JPN: Kadoya Shokudo (かどや食堂)
Sublime experience with 'shirasu don'!
Welcome to Yuasa City in Wakayama Prefecture, the birthplace of shoyu (Japanese soy sauce). A culinary delight not to be missed in this region is shirasu (Japanese whitebait), which I previously saw in a travel show onboard a flight in the past that made my mouth water. Kadoya Shokudo is well-known for its fresh shirasu since its establishment in 1946.
Raw Shirasu Don ¥1,100 (~S$9.90)
Taste: 9/10
The Japanese writing on the menu is 生しらす丼. The star and its accompaniments aside, the tray came with miso (Japanese fermented rice, barley and/or soybean) soup and pickles.
Sitting on top of the warm, fluffy rice was quite a generous portion of translucent, jelly-like shirasu, sesame seeds and spring onions. First things first, I poured shoyu mixed with mashed ginger into the rice bowl. After that, I added the dried seaweed before savouring the dish. The subtle sweetness of the shirasu was accentuated by the soy sauce. Pika's advice: If raw whitebait doesn't entice you, you may want to try the boiled ones instead: 釜揚げしらす丼.
Tonkatsu Don ¥840 (~S$7.55)
Taste: 7.5/10
The Japanese writing on the menu is 豚かつ丼. Sitting on a bed of rice was a breaded pork cutlet topped with a sweet and savoury symphony of stir-fried eggs and onions that were cooked till caramelised. Though not the juiciest I've had in life, the meat was tender enough for my liking. The miso soup was hearty without being overly salty.
Chicken Wing Gyoza ¥540 (~S$4.85)
Taste: 8/10
The Japanese writing on the menu is 手羽ギョーザ. Perfect as a side dish or snack to go with drinks, the chicken wings were presented with aluminium foil, allowing you to indulge without worrying about oily hands. The crispy exterior, achieved through meticulous frying, gave way to a juicy and flavourful minced chicken and pork filling. The dipping sauce boasted aromatic notes, thanks to the rice wine vinegar, but it could use less salt.
Dried Mackerel ¥540 (~S$4.85)
Taste: 7.5/10
The Japanese writing on the menu is さばみりん干し. The mackerel was marinated with mirin (a kind of Japanese sweet rice wine) and other seasonings before being air-dried to give it a slightly tender and chewy texture. Despite having lots of bones, the fish was tasty enough, having embraced the sweetness of mirin.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 8/10
Ambience: 6.5/10
Service: 8/10
Overall: 7.5/10
The restaurant is easily accessible as it's located near Yuasa station.
Kadoya Shokudo
(かどや食堂)
1109-1 Yuasa
Yuasa City, Wakayama
Japan
(Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat: 11.00am - 2.00, 5.00pm - 8.30pm;
Wed, Sun: 11.00am - 2.00pm)
*Prices quoted are nett prices.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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