The other day, while walking on Waseda Street, I stopped by a supermarket called "Mitoku" out of nostalgia and bought Sunpoo's "Ide Chanpon". Normally, I would ignore large cup noodles, especially those with fried noodles, as they often disappoint. However, when it comes to local brands, I tend to give them a chance. I have had "Ide Chanpon" before when I was in Nagoya. Despite my low expectations for this large cup noodle from a local manufacturer, it wasn't bad at all. Maybe Chanpon itself is just a delicious dish.

From Nishi-Waseda Station, head towards Waseda Station along Waseda Street. This supermarket is located past Waseda Bakery, which I visited last time. It is a regular supermarket where you can shop normally at reasonable prices. The private brand products are incredibly cheap! It was hot outside, so I stopped by to buy a bottle of barley tea for just 51 yen including tax. The store is a bit narrow and crowded with many products, but it has a fun atmosphere with international snacks available. There were many local customers.

★Petit croissant, 3 pieces for 130 yen (excluding tax): Not as crispy as expected since it's not freshly baked. You can reheat it at home. It has a buttery taste and a sweetness that can be used for a meal. ★Butter roll, 3 pieces for 96 yen (excluding tax): A satisfying size with a gentle sweetness that is perfect for a meal. It has a lot of buttery flavor, and though not freshly baked, it can be delicious when reheated. They also have a variety of Japanese sweets available. The dorayaki for 143 yen has a luxurious feel and is quite filling. The rice flour castella for 369 yen comes in 5 slices. The small Sanjaku yokan for 477 yen is great for gifts. Remember that there is a cost for the bag, so consider putting effort into wrapping it nicely. Thank you for the meal~

"Chinese-style Menchi Katsu"

This is a supermarket with its headquarters in Shinjuku Ward. Although I rarely go to this store along Waseda Street, let's go there occasionally. Near the exit, there is a corner for bento boxes and deli items, which is well stocked. There is also a selection of Japanese and Western sweets and bread from the brand "Chef World," making it fun to choose. I bought various items, but I will only review the ones from the Chef World brand. ● 5-Grain Roll (198 yen + tax) There are four rolls in the bag. The bread dough contains five grains (soybeans, barley, sesame seeds, brown rice, quinoa), providing a enjoyable texture. However, there are not many other distinctive features. ● Mugwort Rice Cake with Red Bean Paste (2 pieces for 138 yen + tax) There are two small mugwort rice cakes in the pack. The rice cake is small and soft with a pleasant mugwort scent. Inside, there is a slightly sweet red bean paste, making it quite delicious. These two are from the Chef World brand, while the following item is produced by "Ousama Seika" and recommended by Santoku. ● Large Persimmon Tempura Salad (298 yen + tax for 205g) These deep-fried rice crackers are quite tasty. They are slightly salty, but addictive and make you crave beer. Although similar snacks can be found anywhere, I have a new appreciation for Santoku's snacks. I now want to try others as well.

On this occasion, the supermarket we visited for research is the "Mittoku Nishi Waseda Store" in Shinjuku Ward. It is located about 850m from Waseda Station, along Waseda Street, and is open until 1am. Mittoku focuses on bread and sweets, with various original products available. The original products are sold under the name "Chef World" and include bread, Western-style sweets, and Japanese sweets. The pack of 8 mitarashi mochi costs 172 yen, the traditional croquette costs 58 yen, and the fried sardine costs 200 yen. The mitarashi mochi pack contains 8 pieces with a total weight of 302g. The mitarashi mochi is not technically mochi, but dumplings made from katakuriko starch, coated in a sweet and savory soy sauce glaze. The dumplings are very soft, lacking in chewiness, but the flavor of the soy sauce glaze is quite good. The glaze is not overly sweet, and the soy sauce flavor is not overpowering, resulting in a balanced taste. The dumplings, including the glaze, offer a decent portion for the price. Rating: ★★★ (more like 3.2) The traditional croquette is larger than average, weighing 109g, with a standard appearance and a taste of potatoes and minced meat. Rating: ★★★ The fried sardine is the same size as a standard mackerel fry, weighing 56g per pack of three, making it a good value at 66 yen per piece. The fried sardine has a noticeable fishy smell but is still enjoyable to eat. Rating: ★★★ Mittoku's Japanese sweets are well-made for their price, with decent flavors. The fried foods are of good quality for their low prices and do not leave you feeling heavy. I would like to try other Japanese-style desserts from Mittoku if given the chance. It seems that the Gil aliens have not invaded Mittoku.

A supermarket with its headquarters in Shinjuku, Tokyo. In addition to Shinjuku, they also have stores in Bunkyo Ward, Itabashi Ward, Machida City, and Chiba City, with a total of 27 stores as of 2010. The store is located along Waseda Street, but it is inconvenient as there is no parking lot or even a bicycle parking area. The store layout is designed as a one-way flow, with deli, bread, and Japanese sweets located towards the back. I purchased their original "Kawagoe Sweet Potato Red Bean Black Rice Daifuku" on sale for 115 yen + tax. The mochi-like texture of the freshly pounded rice is flavorful and you can tell it's made from glutinous rice. It is filled with mashed sweet potato, which adds a gentle sweetness. It's surprisingly well-made for a supermarket sweet. I also bought the "Domestic Mugwort Salted Bean Paste Bun."