I am the pickiest eater ever. Just ask my grandparents. According to them I “have the taste buds of a five-year-old”. One of my major fears about studying here in Japan was the food. I knew I liked ramen, but I’ve only eaten the Americanized version of it. I’ve eaten at Japanese style restaurants but again it’s all been Americanized. So, I wasn’t sure how well I would be able to eat here. I am pleased to announce that I am eating like a little kid in a candy store. I have found one thing I do not like, Natto (fermented soybeans), and a million other things I love. My favorite so far is udon. But not any udon, the best udon is from a little place called Sanukikamaageudon Yondaimeyokoiseimenjo Nisshintakenyamaten. Don’t ask me how to actually pronounce the name because I have no clue. We just call it the udon place or the udon cafe. The first time I went it was a little nerve wracking. You stand in a line, grab a tray, order your food, grab any extras from the counter if you want, then make your way down the line to pay and remember to bring cash. They don’t accept cards, only cash. That first time there we were scrambling to make sure we had enough cash for all three of us. When I first went it was in August, I ordered a bowl of udon with a side of rice and two pieces of chicken with some spring onions and garlic sauce. It was delicious. Or as they say here in Japan oishikatta! This was the first time I had actively enjoyed eating here. Sure, I loved the ramen and onigiri and other things I tried, but this was the perfect meal I had ever had. I loved it more than the food from home. It quickly became my favorite meal of all time, and I started eating there practically every day. Sometimes more than once. When November started, the menu changed, and they no longer had my udon set. I now had to choose something different. Now I order menitende set, which is a bowl of udon, a side of rice with some fried onions, fried shrimp, and a fried leaf. I have no idea what the leaf is, but I still eat it, and it is delicious. I try to always go with a friend because I do not like shrimp and I hate wasting food here. I usually go with Andy and give her my shrimp and rice. I am going to miss the udon cafe and Japanese food.
