The Pink Cow [new location working?]

[jim katta]

I used to LOVE going to the Pink Cow. And knowing that it existed was one thing that always made me feel a little bit better about the notion of being a long time resident in tokyo.

But then they moved it to shibuya.

I went to the new place, and, well... I didn't like it. Yes, traci (the owner) still rocks, I love her, and I support her. But my impressions came mainly because it was really out of the way (in shibuya terms). I know the other place was hidden too, but it was also in the middle of everything cool in harajuku. The new place seems like a barrier to its popularity. The inside is cool. But I seem to notice the prices are a bit higher (maybe it was my imagination). Overall, it no longer seemed to have that home away from home hidden oasis of Gaijin warmth that it once did. I'm hoping my opinion is in the minority on this and maybe I just had a bad couple of visits.

Anyone here who knows the old Cow spot, have an opinion on if the new spot is working for you?

[jim katta]

okay, I guess we have our answer: nobody fucks with the pink cow. damn shame, she's a nice woman with a cool business. guess that won't last long.


(meanwhile, rob pongi posts the same videos over and over again, and somehow, people are all over his posts with comments and support. I guess we really 'are' fucked)

[kamome]

okay, I guess we have our answer: nobody fucks with the pink cow. damn shame, she's a nice woman with a cool business. guess that won't last long.


(meanwhile, rob pongi posts the same videos over and over again, and somehow, people are all over his posts with comments and support. I guess we really 'are' fucked)

Anyone can talk about the Pink Cow. I never saw the old spot in Harajuku. But I agree that the Shibuya location feels out of the way. There was never a time that I went over there and didn't have to retrace my steps on those sidestreets. There's a large apartment building very close to it that I use as a landmark; if that weren't there the restaurant would be very hard to locate.

[GuyJean]

But my impressions came mainly because it was really out of the way (in shibuya terms). I know the other place was hidden too, but it was also in the middle of everything cool in harajuku. The new place seems like a barrier to its popularity. The inside is cool. But I seem to notice the prices are a bit higher (maybe it was my imagination). Overall, it no longer seemed to have that home away from home hidden oasis of Gaijin warmth that it once did. ?

I only went to the old place when they were having parties, and it felt crowded, cliquish, and low; I kept bumping my head on everything.. I liked it, but I never felt 'comfortable'.. Again, I never went there when it wasn't full of people..

The new place is ok, but it seems like the choice of beers has decreased. Although possibly a little more expensive, the food is still great as far as I'm concerned; The chicken burrito rocks!

I'll admit it's a little out of the way, but you guys are fucking pussies if you can't be bothered to walk 6 minutes from the station for a restaurant. Pick up a vending beer on the way! The food won't seem so expensive..

And kamome, I know about you and your 'directionability'.. You get lost crossing the street.

The area looks like it's in the process of being built-up.. Give it some time, I guess.

GJ

[kamome]

[quote="GuyJean"]And kamome, I know about you and your 'directionability'.. You get lost crossing the street. ]

So true! I usually say that I could get lost in a closet.

But I think PinkCow is a bit of a challenge for a lot of people, not just the directionally-challenged like me.

[GuyJean]

But I think PinkCow is a bit of a challenge for a lot of people, not just the directionally-challenged like me.

I was just giving you shit.

I'm ok with basic directions, like east, west, etc... But the Captain always tries to confuse me with street names.. Who uses street names to get around in Japan?

GJ

[Mulboyne]

I went to the new place, and, well... I didn't like it...my impressions came mainly because it was really out of the way

It really isn't out the way. If you walk up from Meiji Dori then it is even quicker. The area used to be very popular with FG families because kids could go to Kodomo no Shiro and there used to be a fusion venue called Lunchan (now reverted to a Royal Host) which was serving reasonable Californian wines/fusion food when the only other places available were Trader Vics, Spago's and Roy's in Yoga. Also, one of the few places with a decent range of Laser Discs was just around the corner on Aoyama Dori so it was a mini FG Mecca in its day.
Currently the back of the Miyamasuzaka post office has one of the liveliest bars in Shibuya which is a very popular hang-out for foreigners. You can walk to it from the Pink Cow in about three minutes and forty-five seconds.
I can take or leave the Pink Cow in both locations. If I'm on a gaijin run in that neck of the woods, I generally find people prefer Las Chicas. I did like the oddness of the Harajuku location but it was a bit restrictive to keep the noise down for the neighbours - especially in summer. The food has the edge at the new place although I've not often eaten. In all, the main reason to go is Traci. She's great and it is good to see a foreigner trying to do something a bit different in Tokyo.
In the end, though, if you don't take to a place then there are so many other good restaurants and bars in town that you won't be short of alternatives.

