The #choppedcheese sandwich is a New York bodega classic, a hearty assemblage of ground beef, onions, peppers, American cheese, and adobo seasoning, chopped and mixed on the grill, then served on a hero roll. It's an outstanding sandwich, and it's the main draw at this tiny #tokyo take-out shop.

"One of the Carvaan's goals is to recreate interesting historical beers from past centuries, so the selection here is a bit out of the ordinary. The brewery's award-winning brews like Andes Cacao Stout, Arabian Lime Ale, Heath IPA, and African Vanilla Porter are served on a rotating basis." #tokyo

Central Burger Shop in Yokohama's Motomachi district serves great smash burgers, burritos (Baja fish, "smash beef"), quesadillas, and shakes in vanilla, banana, berry, Nutella and peanut-butter flavors. rev.bento.com/centralburger #yokohama #smashburger #japantravel #foodsky #青空ごはん部

New at Bento - Muy's dramatically lit bar is an impressive sight, stretching half a city block and offering a stunning nighttime view. The atmosphere is lively but not too noisy to impede conversation, and prices are quite reasonable. rev.bento.com/muy #tokyo #muytokyo #ceviche #sherry

(1/2) Not merely a coffee shop, Ogawa Coffee Laboratory in Shimo-Kitazawa is an "Experience-based Bean Salon"! Consult the knowledgeable staff or study the detailed tasting charts as you select from the 19 blends and single-origin beans on offer. ☕ #tokyo #shimokitazawa rev.bento.com/ogawa

Travel report - Kobe brewery Open Air serves twelve of their beers on tap along with gyoza and grilled meats at their central Motomachi taproom. #kobe #craftbeer #japantravel #openairbrewing rev.bento.com/openair

Top-quality ingredients, including super-crispy bacon, set Seattle-based cult favorite Lil Woody's apart from its Shibuya burger competitors. Other toppings include Tillamook cheddar cheese, crumbled blue cheese, raw onions, caramelized onions, pickled figs and roast chiles. #tokyo #shibuya 🍜

One of the many international grocers bringing a taste of home to Tokyo's various immigrant populations, The British Shop stocks English cheeses, Scottish smoked salmon, Cumberland pork sausages and Savoursmiths crisps. There's a wide range of teas as well as craft beers and ciders. #tokyo #beans

Verve is THE gourmet coffee destination if you're visiting Yebisu Garden Place, with a range of single-origin pour-over coffees and espresso beverages as well as pastries and grilled-cheese sandwiches. Ample outdoor seating overlooks YGB's archway. #tokyo #ebisu #coffee #青空ごはん部 tinyurl.com/b-verve

"The most popular menu item seems to be the star-shaped Don Salvo, and it's a sound choice. The eight points of the star are stuffed with spicy salami and creamy ricotta, while the center is topped with Buffalo mozzarella and fresh tomato sauce. The crust is chewy and flavorful." #pizza #tokyo 🍜 🍕

With donut varieties like Banana Island, Cookies and Cream, and Maple Bacon, the stylish Kobe cafe City Donuts & Coffee is a great spot for a donut-enhanced full breakfast or an afternoon coffee break. #donuts #kobe #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-citydonuts

Curry report - Among their very original spice curries, Yonemon in Kobe serves a uniquely flavored, assertively fishy "Korean-style seafood curry" made with mackerel, clams, dried shrimp, and changja. Get it as part of a three-curry combo. tinyurl.com/b-yonemon #spicecurry #kobe 🍜

Moose Hills Burger in Yokohama serves 22 different burgers, with toppings like spinach-mushroom, Gorgonzola-Parmesan-Boursin, and excellent home-made smoked bacon. Beverages include Oreo Cookie milkshakes, fresh mint lemonade and local Yokohama craft beers. #yokohama #burger 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-moose

"One of just a handful of Greek restaurants in the Tokyo area, Fili offers well-prepared Greek standards in a homey, Mediterranean-inspired setting. There's a decent selection of Greek wines by the bottle or glass to go with your meal, and ouzo for the adventurous." #tokyo 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-FiliTokyo

Upscale coffeehouse chain Paul Bassett serves long blacks and flat whites with your choice of either single-origin beans or their own blends. There's also a daily-special drip coffee, and some exotic premium varieties made from specially processed beans. (1/2) #tokyo #shibuya tinyurl.com/b-bassett

