麺’s倶楽部
Maruzen Marunouchi. I found what I was looking for and decided to head back when I thought, why not have some Hayashi for lunch at M&C Cafe. It's not too crowded, with a decent number of customers. I was seated near the entrance, so there was no view. The Hayashi menu includes Hayashi Rice, Hayashi Omurice, Cheese Omu Hayashi Rice, Keema Hayashi Rice, Steak Hayashi Rice, and more. There are plenty of options available. I decided to go for the Hayashi Special Set @2,500 yen (tax included) as it seemed like a better deal compared to ordering items separately. The set included Pork Hayashi & Premium Hayashi Rice, a side of Parma Ham Salad, a choice of cake, and a drink. I chose the Orange Mousse Cake and an Iced Coffee. The Parma Ham Salad was served promptly, with a mix of lettuce, shredded cabbage, carrots, and mizuna topped with delicious Parma ham. The ham had just the right amount of saltiness and was tender. Next came the Pork Hayashi & Premium Hayashi Rice. The rice was shaped like a rugby ball on a square plate, with different sauces on top and bottom. The Hayashi Omurice was pork-based, while the Premium Hayashi Rice was beef-based. I believe the one with almond slices was the Premium Hayashi sauce. The sauce was rich and flavorful, with a nice balance of depth and smoothness. The beef and pork versions were both delicious, with no noticeable difference in quality. The pork version had a slightly lighter meat flavor. The rice was cooked slightly firm, which paired well with the sauce. The portion of rice was generous, perhaps slightly more than needed. For dessert, I enjoyed the Orange Mousse Cake, which had a subtle sweetness and a lovely orange fragrance. It was a perfect ending to the meal. This Hayashi Rice truly captured the essence of a Western-style restaurant. It was a delightful experience dining at the original shop. Thank you for the meal. This restaurant is operated by Claire Co., Ltd., not Maruzen. They also operate Echigo Soba at Tokyo Station.