The other day, when I went to "Kashiwaya" restaurant, I discovered a Senbei shop next door! I had been checking it out on Tabelog for a while, wondering where it was located or if it was still there, so I was thrilled to find it. The shop had a very cool and nostalgic vibe, and I was excited to buy some Senbei to take home after lunch. The lady at the shop was very friendly, and I couldn't decide which flavor to choose. Eventually, I settled on miso, red pepper, fresh garlic, and sesame flavors. The prices were very reasonable, starting from 60 yen per piece. I paid in cash and got my Senbei to enjoy as a snack later. I tried the red pepper flavor first, and it was delicious - just the right amount of spiciness. The sesame flavor was also great, but the red pepper was my favorite. It was a nostalgic experience for me, and I hope this shop stays in business for a long time. I will definitely be back to buy more Senbei in the future!

Halfway up a residential street hill, you will suddenly come across this visit. It has an old-fashioned senbei shop front, with the husband and wife sitting in the tatami room watching TV while running the store. I tried the "katayaki". Unlike other products in such shops, each senbei is individually wrapped in plastic. It has a light soy sauce flavor, and the senbei itself is very fragrant.

I think the location of a rice cracker shop that you can't help but stop by is important. Sometimes, hidden restaurants are talked about. Shops that are far from the station, located in residential areas, or even operating secretly without any signs. I often think about it. If such a shop were located near the station or in a bustling area, or even inside a department store, would we still use it? Perhaps the value lies in that subtle distance and secrecy. We might find value in the location rather than the taste, service, or customer service of the shop. It's not a thought that applies to everyone. For example, locals may have a completely different feeling. When searching on Tabelog for "Ikebukuro Station (800m) x Hidden Restaurant," there are many shops that don't seem hidden at all. Those who registered the shop may have judged it as hidden because it's far from the station or underground, making it hard to find. However, for locals, a shop like "Sotei" inside the station gates may be considered more hidden. This shop has a subtle distance from both Nogata Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line and Toshima-Kasei Station. The old-fashioned atmosphere exudes from the exterior. I'm particularly weak to such locations and appearances, but if it were one of the shops lining the shopping street in front of the station, would I actively stop by? This shop specializes in hand-baked rice crackers. I was intrigued by the word "garlic." The "garlic senbei" (60 yen/1 piece) had a distinct garlic soy sauce aroma as soon as I opened the package. The rice cracker had a satisfying crunch. The sound of the rice cracker is crucial. There's a sound that makes it seem more delicious. The soy sauce and garlic flavors were delicious. It didn't linger but felt complete. It was a sophisticated rice cracker. I also bought the "miso senbei" (60 yen/1 piece) and the recommended "Hibi senbei" (80 yen/1 piece). The miso flavor was as expected, and the Hibi senbei had an interesting texture with a slight wetness. Thank you for the meal.

A rice cracker shop located halfway between Nakano Ward Wakamiya, Toshima Kasei Station, and Koenji Station. The rice crackers are individually packaged and cost 60 yen each. They also offer cheaper bagged options. This long-established shop has a nostalgic charm and friendly service. I was drawn to the shop's impeccable appearance and decided to buy some rice crackers, which I don't usually eat. The owner, who had just finished baking for the day and was taking a break in the back, greeted me warmly when I approached him. They sell rice crackers like hard-baked ones, sugar-coated ones, starting at 60 yen each, and even cheaper when bought in bags. I randomly picked up some white (shiso), green (tea and sugar), and spicy (chili) ones to bring to my regular hangout spot. The rice crackers with seaweed were crispy and delicious, perfect with beer. The white shiso rice cracker had a unique flavor with the sweetness of sugar, the tartness of shiso, and the saltiness typical of rice crackers. It was interesting, but slightly moist, which was a bit disappointing. It seemed to be a matter of timing in baking, as there were some variations in quality. Nonetheless, the flavors came through nicely when chewed, indicating good quality ingredients. I forgot to ask how many years they have been in business, but it seemed like a shop that has been rooted in the community for a long time, as they were warmly greeted by passersby who seemed to be local residents.