河井継之助
Harajuku. It's been about 20 years since I last visited, I think. If it weren't for starting using Tabelog, I probably wouldn't have visited again. While waiting at a pedestrian crossing, I saw a sign pointing towards a narrow street. I followed the instructions and entered the narrow street. Oh, I remember there was a Johnny's shop around here, right? Yes, there it is, why do I remember that... I thought as I walked past it completely (*゚ー゚)>テヘヘッ It's just before the Johnny's shop, I found the easel. I went down the stairs and arrived at the restaurant at 13:10. I knew it would be crowded...definitely Kawai, the oldest one (^_^;) I was seated at a counter seat near the entrance, as it was less crowded, and I agreed to the waitress mentioning that it might take some time due to the crowd and started looking at the menu. There are various options. From the classic Keema Omurice to Beef Stew Omurice, Avocado Omurice, and Omurice in the style of TKG. I was undecided... I'll go with the Omurice with bacon and spinach cream sauce (980+tax) that has a photo on the menu (`・ω・´) You can choose between "rolled" or "fluffy" style, and I chose "rolled". I looked around the restaurant, which had a white-based interior and wasn't very spacious, with a capacity of around 20 people. There were tables in the back that could seat 5-6 people, a few table seats in front of them, and a counter with about 5-6 seats facing the kitchen on the left. The place was almost full of customers, including girls working nearby, high school and college students, and couples on dates. It was a completely unfamiliar situation, but I was confident as I had chosen a seat at the edge and had a lot of experience in such situations. Eventually, the place was full. I tried to avoid the crowds by visiting on a weekday before Golden Week, but it seems to be quite popular ( ̄ー ̄)ニヤリ It was completed in 22 minutes. I was prepared for the wait as I had heard it might take some time. It's nice when they inform you in advance. It's tough to wait without any explanation, so I think it's a good service. The egg had the restaurant's name and character logo stamped on it...heheヽ(´▽`)/ That's why I chose the rolled style (´・Д・) Well then. The cream sauce had bacon and spinach in it. The sauce had a rich flavor with the saltiness and umami of bacon, and the coarse ground black pepper sprinkled on top added a nice kick. The rice was slightly fluffy, with a mild taste that was not too acidic for ketchup rice, and had a buttery richness. A common feature of restaurants that serve a variety of omurice dishes is the combination of lightly seasoned rice and a rich sauce, and this place seemed to follow that pattern as well. The filling was thinly sliced chicken, but it didn't leave much of an impression. The egg was rolled all the way to the bottom, with a slightly firm texture and a decent thickness, with a pleasant elasticity. It had a subtle flavor as well. I enjoyed it while unconsciously seasoning it with the black pepper in my mouth. The soup was a hot consomme that I had in between bites, and I finished it in no time. The portion was average. The slightly larger pieces of bacon added a nice touch to the dish. It cost over 1000 yen including tax, so it didn't feel cheap, but there are omurice dishes available for around 900 yen, and considering the location in front of Harajuku Station, it might be inevitable. The service was friendly and efficient, with a lovely smile. No issues there. By the time Kawai finished eating, the place had cleared out, so it might not be crowded after the peak hours. Well, to be continued.