Tamahide in Ningyocho is famous for having the longest line of any restaurant in the country. It’s so well known that I’d always meant to go at least once, and I finally got the chance. I went at lunchtime on a weekday, and it only took about 30 minutes in line to get in. Not that that was easy, mind you..
The entrance
At lunch they keep it simple and sell nothing but oyakodon, but in the evening they do tori-suki (chicken hot pot), and that’s the house specialty.
This is how the line looks.
Once the lunch rush is over the line gets shorter. Compared with Kiji or Rokurinsha, it’s an easy one to conquer.
Broth and roasted tea
Rice and pickles
The Takumi Oyakodon I ordered. It came in a pretty bowl.
Chicken liver, served on the side to add on top
Hmm, not sure about this one.. It’s a 300-yen side dish, but it didn’t do much for me.
Oyakodon
The egg sitting in the middle is ridiculously high quality. It’s just a natural egg, yet it tasted like a rich, luxurious soup. You can tell they use only good-quality meat, too. But there’s far too little to chew on. You end up spooning it up like porridge. It’s barely seasoned, and the portion is small. That’s simply the style of Edomae cooking, but I think it would take me a while to develop a palate for this place. Well.. if I think of it as an education it’s not an expensive price, but I don’t think I’ll come back just to eat oyakodon. Next time I’ll have to try the tori-suki..