After seeing over a thousand Google reviews with a rating close to five stars, I walked in without hesitation to give it a try. However, the actual dining experience did not meet my expectations. It turns out that it's still important to check Google reviews before entering a restaurant to understand why it has such high ratings.
I ordered the beef belly rice bowl, and the overall taste was average. The rice was slightly dry, and the side dishes were typical of a Japanese soy sauce flavor, but nothing particularly outstanding. The tonkatsu rice bowl was also mediocre, with the meat and batter being at an average level. I particularly added the fried sweet and spicy fish cakes, but they were also not impressive, comparable to the standard of fried items found elsewhere.
The restaurant has a promotion of "check-in for a small snack," but oh well, there's nothing that can be done! I can only blame myself for not reading carefully before entering. However, based on the quality of the food, it does not deserve such high ratings.
I went to the Carrefour on Zhongming Road and after trying the curry restaurant at the Great World food court last time, I saw that Carrefour has a place called "San Shang Fresh Wudong," so I decided to give it a try.
San Shang Fresh Wudong seems to be a revamped version of San Shang Qiao Fu, shifting from selling beef noodles to selling rice bowls 😅. Today, I ordered the Java Curry Fillet Bowl (pork) and the Creamy Mushroom Cheese Chicken Bowl, along with two drinks and a side of burdock.
The Java Curry Fillet Bowl is highly recommended. Not only does it look good, but the batter is just right and fried to a perfect crisp without being harsh on the palate. The meat is thick and tender, and the rice is fluffy and distinct—it's a favorite for rice lovers. Just look at the lady at the next table who ordered a meal for herself and extra bowls of white rice to prove it 😚.
As for the soup, you can refill it yourself at the seasoning station, and drinks can be refilled for 10 NT dollars.
The Creamy Mushroom Cheese Chicken was just average.
Conclusion: Overall, the portion sizes are generous, the food is tasty, the environment is clean, and the prices are reasonable—great value for money!
📍Nara, Japan
A generous portion udon noodle shop 🍜🍤
Two days before the trip, I suddenly decided to visit Nara and found a udon shop with decent reviews on Google.
The shop is located in the indoor east-facing shopping street, and there's usually a line during meal times, with a rough ratio of half locals and half tourists. They do offer an English menu.
The interior decor gives off a very traditional Japanese vibe, with a long communal table in the middle, making the dining environment quite crowded.
🥘
Order items:
🍤 Tempura shrimp udon (warm) (¥1,450):
The bowl served was extremely large! The portion of noodles was also very generous, and it's immediately understandable why the first few groups of Japanese girls couldn't finish their meals. 😆
The texture of the udon noodles was quite disappointing; although they were very thick—much thicker than regular udon—they lacked any chewy texture, resembling more of the texture of rice noodles. I'm confused as to why the reviews on Google praise the noodles for their chewiness.
The broth tasted overwhelmingly salty, and the saltiness was too high; as someone who enjoys broth, I couldn't finish it.
The tempura shrimp was passable; the shrimp weren't large, and the batter wasn’t overly greasy.
🍠 Cold yam udon (¥830):
The noodles had a bit more chewiness, but it still fell quite short of my expectations for delicious udon.
Once mixed, I could barely taste the yam, and the sauce also had an excessively high saltiness.
🍄
Would I revisit? No!
It was a rather disappointing experience regarding the food, plus having to wait in line will keep me from returning. However, the service from the staff was very good.
✏️
Note:
🔸 Cash only 💰
Hello.
I'm starving again today! It's Harapeko-chan!
————Store Details————————————
Store Name: OKINI'S TABLE
Nearest Station: 16-minute walk from Takeshita Station
Address: 〒812-0893
Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka City, Hakata Ward, Naka 6-chome, MARKET 351 23-1 Lalaport Fukuoka 1F
Business Hours: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Closed: None
Budget: ¥1000 to ¥2000
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This time, I visited 'OKINI'S TABLE', a popular spot where you can choose your favorite from a variety of vegetable salad menus, run by a wholesale produce specialty store, located a 16-minute walk from Takeshita Station!
Located on the 1st floor of Lalaport Fukuoka within 'MARKET 351', which is managed by a wholesale produce specialty store, 'OKINI’S TABLE' is a great place to enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits that can only be offered by a wholesale store. Additionally, since it’s a new type of establishment combining a grocery store and restaurant, there is a market corner on the same premises where you can actually purchase the ingredients being served; it's wonderful to be able to find delicious vegetables and take them home.
Upon entering the store, I was greeted by a showcase lined with a variety of vegetable-rich menus, which were colorful and exciting. Besides vegetables, they also offered American-sized pizzas cut from a diameter of about 50 cm that overflowed from the serving platter, and desserts made with plenty of fruit, making it suitable for café use as well.
Menu I ordered:
【Gourmet Meat Salad】
I could pick 3 dishes from the deli menu for my own delightful one-plate meal! It also came with a baguette, allowing me to enjoy it with my favorite salad. The vegetables were very sweet, fresh, and delicious.
