Today's holiday lunch was at a pasta specialty shop that feels like a family restaurant called "Poporamma". This time, we visited their Kitasuna branch, which is known for offering Japanese-style pasta dishes. "Wabasuta Boboramma" is located inside the Ario Kitasuna shopping mall in Koto Ward. The Ario Kitasuna store, one of the largest in Tokyo, is always crowded with shoppers on weekends. We came here as part of our routine weekend grocery shopping and decided to have lunch before shopping. We wrote our names on the waiting list at the entrance and waited for a table to become available. We were able to enter the restaurant after a wait of about 15 minutes. I ordered the "Oyster Arrabbiata" while my wife chose the "Beautiful Mushroom and Bacon Porcini Cream" pasta. Both dishes were part of the limited-time Autumn Fair menu featuring seasonal ingredients. Our dishes arrived together after about 12 minutes of placing the order. The Arrabbiata I ordered looked delicious with its strong red tomato sauce and plump oysters on top. The sauce had a good level of spiciness and acidity from the tomatoes, which I enjoyed. The pasta, described as "my pasta", had a chewy texture similar to udon noodles, which I also liked. The oysters were plump and had a satisfying texture, although the flavor was slightly subdued. I also made use of the drink bar, having ginger ale with the meal and a cappuccino after. My wife and I agreed that the dishes were delicious and left the restaurant satisfied. This was probably my first time at Poporamma, and I would definitely consider visiting again.

Visited Popolamama at the restaurant street on the upper floor of Ario Kitasuna in March 2020. This Popolamama is written in hiragana, specializing in a menu with a Japanese twist. They seemed to use anko (sweet red bean paste) in many of their desserts. Even after 3 PM, they were still serving lunch. I ordered the Shiso Tarako with a drink bar included for 890 yen. I could choose one side dish, so I chose the tomato soup. The pasta was chewy fresh pasta, and the tarako was delicious as always. It's worth noting that the Popolamama in Nishiojima closed down after this branch opened. Rating at the time of posting: 3.05

Sometimes, it's nice to take a break from Sunamo and head to Ario. The usual lack of variety. A restaurant with a long-term parking lot is convenient. The area on the third floor where the food shops are lined up. Is it still called a restaurant district? It feels a bit old-fashioned. Even after making a full circle, there is no change. I decided to try something different this time, "Wa Pasta Popolamama". It has a different atmosphere from the usual Popolamama. The chewy fresh pasta is nice! I ordered the eggplant and bacon arrabbiata with double the noodles. I also added seaweed soup. The water is self-serve, and the soup arrived quickly. The seaweed in the soup seemed to increase at first glance... Well, it's only 100 yen, so that's expected. The pasta is a Japanese-style pasta but with arrabbiata sauce. I felt a bit strange after ordering, but it was too late. The portion size was decent with the double noodles. However, it still felt a bit lacking... A few balls of mozzarella cheese. A few slices of eggplant. The sauce was evenly distributed and slightly spicy. Neither good nor bad. Despite the change in the name, it's still the usual Popolamama.

Today, my wife and I came to Ario Kitasuna to buy pet supplies. The reason is that soon our second puppy will be coming to our home! But putting that aside, we visited a restaurant called "Wapasta Popolamama," which used to be called Popolamama. The entrance displayed food samples mainly from Wapasta. The restaurant still had the same old Popolamama vibe. We ordered the Peperoncino with boiled shirasu. It was a little spicy and the saltiness of the boiled shirasu was delicious. The only downside was that there was a lot of oil accumulated under the plate. However, considering the cost performance, I think it's a very good restaurant. I would definitely visit again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal!

Cost-effective dinner set menu. Dinner Set (choice of pasta + choice of side menu + choice of drink + today's appetizer, pasta large serving, ¥1,600, tax included) with Grapefruit juice (drink bar). Today's appetizer + Caesar salad small. Hokkaido potato cheese oven-baked + Caesar salad small. Uni and ikura mentaiko cream (large serving). All of them were delicious for the price, with a sense of value. The slightly dim interior had a decent atmosphere.

Salada hōrensō to tsurushi bēkon no shōyu ========== Spinach and hanging bacon with soy sauce

It's their 25th anniversary. I really like the pasta here. I ordered the Arrabbiata from the 25th-anniversary menu. It was served with grilled Kachokabaro from Hanabatake Farm, and it was quite delicious.

I have been living in this area for nearly 30 years. When Ario Kitasuna was first built, my son was still young and loved pasta, so we often visited. As my son grew up and became a university student and then a working adult, we couldn't go out for meals together as often, so the number of visits decreased. However, even now, whenever I go to Ario Kitasuna, this restaurant is always on my list. I was a bit worried when Saizeriya opened next door, but during the peak of the pandemic, the restaurant was empty, so I was concerned. However, when I visited recently, it was quite crowded and seemed to be doing well. Although the prices have increased slightly since the beginning, it is still one of my favorite restaurants. I tried a new menu item, which I think was squid and cod roe with ponzu sauce, and it was quite delicious. Another noteworthy point is that the coffee is delicious. Although they no longer offer the foamy type of coffee they had in the beginning, the coffee from the drink bar that you can refill is the best tasting in this area, in my opinion. I plan to visit again soon.

The pasta is a little lacking something! But the taste is satisfying.

Today, I went again. As usual, I had two plates of pasta. There used to be two types of Bolognese sauce at one point. I hope the cheaper one will make a comeback.

