diner – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:00:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 diner – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 This upcycled Kyoto train cafe is the ultimate kawaii spring experience https://soranews24.com/2026/03/28/this-upcycled-kyoto-train-cafe-is-the-ultimate-kawaii-spring-experience/ https://soranews24.com/2026/03/28/this-upcycled-kyoto-train-cafe-is-the-ultimate-kawaii-spring-experience/#comments Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:00:48 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=729694 
Produced by Kawaii Monster Cafe creator, the Future Train diner serves up pink teriyaki burgers and wobbly pancakes aboard the Sakura Express.
Kyoto in springtime is a fantastical sight: the traditional Japanese charm of the many temples and shrines, adorned with the soft, pink petals of the cherry blossoms. Travelers flock from around the globe to witness the beauty of the city, and if you’re looking for a unique way to experience the magic of sakura season, which adds a major dose of fun to any holiday itinerary, there is one place you need to visit.
Located next to Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station, just a short hop from Kyoto Station, is Future Train Kyoto Diner & Cafe. It’s a future-train-style entertainment diner built inside a real, upcycled Thunderbird express train, and produced by kawaii culture legend Sebastian Masuda, who also brought the Kawaii Monster Land to Tokyo’s Harajuku.
From March 19 to May 11, this iconic train is launching a limited-time spring spectacular called the Sakura Express, where not only do you get the tradition of Kyoto’s cherry blossoms, but also the playful, pop-culture energy from modern Japan. For all its guests (or should that be passengers?) the event offers up some exclusive content that is sure to add some sparkle to your trip.
First up is the food. Naturally, there are iconic menu items decked out in the pink synonymous with many other spring-exclusive treats found in Japan. You can dive into the Gokakenran Burger – Sakura Mirai (2,600 yen [US$16.35]), a gorgeous-looking and delicious beast of a teriyaki egg burger with a pickled vegetable tartar sauce served in cute pink flower buns.
If you have a sweet tooth, try the Fuwa Fuwa Sakura Pancakes (1,800 yen), a stack of wobbly and fluffy souffle pancakes topped with sweet-and-salty pickled cherry blossom powder.
Additionally, there are five season-exclusive a la carte dishes incorporating the springtime sensations and Kyoto character to enjoy.
If you happen to be traveling with a larger group, there is also a special party plan available with all-you-can-eat rice flour popovers.
Following your meal, you can immortalize your trip with Instant Camera Photography, where you can get a physical snapshot of your time on the train, complete with an original-design sleeve to keep it safe, for an extra 300 yen.
You’ll also want to visit the Pink Flower Box Seat in Car 3, which has been transformed into a stunning photo spot overflowing with pink blossoms.
To top it all off, you can participate in their Social Media Posting Campaign, and all you have to do is post a picture of your food or the train with the correct hashtag, and you’ll receive a special sticker as a free gift.
▼ Use the tags #futuretrain or #フューチャートレイン, post it on social media, and show it to a member of staff
Kyoto in spring is beautiful, but the Sakura Express at Future Train makes it exciting. After basking in the cascading pink petals in a temple garden, hop on the train and ride into Kyoto’s pink future for an experience you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.
Restaurant information
Future Train Diner & Cafe / ューチャートレイン・キョウト・ダイナー・アンド・カフェ
Address: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Shimogyo-ku, Kankiji-cho 3-7 Umekoji Highline
京都府京都市下京区観喜寺町3-7 梅小路ハイライン
Open: Weekdays 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (last order 3:00 p.m.), 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. (last order 9:00 p.m.)
Weekends and Holidays 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. (last order 9:00 p.m.)
Entrance Fee: 700 yen for adults, and 300 yen for children
Website
Related: Future Train Diner & Cafe Instagram
Source and images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2026/03/28/this-upcycled-kyoto-train-cafe-is-the-ultimate-kawaii-spring-experience/feed/ 0 729694 sub9_9dd24c The perks of drinking root beer at A&W in Japan https://soranews24.com/2024/09/24/the-perks-of-drinking-root-beer-at-aw-in-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2024/09/24/the-perks-of-drinking-root-beer-at-aw-in-japan/#comments Tue, 24 Sep 2024 03:00:33 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=678978 
American diner chain in Okinawa has a special offer that a lot of Japanese locals don’t know about.
