Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan｜定食屋さん こころ亭

Kokoro-tei is a new set meal restaurant that opened in November last year in a residential area in Higashi Tokorozawa. Although it advertises itself as a set meal restaurant, it only has two types of dishes on the menu: pork bowl and offal stew (it seems they have recently started offering mapo tofu set meals). This time I ordered "Pork bowl set meal (large)". There are three types of pork on top: belly, loin, and loosened pork. It is medium thick and easy to eat. Seasoning is kept to a minimum to bring out the flavor of the ingredients. However, since it comes with a sauce, you can adjust it to your desired thickness. And this pork is super soft. I'm not talking metaphorically, I seriously need teeth. It comes with a pot of bonito-based soup stock, so the second half is Hitsumabushi-style or pork bowl soup chazuke. It was completely eaten in no time. This is the best. Just after eating (large), I want to eat another one (lol) As expected, the fact that the menu has been carefully selected shows a certain level of perfection. I have a feeling that the other motsuni is not just a problem.

The store is located right next to Higashi Tokorozawa Elementary School. I ordered char siu rice bowl (average). The owner apparently doesn't use any chemical seasonings in the char siu, so it's full of flavor but not salty. It's a truly addictive taste. At the end, leave about half of the rice and add a little bit of the dashi soup and sauce that comes with the set. This also had an exquisite taste.

Today, I had my favorite “char siu bowl” at this restaurant. The “char siu bowl” at this restaurant is different from other restaurants, and after enjoying the unique taste, you can pour the soup stock from the pot over it and enjoy it as smooth as “hitsumabushi”! 😋 Even if the taste changes along the way, you can add some sauce or YUZUSCO (a spice similar to Tabasco with yuzu), a specialty of Kyushu, so you won't get bored until the end. Beneath the chashu all over the bowl is a layer of shaved bonito flakes, which do a good job when the dashi is added at the end. It's so much fun, so delicious, and worth 1,000 yen! The location is on a residential road between a residential area and an elementary school, making it a disadvantageous location for a restaurant. The store is clean, the staff is courteous and the customer service is excellent, and there is a parking lot for 3 cars in front of the store 🚙 It's a good store and I want it to continue forever 😊