I went back to my parents' house and had lunch with my parents and my sister's family. I ordered the Tempura Rice Bowl with large prawns and summer vegetables. There were 6 types of vegetables, 2 large prawns, and it was very generous. Additionally, being able to pay at the table with PayPay was very convenient. Japanese family restaurants are really great.

When I arrived at the restaurant in the evening, I noticed a happy hour sign saying that drinks were discounted from 2 pm to 8 pm. Even though I hadn't planned on drinking, I couldn't resist ordering a draft beer for 299 yen. I also got some edamame for 249 yen, which was surprisingly substantial and not watery. The fried squid legs were well-seasoned and crispy, very tasty. The mini roast beef salad was a bit disappointing as the vegetables were a bit wilted. However, the long happy hour period allowed me to enjoy drinks and food at a reasonable price, so I left satisfied.

Sometimes I feel like having a casual drink outside, so we decided to visit Yumean. Happy Hour is such a great deal. My partner ordered a Highball with Oolong tea, while I went for a non-alcoholic Dry Zero. We cheers with our drinks. For snacks, we ordered a combination of Me-kabu (pickled seaweed), yam, okra, oboro tofu, and a popular fried assortment. The small dishes were brought out for us to share. The fried assortment included potato fries, squid legs tempura, and chicken karaage, served with tartar sauce, ketchup, and lemon wedges. The fried items were hot and crispy, delicious. Even though I didn't have alcohol, I enjoyed my Dry Zero. My partner's Oolong Highball seemed strong. This was satisfying enough for us. For a refreshing finish, we decided to have cold soba noodles. My partner chose simple Seiro Soba, while I opted for walnut soba with a side of Fukagawa Seiro Meshi (steamed rice with clams). The cold soba noodles were firm and tasty. The walnut soba dipping sauce even had crushed walnuts in it. Mixing it with the cold noodles was delightful. The Fukagawa Seiro Meshi had rice cooked in dashi broth topped with clams. The fluffy clams added a nice flavor to the seasoned rice. We don't drink a lot, but occasionally having a dinner like this is a nice treat. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Because it is a chain store, there is a sense of convenience. With just over 1000 yen, the cost performance is quite good. Using coupons can make meals even cheaper, especially for families with young children. There is currently a cute gachapon machine. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the restaurant for dinner on a weekday. My partner had meat udon with a side of fried chicken and I had a set meal of fried oysters with less rice, both with the drink bar set. The broth of the meat udon had a nice flavor with a good dashi base. The fried chicken was a favorite menu item of ours, always freshly fried with a tasty seasoning. The fried oysters were also hot and served with plenty of tartar sauce. We were also given extra sauce, which seemed to be a special order from Takahashi Sauce, a well-known sauce company. It was nice to see that they use ingredients without additives or preservatives. The sesame and mushroom salad was like a home-cooked dish, which we enjoyed. We decided to stay a bit longer for coffee and ordered the dessert menu item of white rice cake with sweet potatoes and whipped cream with black honey. The sweet potatoes were crispy on the outside and dipped in black honey or whipped cream, which was delicious. We were happy with the dessert menu items. We had another round of drinks and enjoyed our time. Thank you for the meal.

At the request of my wife, we went to Yumean. My wife had the Kinako Milk Kakigori with 5 pieces of Shiratama for 604 yen. The fluffy ice was delicious with matcha sauce, Shiratama, and Kinako served separately, allowing for customization of flavors. I had the Red Melon Parfait for 494 yen. Yumean is known for their soft serve ice cream, and the melon was sweet and tasty. The cornflakes at the bottom were a bit difficult to eat though. There is a 5% discount for those aged 60 and above. It could be a good option for a reasonable snack nearby.

