Konpei |
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Tongue Twisting in Ikebukuro I like my tongue. I've had it for about 33 years now, and we have been through a lot of things together. I have thrown spicy Indian food at it, steaming hot coffee, ice cold drinks, it even survived the hazardous first few years of my wife's cooking, and it has done it all without too much complaining. However, I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about Konpei, an izakaya-type restaurant that specializes in beef tongue located on the west side of Ikebukuro station. My previous experience with beef tongue had left a somewhat chewy image behind. Chef and owner Koji Konda encouraged me to try a variety of his specialties. Konda-san is a kind, warmhearted guy with a body shape that shows that he indeed likes his own food. And so did I. I tried the broiled (Yen 700), the boiled (Yen 700) and the red miso-simmered versions (Yen 550). And they all were practically melting on my tongue. Although Konpei specializes in beef tongue - only using "young lady cow tongue," as Mr. Konda put it - they serve a wide variety of other dishes from all over the world. In Japan this style is called "mukokuseki ryoori," which translates in to something like "no-nationality food." The best way to enjoy an evening at Konpei is to order 2 to 3 dishes per person (typically from Yen 400 to Yen 1000 per dish), and a few drinks to go with it. Be sure to order a few Chu Hai Sodas, but remember that you will have to negotiate the 18 steps up from the basement to the street level on the way out, so better go easy. If you are looking for a fun time out with a couple of friends, and are ready to challenge a wide variety of food and a bit of tongue at reasonable prices, Konpei is definitely worth a trip to Ikebukuro. Open: 5:30pm to 11:30pm Tokyo, Ikebukuro 2-2-1 (Ikebukuro St., exit C5) |
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