The Closing of Kame House Burger カメホウス・ハンバーガー 022-374-5747

Click HERE for a previous write-up on Kame House.

Website:  http://www.sendai-burger.com/index.html

Address:  仙台市泉区中央１丁目22-1.   Located on Route 35, about a three-minute walk from Izumi Subway Station.

Map:  Scroll down below.

Weekdays lunch:  11:30 am – 2:45 pm.     Weekdays dinner:  5:30 pm – 10:30 pm.

Sundays and Holidays:  11:30 am – 8:30 pm.   Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

It is with a heavy heart that I write that Kame House Burger will be closing at the end of September.

Apparently, the owner is moving on to bigger and better things in Tokyo, so this hamburger joint will soon be history.  

Luckily for me, I’ve already dined there twice within the last two weeks with a couple of good friends to share the moment, and I plan on returning at least once more for ole’ time’s sake.

I was never a frequent visitor to Kame House due to its location in Izumi, which made it quite a trek for me.  Still, it was worth the trek when I did make it.

A week ago I visited on Friday during lunchtime with my good friend, Tony, who had never been to Kame House but had always wanted to go.  He seemed to really like his Double-Burger.  The place had quite a few customers but it was no problem getting a table.

This weekend, I was fortunate enough to have my dear friend, Yvonne, accompany me to the famed burger restaurant.  The place was crowded!  And we ended up waiting about twenty minutes for our table.  I ordered my usual Double-Burger (1100 yen) without sauce, and my companion went with the Avocado-Cheeseburger with Barbeque Sauce on the side. We both split an order of Onion Rings.

Double-Burger

Avocado-Cheeseburger

Onion Rings (Scrumptious!  But pass on the salsa)

The meat patty in my burger on this second visit seemed thicker than my previous encounter, with a strong and delicious peppery flavor to it.  The fries were good and I was quite happy with the onion rings.  Yvonne seemed to really enjoy her burger as well!

My disappointment came as I had my heart set on a chocolate milkshake to go with my burger, only to be informed that shakes are only served after 5:30 pm.  Despite my pleading and puppy dog eyes, I was given a stern “ごめんなさい.”  That’s why I plan to go back one more time, but after 5:30 pm.

If you have never been to Kame House, I urge you to rush down as soon as you can to try one of the best burgers in town!  For those of you who have devoured the greasy goodness, return before it’s too late!

**Yvonne was gracious enough to give me permission to use her photos for this post.  I am very grateful as she is a much better photographer than I am.  Thanks, Vonnie!

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IKEA Restaurant イケアレストラン 050-5833-9000

Website:  http://www.ikea.com/jp/ja/store/sendai/

Address:  仙台市太白区あすと長町 2-1-1.   Located across the street and to the side of Nagamachi JR Train Station.  Also easily accessible from the Nagamachi Subway Station.

Map:  Scroll down below.

Open:  Not yet, but the Grand Opening will be on Thursday, July 17, 2014.  Until September 30, 2014, the store will be open from 10 am – 9 pm.  But after that the store hours are as follows:  

Sunday – Friday: 10 am – 7 pm.  Saturdays and Holidays:  10 am – 9 pm.

Today, I got a special sneak-peek inside the brand-spanking new IKEA Store thanks to my friends, Tony, who gave me his “invitation only” Family Day at IKEA ticket, and Yvonne, who works there and provided the ticket.

I don’t remember visiting my local IKEA back in the States very often, and I never ate at their restaurant, so I can’t do a comparison, but I was quite impressed with the number of foods available at this Sendai IKEA restaurant, which included salmon, tandoori chicken, and roast beef among its many entrées .

My wife went with the Salmon Lasagna for 616 yen, with a slice of Arctic Bread for 60 yen.  It was the first time for her to ever try a salmon lasagna, and she really liked it, especially the salmon taste.  She also stated that the Arctic Bread didn’t have a lot of flavor by itself but that it went well with the lasagna.

サーモンラザニヤ・アークティックブレット

I chose the Swedish Meatballs for 599 yen, a Mini Bread for 90 yen to accompany it, and a butter packet for 20 yen.  The ten meatballs came with gravy, cranberry dressing, and mashed potatoes.  The meatballs were not extraordinary, but quite good, and the cranberry dressing added a nice touch to the flavor.  I’m not a big fan of mashed potatoes (I’m picky), but I enjoyed these!

スウェーデン・ミートボール

For dessert, my wife decided upon the Apple Cake for 299 yen and a Café Latte from the Drink Bar for 120 yen.  I picked the Cinnamon Roll for 90 yen.

アップルケーキ&シナモンロール

Both the Apple Cake and Cinnamon Roll were not very sweet, and had tastes that were nothing like their traditional counterparts.  Despite this, we still thought they were quite tasty, perhaps due to both having a nutty flavoring to them.

