Hyperlocal Tokyo

September 3rd Lunch I found this restaurant when I went to Ningyocho for lunch in August and I really wanted to try their paella, so I visited for lunch today for the first time. They have two types of paella, and I ordered the "Squid and Okra Cheese Paella." The chairs are high, so it was a little difficult for me to sit in them because I'm short. The interior and music of the restaurant are both to my taste. The salad came out first. It was a green salad with mostly leafy greens and the dressing was delicious. Two weeks ago, a review mentioned that it came with soup and bread, but maybe they changed it to salad in September? The paella I was waiting for arrived! The paella dish was also authentic. The squid had a strong tomato flavor, which I personally found a bit too intense. This was the first time I've had okra and squid together. I carefully scraped off the crispy bits around the edges of the dish and mixed them with the cheese before eating. It's a Japanese paella, different from the paella you'd find in Spain. I wasn't a fan of the squid seasoning, but I finished it all because it would be rude to leave food behind. The rice was cooked to the perfect firmness, and the squid was flavorful, but I wonder if the rice would have been better with a lighter flavor. I want to try something other than paella next time.

One day, while passing by, I thought, "This place looks promising." So, I made a reservation for three people a few days later. As a result, we received the best hospitality for dinner. It's located just a minute away from Ningyocho Station (Hibiya Line, Asakusa Line) subway exit, the atmosphere inside is calm and relaxing, the female staff are attentive and pleasant, the food is all delicious, especially the paella, which is truly exceptional. We each had three beers and a decanter of red wine, along with the paella and four other dishes. The total came out to about 6,000 yen per person, which was within our budget.

February 27, 2024 The lunch menu on this day had four options, all for ¥1000. Soup and bread were included. 1. Iberico Pork Bacon and Napa Cabbage Paella 2. Mackerel and Mizuna Paella 3. Grilled Pork Shoulder Loin 4. Chicken Cutlet Everything looked delicious, but I and S chose option 1, while U chose option 3. The paella was great. The bacon was sweet and didn't have that heavy pork taste. It was really delicious. But for a man, it might be a bit small. The grilled pork shoulder loin was also thick and looked delicious. Maybe I'll try that next time. However, options 3 and 4 didn't come with rice. The bread was good, but I still prefer rice 😀

I visited this restaurant for the first time in late April 2023, drawn in by their offer of a paella lunch for ¥1,000. Arriving early on a weekday, I was quickly seated and ordered the paella with sakura shrimp and spring cabbage. The female staff were efficient and friendly. First came the soup and baguette. The soup was delicious (though a bit small), and the baguette was warm and chewy. They offer unlimited refills on the baguette, so I greedily took three more, which I later regretted (laughs). Soon after, my main dish arrived! The rice was spread out thinly and beautifully, and while the dish was large, I felt it was a satisfying portion. It was piping hot, fresh from the kitchen, and absolutely delicious! The seasoning was perfect. This is definitely a great value lunch. I'll be back to try other menu items next time!

I visited on a weekday at noon. There were many customers, but I was able to get in without waiting. It's not easy to find Spanish lunch, so I was curious about the paella and ordered it. Freshly baked bread (refills are OK) and cold corn soup arrived quickly. The bread was a baguette, chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The corn soup was also very delicious, with a natural corn flavor. The main paella arrived, and I squeezed some lemon on it and took a bite. It was completely different from any paella I'd had before. The pork flavor combined with the fresh watercress and mizuna on top created a complex taste. I was also interested in other menu items, so I will definitely visit again.