Yebisu Brewery Museum, Tokyo: "Two large museum rooms are devoted to the history of the Yebisu brand, with historical photos, advertising posters, wooden sign boards, newspaper ads and Yebisu-branded jackets." (1/2) #tokyo #ebisu #beer #japantravel #yebisu tinyurl.com/w-yebisu

"Tokyo has many highly regarded pizza specialists, but Gonzo stands out among them for its warm, cozy atmosphere. The spacious dining area is lively without being raucous, and service is friendly and personable. " 1/2 #tokyo #pizza #青空ごはん部 🍕 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-GonzoTokyo

Creative, colorful and very original curries are the draw at the popular Shimo-Kitazawa branch of Osaka spice-curry pioneer Kyuyamutei. It just might be the best spice curry in town. #tokyo #spicecurry #curry #shimokitazawa 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-kyuyamutei

Though it's very convenient to Yokohama Station, Swell Coffee Roastery is one of the more relaxed, less hectic cafe options in the area. You can choose from six single-origin beans for pour-over coffee (including one decaf), or sample their award-winning latte art. #yokohama 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-swell

It looks and sounds like a French brasserie, but you'll find some of the best dim sum in Tokyo, day or night, at Le Parc in Ebisu. #tokyo #dimsum 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-leParcEbisu

Stylish dining bar Isshin offers excellent seasonal cuisine with an emphasis on Kansai-style dishes, plus a diverse selection of craft sake. The kitchen turns out a mix of well-executed izakaya standards and original creations, with plenty of daily specials. #tokyo #daikanyama 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-isshin

Curry report - The original FISH was an Akasaka-area legend for three decades before they closed. Now they're back in business in Nishi-Shinjuku, run by a former customer and turning out the same great spice curry for a new generation of fans. #tokyo #curry #spicecurry 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-fishcurry

Mie-based craft beer brewery Ise Kadoya has opened a second izakaya in the Tokyo Station area, focused on Mie-area sake (including Zaku), Matsusaka beef and regional dishes. Plus 10 taps of Ise Kadoya beers, including limited-edition brews. #tokyo #izakaya #craftbeer 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-isekado

Riesling feels like a relaxed neighborhood wine bar despite its location a few minutes from Shinjuku Station. They serve a good range of affordable German wines, along with drink-friendly dishes like beer-simmered pork and creamy zwiebelkuchen onion tarts. #tokyo #winebar 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-riesling

Sushi Maru's convenient tablet ordering system and casual setting make it a relaxing spot to drop in for premium-quality sushi in central Kobe. #kobe #sushi #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-sushimaru

Roast beef tartar and Thai green-curry sausages are among the ambitious bar snacks at Craft Beer Base Branch, located in the basement bar zone of Osaka's Hanshin department store. #osaka #craftbeer #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/bb-basebranch

Jimbocho landmark Bondy has been serving classic Japanese curries for half a century now, and they're still drawing the crowds. Their excellent curry roux is made from fond de veau simmered with fruits, vegetables and spices to achieve a complex sweetness. #curry #tokyo 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-bondy

Conveniently located near several Kobe museums, New Rough Rare serves tasty smash burgers and American apple, cherry and pecan pies in their sprawling cafe. #pie #kobe #smashburger #burgers #cherrypie #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-roughrare

The exciting, innovative spice curries at Rajkumar push the boundaries of the cuisine. The chef isn't afraid to experiment with dishes inspired by European cooking, like the eye-opening Mediterranean-style seafood tomato curry. #kobe #kobegourmet #spicecurry #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-rajkumar

Nagoya's QOL Coffee is a very hip combination art gallery and roastery with a serious coffee selection. They also serve great grilled-cheese sandwiches. #nagoya #roastery #nagoyagourmet #artgallery 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-qolcoffee

Osaka spice curry pioneer Kyu Yamu Tetsudo pushes the boundaries of Japanese curry, with creative cross-cultural recipes that go heavy on the spices. Their wildly diverse four-curry platter is highly recommended. #osaka #spicecurry #curry #japantravel #osakagourmet 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-kyuyamu

Cafe Tales in Osaka serves only Colombian coffee, making it a good spot to compare coffee's from Colombia's different coffee-growing regions. #osaka #japantravel #colombiancoffee #coffee 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-tales

New at BeerBarsJapan. com: The Harajuku branch of local brewery Beer Brain has minimal standing room, but plenty of covered outdoor seating for when the weather allows. Five taps dispense their own brews and guest beers. #tokyo #harajuku #craftbeer #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/bb-beerbrain...

