Yūnagi

Set along a quiet street in Shinjuku's Yaraicho, Yoshoku Bistro Yunagi serves thoughtfully crafted Japanese-Western comfort dishes made from scratch. The centerpiece of the menu is the slow-simmered cabbage roll, served in a hearty and generous portion. Sauce options are extensive, led by the signature split-plate combination of tomato and cream sauces, alongside variations like cream with Parmigiano, pork chili meat sauce, and stroganoff sauce. Lunch orders include salad and rice, encouraging guests to spoon up every drop of rich sauce alongside each bite.

Equally popular alongside the cabbage rolls is the omurice, made with carefully prepared pilaf rice. Soft, fluffy eggs blanket the savory rice beneath choices of demi-glace or pork chili meat sauce, and combination plates add meatloaf or a cabbage roll to the dish. The kitchen also prepares a deep European-style black curry, which can be topped with simmered pork belly or aged salt-cured pork cutlet.

With counter seating and tables arranged in a calm, relaxed dining room, the bistro works as well for a solo meal as it does for an easy dinner with companions. At dinner, Heartland beer, wine, house-made craft ginger ale, and craft lemon squash offer refreshing accompaniments for lingering over each plate.