Christmas Eve At TGI Fridays

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Christmas in Japan is different. It's like Valentine's day here. Rather than celebrating it with family, it's meant to be celebrated with your lover or a confession to a crush.

Christmas Eve at TGI Fridays

I celebrated mine with my boyfriend. 5 PM on the 24th and we still didn't have plans. A few minutes after he woke up, he declared we would be eating out so I tried to look for a place to have dinner. As expected, restaurants were so full of reservations but luckily, we found TGI Fridays opened til late.

Christmas Tree in the waiting area

It's my first time here. I knew it would have the American vibe but I wasn't expecting some kind of show when we arrived. The bartender was showing off his talents to the audience while making some cocktails. It was so lively and a bit noisy which surprised me because usually, restaurants in Japan are quiet and no show-offs like this.

It seems like everybody was so impressed with the performance of the bartender.

Decorations near the entrance

There were so many to choose from on their menu. We haven't had anything the whole day (because we were sleeping) so this was hunger speaking.

While waiting for our food, we learned that the propeller we found in the bar is symbolic of this restaurant. On the later pages of the menu, we found this and it stated it is the main focus and the engine of Fridays.

Found this on the menu

We also learned that this restaurant started way back in 1965 in New York and it's "a meeting place for singles". It's so different from what we have seen here in Japan now. The crowd in this restaurant is friends, couples, and/or families enjoying their time together. I saw some getting only drinks but they were not socializing with other groups. And we came here for the food. The times have changed it seems. Or maybe this place has a different mood on other days?

History of TGI Fridays noted on their menu

Fish And Chips came first together with the Friday's Signature Chicken Strips.

Fish And Chips and Friday's Signature Chicken Strips

The Fish And Chips were good, I have no complaints. My boyfriend liked it so much but for me, it's a bit normal. I was expecting it to be a bit salty though. It came with fries so we were both enjoying it.

Friday's Signature Chicken Strips

Can you believe I finished the Chicken Strips all by myself? My boyfriend didn't like it because it's sweet and he can taste 黒みつ (kuromitsu, a Japanese sugar syrup according to Wikipedia) which he didn't like. To be honest, it's so sweet for me too. I was expecting it to be flavorful but not this sweet. I still managed to finish it though.

Tableside Guacamole came but the ingredients were yet to be mixed. I didn't expect the staff to make it in front of us. It was ordinary though, there were no special sounds or dancing or something like what the bartender did.

While she was mixing the ingredients, the silence was too awkward and it only broke when she was asking if we were okay with the ingredients, no allergies or stuff we didn't like.

Making guacamole

It came with nachos which I ate by myself again. I didn't finish the nachos but I finished the guacamole. Yay! Actually, I don't usually eat this and I'm avoiding chips but I wanted to eat something healthy. I don't know if nachos and healthy go together though.

Finished product

The main dish arrived, finally! We were waiting for the Baby Back Ribs but we were already full from the appetizers so we took half of it home.

Baby Back Ribs

The ribs were fine but Outback Steakhouse's ribs will still be my favorite. It's good, savory, and has a strong taste but I tried Outback's ribs first so I can't help comparing them both. This smells nice but I was kinda hoping the meat would be so tender I won't need a knife to get the meat from the bone. By the way, we used our hands to eat it as it would be easier that way.

Because my boyfriend wasn't expecting he wouldn't like the Chicken Strips, he thought he wouldn't be full so he ordered pasta. When it arrived though, we were so full as I have mentioned earlier so we also had to take it home. He ate half of it at home and left me some but I didn't know he did that. I thought he finished all by himself so I didn't bother opening the container. He said the Chicken Pasta was delicious I should have tasted it.

Brownie Obsession

I ordered Brownie Obsession for dessert and it's the best thing that happened that night besides spending date night with boyfie. The brownie was baked to perfection and was still hot so it goes well with the cold vanilla ice cream. I had eaten too much but the brownie was so yummy I ended up finishing the entire thing. I finally found the spot to eat desserts when I'll be craving for some.

