あさんて
Even though it’s still July, summer is really showing its intensity. I wanted to have lunch, but walking around the streets felt a bit dangerous, so I decided to visit this place close to the station. It’s a new restaurant that just opened in March 2024, and I had recently discovered it while browsing on Tabelog. I was pleasantly surprised to find a nice Japanese lunch spot in such a convenient location!
When I entered the restaurant, I noticed the nearly private dining atmosphere, and I was shown to a small room at the back. Although it’s a new place, the ambiance felt calm and serene. Looking through the lunch menu, I found several options:
- Six-Kinds Small Dish Set: 1,500 yen
- Fried Young Chicken Set: 1,100 yen
- Chicken Nanban Set: 1,200 yen
- Braised Pork Belly Set: 1,300 yen
- Grilled Fish Head Set: 1,300 yen
- Salt-Grilled Atka Mackerel Set: 1,300 yen
- Fried Oysters Set: 1,300 yen
- Seafood Yukhoe Bowl: 1,400 yen
- Boiled Shirasu Rice Bowl: 1,400 yen
- Yamagata Pork Shabu-Shabu Set: 1,500 yen
While the prices aren't the cheapest, they seem to be average for current dining. I chose the Chicken Nanban Set for 1,200 yen. The cold water served was lemon-flavored, which was quite refreshing, and the cut glass gave a slightly upscale feel.
It took a bit longer than expected for the meal to arrive, probably over 15 minutes. However, they generously offered a complimentary drink for the wait, and I happily chose iced coffee.
When the set finally arrived, it included the main dish, rice, miso soup, and pickled bitter melon. I first enjoyed the miso soup and plain white rice. The soup had a hearty mix of vegetables, which was nice. The pickled bitter melon also worked well with the summer vibe.
The Chicken Nanban was softer than I expected. While I thought it complemented the sauce well, personally, I prefer a bit more texture. It might be prepared differently than the fried young chicken, which could explain the softness. The tartar sauce, though sufficient, could have been a bit more generous. After all, the joy of Chicken Nanban is piling on that sauce!
Nonetheless, I enjoyed every bite and finished my meal completely. The portion size was more than enough. I ended with the complimentary iced coffee, which was quite refreshing. It was a lunch that helped me tackle the hot summer! Thank you for the meal!