I went to Yumean for a late lunch after having an endoscopic examination at the university hospital one year post-surgery. I used a half-price coupon from SmartNews to enjoy the Yumean set meal. I arrived at Yumean around 4:30 pm on my way back from the examination. The restaurant was empty, probably due to the off-peak hours. I was very hungry as I had not eaten since the previous night. The beautifully presented Yumean Umaka Don was delicious. I chose cold soba noodles as my favorite. The tempura was crispy and tasty. With a 5% discount for seniors, thanks to the platinum discount, I only paid 600 yen for such quality food. The SmartNews half-price coupon is amazing! Yumean Tama Center Store Tokyo, Tama City, Ochiai 1-16-2. Tel: 042-355-2201. Hours: 10:00-22:30. Notes: Wi-Fi access, card/electronic payment/QR code, free Wi-Fi, parking available.

We decided to have lunch outside and went to Yumean, a restaurant near our house. We arrived around 12:45 and were seated promptly. We ordered using a tablet, I had the lunch tendon and mini soba set (cold soba noodles) for 879 yen. The soba noodles were quite delicious. My wife ordered the seasonal set meal for 989 yen. The miso soup was a bit bland, but the other items were fairly tasty. Especially the tempura, which she found to be fried just the way she likes it. Towards the end of our meal, my wife spotted the shaved ice menu and we decided to add an order of strawberry milk shaved ice for 439 yen. It was like shaved ice with a separate serving of jam-like topping and condensed milk. The inside of the ice was fluffy, and the combination of condensed milk and strawberry jam was quite delicious. My wife even mentioned that we don't need to go far to enjoy such shaved ice at this price. She also checked out the kids' menu for when our grandchildren visit during summer vacation. There was a 5% discount for customers over 60 years old, which we were able to use on the spot. Lucky us! (laughs)

I took my parents to dinner at my hometown. They had the white shrimp tempura bowl at the Toyama Fair, while I opted for a tofu salad and chicken tempura. I thought there weren't many family restaurants in the Tama Center area, but there are actually quite a few Japanese-style family restaurants.

On weekdays, there are many customers who come by car, so the restaurant is often busier on weekends and at lunchtime. I visited for dinner on a weekday evening. The restaurant was not crowded, social distancing was maintained, and I was able to relax without worry. The dishes I had were: edamame tofu salad, fried chicken as an appetizer, fried oysters, my partner had a set meal with deep-fried fish, and I had the Yumean set meal. You can choose from a variety of noodles, and I chose cold soba with a small portion of rice, each with a drink bar set. I love the delicious bowl at Yumean. I like that you can eat a variety of slimy ingredients, including tuna and squid, and adjust the amount of sauce while breaking the soft-boiled egg. The tempura was freshly fried and delicious with the cold soba. The other fried dishes were also served hot as usual. The appetizer fried chicken is one portion for five pieces, but it arrived with only four pieces at first. It seemed there was an issue with the fryer, so when it was brought to the table, they apologized and said, "One more is missing, so we will bring it right away," and a few minutes later, another hot piece of fried chicken arrived. Freshly fried chicken is always delicious. It was nice to be able to eat quietly and slowly. Thank you for the meal.

Sometimes, let's go out for dinner. We were seated right away on a weekday night. My partner had fried mochi-mizore udon with a sushi set of 3 pieces, while I had a Hiroshima-produced oyster fry set with less rice. We both opted for the drink bar. It's nice that there is a pricing option for less rice. The fried mochi udon had two grilled rice cakes quickly fried and eaten with grated daikon, which was delicious. The udon broth was flavorful, and the fried mochi added a nice touch. The sushi included tuna, squid, and salmon. I don't know why udon and sushi go so well together. My oyster fry set was as usual, hot and freshly fried. The oysters were quite large and juicy, with five pieces. The tartar sauce was generous, and I alternated between that and the sauce. After a relaxing dinner, we couldn't resist having dessert. My partner had chestnut zenzai, and I had pudding a la mode. The boiled red beans were delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness and filled with my favorite mochi. The pudding a la mode had strawberries and whipped cream, with a small-sized pudding that was perfect for dessert. We used the Platinum Passport for a 5% discount. Thank you for the meal.

