Along the street where the Self-Defense Forces housing is located in Mikatagahara, there is a yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurant called "Hamaki-tei" that serves Kuroge Wagyu beef raised in Shizuoka. I had heard that Daichan, the manager of Hamana Lake Royal Hotel, often visited the restaurant, and since it's quite close to my home, I decided to check it out. The characteristic of Shizuoka-raised beef is that the feed is standardized, resulting in a consistent taste, and you can always enjoy delicious meat. In this hot and humid season, you suddenly crave yakiniku to boost your stamina!
The restaurant is small, with two tables seating four people each and two raised tatami seating areas seating six people each. The owner appears to be an elderly gentleman running the place by himself. As I entered, the owner was sitting at a table with a newspaper open. He slowly rose to his feet and asked, "Is it okay that there's only one serving of rice left?" to which I replied, "That's fine."
"Bottled Beer" 550 yen. When it comes to yakiniku (grilled meat), beer is a must, so I splurged and ordered a bottle of beer even though it was lunchtime!
"Kimchi" - an appetizer served with beer.
This homemade napa cabbage kimchi doesn't have the strong sourness typical of Korean kimchi, making it a mild spiciness that's easy for women to enjoy.
Japanese Black Wagyu Beef "Geta Kalbi" 950 yen
The meat between the ribs is tender, with just the right amount of fat, making it juicy and delicious. The original dipping sauce, which was created through trial and error, has a light flavor that perfectly brings out the deliciousness of the meat. While you can request a spicier version, you can also adjust the spiciness with the gochujang provided at the table. The plate of galbi came with half an onion. Cooking the onion thoroughly enhances its sweetness, and it's absolutely delicious when combined with the sauce!
The sounds and smells of grilling meat are truly appetizing. It's best to grill it quickly and to perfection, without overcooking it.
Salted offal: 550 yen
I absolutely love offal. My partner, however, isn't a big fan. But when I saw the menu item "carefully selected salted offal," I couldn't resist ordering it. My partner was able to eat this offal, and I think it was delicious in terms of the balance of salt, texture, and freshness. Best of all, it was inexpensive!
Salted Beef Tongue: 1,200 yen
Unlike the extremely thin slices of salted beef tongue you might find elsewhere, and while it's not as thick as Sendai-style beef tongue, the decent thickness is a welcome feature. I squeezed some lemon over it and lightly grilled it before enjoying it♪
Cold noodles: 840 yen
They said they were out of rice, so I ordered cold noodles. The cold noodles had very simple ingredients: kimchi, cucumber, and apple, and the soup had a refreshing taste. Cold noodles are made with buckwheat flour and starch as a binder, so they are characterized by their firm texture and chewiness, but I felt that these noodles were not quite as firm. It's nice that it's so reasonably priced that even if two people drink and eat, it doesn't cost more than 5,000 yen at a yakiniku restaurant. The elderly owner has a very kind face and his smile is endearing. Perhaps because of his age, his movements are quite slow, and his hands are unsteady as he carries the plates, which makes me a little worried, but I hope he takes care of himself and continues to run this kind of charming restaurant that evokes the good old days.
Hamakitei
109-10 Mikatahara-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu City TEL: 053-436-8899
Opening hours: 11:30-14:00, 17:00-24:00 Closed: Open all year round