A&W root beer might be a household name in America, but here in Japan you’d be hard-pressed to find it…unless you’re on the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa. You’re never too far from a root beer on this island chain, as it’s the only place in the country where you’ll find A&W diners — 23 of them in fact, and they have a special offer on root beers that a lot of locals don’t even know about.
Serving the community since 1963, you can enjoy all the usual menu items at A&W in Okinawa, with burgers and “Super Poutine” (fries topped with gravy and cheese) highly recommended.
▼ However, many customers come here just for the root beer.
Root beer is one of those love-it-or-hate-it type of drinks, with its bittersweet, herbaceous flavours giving it a complexity that appeals to some palates while repulsing others. Lovers of the drink will definitely want to make a beeline for the diner, though, because once you finish a glass of the drink here…
▼…you’ll be able to get a refill for free!
▼ It’s not just one refill, either, because here you can get unlimited refills for whatever size drink you order.
Doing the math, it would make the most economical sense to order a small and keeping getting refills — staff serve drinks in a new glass every time — but there are plenty of customers who order the large, because it comes in an eye-catching jug.
▼ Budget-conscious diners need not be disappointed, though — the small-sized glass is arguably just as good-looking.
The best time to order an A&W is on a Wednesday, because that’s when you can upgrade a regular-sized root beer to a float at no extra cost.
▼ Wednesday is “Root Beer Float Day” at the chain.
So next time you’re down in Okinawa, trying the heavenly bread and pork and egg onigiri rice balls, be sure to leave some room in your belly for a root beer at A&W. Freshly poured at full carbonation is the best way to try it, and with free refills on offer, it’s one of many things that’ll tempt you on a trip to Okinawa.
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2024/09/24/the-perks-of-drinking-root-beer-at-aw-in-japan/feed/ 0 678978 A&W Japan Okinawa fast food restaurant chain root beer drink burger news 2 Three things you should eat at Denny’s in Japan, according to staff who work there https://soranews24.com/2023/04/30/three-things-you-should-eat-at-dennys-in-japan-according-to-staff-who-work-there/ https://soranews24.com/2023/04/30/three-things-you-should-eat-at-dennys-in-japan-according-to-staff-who-work-there/#comments Sat, 29 Apr 2023 16:00:22 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=622319 
Recommendations from a staff member reveal what they really like to eat behind the scenes.
After years of visiting restaurants and taste-testing different dishes, we’ve discovered that if you really want to find out what the best options on the menu are, you should ask the staff what they would order.
This tactic has given us some surprising insights into how best to eat a beef bowl at Yoshinoya and the secrets behind makanai food, and now we’re taking ourselves over to American-born family restaurant chain Denny’s to find out what they recommend we eat there.
This first instalment in our “Clerk’s Own-Pocket Recommendation” series, as we’re calling this investigative project, seeks to discover hidden secrets on the menu at a number of joints — the options so good that staff would happily pay out of their own pocket to eat them.
▼ Personally, we’d go for the steak, like a lot of other customers, but is that what staff would order on their own dime?
As we slid into a booth at Denny’s we were happy to find that the clerk serving us knew his stuff, because when we asked him, “Please tell us three recommended items that you would eat at your own expense“, he responded with a smile and replied without hesitation.
In fact, it was almost as if he’d been waiting his whole working life for someone to ask him this type of probing question, so let’s take a look at his recommendations, starting with the…
▼ Chicken Jambalaya (1,390 yen [US$10.40])
“It’s part of the Fair Menu, but it’s really delicious,” were the words of our waiter when he made this recommendation. The Fair Menu is a limited-time menu that changes throughout the year, with the current “fair” celebrating Golden Week, a string of annual public holidays that runs from the end of April to early May.
According to the official website, the Chicken Jambalaya made its first appearance on the menu back in 1983, and has been returning intermittently for special occasions.
Our waiter warned us that this dish might be a little spicy for some palates, but it wasn’t too spicy for our well-seasoned taste buds. The combination of spicy jambalaya and freshly fried chicken was delicious when eaten off the iron plate, and now we’re hoping it’ll get a permanent spot on the menu someday.
▼ Next up, we have the Sichuan-style Dandan Noodles (990 yen)
We’d always known Denny’s had dandan noodles on the menu but we’d never thought to try them. After all, with so many great noodle joints in Japan, why would we think to get our noodle fix at an American diner? However, after trying this dish, we were blown away by the taste and quality — it was so perfect that it was kind of scary, as it turned everything we thought we knew about noodles — and Denny’s — on its head.