So IKEA is not a traditional restaurant, but that's what they call it.  It's more of a cafeteria, and our two complete meals plus dessert came in at under 2000 yen.  I would say that overall, we were both totally satisfied with our meals.

Since I never experienced eating at an IKEA Store, I don't know if this is standard practice there, but I found it interesting that you don't pay for your meal until you are done with it (unlike most cafeteria-style joints). After placing your selected platters on your tray, you proceed to the check out lane.  The clerk will give you an itemized receipt, and then you go off to find a place to sit.  When you are done with your meal, you take your tray to the disposal area, and then use an automated register to pay for your meal.  I had never seen this before.

If you’re shopping at IKEA, visiting their restaurant might provide a nice needed break from wandering around the huge store..   

But, if you want to save even more money, go to their Bistro on the 1^st floor past the checkout lanes.  They sell hot dogs for 100 yen and soft cream cones for 50 yen!  The hot dog looked good but I was already full from the restaurant.

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Wantsu-chi (Wan-zu-ji?) 万豚記 022-249-3336

Set Meal Menu for the Saturday that I went

Gyoza Set Meal *I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT CURRENTLY WANTSU-CHI IS CLOSED.  FOR A WHILE, THEIR WEBSITE STATED THAT THEY WERE "TEMPORARILY" CLOSED.  BUT NOW THE WEBSITE IS ALSO DOWN SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL RE-OPEN.  THE STREET THEY WERE LOCATED ON WAS HIT VERY HARD BY THE EARTHQUAKE AND MANY SHOPS HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN.  I WAS HOPING THEY WERE GOING TO REMODEL BUT WHO KNOWS?  HERE'S HOPING FOR THE BEST. Website:  Not their official site, but one with info on them:                     http://www.kiwa-group.co.jp/restaurant/t100214.html

Address:  宮城県仙台市太白区長町1-4-1.  Located in between the Nagamachi and Nagamachi-ichome Subway Stations on the same road.  Also on the same side of the street as the Nagamachi JR Station.

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom.

Hours:  Closed Tuesdays.

            Wednesdays – Mondays:   11:00 – 3:00    and   6:00 – 11:30 pm.

            Sundays:   11:00 – 3:00   and    6:00 – 9:30 pm.

Great Chinese food.  I especially like the big gyoza set meal!  It’s not the set that is big, but it’s the gyoza: Around 13 centimeters or so.  The set meal comes with rice, egg soup, a bean sprout salad (that has miniscule bits of chicken) and a white gelatin dessert (杏仁豆腐).  I don’t like the dessert because … I’m picky, but the wife loves it.   My wife also gives the ramen a big thumbs up.  Other choices I like are the さくさくchicken set meal and the pork with cabbage set. 

They sometimes play Beatles or cheesy 80’s music.  When it’s 80’s night, I keep thinking, “懐かしい! I haven’t heard that song in years.  Oh yeah, I didn’t like that song did I?”

This restaurant chain actually has a few different locations in Sendai and they all have different names (which is helpful-hmmmf).  I went to one a long time ago on Minami-machi dori across from the old Brother Building that's called Benitorazen  紅虎禅.  Walking from Sendai Station it’s before you get to Meidi-ya Import Store on the same side of the street.  It’s next to a small conbini.  That restaurant had a different menu, but it was still very good.     

There is also one in Yamatomachi that I’ve heard is also very good, and the website lists one in Izumi.  Let me know if you’ve been to any of these or any others I don’t know about.

The Nagamachi location has free parking but it’s down the street.   Your best bet would be to pull over and run in and ask the staff where to park.                  

Unfortunately, they have no stamp card nor do they have a non-smoking section.

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Bistro Boeuf d’Or ビストロブフドール 022-215-1150

Website:  http://bistroboeufdor.com/index.html

Address:   仙台市青葉区国分町3-9-9 コーポキクセン 1F.  On the same street as City Hall.   Just walk west towards Mediatheque and Nishi-Koen.  This restaurant is very small and a bit hard to find initially.

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom.   

Lunch:  11:30 – 2:30  

Dinner:  5:30 – 10:00     

Closed Sundays and holidays.

Unique flavors!  Edamame and gyutan pâté, shrimp with mango sauce, roasted duck with plum sauce, apple pottage, and cold asparagus soup are just some of the flavors you’ll encounter at this small bistro.   I don't even like asparagus, but this soup was good!   Salads prepared with fresh vegetables and homemade bread add to the delight of eating here.  Plus, goood coffee and a lunch stamp card!

I’ve only been here a few times but from the very start this restaurant made my Favorites list.   This restaurant reminds me of Café de Mieux.  It’s best to make reservations for both lunch and dinner as this restaurant is quite small.  We’ve been turned away for dinner because it was already full.  

This is no cheap meal, but if you want something special or perhaps are celebrating something, Bistro Boeuf d'Or is an excellent choice!

