Fried chicken bento (460 yen) It was lunchtime and I was passing through the Kamata area by car, when I thought, "I should try a bento from Torikyu in Kamata, which is different from Oimori!" So, I decided to park my car in front of the Torikyu main store and... oh no, there were so many cars parked by people looking for bento that I couldn't find a spot! It was unexpected, what should I do... I thought. While pondering, the store was far behind. Alright, I decided to make a left turn somewhere and circle around to start fresh. That's when I saw a yellow sign that looked promising, "Kimura-tei"! So, today it's here! I trusted my instincts, parked my car, and went into the store. The storefront had a nostalgic and traditional bento shop style, with a big menu board with photos and many other menu options to choose from. I decided on the fried chicken bento for 460 yen, a very affordable price that got me excited. There were also various 100 yen side dishes displayed on the counter, so you could add some extra dishes to balance out your meal. The most expensive item on the menu was the Western Mix for 600 yen (a luxurious dish with hamburger, grilled meat, fried chicken, and croquette). The customers were mostly working men on the move, and the regulars seemed to be ordering additional items like "Ginger Pork Bento with extra fried chicken". The fried chicken was made fresh, so I waited for about 3 minutes before receiving a heavy bag at the counter and rushed back home to open it. The bento looked like just rice and fried chicken at first glance! When I removed one piece of fried chicken, I found simmered dried radish and rolled omelette underneath. There was also a pickled plum on top of the rice. I immediately tried the still warm fried chicken. The chicken breast was used and there were six pieces, each weighing around 30g. The texture was slightly dry but the meat was packed tightly. The flavor was a mix of ginger and soy sauce, with a hint of seafood broth occasionally. The saltiness was moderate. The batter was made with light wheat flour, not crispy but soft. Overall, the fried chicken tasted good even when cooled down. The rice was generously served, around 300g, but the texture was a bit loose. The simmered dried radish was cooked with shredded konjac and carrot, with a sweet and unique flavor. The rolled omelette seemed like a commercial product, also sweet and tender. In conclusion, I enjoyed the bento and it was a nostalgic and classic style that satisfied my cravings. The price and portion size were great, and the taste was comforting and familiar. I would love to try their flagship dish, the "Western Mix", next time for a more luxurious experience.

On this day, I ordered the classic bento box menu item, the nori bento. It cost just over 300 yen, if I remember correctly. By evening, the place gets crowded with locals and customers stopping by after shopping. I took it home and opened it right away. It had all the usual side dishes and was a satisfying option for a drink accompaniment. Thank you for the meal.

On my day off, I visited the Umeyashiki Shotengai shopping street. I went to a shop that a friend had recommended to me before. The shop is located just a short walk from Umeyashiki Station, towards the Toho Medical University Avenue. The shop offers a wide variety of bento boxes at a reasonable price. I heard that it gets quite crowded during lunchtime, so I decided to check it out. The bento box was great, but I opted for individual side dish items this time. The tonkatsu was tender and freshly fried, which was nice. The shrimp fry was large and had a nice texture. I look forward to going back next time to buy a bento box.

I visited for dinner and to buy side dishes for tomorrow. Most of the items are fried, but they are quite reasonably priced. It takes a while if you order a lot, but it's not a problem if it's not cold. I bought 2 pieces of fried chicken, white fish fry, squid fry, ham cutlet, and bean sprout namul. The fried chicken had a good texture and was piping hot. Thank you for the meal.

Located on the outskirts of Umeyashiki Shopping Street, this bento shop gives off a personal, independent vibe. It gets really crowded during lunchtime. I pass by this shop almost every day, but I hadn't stopped by in a long time until recently. I ordered the Nori Mentaiko Bento for 390 yen. Despite the crowd, my order came out relatively quickly. One thing that made me happy was that when you order the Nori Bento, big chain bento shops usually only include soy sauce, but this place includes both soy sauce and sauce. Also, the amount of rice is more than what you get at big chain stores. I thought it might be nice to have Kimura-tei's bento once in a while.

First visit, takeout. It's a local bento shop that has become less common now. They have a wide variety of menu items. I was indecisive but ended up ordering the "Western-style mixed bento." It was 600 yen, and among the menu items, it was one of the most expensive. It included flag-shaped rice, fish fry, hamburger, tamagoyaki sausage, and one piece of karaage. If you remove the tamagoyaki, it's all brown! The portion of rice is large, and the overall moisture content is high. It's a very filling meal. At the checkout, I couldn't help but add a 100 yen macaroni side dish. This was also very generous. You can also buy individual side dishes, so it's cheap and convenient for takeout, especially for fried foods. By the way, it seems that phone orders require a minimum of 2 bentos. Be careful as there may be a line outside in the middle of summer or winter. Thank you for the meal.

The Umeyashiki shopping street that extends from Keikyu Umeyashiki Station intersects with Toho Medical University Street, just a 1-2 minute walk towards Kamata. It seems that this was the bento shop where the actor Gen Hoshino worked in a certain drama. The first thing you notice is the wide variety of menu options. Feeling indecisive, I ended up choosing the Mentaiko Ham Cutlet Bento and the classic Karaage Bento. I imagined that the Mentaiko Ham Cutlet would have Mentaiko inside the ham cutlet, but it turned out the Mentaiko was between the white rice and seaweed. Also, the menu stated that the Karaage Bento comes with the Ham Cutlet, so I bought it, but the Mentaiko Ham Cutlet Bento actually comes with Chikuwa Tempura instead of Karaage. It was a bit confusing. And the Karaage Bento was made with chicken breast, which I wasn't expecting. I was hoping for juicy Karaage but instead got dry and cold chicken breast, which was disappointing. This place might be perfect for those looking for healthy and diet-friendly options. The male staff who served us seemed to lack enthusiasm. Unless there's a compelling reason, I don't think I'll be going back.

Nori Bento & Makunouchi ===========