Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo | Toto Don
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don food fresh fish pieces on bed of rice
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo, Toto Don is serving hot Japanese rice topped with raw fish. This is Japanese fast food called kaisendon and it is not expensive.
There are several Toto Don restaurants in Tokyo, but this located in Ebisu was recommended by my Japanese friend. Because I like raw fish, I decided to try kaisendon in Ebisu Toto Don.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo | Toto Don – outlook
Entrance to Japanese restaurant Toto Don is very simple. Just sign board over automatic glass doors with big picture menu and information that restaurant has three floors. Through glass doors I could see ticket vending machine and staircases.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don outlook entrnace with menu list
Another wall contains big window covered by photos of dishes served in restaurant.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo TotoDon outlook
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo | Toto Don- interior and atmosphere
Toto Don is occupying 3 floors of the building.
All floors are arranged almost same, just third floor is a bit different, because there is toilet.
Restaurant’s interior looks simple, but there is very clean and cosy.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don interior first floor 2
Just after enter I could see ticket vending machine and from its left side there are stairs to 2nd floor.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don interior
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don interior staircases
From left side of main bar area there is counter where two ladies serve ordered dishes and behind counter- very small kitchen.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don interior kitchen area
From right side of kitchen counter are shelves with cups for tea and water glasses, small plates for soya sauce, toothpicks and wasabi in small packets.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don interior shelves with cups glasses and spices
From right side of bar, located near windows is long eating counter and 7 round, short stools looking like buttons of old typewriter.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don interior fisrt floor
On the eating counter stand jugs with tap water and thermoses with green and black tea. Except thermoses and jugs with water, there are also small containers with two types of soya sauce, box of pickled ginger, chop sticks and napkins.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don interior look at tables utensils
Small copies of menus are sticked to walls under windows, pictures on walls
and clock. Two other floors of bar are arranged in almost same way.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don interior second floor customer area
It is nice and quiet after pick time, 2 pm in TotoDon so it is possible to stay a bit longer after eating and enjoy tea, but in general it is place in which people eat.
Atmosphere is very peaceful. I like pastel colours and lots of light in this restaurant.
It is good to eat in peace and enjoy conversation
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo | Toto Don- how to order and pay.
It is very easy to order and pay in Toto Don.
When I entered, first I saw was ticket vending machines.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay ticket vending machine with menu
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay ticket vending machine
I had to choose dish from list placed over vending machine.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay photo menu with names and prices of dishes
I wanted cheapest dish, greated salmon domburi, which cost 490 yen.
I put 500 yen coin into coin slot,
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay the way of use vending machine step2
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay the way of use vending machine step3
machine swallowed it and “produced” special ticket together with 10 yen coin as change.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay the way of use vending machine step5
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay the way of use vending machine step6
I took ticket and gave it to serving lady who prepared dish I ordered.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay how to use tickets
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay staf is preparing food ordered by ticket
My friend ordered and paid in same way as me.
If you want to choose dish which costs for example 690 yen, simply use 500, 100, 50 or 10 yen coins in appropriate amount or banknote 1000 yen. You will get change from vending machine.
Easy!
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don order and pay ordered dish placed on serving tray
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo | Toto Don- food and service
Speciality of Toto Don is called kaisendon.
Basically kaisendon it is bowl of hot rice with minced or sliced raw fish, with pickled ginger and chopped spring onions on the top. Depends how much you want to spend, there are different kinds of fish placed on rice.
I decided to take a simple option and have got portion of minced salmon on rice.
My friend ordered same dish but bigger portion
We used vending machine to get order tickets and gave tickets to serving lady.
She placed trays on counter, our tickets too and started to fill pretty large bowls with hot rice, fish and all other ingredients.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don food and service dishes are preparing
When our lunch was ready…
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don food and service two portions of kaisendon
… I took cups for tea and glass for water and my friend added cute small plate with wasabi. After chef place food on counter you must pick it up by yourself.
Self-service! I really liked my dish.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don food and service smaller portion of kaisendon
I enjoyed a lot, especially when I poured soya sauce mixed with wasabi …
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don food free wasabi with soy sauce
…and add lost of pickled ginger, which is for free, same as hot tea and tap water. My portion was big and I ate enough, actually all!
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo Toto Don food my empty kaisendon bowl
My friend could hardly finish, so I must say that we pay good price for so generous portions.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo | Toto Don- comment
I recommend this place. It is not expensive and food is not bad at all. It may taste too mild at first, but with decent amount of wasabi and soya sauce, it tastes really good. Portions are big.
Also it is quiet and easy to find this restaurant, menu is well displayed and packed with photos so easy to order and very easy to pay.
Service is discreet and fast. What is interesting, one from serving ladies is not originally Japanese, but came from South East Asia. Are Japanese more open for foreign workers?
Anyway, I could enjoy my meal in peace and eat as much shoga (pickled ginger) as I want. Really great! I love pickled ginger and easy going places when I can feel comfortable.
Japanese Restaurants in Tokyo | Toto Don- additional information
• Regular portion of salmon kaisendon costs 490 yen and bigger portion costs 590 yen
• portions are big and in good price
• smoking is prohibited
• it is place to stay short time rather than longer
• single customers are very welcomed same as couples and small groups
• it is good place to eat both for men and women
• dishes are prepared by staff but after this- self- service
• pickled ginger, tea, wasabi, tap water and spices are for free
• restaurant is open 9:00 -24:00
• as off 2009-04-11
Category:Japanese Restaurant
