Pat My Butter

when you hear about a place often enough from enough people to the extent that you get tired of saying you’ve never been ther, a visit must be made.  in this way, samurai noodle rose to distinction among the many restaurants in the uwajimaya food court (anyone ever been to herfy’s?).

to be fair, samurai noodle isn’t technically in the food court (though signs encourage you to take food to go and eat it there), as it’s around the corner with its own separate entrance.  other reasons i should have known i’d love it – it’s tiny, the menu is short, and, though it was packed, no one seemed to mind waiting.

orders are taken at the counter – rapidly, with quick explanations as needed, and recommendations (given so the line will keep moving) so confident you can’t help but take them. food generally arrives soon after you’re seated and it’s clear that the purpose of the few tables they do have is eating – not sipping, chatting, or dawdling.

though there are rice dishes, ramen is clearly the point.  there’s tonkatsu (pork broth), souyu (chicken broth), tsukemen (fish broth) and even tounyu (soy broth).  i’ve found little reason to stray from the pork, with it’s intense, meaty broth and hefty pieces of pig.

families are a common sight here.  while in line the other night, i couldn’t stop watching a couple tiny girls slurping from tiny bowls of ramen with the greatest of concentration (because it was cute, not just because i was hoping for their table!)

on a cold day, on a day when i have a cold, or any day when i need some beautiful hot broth to make me feel better – from now on, i think i’ll end up here.