Today, I had planned to take a rest, but yesterday I suddenly got a job that needed to be finished by Monday, so I reluctantly went to work. I don't feel like working, but I need to finish it quickly so I can have more time to rest. I wanted to finish it in the morning, but I couldn't make it in time, so I decided to have lunch instead. Since it's Saturday, I remembered a diner in Iwamizawa called "Kichiden" that I liked before, but unfortunately, they are closed on Saturdays for the whole month of February. So, I ended up going to a nearby restaurant called Fuji Shokudo for the second time. Last time, I had ramen which wasn't that delicious. However, this time, I was intrigued by the curry dishes on the menu. I saw a curry fried rice that caught my eye, so I decided to order it. The kitchen was spacious and clean, and I could see it clearly from the counter seat. While watching the cooking process, I realized that I had a big misunderstanding about curry fried rice. When the dish arrived, it looked interesting and appetizing. I took a bite with a spoon and it had a nice curry flavor, with the bitterness of green peppers complementing the curry well. The seasoning was simple and familiar, like a nostalgic taste from the Showa era. It wasn't too dry, just like a typical diner fried rice. Since the portion wasn't that big, I finished it quickly and found it delicious. However, I still felt like having more, so I asked the owner if the portion of curry rice was similar to the fried rice. When I got a positive answer, I immediately ordered another curry rice. It arrived in less than 10 minutes, and it was exactly what I was looking for - a nostalgic taste of curry from my childhood. It had a thick texture from sautéed flour, probably using only curry powder for spices. The broth was also present, and the ingredients were simple - potatoes, onions, and pork only. I enjoyed it so much that I finished it in no time. I felt completely satisfied. When I paid the bill and was told it was 1,160 yen, I was laughed at by other regular customers, but I didn't mind because I was truly satisfied. Next time, I might try their ramen, curry cutlet, or chicken rice. This diner is a typical Showa-era establishment, and I sincerely hope that such places can be preserved as cultural heritage. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!

On my days off, I often end up having a late lunch because I stay up late even though I'm getting older. I felt like eating fried rice, so I decided to visit a new restaurant and had two options in mind. Luckily, I hit the jackpot at the first place - Fujishokudo. It's an old diner with a faded sign and worn-out curtain. Inside, there is a counter and a raised seating area. There was one customer already there, an older man. I ordered the fried rice for 600 yen with an extra large portion for 150 yen. The older man started cooking in a wok. Then, another man walked in from outside. I thought he was the next customer, but he was actually the owner. They chatted while he quickly made the fried rice. Wait, where are the eggs? Fried rice should have eggs, right? The ingredients were simple - large chunks of onion, bell pepper, pork, and that's it. It tasted good, but it had a more Japanese flavor than Chinese. As I kept eating, I realized something - this tastes just like stir-fried vegetables. If you replaced the rice with bean sprouts, it would be a complete vegetable stir-fry. Overall, it was a tasty meal. They also offer other rice dishes, bowl meals, set meals, and noodles on the menu, so I might come back to try something else.

In May 2022, there is a charming cafeteria in Iwamizawa with a cozy atmosphere from the exterior. There is a parking lot in front of the store. Inside, there are counter seats and raised seating areas. I haven't had fried rice much before, but I decided to try it here as it was recommended. It took less than 10 minutes to be served. The fried rice was well-seasoned, slightly oily, and perfectly stir-fried, moist, and delicious. It was generously filled with pork, bell peppers, and onions. They offer various types of fried rice, such as curry fried rice and chicken rice. It is a charming restaurant with many appealing options.

[Completely Non-smoking] Located in the Fujimachi area of Shibusen, near Kurisawa and Kurayama, not far from the central area of Iwamizawa station, this retro-style diner has been in operation since the Showa era. They are open for dinner as well (business hours are unclear on Tabelog, I will look it up). The restaurant is located off Route 1139 (Kurisawa Industrial Park Yamato Line), between Iwamizawa Asuka Hospital and the Special Nursing Home Kobushi, at a signalized intersection. From the intersection, turn towards the highway direction. Revisited on May 12, 2022, around 6 pm. I have visited this place several times, but this is my first review. With over a thousand unrated reviews, it's no surprise for me. After a fun drive exploring hot springs, dining, shopping, and encountering wildlife, I ended the day with dinner here. I ordered the Chicken Rice for around 650 yen. It's a dish made with ketchup-flavored rice and chicken, similar to an omelette rice dish. The rice is seasoned with salt and pepper, and the chicken and onions are stir-fried and seasoned with ketchup. The rice is well-coated with a nice ketchup flavor. The portion size is decent, and I finished it in no time. It was delicious, and I will definitely come back again.

On August 18, I visited a restaurant and ordered the Katsudon for 800 yen. It was a Sunday, and even though I was working, I managed to make time to visit. The restaurant had an old-fashioned Showa era vibe, with no ticket machine for orders - you had to place your order verbally and then pay at the counter. I decided to go for the "special" Katsudon, which was 150 yen more expensive than the regular one. I was told that the "special" had thicker meat cutlets, so I was intrigued and ordered it. The regular Katsudon was priced at 650 yen, and the couple who ran the restaurant operated like a well-oiled machine - the wife coated the cutlets in batter, while the husband fried and simmered them to perfection. The dish was served in a bowl without a lid, and the meat cutlets, while not as thick as advertised, were still satisfying. The portion was quite generous, with some overlapping pieces of cutlet. The dish also included onions and a softly cooked egg, and the flavor was subtle. The pickles served on the side were surprisingly tasty. Overall, I had no complaints, but there was nothing particularly outstanding about the meal.

I learned about this place from a local blog and decided to check it out. As soon as I entered the restaurant, I could smell the aroma of soy sauce-based soba broth, which got me excited for the soba. However, since I was hungry, I ended up ordering a pork cutlet bowl instead. While reading a manga, the staff kindly informed me that the evening newspaper had arrived. When my pork cutlet bowl arrived, I noticed that it had bamboo shoots which I don't particularly like. Additionally, I found out that miso soup was not included and had to be ordered separately for 150 yen. The egg on top was not cooked to my liking, and the thinness of the pork cutlet was reminiscent of the old days. Despite these observations, the flavor of the sauce over the rice was excellent. The aroma I sensed when entering the restaurant was indeed authentic.

The Chinese rice bowl I ordered came out surprisingly quickly, but the vegetables were almost raw and crunchy. The main vegetable was roughly chopped Chinese cabbage, along with roughly chopped bell peppers and carrots. There was only a small amount of meat, and the shrimp on top was not fresh, but rather tough and freezer burnt. The seasoning was extremely simple, just a basic salt flavor. Overall, the dish was disappointing.