Birdland- Tokyo Japan

So I am a little slow with the Japan blogging. Blame moving one week after vacation and then Christmas/ New Years right after that!  

I wanted to dedicate a blog post from my Japan trip to the chicken restaurant called Birdland. As you know, I have a life-threatening allergy to shrimp/shellfish. That makes Japan (and I assume all of Asia) difficult for me. It’s not as easy as just saying, “I can’t have shrimp”. I can’t have anything touching the shellfish (spoons, bowls, etc.). Food was difficult and frustrating in Japan.

I found Birdland in a guidebook while researching my Japan trip and I was intrigued. A restaurant in Tokyo that didn’t serve shellfish? What was that all about! I was determined to find this place and check it out. I headed out to the restaurant area (in the Ginza section of Tokyo) early one evening to have a real meal for once during this trip!

Note that things in Tokyo are a bit challenging to find. Many restaurants are in the lower levels of building that are offices or stores and often times there are no signs (or if there are they are in Japanese) to find things. Well I was determined to find this place come hell or high water! I wandered around for a bit until I found three young ladies in their early 20’s with their phones out. I took a chance and asked them if they spoke English and when they said “some”, I jumped at the chance. After showing them my guidebook and explaining where I was headed they plugged the restaurant in their phones and was able to locate it for me. They offered to walk me right to the door (!!!!) and while we were walking there one of the girls smiled back at me (I was following her) and said, “You picked a good place, the reviews on this are great and this is a very popular place!”  Well damn, I was just trying to find a place that wouldn’t kill me. My foodie friend Carrie would be so proud!

After they walked me down the steps to the door and I thanked them profusely I waited as the restaurant was not set to open for about 15 minutes (I think it was 5pm but since I hadn’t eaten lunch don’t judge me. I’m not 80). I sat down with the other locals to wait. When they opened I was asked if I had a reservation- damn did I need one? No, since it was just me and early then we were fine. I explained to the door dude (not really a host, not really a waiter, not really a concierge person) that I had an allergy (not my first rodeo after all). When he discovered I only speak English he found me a waiter who also spoke English. Yay!

There is a large U-shaped bar area and in the center is the cooking area. There are also tables and chairs for larger parties but all the action is at the bar. So the bar I was brought to. You get one waiter/cook type person per party and he is your “contact “ for the meal. There was an extensive menu in Japanese but there was an English menu if you ask for it. I chose to get their all –inclusive meal, which includes several courses of tiny chicken dishes. All chicken, all the time! There were some salad/veggie type sides. I am not sure what they were but after confirming they had not touched any shellfish we were on our way.

I don't remember what this was but I recall I didn't like it

The all inclusive menu

This? Amazing!

I can honestly say that because of my limited food options this was the best meal I had in Japan. It was not cheap (I think it was about $68 for one) but it was a cool setting, great food and it didn’t kill me. Win Win for everyone!