トントンマン
In my hometown of Musashikoyama, there is a historic and bustling shopping street called Palm Shotengai. However, overshadowed by this is a small group of shopping streets on the west side of the station, including Nishiguchi Shotengai, Jusankai, Hakko-kai, and the Heiwa-dori Shotengai a bit further away from the station. Among these, Nishiguchi Shotengai is a familiar place for me as it is on the way to the station from my home, and reminiscing about the changes in the shops there really brings out the sense of history. In the past, the largest shop in the center of Nishiguchi Shotengai was a store called Morihara Electric. Back in the day, there were many such electronics stores scattered throughout the town, especially during my student days, but they have gradually been phased out due to the rise of large-scale electronics retailers and changes in distribution networks by electronics manufacturers. The site of Morihara now houses a recycling shop, which is a clear reflection of the changing times. Many long-established restaurants have also closed down due to generational shifts, and the closures of soba restaurant "Tamaya" and izakaya "Hinode" in recent years were particularly poignant as they had made a mark in the dining scene. However, the opening of new types of eateries at these closed-down locations can be seen as a welcome sign of renewal. The restaurant I visited for lunch that day used to operate in Meguro-Honcho 3-chome along Route 26 (formerly Gabu). Nearby, there is also the well-known Chinese restaurant "Ginga", but it is located outside the shopping street and does not benefit from as much foot traffic. Therefore, the decision to relocate to this spot in Nishiguchi Shotengai, which sees much more pedestrian traffic, makes sense. The previous occupant of this location was an izakaya called "Sakura". It was not a very old establishment, and I remember a time when they also served lunch, including tonkatsu. However, due to the uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, or perhaps as part of infection prevention measures, there were renovation works going on, and ultimately the izakaya closed down, making way for the current restaurant. The new restaurant has been actively offering lunch since its previous location, and it opens from 11:30 am. On this day, I arrived at around 11:40 am and found myself to be the first customer. The interior of the restaurant consists of 5 counter seats and 4 two-person table seats, totaling 13 seats. While it is still quite cozy, it is much more spacious compared to the cramped feeling of the previous establishment, and the recent renovations have given it a clean and fresh look. I chose to sit at the end of the counter. The lunch menu displayed inside the restaurant is the same as the one outside, featuring 9 items. Among them, the signature dish is the "Gabu-don", with 180g priced at 1,600 yen, 270g at 2,300 yen, and 1 pound (453g) at 3,850 yen. The prices are generally proportional to the portion size. Other menu items are mainly Western dishes, with the cheapest being Spaghetti Gratin at 1,000 yen, followed by Hamburg Steak at 1,100 yen, Omelette Rice, Beef Curry, and Miso Pork at 1,200 yen each. Considering the lunch prices in the area, the prices are somewhat on the higher side. I ordered the standard Gabu-don with 180g for 1,600 yen. The Gabu-don arrived in about 8 minutes, accompanied by a side dish and miso soup. The Gabu-don consists of rice topped with shredded cabbage and beautifully arranged roast beef petals. Each slice of roast beef has a gradient from a deep red center to the outer edges, making it look very luxurious. It is a moment of luxury to delicately pick apart and savor each slice with chopsticks.