In my town of Musashikoyama, a Seijo Ishii store has opened. About 9 years ago, when I moved from Yokohama's Totsuka to Musashikoyama, there were three Tokyu stores in Musashikoyama. One store was a replacement for the former Hankyu Kyoei store that closed, and another store opened as a core tenant in the Musashikoyama station building (now Etomo). Having three Tokyu stores in the same town was too many. Over time, one store was replaced by a supermarket called "Oozeki," and another store was recently rebuilt, with Seijo Ishii and Nitori as new tenants. As a result, there is now only one Tokyu store in Etomo. This is the natural state of things. This New Year's, I didn't have traditional New Year's dishes due to my father's mourning, but I did buy tuna from Oozeki as usual. Oozeki's selection of tuna is excellent, and this year I was able to purchase tuna from Ooma (otoro, chutoro, akami) for less than 10,000 yen. The taste was exquisite. For other New Year's dishes, I relied heavily on Seijo Ishii. I don't review supermarkets or convenience stores (those who know that I used to review convenience stores and drugstores in the Totsuka and Higashi-Totsuka areas of Yokohama probably understand the reasons), but Seijo Ishii's product quality is impressive. Especially their original items are surprisingly good, like their homemade premium cheesecake, which was outstanding. I can see why Seijo Ishii, now under Lawson's umbrella, is doing well. After spending New Year's Day at home, I decided to go out on the 2nd and visit department stores for their New Year's sales. I watched the Hakone Ekiden relay in Totsuka (near where I used to live in Totsuka) and then headed to Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro was crowded with people due to the New Year's sales at Seibu and Tobu department stores, so I decided to have lunch at a restaurant on the 14th floor of Tobu Department Store. The restaurant area on the 14th floor is called "Spice" and spans 5 floors from the 11th to the 15th, with higher floors housing more upscale restaurants. The restaurant I visited is called Champion, operated by Pewters Co., Ltd. Established in 1996 in Ebisu, Pewters operates 22 restaurants under 7 brands, with Champion having the most locations with 9 stores. I have only visited their soba restaurant "Shogen" in Ebisu, which gave me the impression of being quite high-end. Champion opens at 11 am, and when I arrived 2 minutes before opening, the restaurant was already crowded due to the New Year's sales at the department store. The atmosphere was busier than expected.

I went to Yakiniku Champion in Ikebukuro to eat delicious yakiniku! The tongue was just the right amount of fatty, and the thick tongue was so tender that it melted in my mouth! I forgot to take a picture, but I ordered all types of tongue haha. Both the meat and the horumon were delicious too!

The food was very delicious. However, it was not worth more than the price, it was just average for the price. We forgot to take a photo of the beer, but we had two more and the total for two adults with the most reasonable lunch option and two beers was 8,000 yen. For this price, I would expect the kimchi to be a bit better, or the rice to be tastier. It would be nice to have something special that sets this place apart. The meat was thick-cut and a mix of various cuts for comparison. The salad had canned crab meat with a sauce that wasn't spicy. The strong fat would need either yangnyeom or gochujang. The seating was spacious, but for the night price, I probably wouldn't go again. It seems good for business entertainment, but it doesn't change my ranking of BBQ places. It wasn't bad, but there wasn't anything particularly great about it except for the seating. It's a shame because the meal with friends was enjoyable, making it even more disappointing.

If you want to experience a more upscale atmosphere than Ebisu, head to the Ikebukuro location. Everything is delicious here. The private room fee is 1100 yen, but the space is truly top-notch. It's definitely worth a visit. Reservations are essential by the day before. Let's go check it out.

Ikebukuro Tobu's "Yakiniku Champion" is one of my favorite yakiniku restaurants. The yakiniku here has very few disappointing cuts of meat, so you can enjoy yakiniku with peace of mind. This time, I ordered the "Lunch Course for 5,500 yen." Since it's a course meal, I posted photos in the order they were served. First, the "Kimchi and Namul Assortment" and "Beef Tendon Ponzu" are brought out. Hmm, I see. These are appetizers while waiting for the grill to heat up. The beef tendon ponzu is not bad. It's thoughtful that they include yuzu pepper on the side. Oh, the yakiniku lineup is starting with the "Tongue with Salt." It would be nice if it were a bit thicker, but it's great that they start with a salted tongue. It was tender with a good chewiness, a good piece of meat. Next up is the "Zabuton." Probably the main dish of the course coming in second... Well, I guess they want you to eat the main dish when you're hungry. It's thinly sliced and well-seasoned with a perfect sauce. Normally, the staff lightly sears it for you. Oh, wait? This time, the staff isn't cooking it for us? Did they change their method? Well, it can't be helped, but for those ordering the course for the first time, they might not know how to cook the thinly sliced Zabuton and end up ruining it. Anyway, lightly sear the Zabuton yourself, dip it in egg yolk, and enjoy it with a bite of rice, it'll make you feel incredibly happy. After that, a salad, two types of hormone, and the "Chef's Selection of 3 Cuts" are served. This time, it's skirt meat, chicken tenderloin, and turtle meat. These are probably the double main event alongside the Zabuton. Of course, since it's high-quality meat, I lightly seared them before eating. I chose cold noodles for the meal, and dessert was almond jelly, leaving a refreshing taste in my mouth. Probably, the order in which the restaurant provides the course has hidden intentions, and it's fun to unravel them. Thanks for the meal today!

