Aiba family restaurant info

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Just a short entry to inform everyone, who's planning to head out for the Aiba family restaurant.

Aiba mama and Aiba papa (+ the many waitresses) are currently taking random days off during September. I was there with friends end of August for lunch and I decided to take a photo for all those of you, who plan to go there and don't want to spend lots of yen for a trip, when it's not even open, like we did ^^;

And an extra warning, try to be there way before 11am or 5pm, because we had to wait in line for 3hours to get a seat O.O


the days covered in red are the days the restaurant is closed

Comments

[sapah-fu.livejournal.com]

wow, I wonder if there are any days when it is not so busy?

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

We went on the 28th in hope that many many fans would be in Tokyo only, peparing for the Arashi cn, but oh we were so wrong XD; Maybe Tuesdays?

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

wow that will be so cool! Aiba mama is just so lovely and always wears a honest smile even when the restaurant is busy.
I bet 99% are just there cuz it's the Aiba family restaurant but the food is so delicious! I dragged a friend there who's no fan of Aiba and she said she never ate something this wonderful. If you're going for lunch, try the 800yen menu set that's on the list, the corn soup and the egg-shrimp combo is the best ever.

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

It really is delicious, Aiba's dad and the people who work with him are great cooks.
It's really really cheap for such a big menu~

Hope you enjoy the food and please bring back photos from the food!!!

[maiaide.livejournal.com]

From what I remember, Wednesdays were always their days off since they were open on the weekends. I guess they added another day because they are always so busy! And also they are closed between 2-5pm-ish for break between lunch and dinner. But that's fairly common for small family restaurants here. I doubt that there is a "good day" to go when they aren't so busy... I went in August sometime last year as well, but that's when school holidays are. But a lot of their fanbase is housewives and older folks who have the time to go whenver they like! I would probably say though, not a weekend. XD

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Yeah, weekend must be horrible to line up O.o Glad we went on a weekday when we didn't make it on the 26th. I didn't know about wednesday being closed so we ended up in front of a dark shop. I just felt like informing people, cause traveling there for a tourist (our Shinkansen pass had run out) is quiet expensive.

On the 28th it was all young grils who went for the restaurant before heading to the concert, I should have known lol

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Yeah, bring something to read or do when waiting in line. but seriously, it so worth the wait!

[eyeslikefirefly.livejournal.com]

It's definitely harder to get in when Arashi is touring in Tokyo.

I went last year in January (when Arashi wasn't touring) and it wasn't very busy- it seemed like a normal lunch crowd to me. We walked in and were seated about 10 minutes later, after a group of business men were seated.

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

I'm so not used to quequeing up for things, here in Europe it's only common for luxorious restaurants and in Disneyland Paris XD
We also saw whole families come out of the restaurant but mostly fangirls ^^

[ha-na-bi.livejournal.com]

I suggest to check their website first too before going. It says that they're usually closed on Wednesdays. If you can go for lunch, it's better to go then than for dinner. Lunch lines are not too bad. I went there in July so it's not too full.

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

That's my fault, I checked the page but didn't read, but only copied the direction map from a fan down ^^;

[daisuki-arashi.livejournal.com]

I was checking if they were off during the fukuoka and osaka concerts. but it seems they are not..Thought maybe they'd be watching it. I wonder if it is bec tues weds there are less people that is why they decided to have a break.

It would be a wish to get to this restaurant. 3 hours? There are people who actually wait for 3 hours? Did you get to see his parents? Is taking pictures allowed for ex. if you are taking pics with friends etc.

thanks for posting this up

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Going there by train is so expensive, of course I'd wait 3 or more hours just to get in. I got to see Aiba Mama, she's running round an organising everything, Aiba papa is cooking in the back, so no chance and Aiba bro left the restaurant from the back, two of my friends saw him leave in a dark car ;D
Taking photos of the family memebers is not allowed, but you can take photos of the interior and the fangoods.

[usagichan87.livejournal.com]

I went in June for lunch and I had to wait for 4 hours too

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor you! At least you made it in ne? <3

[usagichan87.livejournal.com]

Sure!!At the end I was the first for the dinnerXD later I left also a little message in japanese on the book :D

[fox-silly.livejournal.com]

So his family's restaurant always crowd eh?
KYA~!!!!!!!!!

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Apparently not always, but it seems around concert tour time it's worse XD

[haruhi-ryo.livejournal.com]

I went at the end of july and it was really crowded .. but i had to wait for almost 2 hrs only.
but i really enjoyed the food and aiba's mother was supper gentle with us. she read us the menu and made a special food for us since we can not eat many things. ( I'm a Muslim so i cant eat ham or something that contains wine)..

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Wow so nice! She really is a wonderful person, having to serve her son's fans almost every day but being so natural and friendly at the same time. She was also very nice to us, she talked to us in English a bit, which was so cute~

[baka-power.livejournal.com]

hey! i'm in not japan but it's REALLY REALLY REALLY KIND OF U to post this!!!!
thx!!!!!!!!

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Just don't want others to spend their travel money uselessly like we did just because I didn't check the homepage properly~ lol

[maikachris.livejournal.com]

Hi ryoko ^^
I'd like to come to visit Aiba family's restaurant but it's so far from me (I'm in Vietnam now).
So I decided to make him a wollen scarf and send it by express
Can you kindly share me the correct address of the restaurant? I will highly appreciate.

Thanks a lot ^^

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

The problem with Japan is that there are hardly any adresses, just the bigger streets have names. I got my info here: http://vanillacherryice.wordpress.com/2008/01/08/keikarou-restaurant/

[hope-floats07.livejournal.com]

Is this restaurant in Tokyo?

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

erm good question, I'd say it's still in Tokyo prefecture since the JR line is going there, but I bet you mean if it's in central Tokyo... not it's not. The station name is Makuharihongo and is more in the south-east of Tokyo prefecture.

[elarasakurai.livejournal.com]

ah, no . . . it's in chiba.

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

ah sure! *smakes head* Aiba is from Chiba, srsly, how could I forget?! ^^;

[tarwen-xoxo.livejournal.com]

if i remember correctly, aiba said his family restaurants arent open on wednesdays but i dont know why they are taking thursdays off...

maybe they are doing that a management training (employees spend a trip with their employer to better develop teamwork and cooperation [i think])

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Yeah, stupid me for not checking, especially since it's summer, I should have thought of days they have off ^^;

[daisuki-arashi.livejournal.com]

Ah I am sure I will do that same. So were their lots of fangirls you think? So Aiba bro works for the restaurant too? what he looks like?

Seems like the restaurant is in good business shape ^_^

[ryoko293.livejournal.com]

Almost all were fangirls, since I only got to see 3 men leave the place and they were husband and little sons XD
I don't know, but most probably. Masakichan is also helping out SOMETIMES I heard. ^^ I didn't get to see the bother, unfortunately, but my two friends said he looks even better than Masaki (they are Jun and Sho fans lol)

Totally, but it's a lot of work too ne. Aiba Mama was running around constantly, oganising everyone and everything~