りょんこ
Today's lunch, I felt like eating meat. Not yakiniku, karaage, or tonkatsu... but there was a place where I could have sukiyaki for one person! I had been bookmarking this place for a while, but finally the chance to go arrived. I visited the restaurant with excitement.
1. Exterior, atmosphere, interior of the restaurant:
About a 5-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station. It's closer to the station than I thought. It has a high-class appearance with a pure white curtain hanging, but there are signs of affordable lunch menus in front of the store, which is reassuring. The interior has a unique counter seat layout surrounding the kitchen. As a result, there are mostly groups of 1-2 people. It doesn't seem like a place for large groups. Each person has their own stove, so you can enjoy sukiyaki with peace of mind.
2. About the food:
The lunch menu offers "Special Select Beef Sukiyaki" and "Pork Shabu-Shabu" for 1,100 yen each. I ordered the "Special Select Beef Sukiyaki." The pot was set up in front of me right away, followed by rice, pickles, and a raw egg. Then, freshly sliced beef was beautifully arranged on a separate plate. The rose-colored lean meat with fine marbling looked very high-quality. The pot was lit. Once the broth boiled, I quickly cooked one slice of beef. The lean meat was tender and the fatty meat melted smoothly, making it light and easy to eat. The slightly sweet broth, combined with the raw egg, was just right, and the white rice went well with it. Ingredients like green onions, shiitake mushrooms, and tofu, in addition to the beef, played good supporting roles. The generous portion was also appreciated. The soft udon noodles simmered in the broth were a delightful finish. Sweet and savory, you can eat rice with udon! I was so absorbed in eating that I finished it in no time. The portion was sufficient, and I was satisfied.
3. About the staff's service:
There were two staff members, an older man and a younger man, who seemed to be a father and son. They handled cooking and customer service. They greeted customers and guided them to their seats efficiently. The service was not intimidating, but they lacked friendliness and seemed to be focused on their work. The evening service might be different, though.
4. About the cost performance:
I think the "One-Person Sukiyaki" for 1,100 yen offers a high-level content. The quality of the beef was excellent, and there were no shortcuts taken with the other ingredients. The restaurant's atmosphere was calm and lovely, so overall, I think the cost performance is good.
5. Other observations:
Among the customers, I noticed a few couples who seemed to be in their early twenties. The young people in Osaka have a high level of dining experience or standards... I'm envious.