My cocktail and bf's oolong tea in the background

For drinks, I ordered this cocktail called Mango Lemonade Shaker while my boyfriend ordered Oolong Tea. Yes yes, I was the only one drinking for both of us. The cocktail was sweet, just how I liked it and I missed mangoes. The staff did the shaking in front of us, no music though like the bartender's show. I didn't want to attract too much attention anyways.

The TGI Fridays we went to is in Ikebukuro but I heard there are so many branches all over Japan, and in the world. I think they have a branch in your country too so maybe you can go and try their food..? 😅

Leaving our messy table, happy we came

I may have not celebrated Christmas with family because they're miles away but at least I was with someone special on this day. We enjoyed each other's company on this cold Christmas eve, though this was last minute. We were still on the road walking home when it hit midnight, a first for me not indoors but I didn't mind because I was overjoyed, my tummy was full and so was my heart. 😉

How did your Christmas dinner go? Were you able to celebrate it with loved ones?

Hope you're having a happy holiday! メリクリ!


Thanks for reading!
See you around! じゃあ、またね!


All photos are taken using my phone unless stated otherwise.



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45 comments
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Bat may patakip ng mukha? 😃

Sarap ng guacamole! 😍

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Hahahaha! Ayaw nya kasi 😂
Yeaah masherep naman ung guacamole, pero mas ok sana pag chilled.

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"This year to save me from tears, I give it to someone special🎶", did you @wittyzell ?😂... Kinilig naman all sa someone special😍🤩.. But dismayed ako sa last pic ba't may emoji?

Anyway, I am delighted you've had a great time despite being away from the family. God bless you and stay safe there. Happy holidays!🥰

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Hahaha! Sana all ba sa someone special? 😂 I wasn't thinking of that song, ngayon lang dahil na brought up mo. hahaha
Of course, mahiyain kasi so need to cover the face 😂

Thank you @ciadanmea! You too, stay safe! Happy holidays!

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No, no, no, no, no!!!! No, no, no, no, no!!!! No, no, no, no, no!!!!
You're not gonna trick me into eating again!!! No, no, no, no, no!!!!

🤤 There are so many yummies here and the place looks nice too, but it's at the other end of the world. In this case it's a good thing as otherwise I would move in 😂

Merry Christmas (yeah, I know, but still) and happy holidays!!! 🥂🍾

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Hahahahhahahaha! Why do I always find myself laughing at your comment? 😂
I hope you ate otherwise, you might get hungry and look for something to eat - unplanned. 😂
I bet there is much good food out there too, or maybe the good food is only located at your home? I should give a visit, in that case, just to eat. 😂

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Merry christmas witty. Great to know you had a sweet merry christmas.

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Wow,foods look yummy and delicious. Eating with the loved ones ohhhh,lalong sumasarap ang pagkain. Nagkukwentuhan,nagtatawanan. If I will be given a chance to travel places mag fofoodtrip talaga ako hehehhee.

Thank you for sharing @wittyzell and God bless. Enjoy and have a happy holidays🥰

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We actually didn't talk a lot except about the food and about the restaurant. 😂
It's important to have food trip talaga when you're traveling.
You can be immersed in the country's culture by its cuisine.

Happy holidays too @simplechalyns!

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ohh, you make me really hungry Witty. All of these foods looks delicious. I especially like Brownie Obsession 😋. And I can understand people because bartender shows are not usual in my country too haha

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Ohhhh finally, a fellow brownie person!! 😅 It's the best on their menu!
Hahaha! I can imagine. Bartender shows are so flashy so I guess it would be a headturner hahaha

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It's good that you enjoyed the day very well.

But I am feeling very jealous to see those food photographs you shared here. I wish I present there to taste all the food. You shared photographs of food which is one kind of torture.

From now I am declaring that sharing food photographs here are crime😂😂🤣🤣. Police are on the way to your apartment.

