So for my first night in Tokyo, let me paint you a picture. I arrive off the plane and take the wrong train BACK to the airport. Nice. I then get into the Tokyo train station and, not being one of those dudes who can’t ask for directions, begged an information clerk to tell me how to get to my hotel in the Ginza district. I somehow get on the right train but get off 2 stops early because everything is a lot less English-friendly than I thought. I get into the taxi cab with the one taxi driver who doesn’t know where he is going so we circle the neighborhood for 15 minutes when the ride should have been two. Finally I arrive at the hotel, disembark all my luggage in my room and end my adventure to my ROOM.

I visited the Shinjuku district for a little bit but head back to Ginza to get some grub close to my hotel. I spent an hour walking around being picky about where to go when finally I stumbled across the Brasserie Lion, a place my tour books all recommend for its fair prices and great beer selection. Score.

I sit down in this smokey den of a meathouse and I’m handed a menu with no discerning characters. Waiting 20 minutes to be served, I oddly realize you must push a button for the waiters to come over. Otherwise, they just leave you alone to eat and drink or, in my case, be confused while acting cool about it. I end up pointing at this noodle dish with what looked like beef on it. Note: MOST of my Tokyo experience involved this kind of ordering. It was exciting, mysterious and the rare time, a poor judgment choice.

This glorious dish arrives shortly after my huge Kirin Beer. This gorgeous looking dish contained some stir fried noodles, beef and a fried egg on top. The portions were huge for only ten bucks and I did not leave Lion with any room left in my stomach.