After strolling through Sayama Park and Tama Lake, we looked for a place to have lunch in the area. Since there weren't many options, we decided to ride our bikes a little further west along Ome Kaido. Today, we visited Suzuya in Nara Bridge, Higashiyamato City. The restaurant's exterior immediately caught my eye, and it's located roughly between Musashi-Yamato and Kamikitadai stations. You'd have to be quite adventurous to make the trip here by train, but it might just be worth it. The restaurant is very small, with only three counter seats available. The menu offers a variety of dishes, including set meals. The prices seemed a bit high, but there was a pleasant surprise. I splurged on the Chashu Ramen, priced at 950 yen. It was topped generously with bean sprouts, leeks, and corn, along with plenty of chashu slices. The flavor was a simple soy sauce base, reminiscent of old-fashioned ramen. The Chashu Ramen itself was quite filling, but that wasn't all. Despite not being advertised as a set, it came with a small side dish, salad, and rice. The combination of chashu and rice was delightful, and there were also three large juicy dumplings included. To my surprise, they even offered seconds of rice. The hospitality at this place is truly remarkable. And to top it off, they serve complimentary coffee after the meal. The portion size and service were both impressive, as reflected in the reviews. The friendly owner made us feel right at home, and we ended up chatting with him after our meal. With such generous portions and warm hospitality, it's hard not to want to come back. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I had pork cutlet bowl and dumplings. The thick pork cutlet was very satisfying and well-seasoned. The portion of rice was generous and filled me up. The dumplings had juicy filling and were very delicious. Thank you for the meal.

The dumplings came as a surprise service, and the friendly master also poured three cups of coffee as a service. Great atmosphere.

Today's ramblings are divided into two extremes. I've been to many ramen shops, but the owners of local Chinese restaurants fall into two types: 1) quiet and seemingly unfriendly, and 2) friendly and talkative. I don't know why, but I encountered a unique combination of quiet but talkative owner at a local Chinese restaurant today. Located near Nara Bridge, a little way from Higashiyamato 1st Elementary School and 1st Middle School, this old-fashioned Chinese restaurant has a counter with 6 seats. The nearest stations are probably the Monorail Kamikitadai Station and Seibu Line Musashiyamato Station, each about 1.5 km away. The menu is simple and typical of a Chinese restaurant. I ordered the standard ramen as usual. The soup was a light brown color with a slight sweetness and a gentle taste, possibly based on animal broth. The noodles were slightly thick and straight, with a good chewiness. The portion of noodles was quite generous. The toppings included chashu, menma, wakame, nori, and green onions. The chashu was lean and tender, and there was a generous amount of menma and green onions, making it a filling bowl of ramen. What caught my attention was the pricing. When I saw the menu, I thought it might be a bit on the expensive side for a traditional local Chinese restaurant. However, the service after the ramen was served made me wonder if it was a "ramen set" after all. The owner placed a bowl on the counter and asked if I could eat some rice, even though I declined. He still brought out a plate of large juicy gyoza for me to enjoy. This was already like a "ramen set," right? And after the meal, he even brewed me a cup of coffee and we chatted for about two hours. It was a fulfilling experience in every way. Check out the restaurant's website for more information. Thank you for your support!