The broth had a very rich sesame aroma, and the flavour of the sansho pepper throughout the dish was surprisingly delicious. If you’re ever stuck for what to try at Denny’s, we highly recommend giving this a try.
▼ Finally, we have the American Clubhouse Sandwich (1,040 yen)
According to the waiter, the American Clubhouse Sandwich “is popular with people of all ages”, and after trying it, we understood the reason for its widespread appeal. Easy to eat, with familiar fillings like roast chicken, bacon, eggs, and tomatoes, this was a tasty way to fill up on a variety of ingredients, making for a very satisfying meal.
▼ Denny’s knows how to do a good Clubhouse.
For us, though, the dish of the day was the Sichuan-style Dandan Noodles. Our waiter told us he often eats it himself, and if we worked at Denny’s we’d be eating it at every opportunity. It’s a dish we never would’ve tried otherwise, which just goes to show how easily secret gems can be hiding on the menu.
▼ The staff selection at Denny’s.
This meal delivered everything we’d hoped for in a Clerk’s Own-Pocket Recommendation, giving us bagfuls of flavour and a few surprises to boot.
It’s great insider knowledge to have in the back pocket, and now we can’t wait to find out what hidden gems we’ll unearth in the rest of our investigative series!
Related: Denny’s Japan
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/04/30/three-things-you-should-eat-at-dennys-in-japan-according-to-staff-who-work-there/feed/ 0 622319 Denny's Japan food menu exclusive limited edition best recommendation Chicken jambalaya American clubhouse Dandan noodles review photos 1 Is this the rudest parfait in all of Japan? https://soranews24.com/2023/04/26/is-this-the-rudest-parfait-in-all-of-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2023/04/26/is-this-the-rudest-parfait-in-all-of-japan/#comments Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:30:27 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=621852 
“Prohibited Parfait” brings new meaning to nude food.
Japanese parfaits are famous for being beautifully designed with careful attention to detail, often looking like works of art that are perfect for photographing and sharing on Instagram.
Over in Nagasaki, however, there’s a store selling parfaits that might need a bit of censoring before sharing online, because, well, they contain nudity.
▼ The parfaits are being sold at Olympic, a long-established cafe that sells Nagasaki specialties…
▼ …and enormous 1.2-metre (47-inch) tall parfaits.
In business since 1963, Olympic’s 1.2-metre tall parfait is called the Nagasaki Yume Tower (“Nagasaki Dream Tower”), which retails for a whopping 9,350 yen (US$69.57).
Alternatively, there’s the slightly shorter 1-metre tall “World Tower“, on the menu for 7,920 yen.
The parfaits have featured on numerous television shows, making the store popular with locals, tourists, and students who visit the area on school trips.
While the huge parfaits get most of the attention, there are plenty of other parfaits on the menu, all with creative names like “Cinderella“, “Devil’s Parfait“, and “Yama” (“Judge of the Afterlife“).
Our Nagasaki-based reporter Mariko Ohanabatake often ordered the Devil’s Parfait when she was younger, but now that she’s an adult member of society, a different type of parfait has been appealing to her.
▼ The “Prohibited Parfait” (left) and “Ultimate Parfait” (right). We’ve pixelated them to protect their privacy…for now.
Mariko ordered the “Prohibited Parfait” for 1,100 yen, and after about ten minutes, it arrived at her table.
Resisting the urge to giggle behind her hand at the sight of it, she snapped a few photos, and decided to give us a slow reveal, like a parfait striptease, if you will.
▼ Are you ready for the grand reveal?
▼ Behold, the Prohibited Parfait!!!
Taking a closer look at it all, Mariko was impressed to find that the parfait was served in a curvy glass that resembled the feminine curves of a female body.
▼ The topping was as colourful and top-heavy as the headwear you might see at a topless cabaret.
The upper portion of the glass acted as the chest area, holding in a pair of chocolate breasts that were perfectly placed to align with the hip-jutting shape of the glass. The attention to detail continued as Mariko ran her eyes down to the chocolate ice cream, which reminded her of a garter belt, and the chocolate-chip ice cream, which looked a bit like a pair of leopard-print panties.