I visited Yakiniku Champion for the first time at Ikebukuro Station, on the 14th floor of Tobu Department Store. I had been to their store in Ebisu when it was a popular budget yakiniku restaurant, but since it turned into a high-end yakiniku restaurant, I had only been a few times. This time, I went with a friend to have dinner after some drinks at an izakaya near Ikebukuro Station. We ordered Kalbi, loin, Nakaochi Kalbi, and Galbi, all of which were delicious with a nice clean fat. The meat had a good chewy texture, so it may not be suitable for those looking for tender Kalbi. The Nakaochi Kalbi had a generous amount of marbling and was served in blocks. When you sear the surface and eat it rare, it tastes great without any burnt flavor. We ordered all the meat in regular portions, but we were able to fully enjoy the yakiniku at Yakiniku Champion. The Garlic Chanja Fried Rice had just the right amount of garlic and a little Chanja, and the portion was enough for 2-3 people. It was delicious, as the name suggests. The Stone-grilled Bibimbap had a slightly sweet flavor, but it was also tasty. The restaurant had a spacious seating arrangement and a comfortable atmosphere, typical of a high-end yakiniku restaurant. The meat was all A5 grade, which explains the refined taste. The prices were on the higher side, starting from 1,750 yen for a portion of Kalbi. The staff were in suits and provided excellent service, even changing the grill without us having to ask. Overall, the meat and other menu items were delicious.

The omakase course was overall delicious! The appetizer portion was surprisingly small, but I ended up feeling full by the end, so maybe the amount was just right. We added the harami (skirt steak) which wasn't included in the course, and it was incredibly tasty. Both myself and my companion loved it. The service was attentive, with a youthful energy, although there were a couple of instances where there seemed to be miscommunication. The restaurant was very clean, smoke-free, and perfect for a date. It could work for a business dinner with a tolerant client. The drinks were all well-prepared. Thank you for the meal.

Visit: Holiday 3:00 PM No reservation required About 10 minutes wait for one group A branch of a famous yakiniku restaurant in Ebisu located inside Tobu Department Store. You can't go wrong with any dish you order. The seats are spacious and comfortable, and it's very convenient to enjoy this quality in a department store setting. Recommended dishes: Negi-maki (green onion wrapped) Tan (tongue), salted lamb chops, kimchi, highball.

One group waited until 3:00 pm on a holiday for 10 minutes. Since it was just after lunchtime (until 2:30 pm), we were able to get in relatively smoothly. They were with a baby, but you have to specifically ask for a baby chair as they won't provide one automatically. Although there are many reviews mentioning the high prices, the portion size is generous, so I think it's relatively cost-effective for two or more people. Below are the orders we made: - Negi Maki Tan Shio (Thinly sliced tongue wrapped in green onion) 2,200 yen: The seasoned green onion was delicious. - Lamp (Lamp meat) 1,800 yen: Refreshing yet thick and tender, very delicious! - Roast (Roast meat) 1,400 yen: Also tender with less fat. - Chinese cabbage kimchi 580 yen - Scotch Highball 700 yen

My wife's birthday, we went with our family of 5. We ordered the special course for 3 people, a meat cake, and other a la carte items. It was our first time ordering a meat cake, and it was beautiful with fireworks on top, better than expected! The meat cake was very filling when they sliced it up (pork belly, tongue, shin, and chili pepper), very satisfying! The meat quality and taste were all good! (From an amateur perspective) The kimchi and namul were decent, although there are better options out there, it's all about personal preference. The cold noodles for dessert were delicious, so I recommend trying them. The highball and shochu were a bit strong, but they can adjust it if you ask, and the service is great. We were initially told the private rooms were fully booked, but we were lucky to get one when we arrived, and the atmosphere and service were excellent. It felt like we splurged a bit more than usual, but it was worth it. The only complaint was that the rice was too hard. It's good for wrapping in the sukiyaki beef or for porridge, but for regular rice, I would have preferred it softer. Apart from that, we were satisfied and would like to go back again.

