"My wife said, 'I want to eat Gapao Rice.' What? Gapao Rice is not available year-round so we first checked the menu on the website and found that it was being offered. We then called to order regular and large servings of rice. The food was ready within 5 to 10 minutes, so we arrived at the store earlier than the specified pick-up time. They now accept various cashless payments, including au Pay. Back at home, we sprinkled fish sauce and lemon, mixing it well. Japanese people tend to eat food as it is served, but for foreign cuisine, some adjustments are needed to fully enjoy the dish. As I took a bite of the Gapao Rice, I exclaimed, 'Wow, it's delicious!' The fish sauce added a unique flavor that complemented the dish. When I first tried it four years ago, it didn't come with fish sauce, but now it really enhances the taste. 'I want some cilantro,' my wife said as she happily enjoyed her meal. I opted for the large serving of rice, which turned out to be the right choice (laughs)."

I found out about a new dish called Gapao Rice from a TV commercial, and I really liked it. However, it's not a permanent menu item, so I decided to order it online. When I was about to order, I saw another menu item called Lu Rou Fan, which is a popular Taiwanese dish. It consists of pork cooked with a special sauce, pickled mustard greens, and a fried egg. Intrigued by the description, I decided to order Lu Rou Fan instead. When I received the food and opened the container, it looked delicious. The pork was flavorful with a sweet and savory sauce, and the pickled mustard greens added a nice touch. As a Fukuoka native, I have always loved pickled mustard greens, and mixing it with the pork made it even more delicious. My wife, who wasn't a fan of pickled mustard greens before, also enjoyed the dish.

In July 2020, I revisited the "Hotto Motto Chitose Takadai" store that I had previously introduced. Originally, it was a bento shop that opened at 8:00 am and could be used for breakfast, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the opening time changed to 10:00 am, and starting from July, it shifted back a bit to 9:00 am. To be honest, I don't really understand the effect of shortening the operating hours of this restaurant, except for the scene of night drinking. In the case of this store, if you change the opening time from 8:00 am to 10:00 am, customers who used to visit between 8:00 and 10:00 am will either go to another store or visit after 10:00 am, ultimately leading to some place becoming more crowded. Even if drinking parties are refrained from, food still needs to be obtained in some way, so it doesn't seem very effective, but I wonder how it is. On a side note, this time I tried the new menu item at "Hotto Motto," the "New BIG Nori Bento." Originally, I planned to have something else, but unfortunately it was out of stock, so I had to change my order. The "New BIG Nori Bento" is a combination of a typical nori bento with yakisoba, topped with a fried egg and sausage on the yakisoba portion. Checking the official website data, it exceeds 1100 calories, a heavyweight indeed, and honestly, it may not be suitable for those with metabolic syndrome. The yakisoba is a bit on the savory side and can serve as a main dish with rice, but it also includes the staple side dishes of white fish fry and chikuwa tempura, so the satisfaction level is sufficient. It's definitely filling, but be cautious of the calorie overload, and it would be nice if there was a "yakisoba bento" without rice.

I visited a popular bento (boxed lunch) chain for the first time in December 2018. This chain, known for its "hot hot bentos," was a favorite among salarymen when I first started working over thirty years ago. While the advantage of these bentos has somewhat decreased with the availability of low-priced options at convenience stores and supermarkets, it is still convenient to be able to buy a freshly made bento on the go. One of the most dominant chains in this industry is "Hotto Motto," which emerged victorious in a split from the former "Hokkahoka Tei" about ten years ago. Other chains like "Hokkahokka Taisho Tei" and "Hinomaru Tei" have dissolved their franchise operations and are now individually owned. "Hotto Motto" has expanded its reach nationwide and even internationally, with over 2500 stores, making it the top player in the industry. It had been a long time since I last used a bento shop like this, probably close to ten years. This time, I tried the "Special Nori Taru Bento," an upgraded version of the classic nori bento. It featured a fried white fish fillet in the center, along with minced cutlet and fried chicken, replacing the usual chikuwa. The staple kinpira gobou was also included. The bento came with tartar sauce, and despite the 90 yen increase from the regular nori bento, priced at 390 yen, it felt like a great deal. The fact that the original nori bento was priced at 300 yen was already surprising, as I remember it being around 280 yen or so in the past. The relatively stable pricing over the past quarter-century is quite remarkable. With convenience stores offering a wide range of bento options, especially with the popular "Seicomart" chain in Hokkaido having a hot chef section for freshly made bentos, there might be some competition for these bento shops. It would be interesting to compare and contrast these options if given the chance.

I love chicken, so I sometimes buy a chicken basket as a snack for my evening drink. One day, I discovered Gapao Rice on the menu. I thought it wouldn't be anything special since it's a Thai dish offered by a takeout bento shop. However, I was surprised to find out on the website that it is a limited quantity menu item, and they may not be able to offer it on days when they can't get fresh coriander. Intrigued by the use of coriander, I decided to order it over the phone. When I opened the bento, it didn't look as appetizing as a plated dish, but the aroma was promising. I was confident it would be delicious just by smelling it. These types of dishes are best when mixed, so I didn't hesitate to do so. My wife even went as far as to mix in the runny yolk from the fried egg. With the first bite, I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected deliciousness. Before I knew it, I had finished the whole thing (laughs). At 630 yen, it may seem pricey compared to other bento options, but I believe it's worth trying. Thank you for the meal.

