Teppen Shibuya - Grilled Meats and Vegetables

A new year and a new post! Let’s talk about food. One of the foods we wanted to try in Japan was Yakitori. Yakitori is typically different types of grilled chicken on a stick with some sort of sauce on it. We went to a restaurant that served yakitori and other types of meat and vegetable skewers, called Teppen Shibuya Onnadojo. This place was delicious and the staff was very welcoming and friendly to tourists. The reason we went inside was because one of the workers flagged us down and asked if we were hungry as we walked by. The answer is always, “Yes!”

This place had a very wide variety of dishes. We were interested in their grilled meat and vegetable skewers, as well as their yakitori. First, they brought us a small plate as a type of appetizer. This was really similar to a chawanmushi, a savory egg custard dish, with some green onion, fish roe, and little fish called Shirasu on top. There was dashi poured over the top that brought the whole dish together. Delicious!

Next, we started with a few kinds of yakitori. This one was my favorite. It was a chicken meatloaf. The restaurant has a house recipe for their chicken meatloaf that is then marinated and grilled.

Then, we moved on to some other grilled skewers. I was interested in their grilled mushrooms. These were incredible. They were marinated and grilled with a nice smoky flavor from the grill. Then, they finished these off with some extra sauce in the mushroom cap folds. YUM!

They also have some interesting pork dishes. First, we tried these pork wrapped peppers stuffed with cheese. The cheese was hot and bubbly inside of the pepper, and the pork was crispy and delicious.

Next, we tried the pork stuffed with green onions. This was another really flavorful one. The onion pork combination was perfect!

At the end, the shop even gave us a really cute thank you message plate with two brownies for dessert. That really showed their hospitality! What a nice gesture!

We loved this place so much that we went back again on our second trip to Japan. Teppen Shibuya Onnadojo is on a little side street just a few minutes from the main shopping area. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy good conversation after a long day of site seeing. I definitely recommend you check them out on your next trip!

Mi Escondite a la Leña - Restaurant in Tanamá, Arecibo, Puerto Rico

We’re switching up a little bit today! Today, I’m bringing out a Puerto Rico post!

In January, we went to Puerto Rico. When I was planning our trip, I was looking for restaurants that were near our activity for the day, hiking and going through a cave river on innertubes. I found this place and watched an amazing YouTube video about it, and I knew instantly that this was somewhere I HAD to try.

Mi Escondite a la Leña is a beautiful restaurant in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by forest. We drove on the tiniest back country roads to find this place. We almost wondered if we were going the right direction, because we were basically passing tiny mountain farm towns that made it seem like we were in the middle of nowhere. Finally, we saw a sign that directed us to the restaurant. We were there! Hidden down inside of a little valley, surrounded by the mountainous jungle, we found this gem.

This restaurant was definitely worth the drive. When you arrive, you’ll see all open outdoor seating at covered patios. There is a giant pool with a small waterfall on one side of the property and lots of room to look around. There are benches around the property, there is a really great bar, and there is nature all around you. You can hear the birds and wildlife in the trees while you eat, and the restaurant plays great music, as well.

Let’s get to the food! This place had the best smoothies and milk shakes. Did I mention… they can be alcoholic smoothies and milkshakes?? I chose mine without alcohol, as I was the driver that day. But seriously, look at this. It’s a mango milkshake with whipped cream and sprinkles. It was absolutely amazing. This was real mango flavor in every sip. My friends all had similar experiences, but with alcohol.

Next, came the lunch. I ordered this amazing sandwich. This is a delicious chicken sandwich with tostones instead of the bun. That is fried plantain instead of the bun. Inside was some lettuce and a really nice sauce that was kind of like a ketchup mayo mix. This sauce is really common with fried plantains in Puerto Rico. For my side, I chose mofongo. This is a fried and mashed plantain mixed with lots of garlic and seasoning. Mofongo is a must-try Puerto Rican food, and this one was cooked just right! I’ve tried mofongo many times, and if not done correctly, it can be a bit bland. But not at Mi Escondite a la Leña! This mofongo was so flavorful, and the garlic and spices really made it unforgettable.

My friend ordered this incredible churrasco steak with arroz apastelado. Arroz apastelado is rice cooked with some spices, capers, and usually some pork or chicken. It was served with a salad and of course, he drank it with a Medalla, probably the most popular beer in Puerto Rico. He also really enjoyed his meal.

The service was great and the staff was really friendly. The views were amazing and relaxing. This was the perfect meal after such an action-packed hike that morning. I definitely recommend this restaurant. Get outside of the big cities and visit this local hot spot, Mi Escondite a la Leña. You’ll be so happy you did.