Japan Food Trip 2024. 1st stop: Toyama

Google_Gourmet · February 14, 2024, 9:48pm

A larger than life tray of Nigari Sushi on the luggage conveyor welcomed us as we deplaned at Toyama airport. Great to be back in Japan!

Airport limo bus dropped us in front of our hotel. Quick check in, crossed the street to an ubiquitous konbini (7/11). Grabbed a couple of Onigiri, some Toyama special Instant Black Ramen and a jug of water. Fine in room dine.

This morning, hopped on the rail to the coastal town of Himi. Our usual train fare. Yummy 7/11 Sando and chilled Latte. Plus another Toyama specialty, Oshizushi. Pressed Salmon Sushi.

Our destination was the Himi Fish Market. A large warehouse and packing operation catering to the commercial trade.

A single restaurant on the 2nd floor has long been feeding the fishmongers and warehousemen, now quite popular for visitors like us. The seafood is pristine and very reasonably priced. We both chose raw seafood sets. She
Sashimi, me the Chirashi set. A steamy pot of Fisherman’s Seafood Soup came with delicious meaty Fishballs and Fishy bits.

A bit of chilled Sake and an icy Sapporo completed this first meal.

We saw numerous signs of the recent earthquake as we wandered back to the JR station. Hoping the best for the region and the folks.

linguafood · February 14, 2024, 9:58pm

Gorgeous pics! The fish looks incredible.

THECHARLES · February 14, 2024, 11:24pm

Its February! The Snow-Crab ( Hon-Zuwaigani ) feast at EBITEI BEKKAN, Toyama is out of this world goooood!

Google_Gourmet · February 14, 2024, 11:37pm

Thanks for the reminder! DW has the on her must have list. I have Shiro Ebi on my mine, one of many local specialties. We’re about to take off to another food destination, probably will eat one or both of these delicacies.

THECHARLES · February 14, 2024, 11:46pm

HAVE A WONDERFUL TRIP! ENJOY!!!

FindingFoodFluency · February 15, 2024, 2:04am

Check out Shinminato Kito Kito market, too!

Also, if you’re keen on Japanese history, Toyama city was historically a center of Japanese medicine.

klyeoh · February 15, 2024, 2:15am

Wow, the Japanese are usually very prompt at patching up/repairing such cracks.

ipsedixit · February 15, 2024, 4:52am

this is why i’m retiring in japan

Google_Gourmet · February 15, 2024, 9:21pm

First dinner in Toyama was at Daikichi, an izakaya a short crawl from our hotel. We had pinned this as a likely spot when we walked by in the morning en route to the train station.

Cozy 6 counter seating and 3 four-top booths, manned by a no-nonsense father-son team.

Frankly, the proprietor manning the Binchotan grill was a bit taciturn when we entered, almost brusquely pointing us to a side booth. We started with a round of High Balls, which quickly warmed us and the owner up.

Prices were very reasonable. We pretty much ordered to our heart’s content. We ran through the Yakitori list, starting with orders of 2, then doubling and tripling on the more delicious items.

Chicken: Tenders, Tsukune (chicken meatballs), Shiso Wrapped, Thigh, Liver, Gizzard, Tail (DW favorite), Heart and more.

Shishito Pepper was particularly good. Lightly charred and blistered, the peppery essence wafted to our noses immediately upon service. Shishito was a triple order. Eggplant with cheese was only tasty.

Epiphany!! Our server offered our skewers grilled with sauce, salt or both. We opted for just salt and loved it!! Juicy and tasting of the actual true flavors, will try to order this way in the future, language obstacles allowing.

Our meal had started with a warm Egg, Potato and Cucumber salad. Loved it. Chilled Tofu with Katsuobushi and Chives.

(Already ate a couple of bites before we got onto the program)

Finished with our izakaya must-have, Yaki Oniguri. Grilled Rice Ball.

A few more items on their menu we want to eat. Maybe tonight, before we leave for Kanazawa tomorrow.

