Lunch exploration in the Shinjuku area. I came here after a meeting at the end of Stariha. I had a Poki Bowl set for 1650 yen. It's about a 3-minute walk from Nishi-Shinjuku Station. I remember this place used to be a casual Italian restaurant before the pandemic. The bright interior has a white and blue color scheme with an open terrace, giving off a Hawaiian vibe with a large surfboard displayed inside. Ordering is done through scanning a QR code, which is convenient but a bit of a hassle. It can be time-consuming if you're not used to it, especially when ordering for a large group to avoid any mistakes. You have to ask for water too, which is a bit unfamiliar. The Poki bowl was average, like a tea pickled dish (laughs). A quick meal and the meeting was over. It was helpful as I haven't had a lunchtime outing in a while. There are many drinking establishments in the Nishi-Shinjuku area, so lunchtime on a Sunday was very crowded. Thank you for the meal.

I had a hamburger for 1,250 yen at "Hawaiian Cafe OluOlu" in Shinjuku. The Hawaiian restaurant is located on Kotaki Bridge Street, a short walk from Shinjuku Nishiguchi Station towards Baba. The newly opened restaurant has a bright interior with a Hawaiian theme. The hamburger had a beef patty that was 100% beef and had a coarse texture. It was filled with onions, tomatoes, and lettuce, but the lettuce and tomatoes had cores left in them, which was not ideal. Also, when I tried to bite into the burger, the lettuce and tomato slid around because they were not securely placed between the buns. The buns were soft, but some might say they were similar to McDonald's buns. Overall, the quality of the burger was one step below burger specialty shops.

I recently visited a newly opened restaurant that I was curious about for lunch. It is located about a 5-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station, and the atmosphere inside the restaurant was very nice. It was crowded during weekday lunchtime, but the food was served very quickly! I had the poke bowl, and it was delicious!

I visited Hawaiian Cafe OluOlu, located 5 minutes from Shinjuku Station! The weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky, making it a great day to have lunch under the clear blue sky. The restaurant is stylish and stands out in this area. We ordered the following items: - Poke Bowl: Made with tuna, avocado, and mixed grain rice. The addition of rice crackers and sesame added a nice texture. The portion might be a bit small, but it also came with a side salad. - Cobb Salad: Finely chopped greens with avocado, tomato, chicken, and beans neatly arranged. We chose the special dressing which had a slightly spicy flavor and was delicious. It was a satisfying meal with a good amount of food. Since it's a Hawaiian cuisine restaurant, avocado was a common ingredient, which was great for me since I love avocado! They also offer burgers for those looking for a heartier meal. The prices are reasonable, making it a great choice. The majority of customers were women. It was a great meal!

The high-end bakery specializing in gourmet bread unexpectedly closed down. Soon after, interior renovations began, and I was curious to see what kind of restaurant would open in its place. It may not necessarily be a restaurant, but I couldn't help peeking in every time I passed by and saw the renovation progress. After a while, I found out that a Hawaiian restaurant had opened at the location from a colleague. It was interesting to learn this information at a place where my colleagues and I often frequent for dining. I decided to invite some friends who might be interested in Loco Moco to check it out. We walked from Kotaki Bridge Street towards Shinjuku West Exit, crossed the Kitashinjuku Hyakunincho intersection, and found the restaurant right away. There was a terrace seating area, giving off a leisurely vibe like a restaurant in a resort. The Shinjuku West Exit area is bustling with foot traffic during lunchtime, so we decided to forgo the terrace seating due to the curious glances from passersby. The spacious and bright interior of the Hawaiian-themed restaurant was quite crowded with customers. I had expected more female customers due to the Hawaiian atmosphere, but surprisingly there were also many male customers, mostly middle-aged. The interior had a relaxed and pleasant vibe, reminiscent of the heyday of Denny's that I frequented in my twenties. We sat at the counter seats in the center of the restaurant. Although we had already decided on our dishes, we took a look at the menu. A young female staff member brought us water in glasses, and we placed our order for the "Loco Moco Rice Extra Large." The extra-large size came at an additional cost. The dishes were served promptly within 10 minutes. Loco Moco is a Hawaiian dish consisting of rice topped with a hamburger patty and a sunny-side-up egg, covered with gravy or demi-glace sauce. It is said to have been created by Japanese-Americans in Hawaii. I wasn't very familiar with the term "gravy sauce," so I looked it up and found out that it is a sauce made by adding onions and spices to the meat juices produced when cooking meat. It has a rich flavor and pairs well with meat dishes like steak or roast beef. The plate consisted of a half-cooked egg on top, hiding the hamburger patty underneath, with the rice arranged neatly in a half-moon shape on the side. A salad, sunny lettuce, and mashed potatoes were also served on the plate to add color. We first broke the half-cooked egg, letting the yolk flow over the hamburger patty. The hamburger patty, although not very juicy and slightly dry, had a strong meaty flavor. We quickly scooped up some rice with a fork and tasted it. The rice, similar to Indica rice, had a slightly rough texture and lacked moisture. We took breaks to enjoy the salad and mashed potatoes before returning to the hamburger patty. Although we didn't order any drinks, it would have been even more enjoyable if a cup of soup was included in the set. The portion size, even in the extra-large, left something to be desired. The restaurant's interior with its spacious seating arrangement and open atmosphere created a comfortable and pleasant cafe lunch experience. The view of the atmosphere of Nishi-Shinjuku 7-chome from the restaurant through the terrace seating was exceptional. The pleasant ambiance and setting led to lively conversations among friends. For a lunch experience focused on ambiance, it seems like a good place to visit again for the next lunch outing.

