サカキシンイチロウ
And one more place. We come to a tofu restaurant. As the name suggests, it's a place that offers delicious tofu dishes, with a counter selling tofu products next to the entrance. They have tofu itself, tofu bread, and various tofu-based side dishes on display. Inside the restaurant, there is a large tofu workshop where about four people are diligently making tofu... quite serious. It's exciting. In the middle of the restaurant, there is a counter in the shape of a "C". The kitchen is at the back. Tables surround the counter, creating a simple and cozy space that is quite inviting. You can feel the anticipation of something delicious in the air. The lunch menu is limited to four options. I order the Tofu Set Meal. We arrived just before the last order, and even then, the place was almost full when we entered. It seems to be a popular spot. The dishes are prepared quickly, and in about 5 minutes, they say, "Thank you for waiting." A large bowl of tofu soup with tofu chunks at the center, tofu dumplings, tofu kasuzuke, simmered beans, and the main dish, tofu rice, are served. The tofu rice, which has a more prominent presence than the soup, is topped with tofu simmered in a sweet and savory sauce. The tofu is placed on top of the rice, reminiscent of the famous "mame gohan" (bean rice) at a Tokyo oden restaurant, with tenkasu sprinkled on top. A stainless ladle is provided, and scooping it up, you can see that the flavor has penetrated deep into the tofu, slightly changing its color. Unlike the oden tofu on the tofu rice, the tofu here is closer to sukiyaki flavor, quite sweet and savory. The moisture is just right, with a chewy texture, and the crispy tenkasu complements the chewiness. Sichuan pepper is sprinkled on top, adding a slight numbing sensation to enhance the sweet and savory taste. The lineup of tofu dishes is well-balanced in flavor. Even the tofu dumplings have Sichuan pepper, adding a gentle touch of spiciness. The soup also has a robust flavor. It's like a chunky vegetable soup with sesame oil aroma. The tofu soup includes daikon radish, konjac, burdock, carrots, and aburaage. The aburaage is delicious, and all the ingredients like tofu kasuzuke, tofu dumplings, and tofu chunks in the soup can be purchased at the shop. It's quite clever. My friend ordered the chicken karaage, which has a coating made of tofu. The chicken is made with lean breast meat, and the aroma of Chinese five-spice powder is subtly present. It's not greasy at all, and despite being karaage, it's light and doesn't make you feel guilty. Not bad. Despite only serving tofu dishes, there is no sense of reliance or loneliness, which is wonderful. It's a great learning experience.