Juhyo (Rime) in Zao (Yamagata Prefecture) | Review by 王小鈞

A new style of Iekei ramen created by an owner who has received the Bib Gourmand distinction three times.

Walking into the restaurant, the first thing you see is the familiar counter seating of a Japanese ramen shop. Sitting there and watching bowl after bowl of steaming ramen being served, along with the various seasonings provided on the counter, made me look forward to tasting the ramen.

This time, I ordered a bowl of their signature Iekei ramen. When it arrived, the generous amount of toppings made it look quite substantial: chashu, nori, greens, chopped green onions, and a soft-boiled egg with a runny center. It was visually appealing. The broth had the rich flavor characteristic of Iekei ramen, and I also liked the texture of the noodles. They were neither too firm nor too soft, had a satisfying bite, and went well with the broth.

I also ordered a Nikutama rice bowl for JPY 350, and unexpectedly, this small bowl of rice left an even stronger impression on me! It came with a generous amount of diced chashu, and the portion was substantial. Grilling gave the meat an enticing charred aroma. Mixing it with the egg brought the flavors of the meat, egg, and rice together, and every bite was packed with chashu. It was really delicious!

However, as I continued eating, I noticed something that was harder for me to get used to: everything was quite salty. Both the ramen broth and the sauce on the Nikutama rice bowl were noticeably salty. It was fine at first, but the more I ate, the heavier it tasted, and I couldn’t help drinking water to cut through the richness.

Overall, the noodles had a nice texture, and the chashu Nikutama rice bowl is especially worth recommending. People who enjoy the aroma of grilled chashu will probably love it. For me, though, it was simply too salty. If the broth and sauce were a little lighter, the overall dining experience would be even better!

A dessert shop that puts carefully selected butter front and center, best known for its Butter Financier. While browsing the souvenir area at Tokyo Station, I was drawn to Butter Butler’s bright yellow and teal packaging. An entire wall was filled with neatly stacked gift boxes, making the brand instantly recognizable. The packaging had me sold before I even tried anything!

Their Butter Financier really left a strong impression on me! What I love most is its rich, irresistible buttery aroma. The outside is baked until slightly crisp, while the inside stays moist and delicate. Every bite is full of rich butter flavor with a subtle hint of maple, and the sweetness is just right.

I especially love how the buttery flavor slowly spreads through your mouth. It makes it hard to stop eating one bite after another.

Although they aren’t exactly cheap, the elegant, high-quality packaging and delicious Butter Financiers make them perfect as gifts or souvenirs.

This time, I bought several boxes to take back to Taiwan for friends and family. I wanted to share something I love with the people around me!

When visiting Nakamise Street in Asakusa, you can’t miss the historic Kimuraya Honten! The shop is best known for its ningyo-yaki shaped like famous Asakusa landmarks. They’re very cute and filled with red bean paste, kind of like a Japanese, shaped version of a red bean egg cake.

When I passed by, I saw quite a few people lined up to buy them. The lively crowd made me stop and join everyone else in trying some.

The cake had a light egg aroma, and the texture was soft and fluffy, like a slightly denser traditional egg cake. The red bean filling was smooth and delicate, and together with the cake, it had the flavor of a Japanese wagashi sweet.

However, the red bean filling was still a little too sweet for me. People who enjoy Japanese sweets would probably really like it.

When visiting Asakusa, besides seeing Kaminarimon and the lively streetscape of Nakamise Street, it’s also worth buying some to experience this traditional local treat. For me, trying it once made for a memorable experience, but I’m not that likely to buy it again!