A junior colleague from another department got married, so we had a small celebration dinner. I found this restaurant that serves regional dishes from all over Japan, which I love. We sat in a semi-private room, with the guest of honor at the head of the table. We enjoyed a variety of dishes and drinks, including sashimi, beer, shochu, and awamori. The restaurant had a wide selection of drinks for the all-you-can-drink option. The atmosphere was clean and spacious, and the food was delicious, especially the sweet and savory pork dish that reminded me of dishes from Kagoshima, Amami Oshima, and Okinawa. The young colleague is in his 20s, so it's a joyous occasion for him to get married. Overall, it was a great experience at this restaurant.

When I went out for work, I visited a restaurant that serves lunch sets using ingredients from southern Kyushu such as Okinawa, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki. The daily set meal comes with miso soup and a main dish, and on this day, it was fried horse mackerel. I chose brown rice over white rice. The meal was served in about 10 minutes. The miso soup had a strong flavor from the ingredients, but the daikon was thickly sliced and not cooked through. The fried horse mackerel was freshly fried and had no fishy smell, but it started to smell when it cooled down, so it's best to eat it quickly. The side dish was well seasoned. However, the brown rice was not good - it was a bit too moist and had some clumps. Overall, the cost performance was good, and the taste was decent, but there were some small flaws here and there, making it somewhat disappointing. I would definitely go back if it was nearby.

This shop, directly connected to Nihonbashi Station, serves dishes from Amami, Kagoshima, and Okinawa. They have a variety of Okinawan dishes and an endless selection of shochu and Nihonshu. We ordered sea grapes, Satsuma-age, lotus root with mustard, deep-fried tofu, Goya champuru, Somen champuru, purple sweet potato and Goya chips, among other dishes, as there were three of us. Everything was delicious! The chips were surprisingly tasty and easy to snack on, so we ordered them twice. The surroundings were quite lively, so you need to speak up a bit to be heard. However, the cost performance was good, and we were very satisfied! Thank you for the meal! *There are fewer photos due to a business dinner.

We met up at Tokyo Station around 4:30 pm on a Saturday, but all the cafes were full. So, we decided to grab a quick drink instead. Unfortunately, most places were still closed, and the ones that were open were crowded. We decided to leave the station and found a restaurant in a nearby building that served dishes from Kagoshima and Okinawa, along with alcohol. We ordered "Goya Champuru" (950 yen), "Satsuma Jidori Chicken Thigh Yakitori" (900 yen), "Satsuma Age" (850 yen), "Spicy Lotus Root" (820 yen), and a highball. Everything was delicious and well-prepared. The chicken thigh yakitori was perfectly grilled, crispy on the outside. The Satsuma Age was also tasty, and the spiciness of the lotus root was refreshing. We enjoyed a taste of Kyushu cuisine in Tokyo Station! Thank you for the meal.

I made a reservation for lunch on a weekday and was provided with a private room. It was nice to be separated from the bustling atmosphere and enjoy a relaxing meal. I ordered the pork bowl and was given a complimentary miso soup, which was delicious. The ordering and serving process was smooth.

I used this place for lunch for the first time. I wonder if the concept is to experience Kyushu flavors? Today, I chose the Koji Kura Gozen, which seems to be a bit of a challenge. Although it's not in season, the bonito had a good amount of fat and went well with the ponzu sauce. The Chicken Nanban was appetizing with a slightly sour sauce and tartar sauce. The Satsuma-age went well with the ginger soy sauce. The miso soup had a gentle flavor, making it perfect for a chopstick break. I wish there was a bit more pickled mustard greens. It was a well-balanced meal.

I used this restaurant for a gathering with my colleagues and seniors on Friday night. When I entered, I felt that it was slightly more crowded than in the photos, but it wasn't too busy except during peak hours, so we were able to enjoy ourselves comfortably. We were allowed to stay for a long time, so thank you for that. I only left photos of the horse sashimi and sweet potato tempura that we ordered at the beginning. Both were very delicious. By the way, the restaurant is right in front as soon as you get off the escalator, so it's easy to gather there without getting lost.

I visited around 11:30 for lunch. The restaurant was about 50% full when I arrived, but closer to full by midday. It's an izakaya that mainly serves dishes from Kagoshima, Okinawa, and Miyazaki. I think I used to come here for parties. Today, I had the fried chicken set meal for 900 yen. The set included fried chicken, kimpira (sauteed burdock root), warm egg, pickled vegetables, miso soup, and rice. You can choose between white rice and brown rice, and I opted for extra brown rice for an additional 50 yen. It's a shame that extra rice isn't free for lunch. The fried chicken was well-seasoned and delicious. Another satisfying meal today.

