Thursday, April 16, 2009

maruichi shokudo

I've passed this place many times when I've walked from the Ikeda station back to my home.

On weekdays, I've seen many office people going into this place. Though I have never seen a line out the door, for this place to attract office people it must be good. Why? Because this place is quite a distance away from the station, kind of out of the way.

The shop is tiny only 17 seats. Their sign says that they are Cantonese but they serve Szechuan mabo tofu...hmmm

In fact, their specialty is the mabo tofu.

You could order anything from their menu but you should order the mabo tofu as a donburi (bowl).

Choose your heat. Amakuchi (mild), chu-kara (semi-hot), karai (hot). Satoshi and I chose semi-hot. It comes in a heated stone bowl, bubbling and sizzling. (can you see the steam shooting out?)

The rice is on the bottom, getting koge (burnt), a nice kind of burnt though...the grains of rice get hard and chewy, definitely a good kind of stick to your teeth.

Semi-hot is actually perspiry hot...you don't feel it until after you swallow and it is an addicting kind of heat. I wonder if the lady sitting behind of Satoshi finished her order, she ordered hot...

No matter how long you blow on your food though, I can almost guarantee you will burn your tongue...I did.

For 750 yen (about US$7.50) the mabo tofu comes with a salad and egg drop soup...definitely worth it.

We'll be back.

Maruichi Shokudo
3-11-6 Jonan
Ikeda, Osaka
Phone: 072.750.2212
Lunch: 12:00-14:00, Dinner: 18:00-24:00
Days closed unknown (call ahead)

9 comments:

KirkK said...

Hi Kat - I love a good "rice crust", the texture, and the nice nutty flavor.

Lori said...

I love rice dishes that come in that stone bowl...and this one really sounds tasty!

Coconut Girl Connie said...

mabo tofu, my favorite...karai

Deb in Hawaii said...

I love a good mabo tofu and I love the stone bowl. I mght have to go for mild or semi-hot though--I am wimpy sometimes! ;-)

Rowena said...

I'd be tempted to order hot but I had better heed your advice. The pics are making my mouth water!

Deb said...

That looks soooooo ono and amazing price for all of that. i would like to find a recipe!

:-) - Koge and karai. . . thank you for reminding me of these gramma, mom and auntie words from small-kid time!

K and S said...

"Rice crusts" are the best Kirkk :)

Thanks Lori, it was :)

I don't know that I will be brave to try karai the next time CGC :)

I hear you Debinhawaii, sometimes I am afraid that a dish will just be "spicy", leaving my tongue to taste nothing else.

Thanks Rowena, chance 'um! go for hot!

I hope you can find an easy recipe Deb :) Koge and karai are definitely words from my small kid times too.

Take care everyone!
Kat

2kamuela47 said...

That definetly looks ono!

K and S said...

Thanks Laura, it was :)

Take care.
Kat