Cliff(y) Goes Dining

Virgin experience with Omi beef, red konjac and 'choji-fu'! My family and I had the opportunity to go on a day trip to Shiga Prefecture, specifically the town of Omihachiman, that's not too far from Kyoto. For lunch, we dropped by a restaurant serving Omi beef, which is recognised as one of the top three brands in Japan, alongside Kobe and Matsusaka beef.

Eat or don't: the store sells only one dish! When strolling through the lively district of Dotonbori in Osaka, Japan, it's probably hard to overlook the sight of at least one dragon holding a bowl of noodle. Established in 1928, Kinryu (lit. Golden Dragon) Ramen has got a few branches in the area. Be it day or night, you can satiate your ramen cravings anytime as they're open 24/7.

Certainly way better than being no. 18 in the market! Takoyaki , the celebrated Japanese octopus balls, stands as a quintessential street food experience in Osaka. I recall having pretty good ones from Kukuru in my previous visit to the lively Dotonbori district many years ago. This time round, I was drawn to another famous shop that calls itself no. 18, but the origin of the name remains a mystery with no clues provided on their website.

Not a single visit to Japan without 'ekiben'! A portmanteau of eki (lit. station) and bento (Japanese meal box), ekiben  has long been an icon of Japanese culinary culture. I know the meal boxes are served at room temperature, but I'm always drawn to them, thanks in part to their exquisite presentation. My family bought some from Ekiben Tabi Bento situated within Kyoto station to savour them for lunch, not inside a train, but in the comfort of our hotel room.

Abalone-topped sushi, anyone? Founded in 1995, Kura Sushi is the second largest sushi restaurant chain in Japan, trailing only behind Sushiro (スシロー). Having more than 450 outlets in the country, it's since expanded its presence to international locations, such as Taiwan and the USA. While visiting Osaka, I decided to drop by the branch located at the vibrant district of Shinsekai.