THECHARLES · February 15, 2024, 9:47pm

Yup!! No yakitori meal is complete without a huge supply of nicely charred, crispy Chicken tails and for me, medium rare chicken liver!

linguafood · February 15, 2024, 10:24pm

I dream of a good yakitori place

Google_Gourmet · February 16, 2024, 2:53pm

The clouds lifted this morning, finally allowing a view of the magnificent snow covered mountains in the near distance. Temperature in the 40’s, good day for a hot comfortable bowl of Ramen!!!

No English name or menu. Two man operation, the ramen chef and the front of the house man.

3-6 Minamishinmachi, Toyama, 930-0054, Japan

The server takes orders and collects your ¥ while you wait for your turn at the island counter. DW ordered Tsukemen, dry noodles. Mine with the classic Tonkotsu broth.

Choice of 4 noodle quantities, max 400g, same price. The server was a bit taken aback when DW asked for the LARGEST portion. Asked her more than a couple of times if she was SURE she wanted that much!?!! DW assured him we were good eaters (and Chinese) .

After a short wait, we settled onto our stools at the counter. Availed ourselves of water, soup ladles and wet naps from the service station.

Our helpful server took one last stab (at saving ourselves from ourselves) and came out of the kitchen with 400 grams of raw ramen. Faced with almost a pound of noods, DW quickly backtracked and downsized to the more manageable 200g portion, a wise decision.

Massive slabs of fatty Pork Belly. Bean sprouts, raw Egg and plentiful Garlic. Perfect sustenance for the cold winter day.

Server was a doll. He was surprised we were from America (apparently not many of our kind has visited) and even walked us out the door. Enjoyable food and experience.

Google_Gourmet · February 18, 2024, 6:33am

Finishing up our four days in Toyama. Toyama Bay boasts some species very special to this region.

I was eager to sample the famous Shiro Ebi, small white shrimp. Enjoyed the shrimp at two places.

I ordered Kakiage Don. A robust bowl of Tempura Shimp, Firefly Squid, Kampachi (yellowtail), and more on rice.

DW went with the pure classic. Shiro Ebi No Sashimi. Shrimp sashimi on slivered Egg on rice. Pure raw shrimp goodness, just about impossible to source (sashimi) outside the immediate Toyama Bay Area.

The season is over mid March, glad we had our chance.

Google_Gourmet · February 18, 2024, 6:58am

We’d had lunch the day before at Mizuhashi Shokudo and was duly impressed with their seafood.

DW went whole hog and ordered the House special. Loaded with a Shrimp & Onion Tempura Nest (Kakiage), Kampachi (sashimi & tempura), Ebi (sweet shrimp), Crab (claw and meat), Tobiko (flying fish roe), minced Tuna and more on rice. Oh yeah, a fried fish we couldn’t identify perched on top of the pile.

The meal is meant to be finished “Ochazuke”. A pot of green tea and some pickled vegetables were provided to pour over the last bits of the rice.

I went all Shira Ebi. Simply Tempura’d and Sashimi’d.

Toyama was a fun short visit. Will be in Kanazawa for next 4 days. Good eats ahead!

damiano · February 18, 2024, 9:02am

Great pics! I’ve never been to Japan, but I am slowly considering a trip in the next few years. Why did you choose this specific area to visit, if I may ask? Anything noteworthy in terms of food, besides what you’ve already mentioned here? Thanks.

ipsedixit · February 18, 2024, 4:30pm

That’s some OG food porn right there.

Google_Gourmet · February 19, 2024, 9:08pm

Great that you are considering Japan. Japan has become our favorite travel destination. The food, safety, people, comfort and relative low cost makes for great trips.

Food is a dominant focus for us. We spend a good amount of our vacation time browsing seafood markets, street stalls, supermarkets, izakayas, robatayaki, all of it!!! We make sure to stay in areas of cities with abundant food choices, so easy to do in Japan.

We now plan our itineraries to include repeats of favorites, and new strange areas to explore. On this current trip, Osaka and Kanazawa are areas we’d enjoyed before and are glad to return for more. Toyama, Hiroshima and Okayama are new to us and we are looking forward to walking and eating there.

For food and new experience seekers (and I think you are one), every day in Japan is a new eye opening experience. I’m confident you will enjoy a visit here.

klyeoh · February 20, 2024, 7:56am

Definitely my kinda people!