I visited Yakiniku Champion for the second time after having a delicious lunch there the first time. I tried the Negi-tan shio, Kuri, Zabu-suki, and Kalbi kukka. The Negi-tan shio was delicious, with the perfect combination of green onions and tongue. I recommend it with extra green onions. The Kuri gets sweeter and more tender the more you chew, making it really tasty. The Zabu-suki was amazing! Dip it in egg, then wrap it in a bite-sized piece of rice for an even better taste. I finished with the Kalbi kukka, which had just the right amount of spiciness and went well with alcohol. Everything was delicious, so I definitely want to visit again. Thank you for the meal!

I entered the restaurant because I wanted to eat yakiniku. Everything was delicious, especially the kalbi was tender and tasty. The thick-cut tongue was also surprisingly tender and sweet despite its thickness. However, the chit-chat among the staff was noticeable. In particular, the older man in a black suit and the man in the kitchen were talking, and it didn't feel like work-related conversation. The food is delicious, so I will definitely go back!

I was invited by my eldest and second sons for our first visit to this restaurant. They ordered a course meal for us, which was very satisfying. We started with beer and then had a red wine from Oceania as our second drink. The highlight was a dish where the staff cooked and prepared it for us to eat with rice, which was absolutely delicious. The private room was cozy and the staff were very friendly and attentive, making it a great place for our family to relax and enjoy our time together. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I love this restaurant! First visit of the year. Visited on a holiday after 3 PM, which is snack time, but it was quite crowded! They said they are fully booked for dinner with reservations, so they have a 2-hour limit until then. The customers after us were being turned away, so we just made it! My favorite menu items are the Grilled Beef Champion with Green Onions and Salted Tongue, which are my go-to choices. The tongue on this day was a bit frozen, which was a little disappointing, but still delicious! The Spicy Marinated Beef Tendon was tasty, the Fatty Short Ribs were sweet and delicious, the Premium Skirt Steak was great, the Tomato Salad was refreshing, the Stone Pot Bibimbap was satisfying, and the Soft Serve Ice Cream of the Day was amazing, with strawberry and condensed milk flavor. The texture was soft and I loved it. The consistent deliciousness of this place in 2023 as well! I hope to visit many times this year too. Thank you for the meal! ^_^

[Lunch Course] Salad, Kimchi, Namul Assortment Beef Tendon with Ponzu Sauce Beef Tongue Sukiyaki Horumon Assortment Assorted 3 Types (Kainomi, Kamenoko, Sasami) Yukkejang Almond Tofu [Price] 5,115 yen (including tax) [Impression] Overall, it's a good deal. A set that combines the best of everything. It's very much appreciated to be able to eat Zabuton Sukiyaki in a set at this price. Everything is delicious. For a lunch option, it's worth revisiting.

"I visited this restaurant because I wanted to see the meat cake. Please be aware that combining the course with the meat cake is quite filling. The quality of the meat was excellent, and the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the Chateaubriand was amazing. It was disappointing that the staff didn't provide any explanation of the dishes. Also, I would prefer if the door to the private room was closed each time. I felt slightly rushed when leaving the restaurant. I was told it was related to Tobu Department Store, but other restaurants there were still busy. I could have had at least 10 more minutes to relax. Since they are serving good food, I think it would be beneficial for the staff to receive more training."

After shopping extensively in Ikebukuro, we decided to have dinner here. We were able to get a private room, which was great. We tried various dishes from appetizers to beef tongue, zabuton, and hormone, but the zabuton was the clear winner. I can't eat as much as I used to due to my age, but it was a delicious meal. Thank you.

I had a casual lunch with my longtime friends in a private room, and everything from the taste to the portion size was just right. The zabu suki, Marukawa, and cold noodles were especially delicious! Despite having eaten a lot of yakiniku on a weekly basis for many years, Marukawa was a first for me and it was delicious.

I tried the top 4 premium beef dishes. Every cut was tender and allowed me to savor the high-quality meat. It was really delicious! I especially liked the top tongue with salt. Personally, I felt like the rice was a bit lacking, so I ordered an extra serving haha. I would love to go back occasionally for a luxurious lunch.

I arrived at the restaurant 10 minutes before it opened on Saturday and was the first in line. Right after it opened, it was already full. I ordered the Zabutski set meal and the premium assorted meat plate with top sirloin, top rib, top tongue, and harami. The meat was tender and had a subtle sweetness. The tongue had a nice chew to it and was of high quality. The harami was juicy and packed with flavor. The Zabutski was thinly sliced meat dipped in a rich sauce, grilled lightly, and eaten with a rich egg yolk. It was all very delicious.

I was feeling like I could eat something delicious if I came above Tobu Department Store, so after some consideration, I decided to go to Champion. Since there were two of us, we ordered the lunch course for 5115 yen. It started with a salad followed by a platter of kimchi and namul. The main dish of this course was sukiyaki. They served rice and eggs so you could roll it up and eat it. It was gone in one bite, but it was delicious. It had been a while since I had been to Champion, so I also bought a Champion roll to take home.