[Socratesabroad]

I used to LOVE going to the Pink Cow. And knowing that it existed was one thing that always made me feel a little bit better about the notion of being a long time resident in tokyo.

Well, I for one never liked the Pink Cow.

I don't know anything about the owner personally so obviously I have no animosity against her. But - where shall I begin...
1) I didn't like the location in Harajuku. It was a pain to find (I'm more familiar with Shinjuku and Shibuya)
2) the site was residential, meaning that it was small and crowded, but worse the restaurant aspect (i.e. a full-service kitchen) seemed woefully inadequate (check out the places I listed below and you'll see what I mean)
3) the prices were perhaps a propos for Harajuku (don't know as it wasn't an area I frequented that often) but were quite a bit higher than my haunts in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, and Futakotamagawa
4) I didn't consider the Pink Cow to be a 'hidden oasis of Gaijin warmth' - A place 'for gaijin' maybe, but I felt little warmth at all, and especially not with the limited fare at those prices.

There are a number of gaijin-friendly and gaijin-run places I frequented that offered more (as actual restaurants/bars) and that I considered a lot warmer - like Mt. Fishtail (Nepalese food) near SeijioGakuenmae, Magreb (Moroccan/Algerian) in Futakotamagawa, and the Clubhouse Sports Bar in Shinjuku, just to name a few. But all of these places have just as many Japanese as gaijin patrons rather than catering specifically to gaijin.

When I end up back in Tokyo, I can say with confidence that I'll visit all three of the restaurants I just mentioned but the Pink Cow won't be on my list of places to drop by.

[GuyJean]

I considered a lot warmer - like Mt. Fishtail (Nepalese food) near SeijioGakuenmae, Magreb (Moroccan/Algerian) in Futakotamagawa.

That looks good!.. I'll have to try it the next time I'm in Nikotama..

GJ

[tatsujin]

I went to the new place, and, well... I didn't like it...my impressions came mainly because it was really out of the way

It really isn't out the way. If you walk up from Meiji Dori then it is even quicker. The area used to be very popular with FG families because kids could go to Kodomo no Shiro and there used to be a fusion venue called Lunchan (now reverted to a Royal Host) which was serving reasonable Californian wines/fusion food when the only other places available were Trader Vics, Spago's and Roy's in Yoga. Also, one of the few places with a decent range of Laser Discs was just around the corner on Aoyama Dori so it was a mini FG Mecca in its day.
Currently the back of the Miyamasuzaka post office has one of the liveliest bars in Shibuya which is a very popular hang-out for foreigners. You can walk to it from the Pink Cow in about three minutes and forty-five seconds.
I can take or leave the Pink Cow in both locations. If I'm on a gaijin run in that neck of the woods, I generally find people prefer Las Chicas. I did like the oddness of the Harajuku location but it was a bit restrictive to keep the noise down for the neighbours - especially in summer. The food has the edge at the new place although I've not often eaten. In all, the main reason to go is Traci. She's great and it is good to see a foreigner trying to do something a bit different in Tokyo.
In the end, though, if you don't take to a place then there are so many other good restaurants and bars in town that you won't be short of alternatives.

Mulboyne, what was the name of the restaurant nearby I went with Taro?

They had some damn tasty burgers! Hawaiian burger or something like that...

[Caustic Saint]

Mulboyne, what was the name of the restaurant nearby I went with Taro?

They had some damn tasty burgers! Hawaiian burger or something like that...

I think Taro takes everybody there. (And with good reason!)

That was the first place we stopped during my visit last year. Fantastic burgers!

[Captain Japan]

Mulboyne, what was the name of the restaurant nearby I went with Taro?

They had some damn tasty burgers! Hawaiian burger or something like that...