After the state of emergency was lifted, I believe it was probably my first time dining inside a restaurant other than the food court. It had been a while since I last visited Yumian, and at the entrance, there was alcohol spray available with a request to use it. It was a quiet afternoon before the Bon holiday, and although there was quite a bit of seating available, we were seated promptly. I requested a seat towards the back as I didn't want to be near the entrance with people coming and going, but I had to wait a bit as that area wasn't ready yet. It would be better if the necessary preparations for safety measures were done in advance, especially during such relaxed hours. We waited a few minutes and were seated at a table that was meticulously clean. Looking at the menu, it seemed like they didn't have their usual shaved ice menu this year. My companion had the assorted tempura soba and seasonal rice, while I had the cold tea soba and small eel rice bowl set with a limited-time Coca-Cola drink bar. The drink bar offered only Coca-Cola soft drinks for a tax-inclusive price of 109 yen. It seemed to be a limited-time offer, and aside from sweet carbonated drinks, there was also carbonated water available. I mixed oolong tea, green tea, and ginger ale with mountain grapes and lemon, which turned out to be to my liking when I added a bit of carbonated water. The soba had a good texture and was nicely chilled as before, and the tempura was served freshly fried as always. The seasonal rice was like mixed rice with chicken, not too heavily seasoned, which was nice. The fact that it was served in a small bowl when you wanted something extra was also good. The small eel rice bowl felt like a reward for myself as I hadn't had eel in a while. Although it might not have been a half portion of regular grilled eel, I still enjoyed the flavor. Feeling relaxed and comfortable in the quiet atmosphere, I added a side of lightly seasoned potato wedges. It came with three pieces of chicken tempura and a generous serving of potatoes, and I took my time to enjoy it. The ketchup and mayonnaise on the side were a nice touch. I gave two pieces of the chicken tempura to my companion. While my days had been mostly filled with takeout meals, the situation in Tokyo is far from over. We must continue to be cautious and take each day as it comes. Despite the reluctance to dine out in the city, I hope to gradually expand my dining experiences starting from nearby places without rushing. Thank you for the meal.

On this day, I went to Gokuraku-yu in Tama Center. After taking a bath, I wanted to drink beer. I searched for a restaurant with a happy hour deal from the Skylark group, and found Yumian located a short walk from the station, so I decided to go there. I entered the restaurant a little after 2 pm. There were a few other customers already there. Upon entering, the staff recommended using alcohol for hand sanitization, which was a nice touch. The spacing between customers was sufficient, and of course, the employees were wearing masks. In these times, family restaurants may be the safest place to eat and drink. Recently, many Skylark group restaurants use tablets for ordering, but this restaurant still takes orders verbally. I started with a happy hour beer for 200 yen including tax (220 yen). The menu indicated that the beer was 380ml. It's smaller than a regular glass, but for 220 yen, it's a good deal. The foam makes it seem like it's not the full 380ml, but being able to drink for a price similar to a supermarket canned beer is great. I ordered some fried chicken and shumai as snacks. They were just average family restaurant quality. Not the best for a meal, but good enough for drinking. I always have a similar impression when using the happy hour deal at Skylark group restaurants, but I find it very convenient.

After having lunch at Hidakaya, on the way back, my companion suggested, "How about having shaved ice?" I realized that I hadn't had shaved ice yet this year. So, I agreed! We ordered the shaved ice with pure ice, topped with Uji matcha and red beans. Each of us got our own portion of shaved ice. The matcha and red beans were served separately, so we could customize our toppings to our liking. I often worry about not being able to finish a whole portion of shaved ice, but this time I managed to finish it all. I noticed while eating that milk and shiratama (white rice cakes) were available for an additional 100 yen. Enjoying the shaved ice with just matcha and red beans was quite satisfying as well. At Yumean, tea is provided for free as self-service, so make sure to have it ready. For shaved ice lovers, this might be considered unconventional, but whenever my mouth starts feeling too cold, I take a sip of tea. The red beans were not too sweet and had a light taste, and by adding matcha to the ice at the beginning and halfway through, I was able to enjoy the flavors until the end without them becoming too diluted. My head felt like it was boiling, so this shaved ice really brought me back to life! Thank you for the meal.

