TINTIN@呑んだ暮れ
This is the first lunch of 2023. On New Year's Day, since we didn't have any guests scheduled, my wife and I went to "Rinku Premium Outlets" in Izumisano, Osaka. Many people visit on New Year's Day aiming for "lucky bags," but we weren't interested in that, so we focused on browsing through the brand stores and achieved satisfactory results in the morning. We decided to have lunch early and prepare for the second round of shopping.
We headed to the food court "Rinku Dining" that opened a few years ago. The food court is located in the Seaside area of Rinku Premium Outlets in the southern part of Osaka Prefecture, Izumisano. The new area in the Seaside area was expanded in celebration of the 20th anniversary and opened in August 2020. It offers a view of Osaka Bay and Kansai Airport, along with a grassy square and glamping facilities.
The lineup at the food court "Rinku Dining" includes:
- Grilled sandwich specialty store "POTAMELT"
- Original Osaka Sanuki udon "Kamatake Udon"
- Popular hot stone bibimbap restaurant "Broil"
- Authentic Hakata tonkotsu ramen from Ippudo Ramen Express
- Creative dashi rice bowl specialty store "Komeraku Ochazuke to Irodori Karaage"
- American Chinese restaurant from California "PANDA EXPRESS"
PANDA EXPRESS is a chain of American Chinese (American-style Chinese cuisine) restaurants founded by Chinese-American founders in 1973. They started the "PANDA EXPRESS" brand in 1983 to enter the fast-food industry. They currently have over 2,200 stores worldwide and are one of the top food chains in the US.
The ordering process at PANDA EXPRESS involves choosing a size (bowl, plate, big plate), selecting a base menu (fried rice, chow mein, brown rice, white rice, mixed vegetables, half & half), choosing a main dish (various chicken, pork, tofu, beef options), and optionally ordering side dishes and drinks.
I recommend the half & half base menu, which includes fried rice and chow mein. It's simple and easy to order, and the staff guides you through the process as you move along the counter. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere with a view of Osaka Bay and the airport was fantastic.