When having breakfast while on a trip, the options are limited. The hotel's breakfast can be either a buffet or a Japanese-style meal, or a Western-style meal. If you go out to eat, you can choose a coffee shop's morning meal or a fast-food breakfast set.
I also buy bread from a bakery and eat it. In any case, there is a fixed pattern for eating.
Therefore, a restaurant like Kawashima in Tangju City, Saga Prefecture, which serves breakfast from 8 am, is particularly appealing due to its special atmosphere. Moreover, it’s a store where tofu is deliciously prepared.
At this restaurant, tofu dishes are served twice a day—at 8 am and 10 am. I chose the service at 10 am. The store also sells tofu products. This is the “Kawashima Tofu Shop.” It has a history of 200 years, and it’s considered the originator of tofu preparations.
Entering the narrow passage beside "Kawashima Tofu Shop", you will arrive at the counter where tofu dishes are served. There are 8 seats available. A woman who seems to be the owner of the shop, along with another female staff member, serve the food.
The breakfast options are three types. Since it's an opportunity, I choose a course meal that costs 3000 yen.
A menu with mostly tofu for 1800 yen
A course with sazawara-style Kyoto pickled vegetables, priced at 2400 yen.
The above is a menu item for sashimi with tuna, priced at 3,000 yen.
★豆乳・・・これこそが本物の豆乳だと感じるような味わいです。柔らかな口当たりの中にも、しっかりとした個性があります。
★ A dish with a simple flavor, where okra is cooked gently.
★胡麻豆腐・・・これは普通かも。
★ざる豆腐・・・出来立てで温かく、ふわっとしていて、本当に素晴らしい味わいです。まるで天使のお腹のような柔らかさです。少し塩を加えると、さらに美味しくなります。豆腐がこれほど美味しいのは珍しいですね。他の豆腐はどう見ても劣ってしまいます・・・。この豆腐は何杯でもOKです。スタッフの方が何度も「お替わりください」と声をかけてくれます。カウンターの皆さんも何度も追加してくれます。私も半分だけ注文することにしました。
★Sashimi・・・Aji no Sashimi. The fish has a firm texture.
★サワラの西京漬け・・しっかりとした旨味のあるサワラ
★2個の天ぷら……揚げたてです。サクサクしていて、中はふわふわです。醤油をつけて食べます。かなりボリュームがあります。隣の女性は追加で注文しましたが、私はお腹いっぱいです。
★大きな椀の味噌汁・・・もちろん豆腐入り
★小麦の雑炊・・・これも豆腐が入っています
★漬物
★豆腐のプリン・・・豆腐屋さんのプリン！これも気に入りました。
The sashimi was not bad, but since I was already full, a course costing 2400 yen might have been better.
We stayed in Tangjin for two nights, and during one of our stays we ate breakfast at the hotel. However, the breakfast at this restaurant is definitely superior to that of the hotel. It was a rare opportunity to enjoy breakfast at such a place.