After eating the enormous topping of fruit, cream, and soft-serve ice cream, Mariko lifted the cone to bite into it, and was surprised when the breasts came out to greet her too.
Hoping nobody around her had witnessed this brazen display of nudity, she blushed slightly at the surprise of it all, before pushing the breasts back into the glass for eating with the garter belt and leopard print panties.
It was a fantastic parfait, and after polishing it off, she mused at how surprising it was, all the way from the naming of it, through to its visual impact and taste.
▼ The contents of the Ultimate Parfait are only slightly different.
Now that her adulthood has led her to enjoy the taste of a prohibited parfait, Mariko is keener than ever to let her adult stomach have a go at demolishing the parfait tower.
It’s a feat that might require the help of some of her colleagues, though, who’ve already tested their mettle on the Super Colossal Mega Parfait, a giant cream soda, and Osaka’s two-foot tall parfait.
With their impressive track records, they’d definitely be able to demolish the tower together…as long as she can keep their eyes away from the Prohibited Parfait!
Related: Cafe Olympic
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/04/26/is-this-the-rudest-parfait-in-all-of-japan/feed/ 0 621852 Olympic Parfait Japan rude weird cute special limited edition exclusive torukorice nagasaki sweets ice cream instagram photos review taste test 9 Starbucks Japan’s new parfait cake has to be seen to be believed https://soranews24.com/2023/03/18/starbucks-japans-new-parfait-cake-has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed/ https://soranews24.com/2023/03/18/starbucks-japans-new-parfait-cake-has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed/#comments Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:00:58 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=618638 
W0w. Just…wow.
This month, Starbucks Japan is taking us back in time to the heyday of the American diner, treating our taste buds to beverages that replicate ice cream floats, along with some limited-time food options that recreate the flavours of yesteryear.
One of the highlights from the menu that totally floored us was the Mixed Parfait Cake, which was so good we had to write home about it…literally!
▼ I mean, when was the last time you saw something this beautiful at Starbucks?
Priced at 590 yen (US$4.43), the Mixed Parfait Cake is said to let you enjoy “a pop world view inspired by retro American”.
This is a cake that certainly pops with colour, and ingredients, as it deconstructs the common parfait and then reconstructs it in easy-to-eat cake form.
Atop the sponge cake base we have seven different types of toppings: whipped cream, strawberry mousse, marshmallows, chocolate sticks, almonds, pie sticks, and cranberries. It seems that the whole point of this cake is to let us enjoy the change in tastes created by throwing a bunch of parfait toppings together.
The base, covered in colourful chocolate sprinkles, is a moist and delicious sponge. This creates a tasty foundation from which to enjoy the tartness of cranberries and strawberry mousse, while whipped cream and raspberry pieces add textural excitement and toasted marshmallows bring a smoky note to the proceedings.
The combination of marshmallows, crunchy almonds and crispy pie pieces provide a variety of flavours and textures to enjoy in every mouthful, creating a fun mix that never tires the palette. While it’s hard to verbalise just how good this is, we have to agree that it’s aptly named, as it truly captures all the fun and excitement of a parfait, only in cake form!
While the long list of ingredients might make you think this would be a heavy meal, it’s actually quite light and refreshing, making it the perfect indulgence.
It’ll make you feel like you’ve eaten a lot, but its sensible serving size will ward off any post-consumption guilt, which is exactly how we like our cakes. So if you’d like to give it a try, be sure to pop in to a Starbucks in Japan before 11 April, when the retro American diner experience ends and a new release appears to lure us over to the green mermaid again!
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/03/18/starbucks-japans-new-parfait-cake-has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed/feed/ 0 618638 Starbucks Japan Parfait Cake Frappuccino limited edition drinks sweets menu photos taste test review 2 Starbucks Japan now has its first-ever Cola Frappuccino, but is it any good? https://soranews24.com/2023/03/17/starbucks-japan-now-has-its-first-ever-cola-frappuccino-but-is-it-any-good/ https://soranews24.com/2023/03/17/starbucks-japan-now-has-its-first-ever-cola-frappuccino-but-is-it-any-good/#comments Fri, 17 Mar 2023 03:00:58 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=618494 
We find out if this retro American diner experience is all it’s cracked up to be.
