Salad Nicoise set from gurumebin.com

Matt Wilce kicks back and orders in some tasty treats

Gone are the days when delivery was restricted to pizza chains, chop suey or noodles from the local soba shop. Now a whole new menu of gourmet takeout is available with everything from stuffed eggplant and foie gras terrine to apple raisin bread pudding and vintage wines delivered direct to your door. Here’s our pick of Tokyo’s best delivery deals.



gurumebin.com

Apple raisin bread pudding from gurumebin.com Courtesy of gurumebin.com

Leading the trend is gurumebin.com, who operate a new concept in home delivery in the Minato-ku and Shibuya-ku areas. Rather than producing the food themselves, gurumebin take orders for four different restaurants, collect the food and then deliver it. Customers can choose from bagel sandwiches and deli dishes from Tribeca Deli, gourmet pizza and salads from Pizza Express, curries and nan from e-Indian Curry, and authentic French cuisine prepared by renowned chef Phillippe Batton at Le Petit Bedon. So whether you fancy a garlic chicken tikka (JY1000) and mushroom paneer (JY1000) or a Fiorrentina pizza (JY1600) with salad Nicoise (JY1500), there are plenty of tasty options. In the future an additional wine delivery service will complement the smoked roast salmon with green vegetables and red wine sauce (JY3400), foie gras terrine (JY3500) and sea bass carpaccio (JY3000).

Pizza Express' Fiorentino pizza delivered by gurumebin.com

Minimum order JY2000. At present all dishes must be ordered from the same restaurant’s menu, and mixed orders from the four restaurants cannot be processed. Delivery area limited to selected areas of Minato-ku and Shibuya-ku. Orders taken: 9am-2pm and 5-10pm Mon-Fri, 10:30am-2pm and 6-9pm Sat, Sun & holidays (lunch orders should be placed by 11am, final orders for Tribeca Deli dishes is 7pm Mon-Fri, 6pm Sat & Sun). Cash on delivery. Tel: 03-5411-2055, fax: 03-5411-2056. www.gurumebin.com 



Chef's Table
The freshly baked croissants, pain au chocolat and chocolate brownies at this takeout and delivery deli are dished up by a former chef from The Hotel Okura. The gourmet menu ranges from pepper steak with potato mash and roast vegetables (JY1250) and salmon steak with salad and roast vegetable (JY1200) to smoked salmon and caper cream cheese sandwich (JY650) and panini (JY550). Sides of cous cous (JY450) and salad are also available. Tempting dessert options include creme brulee (JY300), chocolate mousse (JY300) and carrot cake (JY350). Liquid options range from homemade soup to fruit smoothies.

Delivery area limited to Toranomon, Kamiyacho, Onarimon, Roppongi and Akasaka.

Open 7am-8:30pm Mon-Fri. Closed Sat, Sun and holidays. 3-20-6 Toranomon, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5405-4473.

New York Deli
This authentic slice of the Big Apple claims to be Japan’s only Jewish deli, and true to form they carry kosher meat sandwiches. If you’re craving pastrami on rye (JY1300) or a reuben (JY1450) this is the place to get a good American-size deli sandwich with pickles, sauerkraut and onion slices. Other lunch options include Manhattan clam chowder (JY450), cobb salad with chicken, avocado and blue cheese (JY890) and gravalax pumpernickel bagel (JY1400). Be sure to save room for the NY-style cheesecake (JY500) and brownie (JY350), though.

Minimum order JY2000. Orders taken 9am-7:30pm Mon-Fri (no delivery 3-5pm), closed weekends and holidays. Delivery to Akasaka, Roppongi and Toranomon. B1, 2-19-11 Akasaka, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3583-1708. www.koshertokyo.com



Homeworks

Char-broiled burgers and salad from Homeworks Courtesy of Homeworks

Since 1985 Homeworks has been known for their char-broiled fare, and claim to be Japan’s first gourmet burger joint. In addition to the cheeseburger (JY1530) and avocado burger (JY1530), there are healthy options such as the turkey burger (JY1380) and golden veggie burger (JY1350). Vegetarians have more options than usual with a tofu sandwich (JY930), grilled eggplant (JY930) and garbanzo sandwich (JY930) in addition to a range of salads. Side dishes include fried chicken (JY1580), minestrone soup (JY500) and Caesar salad (JY400). With four branches in three different wards-Shibuya-ku, Minato-ku and Chuo-ku-Homeworks has one of the widest distribution areas.

Minimum order JY2000. Orders from 9:30am. Delivery 11am-8:30pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5:30pm Sun and holidays. Aoyama branch tel: 03-3497-1515, fax: 03-3497-1717. Hiroo branch tel: 03-3444-4560, fax: 03-3444-4644. Aazabu Juban branch tel: 03-3405-9884 and fax: 03-3405-9913. Kyobashi branch tel: 03-3535-7524, fax: 03-3535-7534.

Shimon
While Chinese is a delivery staple, Korean food is a rarity when it comes to takeout. Redressing the situation, Shimon, which specializes in soup, offers fine cuisine from the neighboring peninsula direct to your door. Traditional Korean broths include beef stock with rice noodles (with rice, JY1600) and Korean gyoza soup (JY1600). In addition to kimchee-five kinds at JY500-are more outrEdelicacies like ishimochiyaki (grilled blue drum fish, JY2100) and tofu chige (spicy soup with rice, JY1600). A wide variety of noodles, stir-fried Calbi and vegetable dishes round off the extensive menu.

Minimum order is three dishes. Open: 5pm-7am Mon-Sat, closed Sun. Delivery within Minato-ku. 1-5-5 Azabu Juban, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3470-5889.