Japanese Food Bites: Indulging in the Taste of Summer

One would think I’d have figured out my direction by now, but that’s not the case. Hi. My name is Shukri. This is going to be about the adventure between me and my trusty map app as I tried to navigate Tokyo on my own for the first time. Today, I set off to find a halal ramen spot to try. As I twisted and turned through the busy streets, trying my best not to bump into people as I yet again took the wrong left turn, I was on a quest to find a restaurant called Gyumon Halal Ramen Ikebukuro.

After many trials and errors and getting directions by speaking a mix of broken Japanese and English, I finally arrived at a five-story building with a swirling staircase. After climbing three flights of stairs, the spicy scent of ramen hit me. The restaurant itself had a beautiful interior with wooden furniture and lantern-like lights hanging from the ceiling

After sitting down, I opted for the Chicken Wagyu Spicy Ramen, level 2. I can handle spicy food quite well, but to my surprise, my mouth started to tingle as the spice kicked in. The more I ate, the spicier it became, but it wasn’t too bad, I could still enjoy my meal. The broth was thick, rich, savory, buttery, and smooth with a spicy kick. The noodles were chewy and warm, contrasting with the flaky, crispy outer layer of the chicken and the tender, warm meat inside.

Eating alone is an experience I’ve been trying to master this year. You really get to understand and absorb the surroundings. As I was munching away, I heard people speaking not only Japanese but also languages from all over the world that my brain couldn’t quite register. People laughed, glasses clinked, and children whined and nagged their parents to play. I could hear the frying and sizzling of meat and the bubbling of broth being prepared in the kitchen. It made me realize that food is more than just eating. It brings people together. All the people here were here for different reasons; some for friendly meet-ups, others for celebrations, and some, like me, just wanting a quick solo bite. But regardless of their reasons, they all had one thing in common: food.

After being satisfied with such a hearty bowl of goodness, I decided to wander around, not wanting to deal with the frustration of my Google Maps. I walked through a quieter street with charming houses, trees, and children racing their bikes. I took pictures, trying my best to capture the essence of the place.

I decided to go to a café, but to my surprise, a lot of people had the same idea. Many cafés had lines after lines, and some even had sign-up sheets because they were so full. I finally found one tucked away in a cozy corner and managed to order a matcha and a chocolate chip cookie, which, by far, is the best combination in my book.

Interview with Summer:

Like me, Summer decided to have some solo time as well. While I was getting lost in wrong turns, she spent her day swimming and working out at the fitness center near the hotel. She described it as a facility with a different structure than what we’re used to. There were four sections: one for laps without stops, one for laps with stops, one for kids’ swim lessons, and even a walking pool, which I found surprising. Apparently, it’s a pool where there’s a platform for people to walk in the water.

She then grabbed a bite to eat with a classmate at a Yakiniku, which can be described as similar to a  Korean BBQ with all different types of meat which sound delicious. To ended her night she went on a solo grocery run. It seems we both found some semblance of comfort in our solo outings.