Lonesmoke BBQ

Rating: Very good
Meal: Dinner for 2
Price: 3807 yen (we got a 6% discount as it was opening night)
Payment: Credit cards accepted
Dishes: Pulled pork, brisket, beef tips
English Menu: Yes
Smoking: No

Lonesmoke BBQ has been a long time coming.  It was started by a guy on base who made his own BBQ and sold it to people out of his apartment.  Eventually the base got annoyed with him and told him he had to stop.  I guess it got too popular?  Anyway, now he has opened a small restaurant at the top floor of a building just about right next to Nawlins, the only other BBQ joint in town.  He's been kind of open for quite a while now, but last night was his official opening.  I've eaten there in the past a couple of times, and once bought a whole rack of ribs to take home and scarf, so last night's meal was definitely not the first.  But I wanted to wait until he had fully opened before doing the review.

Pulled pork on rice with a side of beans

It's going to be hard not to compare Nawlins with Lonesmoke, as they are right next to each other and the only BBQ scene in town.  I genuinely wish them both well, and want them both to succeed.  I believe competition is good and already I've heard that Nawlins has stepped up their game in response.  Also, Nawlins has by far a better beer selection, and lots of other none BBQ related food items, so in some ways, it's not a one to one comparison.  However, I made a point over the past few months of eating several times at Nawlins and trying their various meat selections so I'd be ready to give my personal opinion as to which has the better BBQ, and I'm afraid it's going to be Lonesmoke.  Having said that, I know at least 3 people at work who disagree with me, and I'm no BBQ aficionado, so take it with a grain of salt.

Brisket, no sides

One other way in which I prefer Lonesmoke is that the service is not so abysmally slow, at least for the times I've been there.  Also, I like their sandwich bread better.  I also like how they are set up to serve me as much meat as I want for what feels like a better price, so I can take it home.  All of it adds up to a slight preference for Lonesmoke on my part.  But if I want a decent beer with my food, it's gonna have to be Nawlins, even though their beer selection went downhill after their beer meister left a while back.

Beef tips, no sides

Soraya Kitchen

Rating: OK
Meal: Dinner
Price: 4310 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes:  Yakitori, boiled dumplings, sake, hiball
English Menu:Yes
Smoking:Yes

Soraya Kitchen is a yakitori restaurant located in the "Honch" area near where I live.  Basically in the middle of a bunch of nasty bars.  But it has a slightly nicer look to it and is definitely an izakaya, not a nasty bar.  I live nearby and have walked by it for years but never tried it yet.  I was feeling like yakitori so decided to give it a shot on Wednesday night.

Sake and edamame

I was the only person there for most of the time, and there is only one guy behind the counter.  He was...not very friendly, but not outright rude.  I guess.  I tried ordering about 3 different things that he didn't have.  Finally I got a bit frustrated and just ordered two yakitori "chef's choice" sets (10 total sticks) and boiled dumplings.  I also had a couple of drinks, so you can subtract about 1500 yen off the total up there for the real food price.

First set of yakitori

The yakitori was just ok, not amazing.  The dumplings were tasty, but nothing special also.  It was pretty expensive too.  So...giving this place an Ok. 

Second set, more veggies wrapped in bacon

Boiled dumplings

Radianza

Rating: Very good
Meal: Lunch
Price: 2300 yen (just my meal, my friend's was 1500 yen)
Payment: Cash only
Dishes: Lunch course with uni spaghetti
English Menu: No
Smoking: No

Lunch special menu

Radianza is a small Italian restaurant located near Shioiri Station in Yokosuka.  It's walking distance from work, so a friend and I tried to eat there last week.  The sign says open for lunch at 12 noon, but the chef said he wasn't open today as he had just returned from the market.  We asked about when we could have lunch and he said next week Tuesday if we reserved.  So...don't expect to necessarily find this place open at noon as advertised.  Due to the small number of seats, I would recommend reservations (046-876-7828) for dinner (and to verify it's open).

Appetizers

For lunch, there is a set lunch course for 1500 yen with 2 entree options and a 3rd uni spaghetti entree option for an extra 800 yen.  The menu is entirely in hand-written chalk Japanese, so it's not easy to understand unless you are fluent.  The chef speaks very little English as well, so it's a bit of a challenge.  My friend and I didn't have too much trouble though.  I ordered the uni and he had the beef ragout.

Bread

First was a plate with lots of little items on it:  a bit of cabbage, pickled onions, a carrot, some fried fish, grape leaves, a slice of salami, potato and cauliflower salad.  Every bit of it was very tasty, with rich, bright flavors.  Then some bread, which I passed on as I figured I'd be getting a carb overload with the noodles.  Sure enough, my uni arrived on a bed of very thick, very al dente spaghetti noodles.  Other than uni and olive oil, there was a wedge of lemon.  The uni was nice and fresh, but the noodles were a bit too al dente for my taste.  Also I'm supposed to be cooking noodles past al dente these days for my stomach's sake, but I'm sure he will cook the noodles to your preference if you tell him.  My friend's beef ragout came next with a delicious smelling beef sauce drizzled over cannelloni noodles, also al dente.  My friend said his dish was also very delicious.