There is no free parking but if you go by subway it’s about an eight-minute walk from Kotodai-Koen Station.

**Please read the update on Bistro Beouf d'Or by clicking HERE.

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Pancake & Café 38 Mitsubachi パンケーキ＆カフェミツバチ 022-721-0238

Website:  http://r.tabelog.com/miyagi/A0401/A040101/4002901/

Address:  仙台市青葉区二日町12-25グランディプレステージ１F.  In between Kotodai-Koen Station and Kita-Yobancho Station on the same side as City Hall.

Map:  Scroll to the bottom.  

Open:  Tues. – Fri.  6 am – 6:30 pm.        

Sat., Sun., Holidays they close at 6 pm.

Closed Mondays.

Front of the restaurant

What I ordered

What it actually looked like

I’ve only been here twice but both times were quite enjoyable and I look forward to returning to try the different varieties of pancakes.   On my first visit during a Saturday lunchtime, I wanted to order the chicken curry with pancakes lunch set but they were already sold out.   So I went with the hamburger and pancakes set.  Hamburger and pancakes, not your usual combo, is it?

The hamburger had slices of eggplant mixed in a tomato sauce and it was pretty good.  And considering that I don’t like eggplant very much, I think that’s quite a compliment.  

The 1380円 lunch set came with a vegetable broth soup, small salad, the hamburger patty, three pancakes, a small yogurt dessert (which I didn’t like), and a beverage of your choice.

The pancakes were nice and light, but I suggest eating them right away because they can get cold quite quickly.  The butter used is supposedly made there at the restaurant. 

They have a separate breakfast menu that is served until 10 am (see picture below).

The place is small and I saw a couple of people turned away as the restaurant was full (again, this was during a weekend lunchtime). 

On my second visit I ordered the three buttermilk pancakes with two small scoops of vanilla ice cream.  The actual dish looked different from the photo on the menu (see above photos) so don’t be surprised, however, the pancakes were again light and fluffy. 

My wife ordered the caramel pancakes which were good but not as sweet as I imagined.

Caramel Pancakes

I was quite satisfied with the food but I wasn’t too happy about the coffee.  A good cup of joe is the perfect crowning point to a great meal.  Well, they dropped the crown here.  After eating the sweetness of the pancakes and ice cream, a deep, rich cup of coffee would have punctuated the meal.  Instead, the coffee kind of said, “I think that’s about it.”

Still, I recommend this place.  Our second visit was on a national holiday at around 5 pm and the place was empty, so I guess timing is everything.

5 pm on a holiday

There is no free parking nor stamp card.

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Billy’s N.Y. Style Sandwich 022-264-3101

UPDATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015.
IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THAT BILLY'S IS NO LONGER.
I DROVE HERE LAST FRIDAY TO DINE ON YET ANOTHER FILLING AND FLAVORFUL SANDWICH ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE BUILDING WAS BEING DEMOLISHED.
I WISH THE OWNER, IIBUCHI-SAN, THE BEST, AND AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL LUNCHES SHE PROVIDED OVER HER FIFTEEN YEAR RUN.

Website:  http://www.billys.jp/      

Address: 仙台市青葉区上杉1-7-23.  Near Kita-Yobancho Subway Station.  Across from Grand Central Sports Gym.

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom. 

Hours:  11:00 – 5:00 everyday.  But … you should call to check.  Sometimes they are not open.

Are they really New York style sandwiches?  Well, I’m not from New York but I’ve been there a few times and, hmm, I’ll just say that Billy’s offers the best sandwiches I’ve had in Japan.  In NYC, they really know how to make a sandwich (at least at most delis).  Though not necessarily the same, Billy’s does a great job.  I don’t live near downtown, but my wife and I will gladly drive to Billy’s on the weekends for a good sandwich lunch.  It’s that good, at least in my opinion.

In fact, we drove out just for Billy’s the other day.  I like the club sandwich with an avocado topping (580円).  A sandwich plus the assorted tsukemono satisfies my appetite.  My wife likes the half sandwich set menu. (600 円).  The set menu comes with a drink and a dessert, but I don’t like their dessert choices, while my wife loves them.  She had a pumpkin pottage the other day.  Sometimes it will be some type of mousse.  That’s not for me, but the wifey likes them.

I’ve had friends tell me that they rate the meatloaf or the BLT as their favorites.  I’ve tried them and they are good, but I like the club sandwich the best and I’m sticking to it.  I know this place is popular with people working at city hall and the kencho.

But just one thing:  If Iibuchi-san (the owner who wears glasses and a bandana completely over her hair) is not there, the sandwiches do tend to be missing something in the flavor department.

Also, there is no free parking.  Across from Billy’s is a two-story parking structure, however, next to Billy’s is a very small real estate office, and next to that office is a cheaper parking area.  


*Please read recent updates about Billy's here and here again.

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