Small but Mighty Noodles

The last time Mana and I were in Japan, we happened upon a small restaurant on the way to the train station. We were going to go somewhere more famous for breakfast, but the sign showed a delicious looking bowl of noodles that beckoned us into the restaurant.

It was a little small, and the food wasn’t gourmet, but it was delicious! We ordered their spring beef noodles, udon, and tempura ginger, sweet potato and shrimp. When we tried the beef noodles we were shocked! We honestly were expecting them to taste ordinary, but they were delicious. The noodles were cooked to perfection, and the beef was well-seasoned and not overcooked. They were topped with fresh scallions and dried garlic, which added more flavor and depth to the dish. Underneath the bed of noodles was a beautiful, dark-gold egg that added creaminess to the noodles. These noodles tasted like spring, and for less than $5 they could contend with any other pricey bowl.

Next, we tried the tempura. I think a lot of people view tempura as being more or less the same anywhere you go, but this is not true. You have to have the right balance between flour and water for the batter to get a nice thin, crispy layer. The tempura were all fried to crispy goodness and were not overly greasy. Mana and I both loved the shrimp because it tasted fresh, and the meat was not tough. The pickled ginger was my second favorite because it was like a palate cleanser, and I can’t resist anything pickled or fried.

From our experience, you can typically get quality food in most places in Japan, but this shop exceeded our expectations. We really enjoyed eating here and are glad we stopped in. It made us realize that we should try out local eateries that most would view as common because they may have more to offer than you think.