みつ
Saturday 12:11, I entered Anekoji Street West from Karasuma Street and passed by Mr. Yuuko, heading to the Vietnamese restaurant Papaya Veil. The last time I came, they were inexplicably closed. I had thoroughly read reviews on Tabelog and Google, and had prior knowledge that the service was quite impressive, so I visited with high expectations. The restaurant opened at 12:00, with 3 groups of customers already seated, followed by another group after me. Most of the customers were women, with only one man dining alone. Despite expecting a more quiet atmosphere (I actually thought I would be the first one there), the restaurant was bustling. As I entered, no one greeted me right away, instead the male owner was cooking in the kitchen, glancing over at me from time to time. It seemed like he was running the place by himself. I took off my coat and sat at an empty table, waiting to place my order. I ordered the Plate Lunch for 1,100 yen, and the male owner silently took my order and walked away. It seemed like self-service for drinks, as there were juices available near the entrance. I could hear the sounds of chopping, frying, and cooking coming from the kitchen. While waiting, another solo female diner arrived, followed by a family of three. Despite the many negative reviews, the popularity of the restaurant was evident (probably due to the challenging service, but the food must be good). The interior of the restaurant had a unique foreign atmosphere with lanterns hanging, creating a nice ambiance. When I went to use the restroom, I noticed the bright green walls. The lights were shaped like lotus flowers, which I found interesting. It seemed like there was a strong attention to detail. At 12:32, my Plate Lunch arrived. It was served without a word, but I was prepared for that. The fresh scent of cilantro made me feel like I was in Vietnam. The rice was generously portioned, covered with a light curry, alongside fried spring rolls, egg and bitter gourd stir-fry, and a salad with cilantro. There was also some white vermicelli-like noodles. The plate had a chaotic yet harmonious feel, with each item tasting delicious and well-seasoned. As I was eating, a soup was served. The male owner served it to all tables at once before returning to the kitchen. The neighboring couple was enjoying the fried rice, and the man mentioned to his girlfriend how delicious it was. Clearly, they were regular customers. The aroma of the fried rice was enticing. I hadn't considered ordering it, but it looked tempting. Then, a small incident occurred. Another solo female diner arrived and took a seat. The group of three women at the neighboring table finished their meal and were preparing to leave. One of them went to the kitchen to pay, but the male owner ignored them. The situation became awkward, and eventually, the male owner attended to the new customer first. The three women were left waiting, confused. Another female customer, who seemed uncomfortable, offered to wait for her turn, but the male owner continued taking orders and then returned to the kitchen. Finally, he processed the payment for the waiting women, who left feeling disgruntled. It was a rare situation where customers felt uneasy due to the restaurant's pace, but the restaurant offers a unique experience with free drinks and authentic Vietnamese lunch options. The food was delicious, so I would recommend it to those who are not easily flustered. I look forward to returning and trying out more items on the lunch menu.