Kua Aina. Yeah, that place is great. There really aren't that many nice burger shops in Tokyo. Setting the big chains aside, I'd say Freshness and MOS aren't very good and they are supposed to take a bit of care in what they make. There are a few high-class MOS shops (called MOS Kitchen) that are good, though there aren't too many. But as long as you don't eat anything else there, TGIF makes a good burger. The happy hour beers at the bar are half price as well. But certainly the only two reasons to go there.

[Captain Japan]

There are a number of gaijin-friendly and gaijin-run places I frequented that offered more (as actual restaurants/bars) and that I considered a lot warmer - like Mt. Fishtail (Nepalese food) near SeijioGakuenmae, Magreb (Moroccan/Algerian) in Futakotamagawa, and the Clubhouse Sports Bar in Shinjuku, just to name a few. But all of these places have just as many Japanese as gaijin patrons rather than catering specifically to gaijin.

I'd say you are walking on some thin ice in recommending the Clubhouse over pretty much anything. That place is a dive. They've scraped the sediment out of the bottom of the beer kegs, what, twice in the last five years? Coincidentally that is the same number of times that someone has actually opened a window. I hear the fish is good though...Ok, ok, that's a little harsher that it should be, but I seriously can't stay in that place more than 45 minutes if it is full; there is just no air.

The Pink Cow is fine. The Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are really good. And not expensive at all. I would say that the Harajuku location was better but I seriously don't see how anyone can complain about the new location being far from the station. Taro does it, and he's on crutches.

[Captain Japan]

It really isn't out the way. If you walk up from Meiji Dori then it is even quicker. The area used to be very popular with FG families because kids could go to Kodomo no Shiro and there used to be a fusion venue called Lunchan (now reverted to a Royal Host) which was serving reasonable Californian wines/fusion food when the only other places available were Trader Vics, Spago's and Roy's in Yoga.

Great. I was struggling to remember where Lunchan was. I knew I had been there, or knew I thought I had been there. I thought I might have been hallucinating though because I never came across the place again.

[Captain Japan]

But I think PinkCow is a bit of a challenge for a lot of people, not just the directionally-challenged like me.

I was just giving you shit. ]But the Captain always tries to confuse me with street names.. Who uses street names to get around in Japan?[/b]

Don't even start with this...We should have a Tokyo FG orienteering contest.

[GomiGirl]

So true! I usually say that I could get lost in a closet.

Kamome, closets are for clothes!! Don't spend too much time in them.. Come OUT!!! :P

Just funning ya...

[kamome]

So true! I usually say that I could get lost in a closet.

Kamome, closets are for clothes!! Don't spend too much time in them.. Come OUT!!! :P

Just funning ya...

D'OH!!

[kamome]

But the Captain always tries to confuse me with street names.. Who uses street names to get around in Japan?

Don't even start with this...We should have a Tokyo FG orienteering contest.

You'd win...you're the only FG who actually knows the street names. (Although from what I hear, Mulboyne would provide some stiff competition.)

[tatsujin]

But the Captain always tries to confuse me with street names.. Who uses street names to get around in Japan?

Don't even start with this...We should have a Tokyo FG orienteering contest.

You'd win...you're the only FG who actually knows the street names. (Although from what I hear, Mulboyne would provide some stiff competition.)

I agree wholeheartedly, Mulboyne and The Captain certainly know their ins and outs of Tokyo.

[tatsujin]

Mulboyne, what was the name of the restaurant nearby I went with Taro?

They had some damn tasty burgers! Hawaiian burger or something like that...

Kua Aina. Yeah, that place is great. There really aren't that many nice burger shops in Tokyo. Setting the big chains aside, I'd say Freshness and MOS aren't very good and they are supposed to take a bit of care in what they make. There are a few high-class MOS shops (called MOS Kitchen) that are good, though there aren't too many. But as long as you don't eat anything else there, TGIF makes a good burger. The happy hour beers at the bar are half price as well. But certainly the only two reasons to go there.

Thanks Captain, I found Freshness really good too. In general most of the burger joints aren't bad...

[Mulboyne]

Mulboyne and The Captain certainly know their ins and outs of Tokyo.

I'm more familiar with the down and outs

[tatsujin]

Mulboyne and The Captain certainly know their ins and outs of Tokyo.

I'm more familiar with the down and outs

Don't I know it