Places to eat (shinjuku, mostly)?

Hello Jref!

I'll be traveling to Japan in November for half vacation and half business.

This trip was kind of sprung on my by my job last minute. I have barely a minute to prepare outside of the days already planned by my job. I basically have 8 days to myself and I will be staying in the Shinjuku Prince hotel.

I have been researching like mad on what to do with my time, and I think I have a good amount of stuff planned to keep me entertained. My only problem is, where and what to eat.

I don't speak a word of Japanese (let along read any). I can probably learn some very basic food words before I go, but I am still really nervous about going to places and ordering food and such.

Does anyone know any good places that are "gaijin friendly" in Shinjuku that I can get some good meals at any time of the day?

I am basically trying to avoid convenience store, fast food or restaurants in the hotel at most times.

Thanks!

edit* it just occurred to me that a yelp-like service in English for Tokyo would be great. Does anyone know if one exists?

Hi Soursour,

Welcome to the forum, I have only been in Shinjuku once so I don't really know about foreigner friendly restaurants, but knowning that there are heaps of foreigners in Tokyo I don't think you should be too worried about it. We are setting up our portal here on Jref but in the meantime you can have a look at this website: Tokyo-Yokohama restaurant listings

What's a "yelp-like service"?

Don't worry about eating. Go to that link, or even buy the related book What's What in Japanese Restaurants. Shinjuku is a thriving hub of activity, so restaurants will abound, and menus have tons of pictures. Store fronts of many restaurants will show plastic models of the more popular dishes, too, so you can get an idea of what they serve before you go in.

When in doubt, hit Royal Host or Victoria Station restaurants. Lots of western variety foods there.

Davey said:

Hi Soursour,
Welcome to the forum, I have only been in Shinjuku once so I don't really know about foreigner friendly restaurants, but knowning that there are heaps of foreigners in Tokyo I don't think you should be too worried about it. We are setting up our portal here on Jref but in the meantime you can have a look at this website:

Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome
I just ran across that site right after I posted, and that is indeed what I was looking for.
I am not *too* worried as, like you say, it is a seemingly entertainment hub, but I thought I would ask, just to make sure.

Glenski said:

What's a "yelp-like service"?
Don't worry about eating. Go to that link, or even buy the related book What's What in Japanese Restaurants. Shinjuku is a thriving hub of activity, so restaurants will abound, and menus have tons of pictures. Store fronts of many restaurants will show plastic models of the more popular dishes, too, so you can get an idea of what they serve before you go in.
When in doubt, hit Royal Host or Victoria Station restaurants. Lots of western variety foods there.

Click to expand...

"yelp", is a site in the US that is similar to the bento one Davey posted above, except well more popular. It is basically a user-experience/review site for all business, with a strong focus on restaurants.

I appreciate your input Hopefully I will be able to differentiate between the plastic models!

soursour said:

I am basically trying to avoid convenience store

Click to expand...

Actually Japanese combini food has been quite good in my experience. And very reasonably priced.

A ramen shop of Shinjuku that I recommend.
"麺屋海神" (Menya Kaijin)
麺屋海神 新宿店 (新宿/ラーメン)
There is not the English menu,
Because a photograph of the ramen can look by a menu, I think that the order is not difficult.
A place is neighborhood of the Shinjuku southeast exit.
The second floor of Sanraku Building.

The restaurant of the bakery.
"墨絵"(Suminoe)
Bread is delicious.
墨繪パン 新宿店 (新宿/パン)
The place is the Shinjuku Station west exit.
Metro restaurant street B1