Katsudon (limited time offer for 390 yen) - I decided to get my lunch from a local place while working from home. I was craving katsudon and happened to come across a deal that "Hotto Motto's katsudon is now 100 yen off" (until the 17th). Since I had some points from a previous campaign, I reserved it online for 290 yen. When I opened the container at home, the katsudon looked good for the price. The pork cutlet was small, about 60g-80g, with a thin layer of meat and a thick coating of breading on both sides. The meat was a bit dry and tough, probably frozen and deep-fried. The sauce had a strong dashi flavor with a hint of soy sauce, similar to soba broth. The onions were crunchy, the egg fluffy, and the rice a bit soggy. Overall, it was worth the 390 yen, but maybe not the regular price of 490 yen. For a similar price, "Katsuya" might be a better choice. So, I'm hoping for the return of Katsuya in Gotanda!

New BIG Noriben (550 yen) A takeout option for home telework, found in the neighborhood. I never had any interest in the genre of "hoka-ben" until the COVID-19 pandemic led to self-restraint and full telework. However, I noticed that there are surprisingly many indie hoka-ben shops in the neighborhood, and when I tried comparing them, it turned out to be quite interesting. However, the biggest faction that must not be left out when talking about hoka-ben is "Hotto Motto," which I have never experienced. Setting aside the history of the rivalry with "Hokka Hokka Tei" (if you're curious, look it up), both have released smartphone apps now, allowing for online reservations. Moreover, Hotto Motto gives you 150 yen worth of points when you register as a member. So, let's use it right away. And so, I had my first-ever experience with Hotto Motto! I was planning to go for the classic Chicken Karaage or Noriben, but when I checked the hashtag "#hoka-ben" on Instagram, I found this fantastic creation - the New BIG Noriben, which combines Noriben and Yakisoba in one calorie-packed meal. I reserved it through the app with advance card payment, using the 150 yen points, so it only cost me 400 yen! I headed to the store and arrived about 10 minutes before the pickup time. Did I arrive too early? I wondered as I entered the store. As expected from a major chain, there were many male customers waiting for their bentos inside. All orders and payments were done through a touch panel vending machine, with minimal interaction between staff and customers, only during product handover. I informed the counter staff about my reservation, and the bento was already waiting for me in the warming box next to the register. I quickly returned home and opened it up. Wow, this is... unnecessarily huge! This is clearly aimed at hungry high school students who are dedicated to club activities. The Noriben side had the usual White Fish Fry, Chikuwa Tempura, Kimpira, and Takuan on top, all properly portioned. Next to it was the Yakisoba side, with a full serving of Yakisoba topped with a fried egg and sausage. It also came with premium sauce and mayonnaise as condiments. I started with the Noriben side. Not only did this Noriben have bonito flakes but also kombu tsukudani sandwiched in between. The White Fish Fry is larger than those in other hoka-ben, with a fluffy texture and a good thickness. The Chikuwa Tempura was soft and tender. The rice was over 200g, enough to fill you up. Moving on to the Yakisoba side. The Yakisoba had a unique texture, similar to pasta, with a sweet sauce that worked well as a side dish with rice. There were only about 3-4 slices of finely shredded cabbage, meaning there wasn't much. The volume was quite generous, more than a single serving from a pack of 3 steamed noodles sold in supermarkets. The fried egg was fully cooked with a solid yolk. The sausage was stir-fried instead of boiled, with a crispy skin. With a substantial amount and rich flavors, I struggled a bit towards the end but managed to finish it all. According to the official website, this bento has 1146kcal! Well, it's a double carbohydrate meal, so it's understandable to be over 1000 calories. And the salt content is 7.9g, which is like consuming a day's worth of salt in one meal. In conclusion, my first experience with Hotto Motto was a success. The ability to offer such a variety and volume of bento for 550 yen is indeed a strength of a major chain. While even the bentos at supermarkets and drugstores have been lowering their prices (around 298 yen), this one still offers a more personal touch, as you can see the faces of the people making it.

The store at the east exit of Meguro Station has been closed for a long time, so the nearby "Hotto Motto" is no longer there. The next closest one is located between Meguro Station and Gotanda Station, where you can easily stop by while driving. There is a coin parking lot in front of the convenient location. When you mainly travel by car, your values ​​will change compared to those who travel by train. Since the days when it was originally "Hokka Hokka Tei", I have loved their seaweed bento and fried white fish. I could eat as many fried white fish as I want. The special seaweed taro bento is also good.

For lunch, I ordered Uber Eats! Although it's much cheaper to buy it myself, I decided to have it delivered. - Green salad: 250 yen with Japanese dressing, delicious! - Garlic Tartar Karaage Bento: 6 pieces for 720 yen, on sale for 620 yen with 100 yen off for just the side dishes. It was recently released and featured in an EXIT commercial. The combination of garlic soy sauce and tartar sauce is incredibly tasty, especially for mayonnaise lovers. - Double Cheese Nori Bento: 640 yen with cheese under the nori. It comes with dashi soy sauce, but don't forget to add the tempura fish cake! The white fish fry in the nori bento is delicious, with 4 types of cheese, bonito flakes, and seaweed. Personally, I'm not a fan of the pickles in the nori bento. In the end, with a delivery fee of 300 yen and a 10% service fee, the total came to 2071 yen. Despite the cost, it's nice to have it delivered from Hotto Motto.