Ryuman
During the day, Japanese Ramen Noodle Lab Q is a popular ramen shop, but this time I visited at night. At night, they only serve menu items like yakitori, and there is no ramen available (which I was actually looking forward to). I was able to sit at a large table for shared seating, and I sat at the central table. Jazz music was playing, the decor was gorgeous, and the atmosphere was quite nice. The young staff members were attentive and I didn't mind them. I ordered the Kura Mizuwari sweet potato shochu "Q" from the house. For food, I had chicken skin and sasami with yuzu ponzu, chicken skin and chicken ham salad, premium local chicken skewers (thigh, liver, minced & gristle egg), and Australian lamb chops charcoal-grilled. The Kura Mizuwari sweet potato shochu "Q" seemed like an original drink from the restaurant, but it's actually a drink from Miyazaki Prefecture with this name. With an alcohol content of 14°, it was served in a wine glass and was fruity and easy to drink. The chicken skin and chicken ham salad consisted of fresh vegetables with chicken skin and chicken ham, and although a bit pricey, it was quite tasty. The liver wasn't too overwhelming, and the premium local chicken skewers were delicious with a good texture. The minced & gristle egg was easy to eat with the egg yolk blending well. The chicken skin and sasami with yuzu ponzu arrived later and was refreshing with the yuzu ponzu vinegar. I really enjoyed this dish. I had the Yunotsuru unfiltered super cloudy whiskey yeast shochu with water as my drink. Made with whiskey yeast by Toyonaga Sake Brewery in Kumamoto, this shochu was smooth and easy to drink with a good kick. By the time the Australian lamb chops charcoal-grilled arrived, I was starting to feel a bit tipsy. The lamb chops were tender and well-seasoned. The white liver mousse was lighter than expected, making it surprisingly easy to eat. It had pink pepper on top as well. Overall, I tried a variety of dishes, but the local chicken thigh, minced & gristle egg, and chicken skin and sasami with yuzu ponzu stood out as my favorites. I initially thought of giving the food a rating of 3.5 stars, but because of the great atmosphere and staff, I decided to give it a rating of 4.0 stars.