Thailand

Whether you're looking for a quick Thai meal or are preparing a Far Eastern feast of your own, Thailand should be the first stop on your list – the shop, that is, rather than the country. If its name is a little unimaginative, this Kinshicho store doesn't disappoint: the shelves are stocked with all the essential Thai ingredients, from herbs (including long coriander) to stink beans, imported vegetables and a range of different seasonings and canned foods. The accompanying restaurant has seating for just a dozen people, with a menu of Thai favourites including phat si io (stir fried noodles) and pak boong fai daeng (fried Chinese spinach). If you're craving a sugar rush, there's also a daily menu of authentic Thai sweets, which are also available to take out. Operated by Thai Orient Shoji Co Ltd, the first importers of Thai food to Japan, the shop can be found just three minutes' walk from the north exit of Kinshicho Station.