I recently used a certain gourmet site's cashback campaign at a restaurant. It seemed to be a place that focused on Kyushu cuisine, but unfortunately, it was below my expectations. First, I made a reservation and when I arrived, I was not assigned a specific table, but just randomly seated at an available table. Also, the set I ordered included Chicken Nanban and bonito sashimi, but the pre-made fried chicken was cold and the bonito was paper-thin. The price was relatively high for a lunchtime meal, so I was disappointed as I had been looking forward to it.

Looking back, I realized that I only went for the black pork bowl with complimentary pork soup. Each time I visited, I might have been better off trying the daily specials or other lunch menu items. Unfortunately, there was no learning effect. The crispy black pork on top of mixed grain rice was satisfying, but the hot pork soup, although packed with ingredients, didn't quite match the picture.

I had some errands nearby and decided to have lunch here. Since I gained a lot of weight over the New Year, I chose a seafood restaurant. It was a pretty good place with a menu featuring specialties from Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa. I opted for the bonito sashimi set meal to go light. I'm satisfied. If you're in the mood for something hearty, you can choose from Rafute, Tori Nanban, and various other options. They have a wide range of dishes to choose from.

I visited on a regular day. There were quite a few customers already. A group of six young businessmen were making a lot of noise, which was a bit bothersome given the current situation. I ordered expecting Okinawan and Kyushu cuisine. The drinks, appetizers, and seaweed salad came out smoothly, but the rest took a while to arrive. The sashimi platter came out over an hour after ordering. We left without ordering the main dish.

If you enter the underground floor of Yaesu First Financial Building directly from Exit A7 of Tokyo Metro Tozai Line Nihonbashi Station, you will find a restaurant in front of the escalator. This dining place serves Kyushu-style cuisine and also offers lunch. I ordered the "Sakurajima Gozen," which includes bonito sashimi, hearty miso soup, rafty (a type of dish), today's grilled fish, side dishes, rice, and pickles, all packed with flavors from Kagoshima. The rice even contains mixed grains, making it a healthy choice. Surprisingly, the portion was quite generous. Personally, I think adding local chicken to this meal would make it perfect.

Lunch on January 23, 2020 (Thursday) in Yaesu Ichome. It was raining lightly in Tokyo. I had lunch at a restaurant located in the MoGu MoGu Kitchen in the Yaesu First Financial Building. The sign said "Amami, Kagoshima, Okinawa cuisine". I chose the Koji Kura Gozen (1182 yen including tax) which included pork miso soup, chicken nanban, bonito sashimi, sweet potato tempura, side dish, rice, and pickles. I opted for black rice mixed with brown rice for the rice. The Koji Kura Gozen was varied and filling, satisfying my appetite, but it wasn't particularly delicious. In other words, it wasn't very tasty, but I was mostly satisfied. Upon searching, it seems that this restaurant is operated by Lamura Co., Ltd., which has multiple establishments under different names, with a total of 5 locations under this particular name.

We gathered at a restaurant for a farewell party for a senior colleague who is changing jobs. We were impressed by the sashimi platter, horse meat, large prawns. The horse meat was very fresh, and the miso of the prawns was rich. The sweet soy sauce from Satsuma goes very well with them. We enjoyed dishes like Kagoshima chicken, Satsuma deep-fried food, and Kagoshima pork and beef hot pot. We happily drank plenty of Kagoshima shochu called Shimajin with hot water.

I had a rare lunch out at a restaurant in Nihonbashi. After considering between udon, pasta, and yakiniku, I decided on the chicken nanban set meal. This restaurant serves Kyushu cuisine, offering dishes like donburi with black pork yakiniku and rafute set meal. I was able to change the white rice to half-calorie coconut brown rice for an additional 50 yen. The chicken nanban tasted delicious, and the potato salad had a spicy cod roe flavor. The mushrooms served as a side dish were also tasty. If I have the chance to come to Nihonbashi for lunch again, I might visit this place. (Although there are many delicious-looking restaurants in Nihonbashi, so I might not come back again.)

