UPDATE: Unfortunately, Paxi House has closed as of March 10, 2018
For some unknown and surely sinister reason, Tokyo has been gripped by a kind of herb-induced madness in recent years. And no, we’re not talking about that herb: the plant in question is coriander, also known as cilantro and pak chi. Restaurants focused on southeast Asian food have started to incorporate the bright green shrub into an ever-increasing selection of dishes, while some maniacs have gone so far as to establish eateries dedicated entirely to coriander.
Paxi House, out in residential Setagaya’s Kyodo, is one of these quirky specialists. The well-travelled owner conjures up a wonderful but slightly terrifying assortment of herb-seasoned dishes, from pickled coriander and coriander kimchi to pak chi kakiage, soup and pasta. Complementing this jolly fellow’s herbal mania is a community-oriented attitude, represented by the wide range of workshops, get-togethers and other events taking place at his eatery every week. If you’re looking to get to the bottom of the coriander curse, this is where to start. And if you can’t stand the taste, best stay the hell away.