Bar Cuore

Down a flight of stairs along Kotto-dori in Minami-Aoyama, Bar Cuore offers the kind of unhurried, homestyle lunch that can be hard to come by around Omotesando. A daytime fixture here is the hamburg steak: each patty is hand-shaped to order, sizzling audibly before arriving generously coated in tomato sauce. The daytime lineup also includes ginger pork seasoned with a deeply savory sauce and crisp fried chicken karaage. Every teishoku set comes served with rice, miso soup, and small vegetable sides such as simmered hijiki seaweed or dried daikon strips (kiriboshi daikon).

Because the kitchen is run entirely single-handed, orders are prepared with care and can take some time to arrive during busy stretches or when visiting in a group. Allowing plenty of time makes for an easier visit. Inside, the room carries the retro charm of a seasoned Japanese snack bar, furnished with tables, low sofas, and karaoke equipment, with smoking permitted throughout.

At night, the bar operates from 18:00 until 4:00 the following morning. Diners can enjoy full meals from the bar menu alongside beer, cocktails, and hard spirits. Payment for lunch is strictly cash only, so having yen ready beforehand is advised.