoyaki Museum
1-6-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
DECKS Tokyo Beach Seaside Mall 4F
Weekdays 11:00-19:30 LO, Weekends and holidays 11:00-20:30 LO
Opening hours are subject to change.
https://www.odaiba-decks.com/news/event/takoyaki.html

Tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen won first place worldwide in the recently released World Soup Ranking 2023. In addition, Japanese ramen is so popular that soy sauce ramen and salt ramen also ranked in the list. For those who want to try ramen when they come to Japan, I recommend "Optimism" in Nishiazabu, which opened in 2011 with the philosophy of bringing the real thing to the world.

Two types of ramen are available: the soy sauce-flavored Nishiazabu Amber (1,200 yen) and the salt-flavored Nishiazabu Pearl (1,200 yen). The broth is made from carefully selected ingredients, taking time to extract the best flavor. The combination of seafood, domestic pork, and domestic vegetables creates a crisp, light broth. The soy sauce used is first-class soy sauce made in wooden vats by Shibanuma Soy Sauce Brewery, established in Genroku era, and is characterized by its mild, strong, soybean flavor and richness. The soup is made with a golden broth full of flavor, which was arrived at through trial and error, and is a perfect match for the topping of onions. You will enjoy the deep flavor.

Optimasu is located in a secluded area of Nishi-Azabu, and one of the pleasures of the restaurant is its relaxing space that makes it hard to believe that it is a ramen restaurant. You can dine at the spacious counter with a warm wooden interior that resembles a kappo restaurant. If you are in need of a relaxing and delicious ramen meal, please visit Optimism.

Optimism
1-8-12 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Sun-Thu 11:00-19:00, Fri-Sat holidays 11:00-22:00
https://rakkaninc.com

"Kiji" Okonomiyaki is a long-established okonomiyaki restaurant in Osaka that has been pursuing the taste of okonomiyaki for 55 years. There is also a branch in Shinagawa, Tokyo, where you can enjoy the authentic taste of the famous okonomiyaki restaurant. The taste is crispy on the surface and fluffy on the inside. It has a reputation for its unrivaled savory flavor and deep richness.

The recommended menu item, "Sujiyaki" is an okonomiyaki made with dough melted in chicken broth carefully prepared over time and filled with beef tendon meat simmered for 8 hours. The dish is finished by coating it with Osaka's sweet sauce, topping it with an egg, and finally topping it with a heaping pile of green onions imported from the Kansai region. You can enjoy the harmony of the umami of the beef and the dashi broth. Sprinkle a little pepper to taste to enhance the flavor.

The restaurant also has a snack menu and drink menu. The recommended snack is "Sujipon. Slowly simmered beef tendon is served with a light ponzu sauce. It is also tasty with a dash of flavor to your liking. It is a good idea to start with beer and snacks while waiting for the okonomiyaki to be ready.

Inside the restaurant, there are teppan griddles at both the counter and the tables, so you can enjoy hot food. The chic interior of the restaurant makes it a popular place to spend a relaxing time. You can also experience Kiji's hospitality, which provides a relaxing atmosphere.

Kiji Shinagawa Branch
Shinagawa Front Building 2F, 2-3-13 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Weekdays 11:00-15:00 LO 17:00-21:30 LO, Weekends and holidays 11:00-21:30 LO
http://www.o-kizi.jp/shinagawa.html

One of the first famous Taiyaki stores is Naniwaya Sohonten, located in Azabu Juban. It was founded in 1909. It originally had stores in Nihonbashi and Kudanshita, but moved to Azabu Juban in 1951. The current owner, Masamori Kobe, is the fourth generation. The taste of anko (red bean paste) is served by arranging the inherited taste into a flavor that we consider delicious now.

The red bean paste for taiyaki is made from the best azuki beans produced in Tokachi, Hokkaido, and cooked in a kettle for eight hours every day. Each taiyaki is baked one by one by artisans, and the balance between the thin, crispy skin and the rich red bean paste is exquisite. The taste is a chic one that you will never get tired of. It is recommended to eat them while they are still warm, but if you bring them home, toasting them for a while will bring back their deliciousness.

Yakisoba is one of Naniwaya's specialties. The motto is "don't overload it with flavor," and it is made simply so that you can enjoy the taste of Worcestershire sauce. The secret to the delicious taste is the Dutch-made lard and fried egg. The secret of the deliciousness is the Dutch-made lard and fried egg, which adds a moist and delicious flavor to the yakisoba.

The very popular taiyaki can be a two-hour wait on weekends, but there is no need to wait in line as you can pick up your order at the time it is ready. If you want to eat quickly, you can use the café on the second floor to eat faster than the usual waiting time. The taiyaki drink set comes with a choice of coffee, sencha green tea, or hojicha green tea, but we recommend the sencha green tea. We recommend the sencha tea, which is made from carefully selected, aromatic tea leaves.

Naniwaya Sohonten
1-8-14 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
11:00-19:00 (closed Tuesdays and the third Tuesday and Wednesday in a row)
https://www.azabujuban.or.jp/shop/shop_category/eat/219/

Even though it is a B-class gourmet, Minato Ward gathered some of the best selections in the country. You can enjoy them not only with food, but also with drinks or at cafes. If you find yourself in the mood for a B gourmet meal during your trip, be sure to visit Minato-ku.