On a hot day off, I stayed at home during the day and went out in the evening to have dinner here. My partner enjoyed a combination of udon and soba in the mixed tempura set, while I had curry udon with a side of small rice. I wanted something to nibble on, so I ordered two appetizers from the 500 yen menu - 5 pieces of chicken karaage and oboro tofu. I also added a drink bar to both orders. These appetizer menu items are a great deal even if you're not drinking alcohol. We shared the karaage and oboro tofu between the two of us. I really liked the seasoning on the karaage from Yumean. The curry udon had a good amount of meat in it. The amount of onions was moderate, and the spiciness was more on the mild side than medium. After finishing the udon, I transferred the small rice from the tea bowl to the udon bowl. Mixing the rice into the curry udon broth made for a delicious finish. Curry is appetizing and gives you energy. It's great to have someone else cooking in the kitchen during the summer. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the restaurant for a slightly late weekday lunch. My companion ordered the easy lunch set with a large portion of fried chicken, adding an extra piece of fried chicken and extra rice. I chose the customizable lunch set with a small seafood bowl and cold udon noodles, both with the drink bar option. Yumian is popular among women and seniors in this area, so it can get crowded even on weekdays during lunchtime. Luckily, we arrived a bit late and were seated right away, which was a good decision. The fried food is always served hot and fresh, which is a plus. However, my companion felt that the flavor of the large fried chicken was lacking compared to the usual seasoned fried chicken. As for my lunch, the small seafood bowl was served with vinegared rice topped with tuna, sweet shrimp, squid, tuna sukiyaki, small dried sardines, salmon roe, and shredded egg. It was a perfect portion size alongside the cold udon noodles. The meal also came with freshly fried shrimp tempura, squid tempura, pumpkin tempura, and boiled spinach. I enjoyed it. The drink bar offered oolong tea, iced coffee, espresso, and I tried frozen orange juice for the first time, which was refreshing and sweet. On the way back, I took a leisurely walk, but I've only heard the cicadas chirping for about three days this year. It seems like there are only a few of them, and their chirping sounds lonely. I'm looking forward to the full-fledged summer season with their lively chirping. Thank you for the meal.

There is a restaurant affiliated with the Skylark group near the train tracks heading towards Nagayama from Tama Center. I recently discovered it while passing by. It didn't show up on my car navigation system, so it may still be new. However, when I arrived around 1:30 pm, there were only a few parking spots available. Inside the restaurant, it was almost full. I was surprised by the large number of people at another branch I visited before, but it seems that Yumean is quite popular. There are around 10 semi-private rooms with 4 or 6 seats, as well as many regular tables for customers to use based on their preferences. We quickly placed our orders. Yumean also serves lunch on Saturdays. Recently, they introduced a Saturday Lunch menu, separate from the weekday lunch menu. My family ordered the Selectable Yumean Lunch (999 yen + tax) and the Large Fried Chicken Lunch (699 yen + tax). The Selectable Yumean Lunch comes with a main dish, fried food, and side dishes. You can choose from a small seafood bowl or a small green onion and tuna bowl. For noodles, you can choose between one serving of hot udon or cold udon. The Large Fried Chicken Lunch includes rice, miso soup, and side dishes. You can get a free extra serving of rice, which is great. Our orders arrived on a tray in about 5 minutes. The taste was... as it is a lunch from the Skylark group, I didn't have high expectations, but the stylish atmosphere and presentation made it surprisingly delicious. Given the quality at this price, it's not something to overlook, even though it's a family restaurant. It's no wonder that Yumean is such a popular spot. I will continue to visit for their daily lunch specials and affordable lunches. Thank you for the meal.

