In March 2023, there is a cafe located along the Mizuyuji Street. Inside the cafe, there is a very cute Chihuahua. I was very happy because I also have a senior Chihuahua. This Chihuahua had heart surgery and is very energetic. My own dog also has a heart condition and is unable to go for walks now, as he is not of the age to undergo surgery. There are limited hospitals where heart surgery can be done. This Chihuahua is happy under the care of a wonderful owner. I ordered the buckwheat noodles, and pumpkin tempura was served as a complimentary dish. I recommend this cafe to dog lovers, it is a lovely place.

Recently, I visited "Minits Cafe" in Nishioka, Toyohira Ward, which I had been curious about due to its cost-effective menu. The cafe is located on the first floor of a yellow building facing the Mizuyuji Street. The opening hours are limited to Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00. Upon entering the cafe, I was greeted by a woman with a barking dog, which was slightly noisy but I was used to it due to having hunting dogs in my family. The interior of the cafe had a counter and a few table seats. The operation was run by two women, one elderly and the other younger, and I overheard that they were a mother and daughter duo with a grandmother in her 90s. The menu was simple with options like beef tendon curry for 650 yen, soba or udon noodles for 300 yen, and rice balls ranging from 200 to 380 yen. I ordered the salmon rice ball for 250 yen and soba noodles for 300 yen. The rice ball was larger than usual, filled with delicious grilled salmon and wrapped in seaweed. The soba noodles were cooked al dente and served with a light and low-salt broth. The meal was satisfying and reasonably priced. Overall, I had a pleasant dining experience and would consider getting takeout from here in the future.

On a certain weekday, I had lunch and had a bit more time, so I visited a café with a high-class atmosphere in Nishioka 4-jo, Toyohira-ku. There is a parking lot available in the building itself, but it seems that there are designated parking spaces, so please check on your first visit. The interior of the café is a cozy space with a counter and two tables, and this time, a dog welcomed me. By the way, this seems to be a smoking-friendly establishment. The background music playing was nostalgic Western music from our generation. From the menu that day, I chose onigiri & udon, curry, and side dishes available on the table. Although there didn't seem to be any desserts, I decided to order onigiri ("umeokaka" for 220 yen and "kurenai shake" for 250 yen) and a post-meal coffee (price not confirmed). The onigiri was quickly made and served. Taking a bite... The salmon was soft and flavorful, with a good balance of saltiness and the rice was firm and sticky with a perfect amount of seasoning. The salmon inside was not flaked but in chunks with just the right amount of saltiness. The "umeokaka" was also delicious, with the flavor of umeboshi and bonito adding to the enjoyment. It was served with a small side of cucumber pickles. The coffee I ordered after the meal was made using freshly ground beans, probably using a siphon, and had a classic coffee shop taste with a good balance of bitterness and richness. The onigiri was really tasty! I heard that the soba and other dishes with broth here are recommended as they make their own dashi. I asked about the parking spot, so I'll probably come back for the curry next time. Thank you for the meal.

I decided to investigate a cafe-like shop I found on my way back after a bakery I was heading to turned out to be temporarily closed. The shop was warm and cozy, with a small and homely atmosphere. Inside, there were elderly female regulars chatting with the female owner. It seemed to be a community-based cafe. I ordered a salted mackerel onigiri for 250 yen and an iced coffee for 520 yen since there was a customer ahead of me waiting for a takeout onigiri. The iced coffee was decent, like bottled coffee, nothing special. The onigiri was on the larger side, around 160g with a soft and homey rice texture, very traditional. The saltiness of the mackerel went well with the onigiri. This place seems to cater mainly to locals, offering simple and satisfying options like onigiri and soba for those with smaller appetites.

Visited twice. <First visit> Ordered the "chef's choice lunch" (1280 yen). The main dish was grilled kalbi, which had a perfect balance of sweetness and was delicious. The lunch came in a box resembling a New Year's osechi with various side dishes like rolled omelette, simmered pumpkin, miso-glazed eggplant, and simmered kelp. Everything was tasty. The salad and tomato were fresh. The miso soup was average. They even gave extra rice for free. They take pride in making everything from scratch, hence the limited availability of only 10 servings per day. The coffee served with the lunch was also delicious. <Second visit> Ordered carbonara (980 yen). The noodles were cooked perfectly. The flavor was just right, not too strong or too light, with black pepper as a nice touch. The saltiness of the ham (or bacon) complemented the dish well. It came with potato salad and coffee. However, the prices are a bit high, so I can't come here often. A friend ordered the Napolitan pasta, made with tomato sauce from scratch instead of store-bought ketchup. It looked delicious. The restaurant is run by the same owner as the nearby hobby shop (there is still a radio-controlled course on the second floor). I had always thought it was just a cafe, so I was surprised to find out they serve lunch. I didn't know they had such a spacious parking lot (the location is indicated in front of the store). The interior is stylish and clean, with siphon coffee makers adding to the ambiance. The familiar BGM of our generation, like Yuming and Tatsuro Yamashita, helps create a calming atmosphere. On my next visit, I want to try the beef tendon curry (680 yen). On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they have a pasta day where you can choose from two different pasta dishes (800 yen).