Exploring Tokyo's gourmet scene! Suginami Ward, Nishi-Ogikubo Edition. A specialty, directly sourced from the production area, the Seiko crab set meal! First visit to the popular new restaurant "Mather's Milk"! On a cold winter day with clear skies, taking advantage of my partner's day off, we headed to a restaurant we had been talking about visiting for a while. This restaurant was discovered through a post by member Masami Ueda of the 23-ku-kai. This time of year, going to Nishi-Ogikubo for Seiko crab lunch! Just a 5-minute walk from Nishi-Ogikubo Station North Exit along the Fushimi-dori shopping street, a stylish little store with white walls and decorations made of old wood. Opened in June 2021, a nearby Fukui cuisine restaurant has been renovated by the owner, who is from Fukui Prefecture and insists on using ingredients directly sourced from Fukui. The Seiko crab set meal, featuring Fukui-grown Koshihikari rice, Fukui-grown tomato dressing, grilled mackerel, and miso, is available for purchase. They also serve specialty dishes such as directly sourced whitebait and Shonan beer. The Seiko crab shell platter, which is only available until today, was a must-try, so we ordered it along with a Seiko crab gratin. The crab shell platter came with a brand tag and was beautifully presented. The salad looked fresh, and the dressing was delicious. The piping hot gratin was filled with plenty of crab meat, and the combination of creamy cheese, crab meat, and crab roe was exquisite. The Seiko crab shell platter featured a perfectly shaped Echizen brand crab with plenty of sweet meat, roe, and miso. The sweet flavor and umami of the crab meat were outstanding. Placing the crab meat on the hot Koshihikari rice made for a luxurious and delicious experience. It was a miracle to be able to eat Seiko crab at this time of year! I heard that it was already the end of the fishing season, but the crabs were directly sourced from the live tanks in Echizen Port. This season's last Seiko crab dish! An excellent dish featuring Fukui's ingredients and meticulous workmanship. I definitely want to come back next time for the bean plate set meal and the Shonan whitebait bowl! An exquisite creation of creative Japanese cuisine with a focus on Fukui. A revisit is a must! Delicious and superb!

Small Plate Set Meal for 1500 yen. It includes a main dish and several side dishes, creating a well-balanced meal. The flavors overall seemed a bit mild, but still had a decent traditional Japanese taste. The miso soup was a bit lacking in flavor. The rice (Koshihikari) was delicious. The portion size might be a bit small for men. Personally, I didn't have a big appetite at the time, so the amount was just right or slightly too much for me. It's a bit far from the station and slightly pricey, so the cost performance and convenience are average. I think visiting once is enough.

This is a restaurant that serves Fukui cuisine. The bean dish set meal costs 1500 yen. They were considerate and provided a smaller menu for kids, and even gave them Anpanman juice. The main dish is mackerel, which is delicious with its fatty texture. The side dishes were nothing special, just ordinary. However, the sauce cutlet had a rich flavor and was fried crispy yet light, making it delicious. Thank you for the meal!

I arrived back in my hometown and decided to visit "Mother's Milk," which I remembered seeing on Yasuko's Instagram where "Kantoyama" is subletting. Unfortunately, it was not "Kantoyama's" operating day, but Mother's Milk was offering a special dish called "Fukui Bean Plate," so I decided to have a light Japanese lunch there. They served small dishes as appetizers, including taro and mashed beans, which I enjoyed with a beer. I asked about Fukui cuisine and had a pleasant conversation about it. For the main dishes, I had grilled salted mackerel from Fukui and sauce cutlets. The mackerel was thick and delicious, and the sauce cutlets were light and tasty. It was a relaxing and enjoyable time. I thought about how deep the food and drink scene in Nishi-Ogikubo is.

A Fukui cuisine restaurant that used to operate next door has relocated and reopened. They still serve Fukui dishes and local sake. Today, I enjoyed Seikogani (snow crab) with Japanese sake, perfect for this season. The crab's meat and roe were delicious. The sake was smooth and went well with the food. Despite it being a Sunday afternoon, the restaurant was full. The set meals looked appetizing too. I'll try them next time.

I passed by this restaurant right after it opened and tried to enter, but they were closed due to the state of emergency. When I asked if they were open, they said they were, so I decided to go in. They had dressings and such displayed in the sunny area at the storefront, which caught my attention. Inside, there were table seats as well as semi-private booths separated by curtains at the back. I ordered the following: - Small Plate Set Meal for 1500 yen Instead of the expected head of a golden threadfin bream, I was served mackerel with miso paste. It was mentioned on the menu that it would be served until sold out, but I wish they had informed me that it was mackerel. Although the fish had a white flesh, the taste was more like a blue fish. The salad consisted of mushrooms, tomatoes, and lettuce, which I dressed with the room temperature tomato dressing provided. The quiche had undercooked pastry, while the penne gratin was warm. The mixed rice was soft and contained salmon, burdock, and mushrooms. The miso soup was full of ingredients. The pickled Chinese cabbage and persimmon were delicious. I was interested in the dessert and soft drink set for 500 yen, which included vanilla ice cream, sweet potatoes, and fermented red beans. I planned to decide whether to have it after the meal, but I lost interest after having the set meal. The restroom also had some dust, which was disappointing.

Shop on the 1st floor of a building. It feels nostalgic as I have visited another tenant before. There are a few customers in the store, and time flows leisurely. I ordered the "Mamezara Gozen" set. I like to try a variety of dishes in small portions, and the colorful mamezara plates look nice. You can choose multiple main dishes. The food is homey and delicious. The miso soup is comforting. Since the owner runs the shop alone, it may take a little time. Also, the prices may be a bit high.