KARAI TSUKEMEN, The thickest noodles I’ve ever had, accompanied by the spiciest, oiliest soup I’ve ever dipped them in. That just about sums up my experience at Kuwon, where I constantly found myself grabbing at the nearby box of tissues to wipe away the spicy, oily broth from around my mouth. I won’t lie, I…

FUKUSHIMA DUMPLINGS You know a restaurant is going to be good when you walk in and see a photo of the Japanese Prime Minister, who’s recently visited, nestled next to the door way. Gyoza no Terui is a relatively inconspicuous Gyoza restaurant in the mountains on the outskirts of Fukushima city. From the outside it…

Battered Cheese Pork Cutlet, TONKATSU CHEESE When I think Tonkatsu, I just picture simple battered, succulent pork cutlet. However, at Jintei – widely regarded as one of the best Tonkatsu restaurants in Fukushima, the chicken is stuffed with cheese. When you walk into Jintei, you’ll be confused by the traditional, yet modern vibe of the…

SOBA AND ONION Hidden away in the mountains of Fukushima is an old town that was once a stopping off point, for travellers going from Edo (Tokyo) up into Tohoku. Setting foot on the main street of Ouchijuku, is the closest you’ll come to feeling like you’ve gone back in time in Japan, as you…

FUKUSHIMA ASSORTED CARAMEL I was surprised to find Caramel is a popular sweet in Fukushima. They come wrapped up like traditional candy, and distinctively served in a round box you’d expect to find camembert served in. The moment you pop one in your mouth, it seems to dissolve away without chewing. In fact, the texture…

KENCHIN UDON I have found the best udon in the Galaxy – and it’s in a restaurant with a spectacular thatched roof. Kuretechaya has something of a traditional atmosphere, with traditional fireplaces dotted throughout the room. Originally this meal comes from the Buddhist temple cuisine; from vegetarians to meat-eaters the Kenchin udon has many variations…

HORSE SAUCE KATSU I won’t like, when I ordered this I made a mistake. I was hoping for a cut of pork tonkatsu and the menu read, 『うまソースとんかつ』(Uma so-su katsu). The “so-su katsu” refers to this famous local dish, which is battered pork fillet and I thought the “uma” part was referring to the Japanese…

PEACH CAKE This snack tastes pretty much like a French pastry called the “Madeleine”. Madeleines are like very small sponge cakes, although the flavour is similar to, but somewhat lighter than sponge cake. The cherry cream is pretty sugary and the taste of the cherry fruit is really light. It’s one of the most popular…

WASABI SOBA All you can eat ramen is real. In north Fukushima lies a town called Kitakata, famous for having more ramen shops per capita population, than any other place in Japan. Walk down a street in Katakana around lunch time, and you’ll be able to witness a long line of people queuing out the…