Ta-im

A good falafel joint is hard to find in Tokyo, and it's one of those rare foods that we'd walk halfway across town for, whether that means Kuumba du Falafel in Shinsen, Pita the Great in Tameike-Sanno, or even Shamaim way out in Ekoda. Therefore, having a place to satisfy our cravings just five minutes' walk from the Time Out office sure does feel like a blessing. The man behind the counter at Ta-im, Dan Zuckerman, will be familiar to anyone who's frequented David's Deli, where he worked as manager for five years before striking out on his own. This shop, roughly halfway between Ebisu and Hiroo, is a lot cozier in comparison, and is definitely the more appealing lunch spot of the two. At lunchtime, you can choose from six types of pita sandwich, including ones filled with falafel (¥1,180) and chicken schnitzel (¥1,280). In the evening, the menu broadens to include baba ghanoush, kebabs and other Middle Eastern favourites, while the drink list extends to Maccabee beer and Israeli wines.