KURA SUSHI

I stumbled upon Kura Sushi whilst looking for a sushi place for lunch. It was a roasting hot day and me and a friend were looking for a place near the Aeon shopping centre in Narita town. This place attracted us because the building was white and had a sign outside saying everything 100yen. Great, a nice cheap lunch, let’s give it a try. Sometimes in Japan you have to take a chance as it’s a hit or miss thing. You actually get 2 pieces of sushi for 100yen. What amazed me about this place was you could order your meal from a computer screen at your table. No waiter to take your order or give you a bill. When we walked in we noticed it was conveyor type sushi and the lady at the counter handed us some napkins and an English menu. You then find a booth you want to sit at. If you don’t like anything on the conveyor belt you order your food from the touch screen tablet at your table. No sooner had we ordered but "boom" the food arrives on a shelf above the usual revolving sushi. A green light flashes and a buzzing noise is heard, it sounds and looks like a train -  you look up and see the sushi driver has arrived carrying plates of sushi. You then pick up the food from the platform, turn off the light to warn kitchen you have indeed received your food. The train then races back to the kitchen at full speed, it’s hilarious, that’s why I love Japan, every day is an adventure waiting to happen. I just love salmon so ordered 3 different types, one in particular was so tasty it melts in your mouth; also the rice was a nice temperature and texture. Had prawn tempura also, two types, one with rice one without. In between courses you can help yourself to green tea again also at the table. Only time you need to leave the table is if you want another type of drink. They have self service draft beer and the glass mug tilts at the end so you get a nice frothy head. Had about 13 dishes between two of us, 11 were 100yen, other dishes like miso soup with tiny flavourful clams were 200yen and a tempura set which consisted of 2 prawns, 1 white fish, and onion rings was 200yen. Lunch was1500yen for 2 not bad, will definitely go back. I had Miso soup, 6 pieces of salmon sushi, 4 prawn tempura and 2 salad rolls. I was so full, had no room for dessert but cleansed my palate with the fresh ginger, also at the table. Normally when you go to a self service sushi place you pile your plates up and then you calculate the cost by the colour of plate and the amount you have. Here they have a slot at your table and you drop the plates in, and somehow they calculate the cost for you, and no doubt they get whisked back to the kitchen on a high speed robot cleaned and ready to plate the next order.

Sushi Delivery Guy

Miso Soup with Clams

Tasty Prawn Tempura

Three types of salmon and a bowl of tempura and onion rings

OHSHO

Yummy Gyoza

I call Ohsho the “gyoza place” because I think they have the best tasting gyoza in Narita town. However, they have lots of other tasty dishes such as fried rice with roasted pork and egg, miso noodle soup with roasted pork, various sautéed vegetable, meat and fish dishes, and they always have a monthly special, as well as sets, which cost a little less. It is a casual diner that is well populated by locals and expats alike. The staff are very friendly and the service is fast. You have to point to the menu when you order as the staff  don’t speak much English but they do try, and they always smile. It is always polite to say “Arigato” which means thank-you when you receive your meal.  They have good Asahi draft beers to wash down all that delicious food. However, they also have jugs of iced water at each table, as well as fresh ginger, hot sauce, soya sauce and other condiments. The gyoza is handmade onsite so it’s totally fresh. When you enter the restaurant the waitress smiles and invites you to go upstairs but if there are only one or two people you can sit downstairs at the countertop facing the kitchen where you can watch the chefs making the gyoza from scratch. Many airline crews eat here as it’s cheap and good value for money. You can find Ohsho restaurants all over Japan.The gyoza is the main attraction and costs only 231yen for 6 pieces which is a bargain. There were two of us dining and we shared 3 dishes and had 1 plate of gyoza each as it is so tasty especially when dipped in the hot sauce mmm!!! The dishes we shared were; fried rice with roasted pork and egg which is 420yen, a miso noodle soup 630yen and sauteed vegetables with pork and prawns 525yen. So, if you make a quick calculation you will see that the bill for two was 2037yen. They take cash only and when you leave all the chefs look up, nod their head and smile and say thank-you. You can’t beat that for service.To get to Ohsho, turn right as you come out Kasai Narita station, then cross the street and it’s right there. If you can’t find it just ask someone where the gyoza place is, you won’t be disappointed. 



Lots of variety on the menu



Front entrance, take out counter on the right



Fried rice with egg and pork, gyoza,
egg drop soup and Asahi beer



Miso Ramen with pork and veg.

  

MAMMA PASTA

Mamma pasta is an Italian restaurant in Narita. The chef prepares and rolls the dough and adds toppings to the pizza at the front of the restaurant and then puts it in a wood burning stove. It comes out with a nice crispy base with bubbles around the edges, so light and tasty, not that hard doughy texture that hits your stomach hard. We picked the "Mamma's original mix" pizza from the menu.It didn't describe what was on it so we asked the server, but she was unsure how to explain it in english and run off to ask someone.When she came back, she explained although somewhat flustered that there was eggplant, shrimp, proscuitto, peppars and olives on it. She gave us hot oil and chilli flakes and a  jug of ice water. Also ordered a Caesar salad and it came with lots of nice big shavings of parmesan cheese.One pizza and salad was enough for our party of two. Had no room for the dessert wagon. You can choose cakes of your choice if you still feel hungry. The cakes looked so tempting but felt comfortably full, maybe next time. Although I love japanese food it’s nice to have a pizza  once in a while.Another dish I’ve had was the salmon and spinach penne in a nice creamy sauce.Delicious !!!