In the pouring rain, the president suggested going to a cafe to talk. After wandering around Shinjuku, we found a new and stylish cafe with a terrace. The menu had enticing options like "Very Very Pancake," "Mango Pancake," "Banana Pancake," and "Apple Pancake." I ordered a "Pineapple & Mango" iced coffee to enjoy a taste of Hawaii. The drink was so delicious that I couldn't help but exclaim "yum!" while talking with the president. I can't wait to go back for a meal next time!

The economy seems to be recovering (stock prices are rising), and new stores are popping up everywhere these days. While strolling along Kotakibashi Street, I came across a vivid sky blue store. It was a Hawaiian cafe with a terrace seat that was full, so I asked if it was okay to dine alone. The place was still new and shiny, with a relaxed Aloha atmosphere. I ordered the Loco Moco from my phone and also got an iced coffee as a set. The portion size was a bit small, with a modest amount of rice and a small hamburger patty. The gravy-like sauce had a hint of elegant red wine acidity. It felt more refined than the Loco Mocos you'd find in Hawaii. Despite the lack of customers, the experience was peaceful and tropical. The place could use better promotion, but with its spacious and cozy vibe, I think it has the potential to become popular. I'll visit again in the future.

I visited a lovely new restaurant and ordered Fish and Chips and Mango Pancakes! ❌Fish and Chips: I was surprised that the fish was small. I was expecting a flaky white fish, so I was disappointed with the small and tough fries. ❌Mango Pancakes: The whipped cream and mango were delicious, but the pancakes were a bit thin. They weren't as fluffy as I had hoped. The service at the restaurant was good.

Yesterday, my friend, who is overweight but has a small appetite, invited me to Pancake and this time she went alone and contacted me saying, "The portion is too big and I might not finish it, so please come." Since I was working just a few minutes away, I rushed over. My friend had ordered the banana pancake with chocolate topping, which is a classic choice. It was delicious! Personally, I don't need the chocolate, but it's fine. The sweetness of the banana, combined with the subtly flavored pancake and whipped cream, was delightful. I eagerly devoured the leftovers my friend couldn't finish. Since I was already there, I decided to try a different menu item, the 100% beef hamburger. It had a classic taste with no doubt about the 100% beef and the spices used to eliminate any unpleasant smell. However, this place is known for its pancakes. My friend suggested the acai bowl looked delicious, but I insisted on pancakes. For acai bowls, I recommend going to Harekea in Kitashinagawa. Here at Oluolu, it's all about the pancakes. At Harekea, they also have delicious spam rice balls. At Oluolu, it's all about the pancakes. Once again, the service was not great (which is unlikely to improve in a day), and that is a concern for me. I hope this delicious pancake restaurant doesn't close down.

My friend, who is a picky eater and overweight, invited me to try out a new Hawaiian cafe that opened nearby, specifically for their pancakes. While waiting for my friend, I chatted with the staff and did some research on the menu. I decided to try the Fish and Chips, but unfortunately, it was not what I expected. The texture was too crispy and not fluffy like traditional Fish and Chips. I also tried the Ahi Poke, which was just okay. However, the highlight for me was the pancakes. They were moist, not crumbly, and just the right amount of sweetness. I ordered the Berry Berry Pancakes, which had a nice balance of sweetness with the berries. The pancakes and whipped cream were not overly sweet, which I appreciated. The service was a bit awkward and robotic, with the staff clearing plates too quickly. Overall, the experience was mixed, but I would recommend trying the pancakes despite some shortcomings in other dishes.

The restaurant was bright and the food was delicious, served in a timely manner. The manager apologized for the wait, even though it was standard. The floor staff seemed busy and forgot to bring the water to the table next to us. We had the Mochiko Chicken, which was crispy and juicy as described in the menu. Satisfying experience.