ヤマト1215
Fried dumplings (Aged Gyoza) 770 yen
Pan-fried dumplings (Yaki Gyoza) 770 yen
Dragon fried rice 825 yen
Willow noodles (Wanko Ramen) 220 yen
This time, I visited the famous Chinatown restaurant called Akasaka Minmin, known as the birthplace of the way to eat dumplings with vinegar and pepper. I had tried to visit in the evening before, but it was fully booked, so I had to give up. This time, I tried again and managed to enter during lunchtime, around 12:30, which is the peak time for lunch. Surprisingly, I was able to enter without much of a wait, which was quite lucky. The restaurant is said to have a famous mother figure, and indeed, I ended up sitting right next to her while enjoying the food. At first, I thought she was a bit blunt, but as I got to know her, I realized her service spirit and sense of humor, and I understood why she is considered a famous figure.
Now, let's talk about the food. There are a few notable things on the table. Firstly, they serve barley tea on the table, which is very much appreciated, especially in this hot season. Secondly, you can enjoy pickled vegetables (Zaasai) for free. Even if you don't order it from the menu, you can have it if there is some left on the table. The pickled vegetables with just the right amount of saltiness can be a great appetizer and a perfect accompaniment for drinks. The fact that you can enjoy this for free shows the restaurant's service spirit. Another interesting thing is that there is no soy sauce on the table. Instead, they provide vinegar, pepper, and chili oil, emphasizing the importance of eating dumplings with vinegar and pepper.
Now, let's talk about each dish:
- Fried dumplings (Aged Gyoza): The first dish that arrived was this one. The mother recommended trying it without any additional seasoning, as the dumpling skin was perfectly seasoned with salt. The crispy texture of the skin, along with the well-packed filling, made it very delicious. Personally, this fried dumpling was my favorite dish.
- Pan-fried dumplings (Yaki Gyoza): The next dish served was this one. The mother prepared a vinegar and pepper condiment for this dish. The dumplings had a well-packed filling with a strong aroma of chives. The rich meat juice combined with the vinegar and pepper created a perfect balance of flavors.
- Dragon fried rice: This is a signature dish of the restaurant, along with the dumplings. Even the regular portion is quite large, so be prepared. The fried rice had a slightly moist texture, with a flavorful egg, garlic, chives, and chunky pork slices. Despite the generous portion, the taste was surprisingly gentle and comforting.
- Willow noodles (Wanko Ramen): You can order a small portion of ramen at this restaurant. The small ramen comes with noodles, soup, bamboo shoots, boiled egg, scallions, and fish cake. The soup had a nostalgic and subtle chicken soy sauce flavor, complementing the traditional taste of the noodles and bamboo shoots. It was a satisfying meal.
Overall, the experience at Akasaka Minmin was delightful, with delicious food and a warm atmosphere.