winter556
I visited "Kinryu Shokudo." This restaurant is located along a narrow road, which is the old Karatsu Kaido. It is a historic road with various stories. For example, just a few steps away from this restaurant, there is a stone monument called "Seigo Nanshuo Oin Inka no Ato." It is a modest monument that could easily be overlooked. It marks the spot where the owner of Fukuman Soy Sauce, Shiraki Taishichi, protected Sonno Joi supporters from Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple, Tsukisho, and Saigo Takamori during the Ansei Purge by the Shogunate. Shiraki Taishichi, a merchant, risked his life to protect them, showing loyalty to the imperial cause. Later, he was assassinated by pro-shogunate forces for sheltering them. A friend from Kagoshima once passed by this place with me and when I told him about the historical significance, he immediately bowed deeply towards the monument. The restaurant "Kinryu Shokudo" stands on this lane with such a historical background, yet it exudes a casual, unpretentious Showa retro atmosphere. It is intriguing in its own way. Despite being somewhat inconsistent, it is a charming place with a mix of various attractions scattered along the alley. The details of the restaurant's interior and exterior, ambiance, have been thoroughly described in many excellent reviews, so I will omit them. If I were to mention just one or two things, it would be that the vintage motorcycle with a delivery box parked in front of the restaurant looks oddly fitting, and the counter table seats' wooden frames are somewhat shaky due to aging. These seats are so fragile that leaning on them at an angle might cause them to fall apart, so be careful when sitting down (laughs). I ordered the "Chuka Don." The regular price is 620 yen. On the day of my visit, the "Chuka Don" was designated as the "Today's Special Menu," priced at 580 yen. It comes with a bright red Fukujin pickled radish. Is it common to serve this with a Chuka Don? The dish consists of stir-fried vegetables, pork, bamboo shoots, and a thick Chinese-style sauce over rice. It seems to be rich in pork bone broth. Perhaps they mixed ramen soup into it. This is its main feature. The sauce is somewhat cloudy, with a strong umami flavor and a distinctive aroma. While there are various types of Chuka Don in Japan, this one falls into the category of unique flavors. It may be irresistible to some and unbelievable to others, causing differing opinions. I noticed that the restaurant is now becoming a gathering place for smokers. Despite the turnover of customers, the place remained filled with smoke throughout. If someone who dislikes smoking accidentally enters, they may not return. It seems like a natural selection process is taking place over time. The restaurant's "Sara Udon" is similar to what is commonly known as "Sauce Yakisoba" nationwide. And the restaurant's "Yakisoba" is similar to Nagasaki's "Sara Udon" (thin noodles) - thin Chinese-style fried noodles topped with sauce. This made me curious about what the restaurant's "Yaki Sara Udon" menu item might be like.