(Visited in early March 2019) I had some errands to run and visited Nihonbashi. After finishing shopping at Takashimaya, it was already 12:15. I thought I could easily find a place for lunch, but everywhere was crowded with long lines. It's truly a representative business district in Tokyo. I walked around the area to gather information and decided to take the subway back to the office. As I was going down the escalator to the subway, I spotted this restaurant. Oh, there seems to be some empty seats. So, I quickly entered the restaurant. Visited at 12:30. I sat at a table for six people, which usually means sharing the table with strangers, but luckily it didn't happen this time. This place seemed to serve Okinawan and Kagoshima cuisine. I ordered the Kagoshima black pork charcoal-grilled rice bowl for 1,000 yen. You can choose between white rice and brown rice, and of course, I chose white rice. What a speedy lunch, the pork bowl was served in just 2 minutes! The red bowl contained a decent amount of thickly cut Kagoshima black pork belly. The meat was not dyed in the sauce color, and the sauce seemed to have a low viscosity. On top of the meat were Mitsuba (Japanese parsley) and chopped seaweed, keeping the dish simple. Let's try the meat now. The charcoal aroma is so fragrant. The meat has a good texture with a bit of thickness. The sauce flavor is not too strong, quite light, but still rich, probably due to the use of brown sugar. The meat has some fatty parts, which adds a strong sweetness. Initially, I tried the meat without any condiments, only the sauce flavor. But towards the end, I sprinkled some provided Sansho pepper. Oh, the refreshing sensation became stronger, allowing me to continue enjoying the pork bowl without getting tired. Under the meat, there were a few boiled bean sprouts. They were fresh and added a nice touch to the pork bowl. The rice was fluffy, and the quality was good. The taste was decent, and most importantly, it wasn't too soaked in sauce. It was a white rice with some white parts left, which was nice. I finished it in no time. The portion size didn't seem too large. By the way, you can get a free large serving of rice. Overall, it was a tasty pork bowl, but compared to the ones you see around Suidobashi and Ochanomizu, the price is about 20% to 30% higher... a bit pricey indeed. That's something to keep in mind. (laughs)

Today I had a late lunch in Nihonbashi, around 1 o'clock. It's a great location where you don't have to leave Nihonbashi station to find this restaurant. This place serves Kagoshima cuisine, not just for lunch but also for dinner with Kagoshima dishes and sake. The interior has a subtle lighting with shelves of shochu bottles, creating a nice atmosphere. Since it was late, the daily lunch special was sold out. I ordered the Kagoshima black pork charcoal-grilled rice bowl for ¥1,000 (tax included) with a free extra serving of rice and added tonjiru (pork miso soup) for ¥150. I have a big appetite, so the free extra rice was a nice bonus. The Kagoshima black pork charcoal-grilled rice bowl had a sweet and savory flavor, with the charcoal-grilled meat being tender and flavorful. The tonjiru had a sweet miso flavor with plenty of vegetables, which was perfect for me as my diet can be a bit erratic. I think this place is worth adding to your lunch rotation in the area.

A shop located right next to Nihonbashi Station on the Tozai Line, which is known for selling koji, offers a wide variety of shochu! I ordered the black pork shabu-shabu course, which includes Kagoshima's regional dishes such as seared Hinata chicken and fried kibinago. With a wide range of authentic sweet potato shochu to awamori, this place is a must-visit for shochu lovers. Instagram ID: kuidaore.8.

[Menu Eaten] Monthly special set meal The bonito sashimi was fresh and delicious. The rice can be changed to brown rice, and the side dishes are small and easy to eat, making it suitable for women. The person I went with said the chicken rice was delicious.

I visited a restaurant that specializes in Amami, Kagoshima, and Okinawan cuisine, which has six branches in Tokyo. As it was my second stop of the night, I decided to focus on drinks rather than food. They had a wide variety of shochu, including sweet potato shochu from Kagoshima, brown sugar shochu from Amami Oshima, and awamori from Okinawa, all available by the glass. They also had several types of domestic rum, categorized by village or type of koji, which was easy to understand. I had already visited Amami Island a year ago, so seeing the names of villages and shochu brands brought back nostalgic memories. After starting with beer, trying four types of sake, and then switching to soba shochu at the first place, I continued with awamori, brown sugar shochu, and domestic rum at the second place. I ended up mixing different types of alcohol, and the next day I felt a bit hungover. This place would be great for setting up a drinking party, especially if you have a boss who loves shochu.