Uni spaghetti

We finished with a choice of coffee or espresso.  I had the espresso, which was made with Italian Kimbo coffee using his own espresso machine.  It was the perfect end to a long leisurely meal.   Which is something to keep in mind, this place is not fast food.  We started eating our main dishes about 40 minutes after arriving, so not an every day lunch spot.  And we were the only people there.

Beef ragout

Overall this place is quite the little gem, probably the best Italian I've had in Yokosuka.  Definitely rates a high Very Good and may even go into Excellent territory.  I'll return with my wife some time to eat dinner and update if needed.

Espresso

Chabuton

Rating: OK
Meal: Dinner
Price: 750 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes:  Vegetarian ramen
English Menu: No
Smoking: No

Chabuton is a ramen shop in a basement food area near Yokohama Station.  I found it because I was looking for some vegetarian ramen (don't ask) and it was one of a couple near the station that serves one.  I met my friend and we walked over to it, though it is a bit tricky to find, as it's underground, beneath the Yodobashi Camera building.  But to enter it you have to go underground first, then find the Yodobashi entrance, then take an escalator down below.  Once down there you'll find quite a few interesting restaurants.  I reviewed one down here before (Xian) but it doesn't appear to be there anymore.

Forgot to take a picture before I messed it up...

Anyway, we ordered our ramen from the ticket vending machine and sat down.  They came to get our tickets and asked the usual question (firmness of the noodles).  They serve tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen primarily, so the vegetarian version uses an onion based broth.  All ramen come with one extra helping of noodles if you want it, and the noodles resemble a more hakata style (thin).

Overall I didn't love the vegetarian ramen, which should come as no surprise since I'm not a vegetarian.  But honestly, if you're going to go full veggie on the ramen, you should take some extra care with the broth and make sure it is super flavorful.  Maybe I'll come back some day and try their real ramen.  For what it's worth, my friend thought his tonkotsu was really good.

Kouwanou

Rating: Not great
Meal: Lunch for 2
Price: 1380 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes: Liver stir fry teishoku, black sesame ramen with half fried rice
English Menu: No
Smoking: Yes

My wife and I had a chance to grab some lunch after church in Ueno last Sunday.  We walked over to a nearby Chinese restaurant and were rather impressed by the badness.   The liver was ok and the ramen not terrible, but everything else was quite sub-par in flavor and quality.  Probably ok to pass this place up.

Black sesame ramen and fried rice

Liver stir fry teishoku

Maharani

Rating: OK
Meal: Lunch
Price: 1300 yen
Payment: Credit cards accepted
Dishes:  Mutton curry lunch set, lamb chop
English Menu: Yes
Smoking: Probably

I'm taking a class this week at the Mercure Hotel in Yokosuka.  There aren't a lot of places within walking distance of the base that I haven't already reviewed for lunch, but I took a walk around the Shioiri area and spotted a new (to me) Indian restaurant.  Of course I had to give it a try.

It is run by a very friendly Nepalese gentleman who asked me my opinion of the Indian restaurants in Yokosuka.  I was honest and said I liked them ok, but for my money the best Indian I've had in Japan is still Royal Parasol in Hayama because they have all of the breads and spices.  He was sympathetic and told me to come back he'd make me the real "indian" taste food and even other types of breads if he has enough notice and isn't busy.  I will definitely take him up on that.

Mutton curry

I ordered a mutton curry set with rice and a salty lassi (already accommodating me there) and a lamb chop that was on special for lunch.  The mutton was ok, pretty typical for around here, but not as sweet as some places.  The meat was a bit tough though.  The lamb chop was tasty, but pretty salty and again, a bit chewy.

Lamb chop with mint sauce

I'm giving this place an Ok for their typical food and will update later if the impression changes.

***

Update:  I came back later in the week and gave him a heads up I was coming.  Honestly the food wasn't that much better.  Still just an Ok overall.

Kitchen Hotaru

Rating: Not great
Meal: Dinner for 2
Price: 1890 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes: Katsudon and fried chicken teishokus, cold noodle dish
English Menu: No
Smoking: Yes

My wife and tried a new restaurant near Kenritsudaigaku station last night.  It's a nice enough Japanese cafeteria style spot.

We both ordered some teishokus that were ok at first, but not really that great.  The pickles were particularly nasty.

As the evening progressed, we both had rather bad reactions to the food, not food poisoning level, but general discomfort.  Not sure what ingredient caused it, but we'll almost certainly never go back there.