北海道のふづき
"I'm heading to the restaurant 'Mai Futei'! It seems like they are still going strong, even though we have a cafe to go to for a closing drink (laughs). They are open from morning until 2 in the morning, so you can use it for lunch, day drinking, or even for a late-night meal! I ordered the 'Abura Soba (¥820)'. They also offer a spicy version with black sesame, but I wanted to try their signature dish. The Abura Soba is ready in about 10 minutes. One thing that stands out is the use of thin noodles, which you don't see in many other places. Along with the noodles, there are various toppings such as sliced chashu, menma, green onions, nori, and two quail eggs! Abura Soba is usually on the richer side, right? However, at Mai Futei, their Abura Soba has a soy sauce-based sauce that is light and not greasy at all, making it deliciously refreshing. It's on the salty side, so you might not even notice if it's too salty, but the fact that it can be eaten without feeling 'too heavy' or 'overwhelming' shows that they have really thought about it! The noodles from Nishiyama Seimen have a nice chewy texture, and they absorb the flavor of the soup well, making it tasty! The chashu has a tender texture and a subtle flavor, but it goes well with the original sauce mentioned earlier, so it all comes together nicely. The use of quail eggs as a topping is interesting too. I usually prefer seasoned eggs in Abura Soba, but the light seasoning of the dish might have been a deliberate choice to avoid the rich yolk interfering with the original flavor. The small and cute quail eggs also add a fun texture to the dish. Since the original toppings may not provide much variety in terms of flavor, the addition of chili oil and vinegar provided at the table allows customers to enjoy different flavors, showing that they are considerate of the customers' experience! While simplicity can sometimes be seen as monotonous, the ability to enjoy different flavors adds a positive aspect to the dining experience. The simple yet refreshing taste that I have never experienced before is truly impressive! The only thing that caught my attention was that the atmosphere in the restaurant was a bit dark, but since it's a bar, it might be intentional. Next time, I'll try the spicy version of the Abura Soba, or just have a beer! Thank you for the meal."

