美味しい思い出の記録
On a holiday lunchtime, I visited "Mamefu Katohonten" located about a 5-minute walk from Nishitetsu Hirao Station. It is a long-established tofu shop that has been operating since 1921 (Taisho 10), and they offer set meals, which had piqued my interest for a while. The first floor of the shop is a retail space where they sell tofu, side dishes, and bento boxes. When I asked the staff if they serve lunch on the second floor, they cheerfully replied, "Yes, we do! Please go up the stairs over there." I climbed the slightly steep stairs to the second floor. The eat-in space on the second floor has a warm atmosphere with wooden accents. The counter seats are arranged along the walls in a circle. There is a manga shelf in the back. There were mostly solo diners, and time seemed to flow leisurely.
The menu includes a basic set meal with miso soup, rice, and side dishes, where you can add additional side dishes of your choice. In addition to tofu-based side dishes like tofu hamburg steak, okara, and thick fried tofu, they also offer a wide variety of hearty options such as tonkatsu, chicken nanban, and bacon and eggs. Since I wasn't very hungry, I opted for the Mamefu set meal for 550 yen. They mentioned that the daily side dishes are a surprise, which was exciting! While hydrating with self-service water, I eagerly awaited the arrival of my meal. It arrived in less than 10 minutes.
The meal consisted of:
- Miso soup: A light and creamy tofu-based soup with daikon, carrots, green onions, and burdock. The tofu was smooth and melted in the mouth.
- Rice: Softly cooked rice, which may be a hit or miss for some.
- Daily side dishes: Okara, komatsuna spinach, and yuba. The okara had a strong tofu flavor, the komatsuna spinach was crunchy and refreshing, and the yuba was creamy. The yuba paired well with yuzu pepper.
Overall, it was a great value meal for 550 yen. The meal was gentle yet satisfying, suitable for those seeking a light meal or those with a hearty appetite. I was reminded of the deliciousness of tofu once again. Thank you for the meal.