GINZA: Heijouen 平城苑

heijouen.co.jp
東京都中央区銀座6-13-3井門銀座みゆき通りビル1F
1F, Imon Ginza Miyuki Dori Bldg. 6-13-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
03 3544 4129

Price: Expensive
Rating: Amazing
Directions: It’s close to the Subway Ginza station and Higashi Ginza station
Reservations: Unnecessary when I went, but I imagine it could be quite busy on the weekend
Must Get: 和牛 Wagyu beef

This place is so amazing I decided I had to write about it as soon as possible. It’s a Korean style BBQ restaurant that’s famous for it’s Wagyu beef. I’m might not sure which cut is in the picture above (it was the daily special), but it’s the BEST PIECE OF MEAT EVER. I have never had a piece of meat that melts in your mouth quite like this one. What made it even better, which was barely possible, was the dipping sauces this place offers as well as their leaf lettuce and sliced green onions marinated in gochujang (a spicy Korean sauce) and sesame oil, which is pictured below.

Everything was good here, so I highly recommend you give it a try if you happen to stop by Japan. It’s part of a chain, so you can find their other restaurants on their website if Ginza is too far. You will not be sorry.

NEW YORK: Churrascaria Plataforma

churrascariaplataforma.com
316 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019
212 245 0505

Price: Expensive
Rating: Great
Directions: ACE to 50th Street
Reservations: Necessary for a big group
Must Get: Meat. Lots of it.

Brazilian steakhouses are the way to go if you want lots of meat and variety. Everything I had here was delicious with the exception of their turkey wrapped in bacon. It sounds great in theory, but it was extremely salty; I ate only one bite. There’s really no point in eating/ finishing something you’re not a fan of here; every few minutes a man walks by with meat on a sword and there’s their salad bar filled with salad (duh), sushi (which was pretty decent), and random hot dishes.

It’s about $70 per person (not including drinks and dessert) after you count tax and tip, so come hungry.

NEW YORK: Buenos Aires

513 E 6th Street, New York, NY 10009
212 228 2775

Price: Reasonable
Rating: Great
Directions: 6 to Astor, R to 8th St
Reservations: Necessary for big groups/special occasions
Must Get: steak

In a city full of steakhouses that continue to copy and outdo each other, Buenos Aires is a great standard. The steaks are delicious and cheap (16oz costs about $26). Medium rare is really medium rare here– nicely charred on the outside and red and juicy in the inside. I’ve never walked out hungry or worried about the hole that was burned through my wallet. I’ve been a few times and the only complaint I have is their overpowering chimichurri sauce that comes on the side.