These People are Changing Tokyo’s Food Scene! | Japan byFood
Japan byFood and Shizuka are going behind the scenes to meet the international visionaries who are redefining the Tokyo food scene today. Not only exploring how diversity is bringing a fresh perspective to Japan’s food culture, we are also going behind the scenes to uncover the real challenges as food business owners in Japan.
We send a heartfelt thank you to Gregorio Narvasa, Lauren Rose Kocher, David and LaTonya Whitaker for having us!
*Locations*
MONSTA SWEETS
103, 2 Chome-37-8 Koenjikita, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0002
BUY ME STAND
Mansion Shibuya Namikibashi, 1 Chome−31−19, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0011
Soul Food House
2 Chome−8−10, Azabujuban, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0045
*About byFood*
ByFood is a platform that connects foodies with food experiences in Japan, from bustling food markets to serene countryside tastings. Besides exploring Japanese food culture in an authentic way, your booking fuels positive change! For every booking, we donate 10 meals to children in need through our Food for Happiness program. Ready for your next food adventure?
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48 Comments
Thank you for tuning in! What’s the next international food you’d like to see more in Japan?
Love to see a part 2! Lauren is doing a great job carrying on her late husband’s legacy. Lots of respect to these business owners. It’s not easy as a foreigner
Love this!! Part 2, please!!
The stories of these places, warms my ❤! Everything looked amazing and I bet they were 😊. Thank you for such an amazing journey 😊
Great video showcasing restaurants that are foreign owned. More to add to the list of places to go.
When you think all the restaurant stories have been covered by the crew, another one drops.
Very cool people. I hope they all have peace and joy. Love soul food and that story of how they got the support was amazing. I would wade through jellyfish to try the apple cheeks and blue monday sandwiches. Thanks Shizuka! Have a good week.
What about Chinese and Southeast Asian owned restos? that will be another great theme!
Shizukaaaaaaa
Lauren Rose is a beautiful lady
What a sweet, sweet video … and on Mother's Day.
Yes part 2 please 🙏🙏👍❤
All those stories are so heartwarming! Happy to see their passion and artistry appreciated!
ayy, alright! this is gonna be fun!
Awesome stories. Hope to visit one of them one day. 😅
Wonderful stories ❤
Such wonderful (and 1 heartbreaking) stories about people choosing Japan and making it work. Thank you!
I loved this video so much! My dream is to open up a cafe one day/maybe a pop up in Asia or Japan in the future! Would love to see if there are any foreign owned cafes in Japan! Thanks for this type of video, can't wait for more
Soul food house is awesome!!!
"How is it" or "What is it like", never "How is it like"! When I've been to Japan, I've mostly eaten Japanese food but there are a couple of other cuisines that I recall – Ryutenmon in Ebisu, a Cantonese restaurant that got a Michelin star a couple of years after I went but then lost it, and L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, also in Ebisu, serving proper Neapolitan pizza. You've also got the faux French chateau there in Ebisu Garden Place with a couple of starred Joel Robuchon restaurants in. A video just looking at Ebisu would be good, though I could be biased because that's where I stay in Tokyo!
This is definitely a series worth continuing!
I was not expecting that so I am happy to watch 😊
Really felt for Lauren, but she's doing such an amazing job so far, carrying on the vision!! Keep going fam!!
Woah, is that Astroboy making cookies? Blast from the past, glad he's doing well
This could make me cry any time.❤
I would not spend money at any of these places
The “it’s harder because I’m a foreigner” is a damning thing for Japan and very sad.
loved this
Maybe you should do Part 2, but with a different twist.
What if, you observe Japanese restaurant run by expats? Is it taste good as local ones?
If the idea sounds good, you can thank me later. Peace out. 👋🏻
Love love love
the power of love
you shold try Brazilian soul food in gunma ken oizumi…check out a restaurant call Big Biff…please try it de feijoada
Im really worried for the foreign businesses like these closing, hope they stay around
Thank you for the interesting episode; it was interesting to hear their backstories.
I've love to see some fusion or vegan food episodes.
Awesome. You should use your Canadian background and find some French related restaurants if they exists in Tokyo. Thinking Haitian, creole, former French colonial nation foods from Vietnam to French Guiana.
They all look great! I'll try to check them out next time I'm in Japan.
Love it
Love this concept ❤😊
Loved the video, but what’s with the cringy stock footage? 😂 It’s so distracting.
Interesting video. Soul Food House That was a 55 Canadian dollar snack. When the yen gets stronger, foreign visitors will be cautious about spending that much money for small servings of "comfort food". Only in Tokyo.
Awesome vibes ffom this vid! More please 😉
Business stories warm our hearts, Shizuka, thank you for spotlighting so many wonderful treasured owners and cherished Japan community members that embody the welcoming spirit of the precious Japanese people. This is why we love your work and YT channel, you really take the time to keep making Japan as wonderful as it works so hard to be for the world to enjoy. Amazing vlog, special stories of resilience and dedication to loved ones.
i don't know how Japanese residency works but surely if you lived there for 18 years should be sufficient
Great concept for a video! Please continue with a part 2, 3, 4, 5….
I badly want to go to soul food house but the opening hours are always all over the place. The food looks so good!
I think this might be my favorite video you have ever done. Loved it.
With all of the Japanese seafood I've seen, I don't think I've seen catfish or carp. Do Japanese eat them?
The way Shizuka make people feel comfortable in her presence is pure talent! Really agreeable person!