With its bright yellow door and sunny, brasserie-like interior, Big Boy has an atmosphere that's the complete opposite of old-fashioned jazz kissas. The management plays jazz both new and old, and the sound system is optimized for piano music, so it's a special treat listening to music from piano trios here. With its bright yellow door and sunny, brasserie-like interior, Big Boy has an atmosphere that's the complete opposite of old-fashioned jazz kissas. The management plays jazz both new and old, and the sound system is optimized for piano music, so it's a special treat listening to music from piano trios here.

At lunchtime this is a popular spot for people working in the neighborhood to drop by for sandwiches and coffee (Y1100 including drink). Many jazz fans gather here during the day to trade jazz CDs and DVDs. When the clock turns to "bar time" (after 7pm) there's a Y1000 cover charge, and you can nibble on light snacks such as sausages and baked potatoes with blue cheese.

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Kanda Jimbocho 1-11. Open 11am-5, 7-11pm. Closed Sun, 1st, 3rd Sat.

Perusona serves top-quality European-style curries, and two- and three-ingredient combination curries are easy to order. We opted for eggplant, chicken and beef (Y1400) on a recent visit - the sauce was richly spiced and on the sweet side, while the beef was lean and very tender. The eggplant is a nice option, adding some balance to the ubiquitous meat ingredients. The spacious second-floor dining room is done up in classic kissaten style, with Brazilian easy-listening music and smooth jazz in the background.

Kanda Jimbocho 1-28, Matsumoto Bldg 2F. Open 11:30am-3, 5:30-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Jusanya is a small neighborhood yakitoriya with above-average chicken and an unusual sake selection. The sake list isn't huge, but it's deeper than usual, with two or three varieties of some small kura. There's also a separate shochu list. Jusanya is a small neighborhood yakitoriya with above-average chicken and an unusual sake selection.

The use of top-grade ingredients makes the difference here - even for simple items like the raw chunks of cucumber, carrots and cabbage served with miso paste, or the crisp fried lotus root stuffed with meat. We also appreciated little touches like the well-chilled edamame and other otoshi, and the carefully paced food service that gives one time to enjoy each round of chicken from the grill.

If you don't feel like ordering a la carte, the set menus offer a fairly good sampling of the dishes here, with menus priced at Y1500, Y2500 and Y3800. The Y2500 set is fairly substantial, and finishes off with sesame ice cream.

The sake list isn't huge, but it's deeper than usual, with two or three varieties of some small kura, and a handful of monthly specials on the whiteboard. There's a separate shochu list. The sake is all procured from Izumiya, the specialty shop across the street, so if you find something you like you can go back there and pick up a bottle to take home. [Show more] [Show less]

Kanda Ogawamachi 2-4. Open 11:30am-1:30, 5:30 to closing. Closed Sundays.

Good imported German beers, sausages and other German fare, from the management of German Farm Grill (in Shibuya). The three-story bar is warm and comfortable, especially the spacious third-floor area.

Kanda Surugadai 3-1. (on Hongo-dori a couple blocks north of Yasukuni-dori) Open 10:30am-11:30pm. Closed Sundays.

One of Tokyo's culinary landmarks, they've been serving the same excellent chicken nabe for nearly 120 years. The chicken is slow-cooked over an old-fashioned charcoal burner in front of you while you relax with a cup of sake in your private tatami room. Dinner is around Y6,000 and reservations are highly recommended, although occasionally they might be able to squeeze you in if you're willing to wait.

Kanda Sudacho 1-15. Open 11:30am-8pm (LO). Closed Sundays and holidays.

This popular ramen shop is a local favorite for their fiery, spicy miso ramen. On Saturdays they're only open for lunch.

Kajicho 2-10-10. Open 11am-4, 5:30-9pm. Closed Sundays.

Al Mina, Tokyo's only Palestinian restaurant, serves great Middle-Eastern cuisine and some decent Lebanese and Palestinian wines. The warm, inviting space includes a comfortable sofa area where hookahs can be enjoyed, a slightly fancier gold-themed dining area with a wall of mirrors, and a small stage where a Friday-night belly dance performance takes place. Al Mina, Tokyo's only Palestinian restaurant, serves great Middle-Eastern cuisine and some decent Lebanese and Palestinian wines. The warm, inviting space includes a comfortable sofa area where hookahs can be enjoyed, a slightly fancier gold-themed dining area with a wall of mirrors, and a small stage where a Friday-night belly dance performance takes place.

The kitchen offers a mix of well-known Middle-Eastern favorites and less familiar (to us anyway) local dishes. In the former category are various kebabs - lamb, chicken, kofta - and mezze-style starters - stuffed grape leaves, spinach pies, lamb meatballs, falafel, babaganoush, tabouli salad, grilled haloumi cheese and so on. Among the less familiar items, we very much enjoyed their Mansaff - a lamb stew incorporating big chunks of nicely marinated meat, nuts and rice in a tangy hot yogurt sauce - and a side dish called Sabanekh Beladass - sauteed spinach and lentils complemented by tasty toasted onions.

The dinnertime menu is quite extensive, and also features grilled meats and seafood (scallops, prawns, fish); a tagine of the day; roast chicken with couscous or with vegetables in yogurt sauce; and steamed lamb chunks with baked garlic. For dessert you can choose from baklava, goat-cheese cake, date cake with coconut and nuts, and a milk and rose-water pudding, accompanied by various coffees and teas. A vegetarian prix-fixe menu is also available. Budget around Y3500 for dinner. [Show more] [Show less]

Kanda Tacho 2-2-3, Genki Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

The original Sunaba was one of the first famous soba shops in Japan, and this branch has been going strong since the late 1940s. Specialties include their tamago-yaki (rolled omelette) and chicken soba. Their tenzaru comes with a piece of kakiage tempura soaking in hot tsuyu broth. If you want more than just soba, prix-fixe menus start at Y4800.

Nihonbashi Muromachi 4-1-13. Open 11:30am-8:30pm (LO; Sat -3:30pm). Closed Sundays.

French/Belgian bistro fare, with mussels and other seafood as well as frites. Ten Belgian beers averaging Y900-1,000.

Uchi-Kanda 1-10-6. Open 11:30am-2, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

The menu is casual Italian-influenced izakaya fare, with some pleasant surprises (like their salmon mousse appetizers and the pate of the day). They offer a few interesting beers along with wine and cocktails. The multi-level space is comfortable and cozy, with a laid-back atmosphere and late-night hours.

Uchi-Kanda 2-12-2. Open 11:30am-4am. Closed Sundays, some Sat.