fiveroyales
Around Okubo and Shin-Okubo, there are many dining options, but when it comes to finding a Japanese cuisine restaurant, the choices are quite limited. Today, I was in the mood for a set meal, so I decided to walk a bit further and visit a set meal restaurant located near Okubo Park, just behind Kabukicho. I headed towards Kabukicho as usual, crossing the intersection of Kitashinjuku Hyakunincho from Kotakibashi Street, then entering Shokuan Street and walking straight ahead. I passed under two JR overpasses and crossed the pedestrian crossing near Seibu Shinjuku Station. I confirmed Ikebukuro Street on the opposite side of Shokuan Street, entered a side street, and found Okubo Park right away. The park is known for hosting events like ramen festivals. In front of the park, I found the restaurant I was looking for today. It looked a bit worn from the outside, but inside, it was a typical restaurant, which was a bit different from what I had imagined. As soon as I entered, I was surprised to see quite a few customers inside. While there were still some available tables, the counter seats were quite full with solo diners. A middle-aged man was managing the hall by himself, serving, cleaning up, and handling payments. I sat near the entrance of the counter and quickly looked through the menu. I was in the mood for something fried, so I hesitated between the "Ham Cutlet Set Meal" and ultimately decided on the "Chicken Karaage with Tartar Sauce Set Meal". The food arrived in about 10 minutes on a tray. The tray included karaage with plenty of tartar sauce, miso soup, rice, string bean salad, pickled cucumbers, bite-sized fried tofu, cut oranges, and a drink of iced coffee. It was quite a luxurious set meal. The chicken karaage was served generously with sauce drizzled over it. The rice portion seemed small compared to the volume of karaage. Since rice refills were charged, I had to eat in a balanced way. With limited time, I started eating right away. The sauce on the chicken karaage was not too sweet, making it easy to eat. When combined with the tartar sauce, it was even more enjoyable. This dish could be called "Chicken Nanban". The rice went well with the flavor, but I tried to balance it out. After enjoying the miso soup, I continued eating the chicken karaage. The miso soup had fried tofu and seaweed, with a good balance of umami seasoning and miso. I took a break in between with the string bean salad, pickled cucumbers, and fried tofu. Finally, I reset with the cut oranges and iced coffee. The restaurant never reached full capacity, but customers were constantly coming and going. You could also enjoy drinking and dining by combining alcohol from the drink menu with individual dishes. It's a nice dining spot just outside Kabukicho.