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HAHAHHAHAHA! Oh no please no, I still have a lot of food photos on my phone that I need to share in Hive 😂
I hope you can eat, sorry for making you hungry hahahaha

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Dami foods...buti naman nagtira kyo 😂. Mahal for sure yung ribs

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Hahaha! Shookt nga eh.
We tend to order anything kasi when we dine out.
Mahal lahat actually, pinaka mahal ang ribs

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I also don't like my chicken and all of my viand sweet and syrupy too.. Mas ok talaga salty.xD

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Dbaaa! It's okay if it's not too much, but grabe naman yung nangingibabaw na talaga ung sweetness hahaha

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Wow! ansarap. Ang cute ninyo dalawa hehe sana walang takip na penguin. Merry Christmas once again dear witz! Lablab

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The foods looks so tasty and delicious po :) So glad that you spent your Chrsitmas with your loved one po :)By the way, you're so pretty po!
Merry Christmas!

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Thank you @teacherlynlyn, wow, I wasn't expecting that but thanks!
I'm sure you also celebrated Christmas with your loved ones so I hope you had a blast!
Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas madam Wittywhale! I am about to say na sana happy Christmas mo as I can see naman, ayarnnn super saya lalo yong last picture naka all smile ayiehhh. Samahan pa ng masarap na foods, my gosh, super duper perfect 🤩🤩

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Hahaha! Pilitan pa yang last picture, aw wala na palang ibang picture of us together on Christmas 😂 Ayan lang hahaha
Merry Christmas too @ruffatotmeee! Merry naman siguro pasko mo noh?

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Hahaha by the way nakita ko na face ni bf mo sa IG 🤪🤪🥴🤩. Pilitan so di sya mahilig mag picture oicture talaga hahaha.

Merry naman, nag enjoy ako sa sarili kong mundo which is mas prefer ko kesa gumala. Ang lamig din kasi that day aguyy

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Hahaha! With permission ung sa IG. Ok lang daw kasi naman private ung profile ko dun hahaha
Di talaga sya mahilig, ako lang uso ung picture2x tlaga

Oiiii nice yan, alone time. Ang gulo din siguro dyan pag gumala ka pa.

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Hi there, @wittyzell. What a nice dinner date you had with boyfie! 😃

I heard Christmas is more like a romance holiday in Japan but I didn't believe it. After reading your post now, I believe! That will be a cool place to spend a holiday.

So many scrumptious meals. I think your dessert, chips and chicken strips would have been my fav if I was there. TGI Fridays' ambience is cool. Happy holidays. 🌲😊

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We tend to order a lot without minding the amount of food actually. 😂
It would be bad to have waste but luckily we can bring it home so it’s okay. 😂

Aside from celebrating it with your lover, you’re expected to get KFC chicken and strawberry shortcake 😅

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The name of the restaurant is interesting.
For me, the chicken strips and brownie are perfect combination, because I like sweets.
Mas masaya at mas matamis pa ang Pasko dahil kasama mo ang isa sa mga mahal mo sa buhay.

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Ayyy talaga? Usually kasi pag main dish I don’t like it too sweet. Iba2x talaga taste ng mga tao noh.
Thanks! Happy naman kahit kami lang dalawa..

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Oo nga po. Hehe
You're welcome. ☺️

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What I have learned on this blog post. The majority ng food ikaw ang umubos grabe! Pero dasurv mo yan kaya eat lang ng eat.

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Hahahahaha sheyt uu nga noh, dami ko naman nakain! OMG MY DIET 🥲

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Hahaha whats diet may next year pa naman. New Year new you.

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HAHAHHAAHA LAgi na lang yan ang motto eh

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In Italy Christmas tradition it's a little bit different 🤣 but it's nice celebrate it like valentine day too, the restaurant looks really American but the food look good!

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Yeah we wanted to be a bit different so we strayed away from Japanese because that’s our usual 😅
Something different than usual feels like special.. How was it in Italy?

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Ayy, parang ulam lang makain ko diyan saka juice, I'm good snna agad. Okay lang yan, Witty. You deserve to eat more~ 😄

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Hahahaha! Nooooo, pano na lang ang diet

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Witzu & Bf 👉 untitled.gif

Awe! what a romantic Christmas Witzu, TBH so damn cool!!!

The meals look enticing, I'm sure you had loads of fun cause i have eaten most of those in my head just watching it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING❤️

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Hahahaha! Not so labulabu @queenstarr 😂 but yeah, we had a lot of fun! We love eating so it's really fun 😂
I just hope you are okay, you're eating from your head imagining hahahaha
Merry Christmas too!

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