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Hiroshima
Nagataya Okonomiyaki: In Japan, there is Osaka style Okonomiyaki and Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki… the debate goes no regarding which style is superior. Mine? Hiroshima style, and Nagataya is a very well known purveyor of Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki! Located near the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Rest House and the memorial to the Hypocenter of the A-bomb, Nagataya can be very busy during peak meal hours with a line that stretches down the street. There are other okonomiyaki options nearby if one does not wish to wait, but the okonomiyaki at Nagataya is really quite worth the wait indeed! One can order several variations of okonomiyaki along with other delicious treats such as Fried Chicken Skin in Broth and the ever craveable Gyozas. Top your okonomiyaki with some local Oysters, something that Hiroshima is also famous for (you can see the numerous oyster farm rafts if you take the ferry to Miyajima) and they are lovely and delicious!. No dress code, no reservations.
Tempura Ten Kou: There are two branches of the Tempura Kaiseki restaurant, the main branch (which we didn’t visit) is a Michelin Starred restaurant while the Nakamachi store just serves heavenly, perfectly fried tempura kaiseki menus with out the Michelin nod. If the menu isn’t enough to satisfy, you can also order a la carte after your meal and they will happily fry up anything on the menu that your tempura loving heart desires. The night we went, we were the only patrons in the restaurant and they graciously sat us in a private room (seats 4-6 i believe). We had the very first reservation of the night and i feel that folks dine out at a much later time than we do. The frying is done behind the L shaped 10 person bar, in a beautiful copper pot, and, though we are in a private room with the doors closed, we can hear the rhythm of each course being prepared. First, the sound of the high BTU jets comes on, then, the beautiful bubbling of the tempura being fried. Then the jets are shut off just a few ticks before our door is opened and the server appears with our various coursed delights. Salt and tempura sauce is served, as needed, with every course. For us, some curry powder was also served to go with our Tempura Eel. As it does when one is eating a kaiseki meal, a Chawamushi is served mid way and they served us a fabulous Chawamushi of mushrooms, fish, and shrimp. We ended on a rice course served with miso soup and, for dessert, a lovely red bean yokan. Must highly recommended indeed! No dress code, reservations strongly recommended!