テルスター
At the famous tonkatsu restaurant "Aoki" in Kamata, we indulged in a delicious meal and broke our record due to the abnormal lingering heat of the season. Despite the scorching weather, instead of heading straight home, we had some personal shopping to do, so my girlfriend accompanied me to Ueno Station. We ended up at our favorite spot under the guardrails! Oh, what a surprise! The always packed and impossible to get into "Yakitori Bunraku" was empty! It was just about to open as they had finished preparing for the 2:00 pm opening. When we checked the time, it was 1:55 pm. What luck! We were planning to have a casual drink somewhere around here, and our wish came true! We sat at the outdoor table facing each other and ordered draft lemon highball, draft beer, hatsumoto, and beef tripe stew. As usual, my girlfriend ordered the beer. The server understood our order perfectly, placing the beer in front of my girlfriend and the lemon highball in front of me. Cheers! "Thank you for accompanying me on my shopping trip!" "No, thank you for accompanying me on my errand!" We always have a good time together. The refreshing drinks were a relief in the extreme heat. However, this area is known for its drinking establishments, and the well-established Bunraku was exceptional. The lemon highball was intense! The hatsumoto was tender and juicy, and the beef tripe stew was flavorful with just the right amount of saltiness. The food was excellent, a testament to the restaurant's skill! We planned to order about four types of skewers when we arrived, but as we waited, our appetites began to wane. My girlfriend even said she was full. Oh boy... We ordered additional items: seared liver, chicken neck, and beef tripe. A regular-looking gentleman at the neighboring table arrived and politely apologized for the irregularity. He began smoking but made sure the smoke didn't bother anyone. I used to do the same thing when I smoked. After a while, he took out a portable speaker and asked if we minded him playing music to enhance the atmosphere. The ladies at the nearby table were surprised, but in a bar like this, it was acceptable! My talkative girlfriend engaged him in conversation at the right moments with a smile. It was a relief! He played BEGIN's "Koishikute," a nostalgic song from my high school days. The beef tripe was closer to the white part and had a good chewy texture. The seared liver was slightly overcooked at first bite, but it improved with subsequent bites. The sesame oil and salt sauce were exquisite. The chicken neck was as expected, with a perfect balance of saltiness that complemented the alcohol well. My girlfriend had two beers and a lemon highball, while I had two draft lemon highballs and a yuzu sour. We had three drinks each and spent 4630 yen in total, a very reasonable price. Behind us was the famous "Daitoryo" and the giant dumplings of "Shoryu" were nearby but closed that day. "Chin Chin Ken" next door was also closed. A little further down was "Niku no Ooyama." Across the street was "Tachinomi Kadokura" and "Tachinomi Tahe" was also nearby.