It's a slightly late lunch revisit. My partner ordered the Lunch Special Tempura Soba with extra-large shrimp tempura, with the option for 3 servings. I opted for the Weekly Grilled Fish Lunch set, which includes a drink bar at a discounted price. The extra-large soba can be ordered with 2 to 4 servings for the same price of 999 yen. This week's grilled fish is silver salmon from Sanriku. You can choose between rice or udon, and the seasonal rice option is bamboo shoot rice, which is a nice little treat. While waiting for the food, I felt thirsty and ordered a cold drink. I got a glass of iced Cocoa Rich Cocoa and Oolong Tea. I noticed an elderly group at another table struggling to use the coffee machine, so I helped them adjust the nozzle to prevent milk from splattering. They were pouring frozen orange drinks into their glasses. When the food arrived, we dug in. The soba was refreshing and satisfying, with a good texture. The tempura included 2 shrimp tempura, squid, okra, and pumpkin, all served freshly fried. The side dish was white seasoned hijiki seaweed. The main dish of silver salmon was well-seasoned with salt and served with grated daikon radish. Soy sauce was not needed. The bamboo shoot rice was garnished with trefoil, adding a seasonal touch. For dessert, my partner had Hokkaido Rich Soft Serve, while I had Matcha Pudding Soft Serve. We both love the soft-serve ice cream at Yumean. The matcha pudding is made with Uji matcha and milk, with a subtle sweetness. It has a creamy texture similar to Bavarian cream, and it's served with black syrup on the side for you to adjust the sweetness to your liking. I used about 1/3 of the syrup. I enjoyed it with a cup of coffee, and that concluded our meal.

My partner had some errands that took longer than expected, so we ended up combining lunch and dinner. On our way back, we decided to have our meal here. The restaurant was almost full, but we were seated promptly, which was nice. This time, my partner ordered the Chicken Nanban set with Sakura Hime chicken from Miyazaki prefecture. It came with a small portion of clam udon, rice, and pickles. I ordered the Edo-style Fukagawa rice set, which came with clam soup, a side dish of bamboo shoots, wakame seaweed, tempura with shrimp, sandfish, and bracken fern, and a small salad with dried fish. My partner really enjoyed the Chicken Nanban, noting that the Sakura Hime chicken had a unique and delicious flavor. My Fukagawa rice was served in a steamed style, so I scooped it into a bowl to eat. It was like a seasoned clam rice dish, with a gentle flavor. The clam soup had 5 clams in it, and the tempura was served hot and crispy, which was great. I was a bit worried about the bitterness of the bracken fern, but it wasn't noticeable when I tried it. I came to this restaurant craving Japanese cuisine, and I'm glad they had special spring menu items that I wanted to try. Thank you for the delicious meal.

It's the last drinking and eating party of the year with my partner. The annual New Year's Eve program has already started, and it's getting more interesting around this time. We also recorded it at home, so it's okay (laughs). However, the restaurant was filled with families enjoying New Year's Eve soba and shabu-shabu. I was worried about the crowds and waiting, but we were able to be seated right away. My partner started with draft beer, while I had plum wine with soda. We ordered the bean curd salad with yuzu dressing, the classic fried chicken, and the rolled omelette, which were two choices for 540 yen. We also ordered the clam steamed in dashi broth, the cold steamed oysters in their shells, and the new menu item, cold steamed oysters with grated daikon and ponzu sauce. The oysters were in season, and it was a nice change from the usual fried dishes. We enjoyed the food while chatting and having a good time. My partner had a second drink, a matcha highball, which was quite strong. I was content with my plum wine soda. We decided to add the oyster miso hot pot and fried squid to our meal. The oyster miso hot pot was cooked on a portable stove at our table, and it was a generous portion with lots of vegetables. We shared it and found it just right for us. The hot pot contained five oysters, which were delicious at first but became too salty as it simmered, so it was best to eat them quickly. The fried squid was crispy and tasty, especially when squeezed with lemon. We decided to end our meal with some sweets. My partner had his favorite Hokkaido rich soft serve ice cream, while I tried the new menu item, pumpkin pudding soft serve. It was made with Hokkaido milk and pumpkin, and had a subtle sweetness. It came with black honey on the side, which added a nice touch of sweetness. It was a delicious way to end the meal. It's been a year of ups and downs in 2018. Let's make the new year a good one. Thank you for the meal.