The teriyaki fish set meal was delicious. The rolled omelette was surprisingly large and fluffy. The broth was tasty too. The fish was a bit salty. The rice was really good, must be new rice. It had a nice shine to it. It made me feel like autumn. They didn't cut corners. The miso soup had few ingredients but it warmed me up, so it's fine. The service took quite a while. This is what you can expect from a lunch menu at an izakaya.

In early 2021, a clean and welcoming izakaya called "Tamaru Shokudo" opened near Tobu Tojo Line Tokiwadai Station. Today, I visited during lunchtime as I had some errands in the area. They mainly serve set meals for lunch, but operate as an izakaya in the evening. With a wide range of menu options and generous portions, they cater to people of all ages. I've noticed that there aren't many regular set meal restaurants, especially in certain areas. While in the city center, there are places like Yayoiken and the legendary Kitchen ABC in Ikebukuro which I love, but in more remote areas, the options are limited. The area around Otemachi, where I used to work, is particularly lacking in good dining options. Despite the high rent, there are surprisingly few affordable and casual dining choices. It makes me wonder if it's difficult to open chain restaurants like Yayoiken or Sukiya in those areas. While reminiscing about the past, I selected a menu item. They offer a variety of set meals ranging from chicken karaage, grilled mackerel, fried horse mackerel, beef tendon stew, to pork ginger. The side dishes are also extensive, including sashimi, fried foods, natto, and pork miso soup. The set meals are priced around 800 yen, which is quite reasonable. I ordered the weekly mixed fry set meal (830 yen). The meal came with rice, miso soup, cabbage, and several side dishes. The portion size was quite generous even for the regular size. The fried items included octopus sausage, chicken karaage, fried oysters, menchi katsu, and shrimp fry. While the taste didn't exceed my expectations, everything was delicious. The quality, quantity, and cleanliness of the restaurant were commendable. Overall, it was a good deal for the price. I also tried some side dishes with my companions, including tuna sashimi, giant chicken karaage, and grilled mackerel. They were all tasty and satisfying. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, especially the fish dishes. I hope more restaurants like this will open up in the future. I will definitely visit again when I'm in the area.

Every Sunday, I go to Tamaru Shokudo for breakfast and lunch. Today, I ordered a ham and egg set with Takosan wiener and mentaiko on the side, and switched the miso soup for pork soup. It's a luxurious morning meal that I can't make at home. The pork soup helps me detox from the week, the egg whites are delicious, the Takosan brings out my inner child, and the mentaiko makes me crave a drink. The tasty white rice makes me want more side dishes. I feel refreshed and healed at Tamaru Shokudo once again.

At Tokiwadai, "Sake to Meshi Tamaru Shokudo" is a popular eatery where you can enjoy drinks and casual dining. The order this time included the "Tamaru's specialty" of beef tendon stew for 450 yen, as well as the recommended light and crispy blowfish tempura for 420 yen. The blowfish tempura was reasonably priced and came with a generous serving of grated daikon. In addition to that, I also tried the grilled mackerel for 450 yen and enjoyed it with a bottle of Akahoshi beer for 490 yen.

From today, going back 2 years, we witnessed a milestone in human history. A man named Akiko, who seemed like he came from Namek, was drinking a green drink from a glass with such familiarity. Akiko skillfully opened a bottle at the counter while the man, Akira, reminisced about the past. The message of Princess Mononoke seemed to be a constraint inherent in Japan's nature, tradition, and technological advancements. Akira felt like he was being confronted with humanity's future challenges. As he thought about this at Tamadomari Shokudo in Tokiwadai, a tear fell as usual. The food at this restaurant was delicious, and Akira's venison hot pot was so amazing that it could be considered a milestone for humanity. That's it! I'll come back again! Next time, I'll come for lunch!

During my last visit, the restaurant was closed due to the state of emergency. But now, they are open and almost fully booked. It's a cozy place, with customers squatting outside to peek inside. The menu offers a variety of set meals, and this time I chose the weekly special, "Oily Chicken Set Meal". The portion was generous, with a large piece of chicken and plenty of rice. The side dishes included simmered hijiki seaweed and shredded konjac salad. The chicken was tasty but the sauce was a bit too sour for my liking. The rice was cooked perfectly and the miso soup had a unique flavor. Overall, it was a satisfying meal at this popular restaurant in Tokiwadai.

First visit. The restaurant has a pub-like atmosphere with mainly table seating, resembling a popular dining spot. The menu offers a wide variety of set meals, as well as grilled fish, hamburg steak, curry, sashimi, ginger pork... catering to a range of customer preferences. The presentation is clean and attention is paid to the appearance of the dishes. The side dishes have a simple and decent taste. The set meals are generous in portion size and variety, providing a satisfying meal. The fried chicken had a texture and flavor that was different from what was expected, with a lean meat quality, light seasoning, and a strong soy sauce taste on the crispy coating. Overall, it didn't quite hit the mark, but it could be due to a lack of preparation or timing when the order was placed. With regular business flow and increased customer turnover, the quality may improve. The total bill was 1,350 yen including tax. Thank you for the meal.

Lunch at Tamaru Shokudo on weekends is always a treat. I indulge in a luxurious serving of mentaiko (spicy cod roe) and miso soup, which I sometimes switch up to a ham and egg set, takoyaki, or wiener set. Occasionally, it comes with grilled fish or dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelette). I enjoy it while pretending to be an adult ordering a set meal at a bar.