Tag: Japanese food

Home Again, Shrine Visit, and So-So Sushi 🏡

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Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/7.1, 1/100 sec, ISO1250
 “Shrine Visit” Tatsuno, 2026

This morning we finally made it to our house, unpacked our suitcases, and got settled in. After that we walked over to the local shrine to pay our respects, then wandered the neighborhood for a bit. I love exploring the streets and shops around our place. Always fun! 🏠

By then our appetite was building, so we headed to Rikimaru for kaitenzushi. It was just okay, honestly a bit of a letdown. Mariko and Bay had gone a few months back and said it was much better that time. Oh well, at least the meal was cheap. It still amazes me how affordable some meals in Japan can be! 🍣

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/7.1, 1/550 sec, ISO400
 “Osanpo” Tatsuno, 2026
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO640
 “Tempura Sushi” Taichi, 2026
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/60 sec, ISO250
 “Seared Toro” Taichi, 2026
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/60 sec, ISO250
 “Salad and Salmon” Taichi, 2026
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 27mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO1600
 “Clam Miso Soup” Taichi, 2026
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO160
 “Rikimaru Sushi” Taichi, 2026

Back in Japan, First Bite of Okonomiyaki 🇯🇵

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/1000 sec, ISO80
 “Above Osaka” Japan, 2026

We finally landed at Narita, grabbed our luggage, and made it through customs before catching the bus for the hour ride over to Haneda. From there we hopped a connecting flight to Itami. Once we arrived we checked into the Osaka Airterminal Hotel, which is actually built right into the terminal. Such a cool setup!

I took a quick shower to wash off the travel grime, then we wandered around checking out the restaurant options before landing on Seijuro for okonomiyaki and beer. Honestly the perfect first meal in Japan. So good to be back! 🍻

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200
 “Osaka Airterminal Hotel” Osaka, 2026
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO125
 “Refreshing Beer” Osaka, 2026
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/120 sec, ISO100
 “Okonomiyaki” Osaka, 2026

Chanpuru and Harumaki

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/45 sec, ISO1250
 “Chanpuru” Cedar Park 2026

Dinner tonight was chanpuru and harumaki. We had some friends over, which made it a special meal. 🥢 Good food tastes even better with good company! Our friend also brews his own beer, and brought over some for us to enjoy. It was delicious.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/50 sec, ISO1250
 “Harumaki” Cedar Park 2026

Go Go Curry

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/120 sec, ISO125
 “Katsu Curry” Gardena, 2026

I met up with a friend for lunch today at Go Go Curry in the Gardena Tokyo Central. It was my first time trying the chain, and I have to say, it held up pretty well. I’m still a CoCo Ichibanya person at heart, but Go Go Curry is not bad! I’d go back. 🍛

Dinner at Matsui Japanese Restaurant

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200
 “Manager’s Special” Torrance, 2026

We had dinner tonight at Matsui Japanese restaurant, and it did not disappoint. 🍣 The food was genuinely good and the prices were surprisingly reasonable. You could tell just by looking around the room. Most of the diners were older, Hawaiian-style Asian, lots of flip-flops and casual clothes, the kind of crowd that knows where the real value is.

I went with the Manager’s Special, which turned out to be a popular call. I spotted at least three other diners ordering the same thing. It came with delicious tempura, several pieces of nigiri, a nice salad, and I chose soba over udon for the noodles. It was a lot of food and all of it was solid. Definitely a place to return to. 😊

Curry and TV

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Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/70 sec, ISO200
 “Terebi-Time” Cedar Park, 2026

There’s a great song by Blur called Coffee and TV, but tonight I had my own version: Curry and TV. 🍛 The hardest part of the evening was picking what to watch from my “Continue Watching” queue. I ended up going with Gimbap and Onigiri followed by Tokyo Love Story. Good times! 📺

Oh, and that bottom photo? That’s the scene of the crime. I’m pretty sure Anko was licking the ladle and knocked it right onto the floor! 🐱

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 35mm, f/3.6, 1/105 sec, ISO5000
 “Beef Curry” Cedar Park, 2026
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 2.2200000286119mm, f/2.2, 1/60 sec, ISO160
 “Scene of the Crime” Cedar Park, 2026