【Fruit Tart】
A luxurious fruit tart with kiwi, strawberries, mandarins, and grapes♡ The fruits were juicy, and the tart crust was crispy, creating a perfect combination.
Inside, there is an eat-in space that serves as a shared area for dining establishments in the area. Several table seats are available, and the room is spacious with good sunlight, creating a comfortable atmosphere. It was also nice that you could catch a glimpse of the giant Gundam from the window.
Once again, Harapeko-chan is full!
Thank you for the meal!
A suitable place for after-work gatherings, whether it's a small group of friends or a larger party, flexible seating arrangements can be made. If there are many people, a deposit is required in advance to reserve seats.
The menu is diverse, ranging from sushi to skewers. The quality of the dishes ordered is consistently good, and the serving speed is quick.
There are also many options for drinks, including various types of sake, and for highballs, you can choose double the alcohol content, which is really strong.
This is a Japanese-style soup curry shop in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park area of Taipei, which I visited for the first time after passing by many times.
I ordered the daily handmade hamburger soup curry. The spices in the hamburger patty were quite strong, and it was evident that there were too many binders, as the meat content might not be very high.
I also ordered the oyster soup curry, which had as many as five fresh and delicious oysters—definitely a recommendation.
The soup curry resembles a spiced meat sauce poured over white rice. However, the rice served with this dish was not very ideal; the grains were noticeably uneven in size and the texture was not soft enough.
The cast iron pot that the food was served in was not very hot. While this is safer, it also meant that the soup curry was not hot enough.
Lastly, it's worth mentioning that each soup curry can be customized for spiciness level, and level 4 is indeed quite spicy.
For me, it should be the Wu Liushou style. I was so hungry after watching the game that I forgot to take pictures. The meals were all quite delicious, and the place felt very attentive. There were plenty of main dish choices, and a good selection of drinks as well. It's suitable for both family dinners and friends' gatherings over drinks. The ambiance gives off a sense of having been open for several years, with a lot of character, and the decor is very Japanese in style. Overall, I highly recommend it.
Located in Ueno, Tokyo, "Gyukatsu Moto mura Ueno" is a very well-known fried steak specialty restaurant that features fried beef served with a small grill. The steak is crispy on the outside while remaining tender and medium rare on the inside, allowing you to eat it directly or grill it to your preferred doneness at the table.
This time, I ordered a set meal with 1.5 times the meat portion. The beef was tender and particularly complemented by the yam puree and pickled vegetables. The smooth texture of the yam paired unexpectedly harmoniously with the rich flavor of the beef. The side dishes included miso soup and pickled vegetables, which, although simple, were a good match for the main star. The warabi mochi for dessert was a delightful surprise, served with soybean flour and brown sugar, sweet but not overwhelming—ideal for a finishing touch.
As for drawbacks, this restaurant is very popular, usually requiring a queue of over an hour to be seated. The space is small with only about 14 seats, which might be a challenge for those who dislike waiting in line. However, the taste truly justifies the wait, which is why it is recommended by many tourists and locals alike.
Overall, "Gyukatsu Moto mura" is a food experience worth trying, especially for those who are tasting fried beef for the first time, as they can truly feel the surprise. However, next time I might choose to visit on a weekday to avoid peak hours or try my luck at one of their other branches.
Environment
The decor of the Japanese izakaya is not extensive in terms of seating, with tables placed relatively close together. It can feel a bit cramped when full, but there is also the option to sit at the bar.
Meals
The restaurant's set meals include a lettuce salad 🥗, chawanmushi, pickles, fruit 🍉, and soup, making for a nutritious and balanced meal. The main dishes are mostly fried items, with the exception of two sets featuring grilled salt.
📍 Spicy Sour Chicken Leg 💰280
An enormous chicken leg with a crispy exterior that retains its juiciness — the sour and spicy sauce is utterly appetizing!
📍 Honey Mustard Pork Chop 💰250
The pork chop is crispy on the outside and tender inside, with the main point being that the meat doesn't turn dry.
📍 Crispy Fried King Oyster Mushroom 💰60
This one is relatively average, feeling a bit dry when eaten that day.
Parking
Motorcycles 🛵 can park in front of the shop or within the nearby white lines.
Cars 🚗 can park in the parking lot on Zhongxing Road 🅿️ (next to PX Mart), with indoor parking costing 💰30 for one hour (maximum charge is 200).
Service
Upon seating, a friendly young staff member will bring the menu to your table. After confirming your orders, you can go to the counter to settle the bill. Utensils 🍴 and tea 🍵 are self-service.
Payment Methods
Cash 💵
The environment in the store is very clean and tidy, with two seating areas: one is the regular seating area and the other is the bar.
The store provides water and miso soup for self-service.
The beef bowl originally costs $129, and the meat portion can be increased for an additional $169. Overall, it is quite flavorful, delicious, and very satisfying, with a generous amount of meat.
Clam udon is $139. The noodles paired with the broth are very flavorful and delicious, and there are quite a few clams provided.
Two scallops are $99. The scallops are quite large, and they taste amazing with wasabi.
