2010
04.08
RESTAURANT: 四天王ラーメン/Shitennou Ramen
LOCATION: 高槻市/Takatsuki City
四天王チェーンの高槻店。神戸に住んでたとき、三宮でたまに食べたなぁーと思って高槻店にもいってみることに。お昼どきにいくとお得なランチセットが頼める。今回はお決まりのとんこつラーメンと餃子を。チェーン店なので特別な何かを求めて行ったわけではないけれど、まぁ、普通に美味しかったです。
一本となりの通りにはこれまたチェーン店の希望軒もあるし、最近高槻にはラーメン店が増えているような感じがします。その日の気分で色々行くのがいいと思いますが、私は四天王のチャーシューが好みなので、チャーシューが食べたいときはここに来るかな～。
On a recent Sunday we had, before breakfast, decided we both wanted to eat ramen for lunch. When we went to T’s Star Diner a week ago we walked past this place, and the time and our appetite were right to go and check it out.
Kana had a bowl of noodles from the lunch menu, served with fried rice and gyoza, and I tried the spicy miso ramen with extra chashu. Both were delicious, so delicious even that I didn’t think to take a photo of the food until it was all finished.
This is a chain restaurant with numerous locations all around Japan, with presumably the same food on the menu, but because we both enjoyed the food we decided to share this place with you.
VN:R_U [1.8.8_1072]
ADDRESS: 大阪府高槻市城北町2-3-8
TEL: 072-662-3130
Tags: ramen, restaurant Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
04.05
RESTAURANT: Saigon Opera/サイゴンオペラ
LOCATION: 大阪市/Osaka City
西梅田のブリーゼブリーゼのレストランフロアにあるベトナム料理屋さん。梅田界隈でベトナム料理が食べたくて行ってみました。お店の雰囲気がスタイリッシュでランチメニューの種類が豊富。私はフォーを相方はチキンのココナッツクリーム煮をチョイス。
味は「うーん、まぁまぁ」でした。ベトナム料理も好きなので、良くフォーを食べるのだけれど、ここのフォーは少し脂っこい感じがしました。ランチメニューはいろいろあったので、次回くるなら別のものを頼むかな。
We had some stuff to do in Osaka in the afternoon, so we decided to head out a little early to find a place to have lunch. We quickly found Saigon Opera on the 5th floor of the Breeze Breeze shopping building.
The lunch menu looked good, with all sets between ¥800 and ¥1000. Kana went for the Vietnamese noodles, and I had chicken in coconut (pumpkin?). The noodles came first and Kana had almost finished her meal by the time my meal arrived. The taste was okay, but not great.
This is not the best Vietnamese restaurant I’ve ever been too, but it’s not bad at all, and does satisfy cravings for Vietnamese fo0d when you’re in the neighborhood.
VN:RO [1.8.8_1072]
ADDRESS: 大阪府大阪市北区梅田2丁目4-9
TEL: 06-6344-1277
Tags: osaka, vietnamese Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
03.07
RESTAURANT: T’s Star Diner
LOCATION: 高槻市/Takatsuki city
北摂のコミュニティペーパーに掲載されていて、あまりに美味しそうだったので行ってみることに。高槻に住んでもうすぐ２年ですが、このお店がある通りは何故か通ったことがなくて、まったく知らないお店でした。中に入ると雰囲気は１９５０年代のアメリカって感じで、内装も面白くて良かった。バーガーの味はとても美味しく、ボリュームもあって、だけど、さっぱり。バーガーにポテト、小さなサラダと飲み物がついて780円のランチは破格。メニューはバーガー以外にもナチョスやタコライスなどもあり、是非、また行きたい。
We recently heard from a friend she had been to Takatsuki and had a delicious hamburger somewhere. Then we read about T’s Star Diner in the local news paper, figured this was the place our friend had been too and decided to give it a go ourselves.
Modeled after an American diner from the ’50’s and ’60’s. I’ll take their word for it, since I’ve never been to the US. Rock ‘n’ roll rules the interior, but not in an in-your-face kind of way. The sign on the door proclaims this restaurant serves good slow food. Full of expectation we went in, and quickly decided on the lunch-plate of the day: today a BBQ burger, served with fries and a mini-salad, all for only ¥780 (the price of the BBQ burger alone is ¥800, so it must be a good deal).
The burgers arrived after about 10 minutes. The beef patty was already placed on the bun for us, and the lettuce, tomato, pickles and sauce were served separately, allowing us to mix it up the way we liked it.
We had fairly high expectations of the taste based on what we heard of this place, and those expectations were more than met. The burger was an absolute winner, and that for the price of a Double Quarter-pounder set at McDonald’s.
If you’re in Takatsuki craving a burger, check out this place.
