A place I'd been curious about for a while. The restaurant next door, “高社楼,” which I've visited several times, was a little busy, so I decided to come in here. Although it said “Open,” the door was so old it took a little courage to open it. Inside was an atmosphere like a Showa-era snack bar, and a gentle elderly lady welcomed me with a smile. The moment I entered, it felt like a space where I could immediately think, “I'm glad I came in.” In the interior where time seemed to have stopped, I leisurely looked at the menu and ordered katsu curry. The freshly fried cutlet took a little time, but what arrived looked better than I'd expected. The taste was to my liking too! The curry sauce was sweet and mild to a degree that's a little unusual these days, but it matched perfectly with its European-style curry thickness. Even the regular rice portion could be called slightly large. Next time, I'd like to enjoy that excellent sauce on its own, so I'll try ordering the curry.

+3

A place with an adorable elderly lady serving The entrance door is pitch-dark and uninviting, but it's not really like that inside. An interior showing its age. ２ tables About 7 counter seats? Apparently it has quite a long history, and an elderly couple runs it. The lady was very attentive, refilling cold water, bringing a tissue box, and staying active, which left a good impression. Above all, despite the very low prices, they serve generous portions, which I think is this restaurant's biggest advantage. ⚪︎Hamburg steak A plate of pre-cut hamburg steak with cabbage salad and a garni… no, not quite, ketchup pasta in an unusually large portion for a side dish. The demi-glace-like sauce is much saltier than it is sweet, with a distinctive flavor and bitterness unique to this place. Somehow coffee-like. It's hamburg steak, but there's no coarse-ground texture or onion presence. It's like the stuff from a bento shop or the chilled packaged kind. Your teeth slide right through and you can chew it without resistance. But for this amount, ¥470 might be cheap. ⚪︎Curry rice Good old-fashioned curry rice, thick, yellow, and heavy on the flour. Surprisingly, the meat is pork chunks, and there are lots of big pieces. Even the regular size has plenty of rice, and I think ¥450 for this is amazing. But the sauce itself had, what was it, a hint of rice bran? Freezer burn? It bothered me.

+3

Near Secom. One intriguing place among the three lined up at the intersection of 〈Yamanaka-dori〉 and 〈Murasakibashi-dori〉. I had the “ginger pork set meal.” Really delicious!! The miso soup was a simple bowl of daikon and tofu that seemed good for the body. All this for 600円, exactly as listed on the menu. Wow, this is no time to be spending money at the chain restaurants around hereヽ(´▽｀)/ ♪ The wife looked after us throughout, topping up our water and ice and so on. She came here at 21 and is now 75, which means they've been operating for 54 years! (◎_◎;) Do any of us work at a company for 54 years? Don't go calling it old(〃艸〃) Out of respect for all those years, if you're curious, why not visit(^^)?

+3

I had the “fried shrimp set meal.” I went to a place on my to-visit list, quite a distance from Mitaka Station. This retro spot, where time seems to have stopped in the Showa era, is a café & restaurant run by an elderly couple. I arrived after the customers had thinned out, but it was just under 30 minutes after ordering before I met my fried shrimp set. Hand-cut cabbage, a generous heap of Napolitan pasta, ３ short but thick fried shrimp, and ready-made tartar sauce. The thoroughly fried shrimp were crispy & springy. The rice portion was generous, and the daikon and tofu miso soup had a strong dashi flavor—so gooood. A set meal this generous and delicious for 720円 as this month's special lunch—what a surprising price! This is a place you mustn't rush, so I'd recommend it to people with time to spare. As I left, the wife said, “Thank you, take care on your way home.” Those loving words really moved me.... Thank you for the meal. Please keep going forever. Completely satisfied.

May 2023. I arrived outside around 13:15 on a day off. It was my first visit in about 15 years. An open sign hung on the pitch-black, light-blocking glass door, and I couldn't see inside at all. First-time visitors will probably need a little courage to open it. Inside, the compact interior resembles a small snack bar. There were no other customers. An elderly couple, probably past 70, were eating their staff lunch. "Welcome," said the wife as she hurriedly cleared away their dishes, greeting me with water and a box of tissues. Seating consists of about 6 counter seats and 2 tables for 2. I ordered the ginger pork set meal for 600円 and the add-on coffee for 120円, totaling 720円. It arrived after about 8 minutes. The ginger pork sauce is slightly sweet and mellow. It clings beautifully to the crinkled, thin slices of pork belly and really gets the rice going. Toss the cabbage in this sauce and it becomes an outstanding side dish that also goes wonderfully with rice. In contrast, the miso soup has a decidedly salty, strong flavor, but it isn't bad. Even the regular rice portion is as big as a large serving at a chain restaurant. Coffee apparently comes hot only, and it arrived piping hot. It tasted very light, just how I like it. All this for 720円 is amazing. The extensive menu certainly sparks curiosity, but there are hits and misses. Speaking from experience. As I left, the wife's "Take care" really touched my heart.