Starbucks is continually surprising its customers in Japan with a wide range of limited-edition drinks, and now it’s continuing that tradition with its latest dual release — the Starbucks Cola Frappuccino and the Creamy & Sweet Milk Coffee.
▼ According to Starbucks, this is the first time for the chain to introduce a cola flavour to their lineup in Japan.
Both these new drinks are inspired by retro American diners, conjuring up images of ice cream floats from years gone by. But will this creative concept work well on the flavour front? Our resident Starbucks expert K. Masami was keen to find out, so she lined up on release day on 15 March to purchase both drinks.
▼ The taste test begins with the Cola Frappuccino (690 yen [US$5.20] for dine-in)
With its cherry on top, this was a great-looking drink. The glossy vanilla sauce made the whipped cream glisten in the light, inviting Masami in for a taste.
Taking a big sip, Masami almost giggled in delight as the familiar flavour of cola danced on her tongue. While it wasn’t carbonated, the icy addition of crushed ice made it seem as if there was actual carbonation in the mix, delighting her senses.
The vanilla-flavoured whipped cream throughout the drink added a rich, velvety smoothness to the mouthfeel, and when Masami closed her eyes, she could see herself in a retro diner, sipping on a cola float while perched on a stool in a rockabilly outfit.
▼ She might look like she’s in Japan, but in her mind she’s in another time and dimension.
Turning her attention to the Creamy & Sweet Milk Coffee (priced from 550 yen), Masami was taken away again, with the fresh cream, white chocolate-flavoured syrup, iced coffee, milk, and vanilla syrup hitting her with the nostalgic taste of a sweet, milky coffee from years gone by.
Strangely, it was like a perfectly balanced Japanese coffee milk, and Masami reckons it would taste great customised with a free pump of caramel sauce or cinnamon.
As a fan of strong coffee, Masami plans to add an espresso shot (55 yen) to the mix next time, in order to amp up the caffeine buzz and accentuate the bitter notes she likes so much.
▼ Either way, it’s a great drink that conjures up a lot of nostalgia, as do the free coasters you receive with each beverage.
▼ And if you’re feeling peckish, there’s a range of limited-edition diner-inspired foods to try, including this Malasada Custard Cream (285 yen for takeout, 290 yen for dine-in).
As always, these limited-time goods are only available while stocks last, so you’ll want to get in quick before the promotion ends on 11 April to enjoy the taste of a retro diner.
It’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane that’s just as good as the kissaten series Starbucks gave us back in 2019!
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/03/17/starbucks-japan-now-has-its-first-ever-cola-frappuccino-but-is-it-any-good/feed/ 0 618494 Starbucks Japan new Cola Frappuccino limited edition drink exclusive menu Creamy & Sweet Milk Coffee review taste test photos 1 Starbucks unveils first-ever Cola Frappuccino in Japan! https://soranews24.com/2023/03/08/starbucks-unveils-first-ever-cola-frappuccino-in-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2023/03/08/starbucks-unveils-first-ever-cola-frappuccino-in-japan/#comments Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:00:23 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=617902 
New limited-edition drinks and goods are inspired by retro American diners.
With 2023 now well underway, the new releases at Starbucks are coming thick and fast in Japan, and we’re certainly not complaining.
Hot on the heels of the chain’s long-awaited sakura goods and beverages for cherry blossom season, we now have news that an equally exciting release is just around the corner, with retro American diners serving as the inspiration for the new collection.
The range consists of limited-edition goods and beverages, so let’s take a look at what’s in store, starting with the new drinks — the Starbucks Cola Frappuccino, and the Creamy & Sweet Milk Coffee.
▼ These two drinks will take your taste buds on a trip back in time to the heyday of American diners.
According to Starbucks, this is the first time for the chain to introduce a cola flavour to their lineup in Japan. The original cola-flavoured Frappuccino (678 yen [US$4.93] for takeout, 690 yen for dine-in), is said to create the sensation of drinking a cola float, with lime flavour added to the cola spices for a harmonious pairing with vanilla-flavoured whipped cream.
The whipped cream itself has a distinct Starbucks-like taste, as it’s blended with the chain’s espresso coffee for extra richness and aroma. While there’s no actual carbonation in the drink, crushed ice throughout the beverage creates the sensation of carbonation, making for a memorable mouthfeel.
▼ Finished with a bright red cherry on top, this new Frappuccino (pictured left, below) has a cheerful retro look.