VN:RO [1.8.8_1072]
URL: http://www.ts-star-diner.com/
ADDRESS: 高槻市城北町2-11-5南園ビル1F
TEL: 072-672-0721
Tags: hamburger, milkshake, restaurant, takatsuki Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
02.28
CAFE: カフェ Roll
LOCATION: 高槻市/Takatsuki city
JR高槻駅近くにあるロールケーキ屋さん。噂を聞いて何度か足を運んだけれど、いつも閉まっていて、今回念願叶っていざ入店（（結局、日祝がお休みだったようです）。メニューは４種類のロールケーキとベーシックな飲み物といういたってシンプルなもの。相方が最初に食べたかった黒糖ロールが売り切れとのことだったので、私は定番のホワイトロールを、相方はココアロールをカプチーノとセットにしてオーダー。
ロールは切り身が厚く、ボリュームいっぱい。クリームも多くて美味。カプチーノは、まぁまぁかな？味は美味しかったけれど、ロールケーキ一切れと飲み物で５３０円（黒糖と抹茶のロールだと６３０円）は少々高い気が・・・。ロールが美味しかったので、今度はテイクアウェイでお客さんのお茶菓子用に利用するかも。
We had read online that this cafe, specializing in roll cakes, was supposed to be very good. We had been planning to go here for a while, but every time we got there the cafe was closed (turns out it’s closed on Sundays and public holidays). We finally managed to catch its doors open, so we went in.
As you can see on the photo above the menu is very basic. They sell a few different kinds of roll cake, combined into a set with a few different kinds of hot and cold drinks. It was easy to make a choice. Kana ordered the plain white one, and I went with chocolate, both with a cappuccino. The slices were huge, a pretty nice. The coffee was nothing special and rather milky. The taste was good, but ¥530 might be a little on the expensive side.
I’m glad we tried it, and we might buy a cake there again some time, since they sell whole cakes as well.
VN:R_U [1.8.8_1072]
URL: http://www.roll-cake.jp/
ADDRESS: 大阪府高槻市芥川町1丁目10-31
TEL: 072-682-2511
Tags: cafe, roll cake, takatsuki Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
02.13
CAFE: Café Farfalle
LOCATION: 高槻市/Takatsuki city
JR高槻駅前にある喫茶店／カフェ？ 駅の北側にのびる陸橋の階段を下りたところにあるうどん屋さんの２階。高槻に引越してきてから何度も看板は見ていたけど、なかなか行く機会がなかったが、先日行く予定にしていたカフェがしまっていたので、こちらを試すことに。ケーキセットは850円でケーキ＋ドリンク。今回はティラミスとカフェラテをオーダー。ティラミスはボリュームもあるし、味もよかった。なにより、カフェラテの表面に猫の絵が描いてあって素敵。夜１１時まであいているみたいなので、遅く帰宅したときには駅前でささっと軽食をいただくのもよさそう。
We found this coffee shop right outside JR Takatsuki station soon after we moved to Takatsuki over a year ago but never bothered to check it out. Until last Sunday that is.
We had planned to try another cafe close by famous for its roll cake, but found it to be closed that day. Still in the mood for coffee and cake we headed over to Café Farfalle. Located on the second floor, above an udon restaurant, this chotto retro-style cafe has been in business since 1997. It looks like the cool young cousin of some of the more traditional kisaten around.
We both ordered a cake set, I with cheese cake and Kana with tiramisu. The size and presentation happily surprised us for the price: ¥850 per person.
If you’re in Takatsuki and feel like a coffee and/or cake, skip Starbucks and check out this place.
VN:RO [1.8.8_1072]
ADDRESS: 大阪府高槻市芥川町1丁目7-1
TEL: 072-683-2005
Tags: cafe, cake, coffee, takatsuki Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
01.23
RESTAURANT: 梅園/Umezono
LOCATION: 京都市/Kyoto city
河原町通沿いにある甘味処。賑やかな場所にひっそりとある感じで、とても小さなお店。今回は抹茶とみたらし団子のセットを食べてみることに。みたらし団子は小さな俵型の団子の串が５本。それにおうすがついて来る。結構味が濃くて美味しいが、５本は少し多いかな？という感じ。
相方は抹茶とわらびもちを注文。こちらも美味。隣の席に座っていたご婦人が粟ぜんざいを注文していて、とても美味しそうだったので、次回はそれにトライしたい。ショッピングで疲れたときなどのティータイムにオススメのお店。
When I came to Kyoto for the very first time some eight years ago we went to this place on Kawaramachi Street. This is where I had my first experience with Japanese sweets and maccha (thick green tea). At the time my taste buds, completely unaccustomed to the Japanese taste, where in an utter state of shock. I thought it was strange Japanese sweets weren’t sweet at all.
Now, eight years of taste experience later, and fully accustomed to the taste of Japan, went back here after an afternoon of strolling around Gion. Now I was able to order something and know what to expect in advance. We ordered one maccha set with warabimochi and one with mitarashi dango. Both were delicious and worth every yen of the very reasonabel ¥650 per set.
If you’re in the mood for some typical Japanese refreshments while you’re in Kyoto, this is the place to go.
