hoya hoya

Japanese language is filled with onomato　poeia. Fuwa fuwa is something billowy, like smoke, whip cream or clouds. Kira kira is something clean and sparkiling like diamonds or, as I joke with my Japanese friends, gay white guys.

Hoya hoya is the freshness/newness of something. It is most often used colloqually in reference to marriage.

As I was looking for a resturant to go to with a friend of mine in Ebisu last night, we found a place called Hoya Hoya.

It really took me for a ride,and i saw that they had swordfish on the menu, so we went in and took a look. And what a first look it was! Even if after the initial shock of this place wears down, you still have to try the resturant. The entry way was made of large stones and glass partitions which you walked to and from over a white rock bed. Step in and the glass partitions continue leading you to a series of unopened lotus flower shaped booths perfect for two. Really fun, and not in an amusement park way, atmosphere.

At this point the waitstaff explained to me that hoya hoya is the freshness in which they deliver their food. Got it. The otoushi of yamaimo mixed with some wasabi came to our table, and unlike normal otoushi I actually liked it.

The swordfish turned out to not be on the menu, but the service was so good that I could forgive them.

My friend had a grapefuit sour, and I had my chilled sake, both of which were great. We then ordered Tofu that was okay (it had a semi cooked egg in it), some maguro sashimi which was pretty tasty, and an egg plant gratin which was quite good, all of which was upped to grand being in the presence of good company and a striking atmosphere.

Definately worth a look. In Ebisu, 3 minutes from JR, 2 minutes from the Hibiya Line:
Quarried Ebisu West B1, 1-8-3, Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021
Info in (terrible) English and Japanese