Takoyaki Comes to Midtown @ the 47th St. Japanese Convenience Store & Deli
When you say “Convenience Store”, good lunch’ing is not really the first thing that pops into my mind. Sure, I like a Drake’s Apple Pie just as much as the next guy, but old hot dogs and a slushy don’t really make an appealing lunch in my book. Take “Convenience Store” and add the word “Japanese” to the front, and now you’re talking.
In between checking out the Steak Truck on 47th & Park, and meeting a friend for lunch on 47th & 3rd, I stumbled upon this little gem of a “Convenience Store” and wondered why the hell nobody emailed me about it! Stop hoarding places from me people. Especially Asian Food. It’s not right. (Even though discovering it myself made it that much more awesome!)
What they have, Japanese Convenience Store Food Porn, and a +/- after the jump… Read more »
Posted by Zach Brooks at 9:16 am, September 17th, 2007 under 47th btw. Lex+3rd, Japanese.
It’s just outside of the “official” Midtown Lunch Boundaries, but I’ve been meaning to make it up to Katagiri for awhile- hearing for months now that it’s a pretty sweet Japanese Market on 59th btw. 2+3rd. When I finally made it up there, I was surprised to find that the sushi and bentos available for purchase during lunchtime, are actually supplied by 
I have already written a ton on Chiyoda, not only about the 
One of the things I can’t stand is the person who eats lunch at the same place every single day. Everybody has a go-to, “I don’t have time to venture far”, or “I’m feeling lazy today” lunch spot around the corner from their office- but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the co-worker that eats at the same exact place, every single day- and usually the same dish. That deli, or fast food place, where they get the same salad, or the same combo every single day. And you try to convince them “Dude… there’s this place you’ve got to check out, that’s so much better.” And they say, “Sure, let’s go tomorrow.” And then tomorrow rolls around, and it’s “Naw, i’m just going to go to that same deli I go to every single day, and eat the same sandwich I’ve been eating for 200 days straight.” Where’s the fun in that.
There’s alot of people in my office that fall into that trap, but the one that stands out to me is this guy named Stanley T. I pay attention to what everybody eats in my office (big surprise… I clearly have a problem), and it didn’t take me long to realize that every time I saw Stanley T. eating lunch at his desk, it was the same exact thing, from the same exact place. But here’s the crazy thing- I didn’t look down on him for it. I actually thought it was awesome. Even started joking around with him about it. Why? Because his every day lunch, was the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl from Teriyaki Boy. And then it dawned on me. I’m prejudiced against delis and fast food chains. Get a salad from Variety Cafe every single day, and I’m going to think you’re lunch challenged. Eat at Teriyaki Boy every single day, and you are my new hero.
After doing this site for over a year, I have become the go to guy for lunch recommedations at my work. And while I’m usually pretty good for a decent suggestion, there is one request that has, and will always stump me. “Where can I get something healthy?” I’ve been to a ton of places in Midtown, and they all have one thing in common. None of them are healthy. (Look at my 
What can I say? Fat guys don’t eat healthy food. If we did, we wouldn’t be fat anymore, and then we couldn’t make jokes about how fat we are for the amusement of people who read our websites. Plus, you’re not going to trust a skinny guy to tell you where good food is. I guess I wouldn’t mind eating healthy, if it tasted good- and they gave you more of it. Healthy food is always less filling. Maybe if they had healthy food, in an all you can eat buffet form, I’d be down with it.
It is not often I will write about food delivery. I admit, it is probably something everyone would be interested in reading about (whether or not your favorite place delivers), but I don’t write about it because I never order delivery. I don’t believe in it. I am a staunch advocate of taking time to get out of the office for a little bit. You’re supposed to get a lunch break. You need a lunch break. Use your lunch break. (Even it’s just to walk around for 20 minutes.)
But like all rules, there are some exceptions. For example, when delivery is made to be fun! Like in the case of 
Who doesn’t love meat on a stick? Who doesn’t love anyting on sticks for that matter? Put something on a stick, and you’re talking immediate improvement. Meat. Apple dipped in caramel. Imagine taking a hot dog, dipping it in batter, deep frying it, and then eating it- without a stick. Terrible, right? Put it on a stick… greatest treat of all time! So, when I heard about Kushi Q opening on 3rd Ave., I was naturally very excited. Japanese Yakitori (and other meats), in a “fast food chic” setting. There are plenty of amazing Yakitori places in Midtown, but they don’t open until the late afternoon. In Japan, Yakitori is traditionally eaten as an after work snack, or late night in bars called Izakayas. Kushi Q allows you to enjoy Yakitori for lunch, in Midtown. Very exciting!
I think 41st St. btw. Madison & 5th might be my favorite block of Midtown. It’s no secret that I love Asian food, and this particular block is home to three of the best cheap and quick Japanese lunches in the city. Even though they all serve Japanese fast food, they are all very different- each with its own niche, and price range. Moderate, Cheap and Cheaper.
Finally there’s Yagura, the bastard child of 41st Street. Unmarked (the sign is propped up sideways against the wall inside the door) and with no windows, Yagura is actually a pretty sweet Japanese grocery store, that happens to sell soups and bento boxes out of a window in the front. It’s not as bustling as Zaiya, or as nice as Chiyoda- but it’s got one thing that they don’t. The food comes out freshly heated up.