After enjoying a relaxed atmosphere and some appetizers, we continued to stroll around Kawaramachi. Even as the sun set, it was still humid. For our third stop, we chose a restaurant affiliated with the grilled restaurant we had visited before. The interior was dimly lit, with only one group of customers - two young men - before they left, leaving us as the only patrons. We toasted with beer and highballs. We ordered salted cucumber and rolled omelette in broth. The cucumber was cut into large pieces with a strong flavor that went well with the beer. The rolled omelette arrived a bit later, and it was also quite substantial. It was moist and flavorful with a rich broth. Though we only tried these dishes, reviews mentioned that the overall menu was generous. This place might be good for settling in with a group of friends rather than hopping around. As we enjoyed our meal, the owner or manager, who seemed familiar, greeted us. It turned out we had met before, and he remembered us. We shared a drink and caught up. Just as another group of customers arrived, we decided to move on to explore more of Kawaramachi.

I did not investigate. Like my antenna called for it, I hit a conscientious izakaya lunch. Strictly speaking, I traced the one-coin lunch and aimed for it because it was in a known area. Unfortunately, it was an exclusion day, so I did not achieve the goal of the one-coin lunch, but even on a regular day, it's still a one-coin lunch (laughs). It was later revealed that it is part of a group of four establishments, including "Yakiya" which I used last week, "Basakura" right next to it, and another bar. The exterior looks a bit worn out, but the staff's business efforts are remarkable. The efficiency is evident when you sit at the counter. The appearance is moderate, but the freshly cooked delicious flavor and heat make the satisfaction level high. The rice was also delicious—I had seconds! It's unclear if chicken is their specialty, but ultimately, the fried chicken seems to be popular. After eating, I had some questions, chit-chat, and miscellaneous things. It seems like the kind of place that will continue to grow. When leaving the restaurant, I bumped into the landlady of "Yakiya" again, even though I only used it once. It's amazing how easy it is to recognize from this side, but it's surprisingly nice from the other side. If I come to Hirakata, I will definitely use it. When I went to see "Basakura" on the way back, it was also charming. I have to increase my work in Hirakata... I'm seriously considering it.

Visited around 12:40. The shop is located a bit further back. It is written as "Haouju" but pronounced as "Saboten" which means cactus. The shop has a snack-like atmosphere with dim lighting. There were 3 customers already there. A lovely pretty mama and a male master were managing the shop. There are two one-coin lunch options, today's choices were cold pork shabu-shabu and chicken teriyaki. I opted for the Saboten Plate priced at 750 yen. By the way, the Saboten Plate is discounted to 500 yen with the lunch passport. The plate included chicken karaage, fried tofu, rolled omelette, chicken teriyaki, pickled mustard greens, lettuce and watercress salad. It also came with white rice, miso soup, and iced coffee after the meal. The dishes were freshly prepared and had a homely deliciousness without any unnecessary frills. The chicken teriyaki with tartar sauce was a tasty highlight. I finished everything. The portion size was moderate for 750 yen, it would have been better with a bit more volume, but considering the variety of dishes and the iced coffee served after the meal, it seemed reasonable. Adding one more dish or increasing the portion size of one item would enhance the value. I added 0.5 points for effort, making the overall score 3.5 points.

A somewhat off-the-beaten-path izakaya in Kawahara Town. It is part of a series that includes <Yakiya> and <Maou>. The interior has a short bar counter and tables, with a large ceiling fan spinning above. There are also hanging curtains and a somewhat unclear decor. It seems like it may have been a snack bar in the past. I was happy to see that they serve my favorite beer, The Malt's. The appetizer was edamame, but unfortunately, it was not very tasty, likely not freshly boiled. I ordered some karaage, choosing 3 pieces. While waiting, I received a complimentary dish - diced potatoes and shrimp topped with plenty of Parmesan cheese. It was an interesting and tasty treat. The karaage that arrived later varied in size, with some as big as a baby's fist and others smaller. The cheap chicken used lacked flavor, but the cabbage and lettuce with tempura bits were enjoyable. However, I realized I had lost 5000 yen from my wallet, so I left the restaurant at that point.

We really appreciate your help during the pandemic. My family enjoyed the meal very much.

Using the 53rd lunch passport for Hirakata, Neyagawa, and Katsuragi Vol.3. This area is a historical town with Hirakata city government offices. Other places in this area include Yakitori Yama Kura and French Rib Goshu. The atmosphere inside is like a small snack bar, with a counter on the left side, tables on the right and back, and a logo t-shirt worn by the master and a lady who resembles Hiromi Mori. The special plate "Kyoku Haouju Plate" is usually 930 yen but discounted to 540 yen. It includes 3 dishes, salad, rice, miso soup, and coffee. The plate consists of rolled omelet, lettuce salad, fried chicken with tartar sauce, and fried tofu. The taste is average, nothing outstanding. After the meal, they serve ice coffee. They also have Akishika Junmai sake available, but I'll save that for next time.