Visited Pasta Popolamama Ario Kitasuna branch with children for lunch on a weekday. Ordered Kids Plate Tarako for ¥450, Carbonara for ¥630, and Spinach Bacon Soy Sauce for ¥530 (upgraded to L size for an additional ¥150). Used au Smart Pass for a complimentary seasonal dessert, Strawberry Cheese Tart for ¥290. It's a slightly upscale restaurant with very polite service and a wide selection of drinks at the drink bar. The menu is a bit different from usual. The Carbonara had a Japanese twist with a flavorful dashi broth, which was a nice change from the usual richness. The Spinach Bacon Soy Sauce dish didn't taste much different as it already had a Japanese influence. Since we visited on a Smart Pass coupon day, we got the Strawberry Cheese Tart for free. The tart had a strong strawberry flavor and a refreshing cheesecake taste, but the tart crust was a bit thick and dry. Despite its adult-oriented atmosphere, Pasta Popolamama is child-friendly and we were able to relax and enjoy our meal.

I used it for lunch on 3/3/2018. Popolamama at Ario Kitasuna... It's always crowded during lunchtime on weekends. This time, when I passed by the restaurant around 11:30, there was no line, so I decided to go in. I ordered... Negi and pork mizore ponzu shoyu (750 yen + tax), Sausage Napolitan (590 yen + tax), Drink bar (200 yen + tax). In addition to the usual drink machine, there was Shine Muscat juice!... This was a taste that I really liked, haha. The food arrived about 10 minutes after ordering. It's been a while since I last visited Popolamama... but the plates were quite stylish, haha. Both dishes were delicious in a normal way. I thought Napolitan would have thicker pasta, but it was actually normal thickness, with a somewhat strange appearance (Did I have a preconceived idea that Napolitan should have thicker pasta? Haha). I hope this information is helpful.

Despite being part of the same chain as "Pasta Pompola," this location seems quite different from the others. The seasonal menu is the same, and the only difference seems to be in how the menu is presented. The food is consistently delicious, and they also offer a drink bar and cakes, making it convenient for cafe use. One thing that raises a question is whether this is only an issue at this specific location or at all locations. Writing your name down to wait is one thing, but having to line up again if they didn't call you is a bit inconvenient, especially in a shopping center. It's hard to leave one person behind while you go shopping. The waiting area and the store itself are small. The staff seems used to this, as they prioritize calling out other customers even if they see your name on the list. There is no apology or "Can I help you?" It's clear that the staff's level of service is lacking. You can't expect too much from a chain restaurant. Also, despite advertising as being affordable, adding a salad or a drink bar can make the total cost quite high, so the value for money is not great. I do like fresh pasta, so despite these complaints, I will probably visit again.

On Saturday afternoon, I decided to go to Ario Kotasu for lunch. The restaurants were all crowded, so I ended up choosing Popora Mama, which had a relatively short line. After waiting for about 15 minutes, I was able to get a table. The restaurant was full of families since it was a holiday. I ordered the Scallop and Mushroom Yaki Tarako Ponzu Soy Sauce Pasta for 800 yen plus tax. I also got a side salad. It was my first time trying Ponzu pasta, and I had high hopes for it. However, after taking a bite, I was a bit disappointed. It felt like the ingredients were all separate, with the Ponzu sauce just on top. It was like eating a hotpot. I regretted not choosing a tomato-based pasta instead.

At Poporamarma in Ario Kitasuna, there is a restaurant specializing in Japanese-style pasta. I visited on a weekday evening around 5 pm and the restaurant was almost empty, so I was able to choose my seat freely. I ordered the spinach bacon soy sauce pasta, which is one of my favorites. It was served in about 5 minutes. The dish looked slightly different from the original Poporamarma with its black plate and sprinkled bonito flakes, but the taste was just as delicious. The fresh pasta at Poporamarma is impressive, and the portion size seemed a bit smaller compared to the original, but it might just be because I was really hungry. Thank you for the meal~

The restaurant on the restaurant floor of the commercial facility, Ario Kitasuna, is a fresh pasta shop. It seems like they recently renovated it. It used to be a regular Popolamama, but it has now become slightly Japanese-style "Cho-Wafu Pasta Popolamama." The staff uniforms have changed a bit, and the menu has also changed slightly (such as an increase in Japanese-style salads), but the content hasn't changed much. If I had to say, it looks like the good dinner sets and seasonal recommended pastas that used to be available are gone. They might come back eventually though. This time, I had the Eggplant Arrabbiata Salad Set B. The salad is a Japanese-style one with plenty of daikon radish and kinoko mushrooms on top. It was quite delicious. The pasta still has the same chewy texture as always. I wonder if they will continue to evolve towards a more Japanese-style direction in the future? I look forward to it.

In March 2016, I visited Popolamama at Ario Kitasuna in Koto-ku, Kitasuna. Ario Kitasuna is a large shopping center with a variety of stores and a spacious parking lot. Popolamama is known for its delicious Italian dishes and the Kitasuna branch is the first store in Edogawa-ku, with its headquarters located in Kasai. Despite the crowded evening atmosphere, I ordered the Gnocchi with Cheese Cream for 330 yen (plus tax) and the Spaghetti Aglio e Olio for 400 yen (plus tax). The dishes were surprisingly tasty and satisfying for the price. The pasta was slightly thicker than usual, but the unique flavors made up for it. Overall, I was pleased with my dining experience at Popolamama and would recommend it to others. Thank you for the meal! Rating: 3.2 out of 5 stars.