Accompanying the new Frappuccino is the Creamy & Sweet Milk Coffee (pictured on the right in the photo above). This icy beverage is available in all sizes, ranging in price from 540-680 yen, and it delivers exactly what it promises — a rich and milky coffee, layered with fresh cream and white chocolate-flavoured syrup for sweetness.
The milk coffee used for the drink is an original blend that combines vanilla-flavoured syrup with iced coffee, and it’s topped with vanilla-and-coffee-flavoured whipped cream that’s said to add an irresistibly creamy texture to the body of the drink once it’s all mixed in.
While we’d be happy enough with these two exciting new drinks, Starbucks is really treating our taste buds by releasing a range of food also inspired by what they’re calling “retro American”.
From left to right in the image above we have the Mixed Parfait Cake (579 yen for takeout or 590 yen for dine-in), which contains a variety of textures and flavours to make you feel like you’re eating a parfait. Then we have the Waffle Sandwich Bacon Egg Cheese (550 yen for takeout, 565 yen for dine-in), a tasty snack that’s perfect for breakfast or lunch, and the Malasada Custard Cream (285 yen for takeout, 290 yen for dine-in), which looks and tastes like a filled doughnut.
And that’s not all — the diner experience continues with a range of exclusive goods, namely the Starbucks Coffee Diner Mug (2,350 yen), the Starbucks Coffee Diner Glass (3,250 yen) and the Starbucks Coffee Diner Pin Badge Set (1,500 yen).
The limited-edition goods will be available to purchase at Starbucks stores in Japan from 17 March, or online a couple of days earlier, from 15 March, while stocks last.
The food and drinks will be on the menu from 15 March, which will be a great way to console ourselves once the current sakura range disappears from stores on 14 March.
Source, images: Starbucks Japan
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/03/08/starbucks-unveils-first-ever-cola-frappuccino-in-japan/feed/ 0 617902 230228_sns_pr_photo This casual restaurant in Yokohama will serve you a tasty “two-color” tray at the crack of dawn https://soranews24.com/2021/06/10/this-casual-restaurant-in-yokohama-will-serve-you-a-tasty-two-color-tray-at-the-crack-of-dawn/ https://soranews24.com/2021/06/10/this-casual-restaurant-in-yokohama-will-serve-you-a-tasty-two-color-tray-at-the-crack-of-dawn/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2021 03:00:36 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=545127 
We follow a Japanese taxi driver’s recommendation and find a delicious eatery that’s easy on the eyes and the wallet.
Our Japanese-language reporter Masanuki Sunakoma has an acquaintance who works as a taxi driver, and this acquaintance gave him a special tip-off recently, telling him about a particular place in Yokohama where taxi drivers, who tend to finish their shifts very early in the morning, can eat a delicious meal right away.
Interest piqued, Masanuki made the trip to what he believed to be the nearest station to this nirvana of nourishment—Keikyu Higashi Kanagawa Station. Even this relatively close station required a twenty-minute walk on Masanuki’s part, at which point he caught sight of a shopping plaza. No, wait, not a shopping plaza.
▼ A wholesale retailer’s market for businesses!
As it turns out, Kanagawa Station is actually a tiny bit closer to the eatery in question. The directions that Masanuki received had come from a taxi driver, after all, who tended to just…drive to the place in question and then use one of the paid parking spaces nearby. Masanuki conceded that it’s probably much more convenient to visit this place if you’re driving a car.
There are some places within the plaza that are open even to the regular, non-retailer masses. However, as the streets around and through the market are always busy with forklifts and trucks and the like, you should take extra care when visiting outside of the designated days for regular citizens. You don’t want to bother people or get in the way of their work! And neither did Masanuki, so he made sure to check the map thoroughly.
The map instructed Masanuki to enter the premises, take the left-most route and walk down the slope past the produce buildings…
And there it was! The diner, Takeya Shokudo!
It looked like a very classic diner, and as such, it was very easy to envision it as a popular haunt for veteran taxi drivers. It actually took a huge amount of courage to walk into such an obvious local haunt, but crossing the threshold was very, very worth it.
Masanuki ordered his acquaintance’s recommended dish, the “two-color” rice bowl. Soon enough, his tray arrived…
▼ That’s a pretty huge bowl!