VN:RO [1.8.8_1072]
ADDRESS: 京都市中京区河原町通三条下ル山崎町234-4
TEL: 075-221-5017
Tags: cafe, cake, japanese sweets, kyoto Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
01.20
RESTAURANT: Cafe STERA
LOCATION: 高槻市/Takatsuki City
昭和な雰囲気の高槻センター街にありながら結構こじゃれたカフェ。学生さんや主婦に人気のようで混んでいる。デザートセットは好きなケーキに３２０円を足してドリンクとセットに。今回はティラミスとカフェラテをオーダー。ティラミスは美味しくて、盛り付けも可愛くてよかったです。夜はアルコールもやっていて、フードメニューも結構あるみたいなので、今度は夜に行ってみたい。
We regularly walk past this cafe in the main shopping street in Takatsuki. We went here once before, and we decided it was time for another visit. The cafe is upstairs and a little bit retro, but still quite stylish. The menu varies from cakes to light meals. We wanted to have just a coffee and some cake, so we both ordered different cakes. The cakes were served with ice cream and nicely presented on a plate. For a standard fee of ¥320 you can add any drink you like to your cake.
Definitely a nice place to have a coffee and to relax. The wall is stacked with fashion and interior magazines, so if you like to flip through a magazine with your coffee that too is no problem.
VN:RO [1.8.8_1072]
URL: http://www.cafe-stera.com/
ADDRESS: 大阪府高槻市高槻町15-17 PAL 2F
TEL: 072-683-7185
Tags: bar, cafe, cake, coffee, light meal, takatsuki Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
01.20
RESTAURANT: 四川辣麺/Sisen Ramen
LOCATION: 大阪市/Osaka City
大阪でラーメンが食べたい時によく行くお店。四川ラーメンというだけあって、坦々麺がメインのラーメン屋さん。私たちがよく頼むのは坦々麺元味というメニューで甘辛のひき肉がたっぷりはいってる一品。そこにお店のオリジナルの薬味（１０種類以上あるらしい）を足してお好みの味に。お気に入りはライチ酢。これをたっぷりいれるとさっぱりして美味しくなります。さらに、ラーメンには冷凍ライチが一つついてくるので、食後の口直しにぴったり。
We used to regularly visit this ramen shop in Osaka, so when we were in Osaka again the other day we decided to go again. The restaurant is located in Hankyu Sanbangai, underneath the Hankyu Umeda station. The restaurant serves varies types of ramen with various level of spiciness. I ordered my favorite, tan-tan-men. That’s spicy ramen with mince on top. On the table is a tray-load of sauces that can be added to the ramen, including spicy oil and lychee vinegar. Since all of Sisen’s ramen soups are mildly spicy at the very least, a frozen lychee is served for desert. If you’re in Umeda and in the mood for ramen, and let’s face it, who isn’t, stop by this place and you won’t regret it.
VN:RO [1.8.8_1072]
ADDRESS: 大阪府大阪市北区芝田1-1-3 阪急三番街北館B2F
TEL: 06-6485-0132
Tags: osaka, ramen, restaurant Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
01.19
RESTAURANT: 弦/Gen
LOCATION: 神戸市/Kobe City
さんちかにあるお蕎麦屋さん。場所柄か結構込んでいます。
オススメはうな重セット。大きなうな重にミニうどんかそばがついてます。このサイズのうなぎがついて８００円台は安いと思います。味もとても美味しいです。
三宮の街中でささっとお昼を食べたい時にはオススメです。
This diner in Santica, the underground mall underneath Kobe’s Sannomiya station serves soba and udon noodles. The range is fairly average, varying from noodles in soup to noodles with dip sauce. The sets served are all around the ¥800 mark and large enough to fill you up. If you’re in the neighbourhood and in the mood for soba or udon, check this place out, but don’t bother travelling to Sannomiya just to try this restaurant, since it is very similar to the soba/udon restaurant close to your house.
VN:RO [1.8.8_1072]
ADDRESS: 兵庫県神戸市中央区三宮町1丁目10-1-148
TEL: 078-391-3076
Tags: kobe, santica, soba, udon Category Cafe & Restaurant |
2010
01.15
RESTAURANT: Alberta Alberta
LOCATION: 神戸市/Kobe City
カジュアルイタリアンのお店。パン食べ放題なので、パン好きの相方さんの希望でちょくちょく行くお店です。ランチセットはスープかサラダ＋選択できるメインでパン食べ放題がついてます。パンは種類も結構あるし、常に焼きたてのものが出ているのが魅力。休日のランチでは結構待つかもしれませんが、パン好きなら待つ甲斐があります。
This self-classed country-style restaurant in the heart of Kobe service decent Italian-style lunches and dinners. While dinner can be ordered a-la-cart, the lunch comes as a set, with a main dish of your choice. The most note-worthy aspect of this restaurant, as far as I’m concerned, is the all-you-can-eat bread buffet that accompanies all meals. The bread is constantly freshly baked, and varies different kinds are available.
When you come here for lunch you might have to wait a while, especially on weekends. The lunch set is priced at just over ¥1000, and with that it is very good value for money.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is quite nice, but not all serving staff are as friendly as you’d expect.
VN:RO [1.8.8_1072]
URL: http://www.alberta-dining.co.jp/
ADDRESS: 兵庫県神戸市中央区三宮町2-7-8
TEL: 078-397-0061
Tags: country style, italian, kobe Category Cafe & Restaurant |