Legendary Seattle roastery Espresso Vivace Coffee supplies the beans for the espresso drinks and coffee-based cocktails at Cafe Elliott Avenue in Yokohama. Seattle craft beers and hot dogs are also on the menu. #yokohama #coffee 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-elliott

If you're in central Osaka and in the mood for something different at lunchtime, you'll find Danish-inspired open-faced sandwiches at Smorrebrod Kitchen, a charming daytime cafe located inside Osaka's historic Nakanoshima Library building. #osaka #Smørrebrød #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-smorrebrod

Yokohama's beloved curry shop Marumasara more than lives up to its stellar reputation, serving some of the best spice curry we've ever eaten. Dishes are artfully presented, and the spacious dining area looks like a cross between a chic cafe and someone's atelier. #yokohama 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-marumasara

Next time you're in Nagoya and have a craving for Korean-Hawaiian cuisine, Yummy BBQ inside Parco Nagoya offers a fresh take on Hawaiian plate lunches and garlic-rice bowls. #nagoya #nagoyagourmet #hawaiianfood #koreanfood #platelunch #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-yummy

Jimbocho's new Australian-themed cafe Walkabout is bright and airy, with double-height windows letting in plenty of light. They serve both espresso and pour-over coffees, plus meat pies, cheese-packed toasties, and Australian beers and wine. tinyurl.com/b-walkabout #tokyo #coffee #cafe 🍜

Serving traditional provincial French cuisine rather than anything Japanese-influenced, Loiseau de France offers luxurious main dishes like Lobster Thermidor, Beef Bourguignon and Tournedos Rossini beef with foie gras. #tokyo 🍜 #finedining #tokyofrench tinyurl.com/b-loiseau

The latest cherry blossom forecast is out! According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation's 7th (3/6) update, here in Tokyo we should see blossoms from March 23, hitting peak bloom March 31. Here are predictions for other cities: n-kishou.com/corp/news-co... #tokyo #cherryblossoms #japantravel

Dining bar Rutubo in Kyoto's Gion district specializes in smoked foods and smoky cocktails, serving excellent homemade smoked bacon, cheese, quail eggs and chicken wings. There's a good sake list too! #kyoto #kyotogourmet #sake #izakaya #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-rutubo

The tiny shop Spicier in Kagurazaka serves a unique menu of gourmet curry pan (a donut-like curry-stuffed bread). It's served with tasting flights of three different kinds of chai, made from freshly ground spices and brewed while you wait. 🍜 #tokyo #curry #japantravel tinyurl.com/b-spicier

The vegetable sommelier at Mori no Curry in Nagoya ensures that only the finest produce is used in their kitchen - even the seasonal fruit lassi is loaded with chunks of fresh fruit. #spicecurry #nagoya #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-morino

Located in the new Osaka Kitte complex, Kohaku Brasserie brings casual French dining to the extreme, with tablet ordering, counter seating, budget-friendly prices and 25 wines by the glass. They even advertise that they're "great for daytime drinking"! #osaka #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-kohaku

Blue Bottle Osaka has been written up in all the architecture magazines for its stunning decor. They serve sweet and savory breakfast waffle plates and granola bowls to go with your morning coffee. #osaka #coffeeroastery #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-bluebottle

Rosemary's is a taste of casual New York-style Italian dining in busy Shinjuku. The stylish dining room is lively without being cacophonous, and the well-assembled wine list is reasonably priced. Most importantly, the cooking is solid and unpretentious. #tokyo #shinjuku🍜 tinyurl.com/b-rosemary

Osaka beer retailer Iiie offers more than 300 canned and bottled beers, including some rare finds, and also serves an excellent selection of draft beers from its ten taps. The dining room is quite stylish as well. #osaka #craftbeer #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/bb-iiie

Continuing the spice curry tour of Japan with a well-balanced three-curry plate at Maruse in Osaka, which included a Thai-inspired green curry with tender bamboo shoots. #spicecurry #osaka #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-maruse

Pan-fried bite-sized tetsunabe gyoza are especially crunchy and garlicky at Mugen Gyoza ("Unlimited Dumplings"). They also serve excellent sui-gyoza and taki-gyoza, two more local specialties, for a full-on Fukuoka dumpling experience. #fukuoka #gyoza #japantravel 🍜 tinyurl.com/b-mugengyoza

For craft beer fans in or near Yokohama - the Japan Brewers Cup event runs from today through Sunday! #craftbeer #yokohama www.japanbrewerscup.jp/english.html