mindshaker
I overslept even though I had a place I wanted to go to in the morning lol. I slept until after 5 am, so it couldn't be helped. So, I decided to go to Kinshicho on Sunday, a place I had wanted to visit once based on Mairebi's reviews. I left the hustle and bustle of the station and headed north, crossing the Kuramae Bridge. I continued through the residential area and entered a narrow road around the middle of Kinshicho and Skytree, where the restaurant was located. It was less than a 10-minute walk from Kinshicho Station North Exit. It was a little past 2 pm, but the curtain was up, so I tried to enter with peace of mind, but the lights inside were off. Huh? Did they close already? But the sliding door opened, so I called out, "Excuse me," and there was a response from the back. "Is it already closing time?" I asked, and she replied, "No, please come in," and the lady came out from the back. But it felt like they were on a break lol. I asked if it was their break time, but she said, "It's fine, this is how we are," and turned on the lights and welcomed me in. She guided me to a counter seat with disposable hand towels and disposable chopsticks lined up, saying "Please sit here," and eventually her husband came out, so I sat down, feeling embarrassed. ★Shrimp Tempura Donburi ¥1300 x2 Soon, the lady brought out tea, which was poured from a teapot onto a saucer. They seemed to cherish old customs. The husband poured sesame oil and lit a small, shiny copper pot. I had imagined a black tempura pot filled with history from the building's atmosphere and dignity, so I was a little surprised lol. Looking around, the kitchen was not that old, and everything was clean without any sticky oil stains. The boundary between the store and the living quarters was vague, giving off a very Showa-era downtown atmosphere, making it feel very seasoned, but it was also well maintained. They really cherish it... You can feel the love. As I looked around the store and was captivated by the couple's work, I realized that no one had spoken, so I started a conversation with the wife. After a while, the wife turned on the switch of a vintage radio cassette player, and a radio broadcast started playing in the store, but to my surprise, it was a Finger 5 special lol. "♪ Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring Ring~" I was completely transported back to the 1970s lol. While surrounded by the sound of tempura being fried, the aroma of sesame oil, and the leisurely flow of time, I watched the husband's every move and waited for about 20 minutes before the tempura donburi was served. The tempura bowl came with tempura, pickles, and miso soup. The tempura, fried in sesame oil, consisted of 3 shrimp, 2 green peppers, and 1 eggplant, with a lemon on the side, which was unusual. The shrimp was thicker than I expected, with a soft texture rather than a firm one, and it had a sweetness to it. The contrast between the light crispy batter and the soft shrimp was so gentle, and it tasted deliciously in your mouth. The green peppers were deliciously crispy, and the eggplant was soft and tender. There was no greasiness, and the rice was not too much, so it was just the right amount for women to finish without any trouble. By the way, squeezing the lemon surprisingly worked lol. It might be good for a change in taste. The pickles were lightly pickled cucumbers and cabbage. They were delicious with a good crunch, and the right amount of soy sauce added a nice touch, typical of a downtown place. The miso soup had tofu and finely chopped myoga, and maybe some sansho pepper sprinkled on top? It was refreshing and delicious. The history of the husband and wife's hard work at the cooking counter was clearly evident, and I found myself torn between wanting them to continue working energetically and wanting them to take care of themselves and not overdo it. It must be tough for the elderly couple to run the shop alone, and I hope they can continue without pushing themselves too hard.