To me, "Nerika-na-ya" is one of the restaurants along with " Shinobu " where you can eat everything that comes out neatly without leaving a single grain behind. Based on Japanese cuisine using ingredients from Kagoshima, the restaurant serves meat and fish set meals with plenty of vegetables for lunch, and shochu and teppanyaki for dinner. The name of the restaurant, "Nerika-na-ya", is a dialect of the Amami region and means "a paradise floating beyond the sea".
The shop was originally located in a building called Rakuno Kaikan near Yoyogi Station. On the day I went to negotiate to be featured in this column, I was told that the building was scheduled for demolition and the shop would close for the time being, but would also open in Kichijoji.
"So, they're moving from Yoyogi?!" I was disappointed, but then I heard that they had found a new location in Minami-Shinjuku and were planning to reopen. This meant that the shop would be closer to Monosus than it is now, so it was good news.
Before the restaurant closed, during lunchtime in the last week, Nerikana fans flocked to the restaurant. There were many voices expressing their sadness as they said goodbye to the staff, just as if it was open at night. It really made me realize that all the customers love this restaurant. I also left the restaurant, promising to meet again, saying "I'll be waiting!" A few months passed after that. One day in May, a sign was posted in front of the brand new restaurant. "Opening May 26th."
The day of the reopening.
The entrance has a color scheme that reminds us of the previous store.
The new shop is on the first floor of a newly built apartment building, less than two minutes' walk to the right after exiting the ticket gates at Minami-Shinjuku on the Odakyu Line. If you are coming from Yoyogi Station, turn the corner at " Tanbo " and walk for about one minute. There are other restaurants on this street, such as "Tamariba" and "Shoga-tei".
In front of the store, the "clerk" Nitta is enthusiastically handing out flyers and calling out customers. Flowers are lined up to celebrate the store's opening, and even from afar you can see the lively atmosphere of the first day.
"Hello!" "We're here early!" I said as I entered the restaurant, where five Monosus employees were already seated at a table and eating together. It seemed that everyone had been keeping an eye on the opening day. It was clear that there were many fans within the company. I was lucky to find an empty seat at the counter.
Those who make it, those who eat it,
A lively meal together.
It gets crowded during peak hours, so I recommend going at a slightly different time.
Before the relocation, the restaurant had counter seating as well as table seating, but the chef found this a bit inconvenient as the customers could not be seen from the seats.
Because the new restaurant is more compact, the kitchen and the seats are closer. You can hear the conversations between the staff and customers from inside and outside the counter, from all directions. Even if you come alone, the restaurant has an open atmosphere that makes you want to join in the conversation. This is probably largely due to the personalities of the restaurant's staff. They are the kind of people who make you wonder if they are all family. As I sat there and ate, I realized that it felt very similar to eating at my parents' house. This is what it's like to feel at home.
The absolute champion, hamburger!
The hamburger in the front is the 150g that I ordered. I wonder if the big one in the back is 200g?
When it comes to lunch at "Nerikaneya," the Kagoshima Hamburger Set Meal comes to mind. No matter how many times I come here, I always end up ordering the Hamburger Set Meal...it's so delicious that I crave it. The new restaurant has a hot plate right in front of the counter, so you can see the whole process of cooking.
The hamburger steak is browned on the hot plate, covered and cooked until fluffy, and then served in a piping hot iron pan with vegetables. It is served with grated daikon radish and ponzu sauce. The hamburger steak is the main dish, but the vegetables are just as important, which is what makes Nerikayanaya's set meals so great.
This is the Kagoshima Hamburger Steak Set Meal. The miso soup on this day was topped with seaweed.
Discovering the taste of Kagoshima through "barley miso" miso soup
What impressed me about this set meal was the miso soup. I still remember the ingredients the first time I ate it. Chinese cabbage, carrots, radish, tofu... it was crammed with all kinds of ingredients. But what made me go "Ah!" was the taste. It was a strangely sweet taste that I had never tasted before. I couldn't help asking the waiter, "What kind of miso is this?" and he told me that they use barley miso from Kagoshima.
The key is to make sure the dashi is well-made, and the flavor of the dashi is the basis, with the miso added to it. After hearing this, I understood. The miso soup, side dishes, and pickles must all be carefully made one by one. That's why you can eat everything without leaving a single piece! Thank you for the meal today. I'll come again.
Sticky and smooth
〒151-0053
1-41-3 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-6300-6260
Business hours Lunch: 11:30-15:00
Dinner: 17:30-22:00 (L.O.)
Saturday only: 12:00-21:00 (L.O.)
Closed: Sundays and public holidays
http://r.goope.jp/neriyakanaya
FURIHATA Yukari