ぐうぐうくま
Located off Tanuki Koji Street, this famous restaurant is tucked away in a building surrounded by a clutter of shops. The interior is chaotic, like a toy box, and small in size. Due to its deep atmosphere, there are few foreigners or tourists. However, when there is a line, people will line up. Last week, despite it being a regular business day, the shutters were closed for a few days, which made me curious. Today, the restaurant was open, so I was drawn in. Around 2:30 pm, there were two customers ahead of me. The chicken was sold out, so I went for the hamburger and vegetables for 1000 yen. Rice with a free large serving. Free adjustment of spiciness up to level 1, but the original spiciness was enough, so level 1 was sufficient. The unique feature here is that yellow rice with beans is served, topped with a half-cooked egg. The soup contains Thai-style flat noodles, and the abundance of fresh vegetables is impressive. Particularly, the sweetness and flavor-packed tenderness of the carrots stood out, along with the slight bitterness and sweetness of the bell peppers. Other vegetables included paprika, baby corn, wood ear mushrooms, and cabbage. The rich and tasty soup has a sharp spiciness, causing sweat to pour from the forehead and neck. The texture of the hamburger is also good, although I personally prefer the tender chicken. However, for a bowl filled with such effort and personality, 1000 yen is a reasonable price. Nowadays, the price of soup curry has been increasing significantly, making it hesitant to have it for a weekday lunch. But I feel grateful for the effort put into this dish and feel the need to support it more by becoming a regular customer. It's a bowl that revitalizes both the body and mind, encouraging you to keep working hard in the afternoon. It also makes you want to have a drink. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it.