tateログ
There is a tempura restaurant called "Tempura Koshichi" that I was curious about, located a short walk from Wakamatsu-Kawada Machi Station. I decided to try it out because they offer a daily tempura set meal for 1000 yen. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very charming. I arrived 15 minutes before opening and was the first in line. A couple of other customers arrived shortly after, but the staff kindly opened the doors 3 minutes early saying, "It's hot today, please come in." I ordered the daily special set meal that I was curious about. The tempura set consisted of 6 types of tempura, including shrimp, kisu fish, squid, cucumber, daikon radish, and potato. Additionally, the daily special set included 3 types of sashimi, which were tuna, scallop, and spicy cod roe. The tempura was served 10 minutes after ordering, and everything looked delicious. I started with the unique cucumber tempura, which was surprisingly tasty. The tempura batter was crispy on the outside, while the inside was warm and flavorful, showcasing the sweetness of the cucumber. Next, I tried the daikon radish tempura, which was also crispy on the outside and warm and tender on the inside. Both were lightly seasoned, allowing the natural flavors to shine through. The sashimi was fresh and delicious, and I was particularly impressed by the yellow condiment in the center of the set meal plate called "okaka." It was a standout dish with a rich umami flavor. Finally, I tried the main tempura items - shrimp, squid, and kisu fish. The shrimp was crunchy and succulent, the squid was tender and sweet, and the kisu fish had a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. Each tempura piece was perfectly fried and seasoned, delivering exceptional taste. The highlight of the meal was the original okaka, which the chef explained was made from leftover bonito flakes used to make dashi for miso soup. The chef added other ingredients to create a unique and flavorful okaka, which was truly outstanding. I learned that the okaka is also available for purchase, and I made a mental note to buy some on my next visit. Overall, the quality of the tempura was exceptional, and I look forward to returning to enjoy tempura and sake in the evening, while also bringing home some okaka as a souvenir. It was a delightful dining experience!