This order cost Masanuki just 1,000 yen (US$9.13) and what a feast awaited him! This was more tuna than anyone could possibly ask for. Tuna, the main meat of the dish, was served up in glorious chunks of fatty to medium-fat cuts, then vivid red cuts of flesh alongside the orangey negitoro (tuna mashed up with spring onion)… This was a veritable celebration of tuna in both its colors! And for so cheap, too!
It practically speaks for itself, but the platter was delicious. The cuts of tuna were dense, glistening with fat, and contained a hint of sweetness to offset their intense flavor.
▼ Meanwhile, the negitoro was flavored gently with sesame and garlic notes.
This kind of freshness, quantity, and flavor is the sort that you can only purchase right here at the market source, Masanuki thought. No wonder taxi drivers love it here so much! This is the kind of dish that powers you up and enables you to tackle another tough day of work!
▼ As Masanuki ate, plenty of other regulars drifted in and out to order the same thing. It’s clearly a favorite staple among the workers.
The diner is open until noon, but please note that it takes a long time to walk to the site from the station. However, that will help build up your appetite for all the delicious fatty tuna you’ll get to eat, so make sure to visit if you’re in the area!
Restaurant information
Takeya Shokudo / 竹家食堂
Address: Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ku, Yamanouchi-cho 1-1-1
神奈川県横浜市神奈川区山内町1-1-1
Hours: 5 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Closed Sunday, holidays, and on days when the market is closed (primarily Wednesday)
Phone: 045-461-6888
Images © SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/06/10/this-casual-restaurant-in-yokohama-will-serve-you-a-tasty-two-color-tray-at-the-crack-of-dawn/feed/ 0 545127 shokudo Domo-kun Diner is serving up your Domo-eats in Yokohama https://soranews24.com/2016/01/22/domo-kun-diner-is-serving-up-your-domo-eats-in-yokohama/ https://soranews24.com/2016/01/22/domo-kun-diner-is-serving-up-your-domo-eats-in-yokohama/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2016 02:00:43 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=295822 
The mascot character for Japan’s national broadcaster would like to show his “domo” by making you pay for his food.
Domo-kun is a little hard to describe to those who’ve never laid eyes on him (he’s that giant, brown oviparous monster you might have seen chasing kittens in Internet memes…), but that oddity hasn’t kept him from amassing a following not only in his home country of Japan, but all around the world. In fact, there are several sites dedicated to this fuzzy, brown rectangle where Domo-kun fans can submit their own memes and videos featuring the character.
Despite a noticeable lack of ears, this devotion hasn’t escaped Domo-kun’s attention, and he would like to show his appreciation to all his fans by opening a limited time restaurant in the Lumine Yokohama store right outside Yokohama Station.
Opening on January 25 with the slogan “Let’s send ‘domo’ from Japan”, the DOMO Diner will feature original menu items based on the mascot character, including a Domo Burger which has a slice of cheese with Domo-kun’s iconic face printed on it. We can’t help thinking they missed a trick, however, by using round, rather than rectangular, patties…
▼ DOMO Diner, you have a phone call, it’s Wendy’s on the line.
▼ Items ① – ④ come with the original DOMO diner mug and ordering a drink gets you the original coaster!
① Domo Burger (cheese), ② Domo Burger (beer sausage), ③ Doko-Moko (loco moco), ④ Domo Taco Rice, ⑤ Chocolate de Domo, ⑥ Purin a la Domo
The fun doesn’t end with making food that looks like Domo-kun. Popular Japanese retailer Village Vanguard will also establish a special corner in its stores for all sorts of Domo-kun goods, such as limited-edition merchandise inspired by the diner as well as items for his upcoming series Life is Domo.
The restaurant will be open from January 25 to March 9, so be sure to head to Yokohama to get a taste of Domo-tastic food and fun.
Diner Information:
DOMO Diner
Location: Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Nishi-ku, Takashima 2-16-1, Lumine Yokohama 6th Floor
神奈川県横浜市西区高島2-16-1 ルミネ横浜6階
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (last order at 10:30 p.m.)
Closed: February 15
Website
Source: Nari Nari
Images: NHK Character
]]> https://soranews24.com/2016/01/22/domo-kun-diner-is-serving-up-your-domo-eats-in-yokohama/feed/ 0 295822 domo 4 domo 1 domo 5 domo 2 domo 3