2016/08 Weekday dinner purchase revisit: I decided on the Imabari-style pork and egg rice for 500 yen after looking at the menu on their website. I wasn't very familiar with B-class gourmet, but it seems that pork and egg rice falls into that category. I heard about B-class gourmet before, but I didn't know much about it. By the way, I really like Barii (after Funassyi). It was hot that day, so I wanted to eat somen, but they didn't have it. According to their website, the pork and egg rice is described as "rice topped with plenty of pork, a half-cooked fried egg, and a rich special sauce with ginger and garlic for a simple yet addictive taste." The pork in the picture looked thicker, but in reality, it was thin and small. I ate it while taking breaks with the fried egg because the sauce was quite strong. The menu seemed to have changed since my last visit. There used to be several types of hamburg, but now there's only one, and the classic items have decreased. There used to be a series of combination dishes with two side dishes that I liked, but they are no longer available (except for the eel and grilled meat combo). It seems like the Noriben series has expanded, probably because it's popular. Thank you for the meal. 2013/03: I used to visit this restaurant frequently when I lived in Chitose, but it had been a while since my last visit. The entrance has double automatic doors, making it difficult for bugs to enter during the summer and maintaining hygiene. There are high chairs available, giving a more upscale feel compared to other Hotto Motto locations. It's a popular place, as I noticed people receiving phone calls and making reservations for multiple orders. The curry ranges from mild to medium spiciness, suitable even for children. As someone who doesn't like spicy food, I found it slightly spicy. For those who enjoy spiciness, there are small packets of spices included. The portions are generous, with plenty of curry sauce covering the rice in a mountain-like fashion. There are plenty of ingredients in the curry as well. You can also purchase just the curry sauce, and the container allows you to separate the curry from the main dish. Next time, I'll try the pork cutlet curry. Thank you for the meal!

《March 2022 Revisit》On a certain day in early March, with a feeling that the "prevention measures against the spread" that had been issued until the 6th of the month were likely to be extended, it was one of the days with late hours once or twice a month. I finish work after 8:00 PM, so I usually have dinner outside before heading home. However, due to the prevention measures, most stores close at around 8-9 PM, leaving very limited options. Ideally, I would leave my car at home and go out to the town to drink and have a meal at an izakaya, but... So, I decided to buy a bento and went to "Hotto Motto" to try their new menu, the Kung Pao Chicken bento, which I had been curious about for a while. It's great that they are open until 10 PM even during the pandemic. I naturally ordered the "Meat-Loaded Kung Pao Chicken Bento". When I brought it home, as the name suggests, it had plenty of meat. Personally, I prefer more vegetables, but when it comes to takeout bento, meat dishes such as tonkatsu, fried chicken, and yakiniku are more common, with vegetables mainly served as side dishes like salads. Some places offer vegetable stir-fry bentos, but overall, it tends to be meat-focused, with fried foods like white fish fry or croquettes. In that sense, Kung Pao Chicken with stir-fried cabbage and bell peppers is a rare find. It would be appreciated if they could also offer menu options with more visible vegetables, as mentioned earlier. ============================== ◇ Meat-Loaded Kung Pao Chicken Bento 560 yen ------------------------------ ◆ Food/Taste 4.0 / Service 3.0 / Atmosphere 3.0 / Value for Money 3.5

I love chicken, and my favorite dish is fried chicken. There are two restaurants in Chitose City that serve Nagoya-style fried chicken, but I find their seasoning too strong for my liking. While it's delicious as a meal with rice, it's too intense as a snack with alcohol. However, there is a place where the fried chicken is not as overpowering as the other two restaurants, so I buy it about twice a month on my way home from work. Tonight, when I looked at the website to place an online order, I saw that they had a new menu item called "Salt Chanpon." I was intrigued, so I decided to try it for lunch. I couldn't tell the size from the menu photo, so I estimated it to be about the size of udon or ramen served at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. Since there was no option for extra noodles, I ordered three servings to share. I placed the order over the phone, and my wife picked it up. The soup was securely packed in individual bags, which impressed me as it can be tricky to take out soup. I was also surprised by the quality of the takeout containers, with sturdy construction and a well-fitting lid secured with a rubber band. When I opened the lid, I was amazed by the unexpected amount of noodles, which were thicker than ramen noodles and more like the noodles used in Chanpon dishes. The taste was unexpectedly delicious, with a well-balanced saltiness in the soup that reminded me of the long-closed Nagasaki Chanpon restaurant, Unzen. Adding yuzu pepper provided a nice spicy kick. The noodles were cooked just right, and I found them to be authentic Chanpon noodles. Although one serving was satisfying, I ended up eating one and a half servings and felt full. However, as with all noodle dishes, it's best to eat them right away as they can get soggy over time. I was pleasantly surprised by the experience!