There’s only a little time left until the “1st Hannishi Bar.”
Until then, we’ll be introducing as many places as we can～～
This time, we’re visiting “串膳,” a kushikatsu spot celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
It’s a place I’ve personally been going to from time to time for years.
Twenty years is probably quite a long time for a restaurant in this area.
All right, let’s goーー
Challenge Start!
On this day, they were running a special 20th-anniversary campaign: a 100-yen cash back on draft beer.
Apparently, when you order a draft beer, they give you 100 yen back in cash on the spot.
So for this challenge, we’ll subtract the cash-back amount from the final total.
By the way, the draft beer cash-back campaign runs until this week, but they said they’ll have some other promotion next week too.
They told us the details are a secret, so look forward to it～～
First, the sauce for the kushikatsu was brought over.
This is aurora sauce.
Next came the cabbage.
Cabbage really is a must with kushikatsu～～
This is the otoshi appetizer.
Today’s otoshi is “potato salad.”
Now I’m going to order a draft beer.
This is a “draft beer” (490 yen).
And then……
I got 100 yen back～～
So it’s effectively 390 yen.
Now, for the food, I started with this “chilled yose-dofu tofu” (350 yen).
It was one of today’s recommendations.
Yose-dofu is tofu just before it’s fully set, and it’s also called “oboro-dofu.”
It was very creamy, with a nice soy milk flavor. A really tasty chilled tofu dish.
My second glass.
And I got cash back again～
Since this is a kushikatsu restaurant, of course I had to order kushikatsu……
So I went with the “assorted set (7 skewers)” (950 yen).
First, four skewers arrived.
Then the remaining three came too (though I’d already eaten one).
The lineup was “large jidori chicken tsukune,” “pork fillet,” “shrimp,” “squid,” “tofu hamburger steak,” “koimo,” and “konjac” (the selection may vary slightly depending on the season and availability).
Everything was fried nice and crisp, and it was delicious.
They apparently use a special plant-based oil for frying.
They’re particular about the batter too, and as expected from a specialty shop, it really is on another level.
While enjoying the kushikatsu, I had my third beer.
Ahh, that was good.
I’ve been avoiding fried foods lately, but kushikatsu really is great.
I came right before closing this time, but I’d like to come back again and take my time.
Now for the suspenseful bill time. Last time, I hit the 3,000-yen target exactly for the first time, so I aimed close again this time.
How did it turn out?
Since there was 300 yen in cash back, we subtract 300 yen from the total.
And then……
3,069 yen!!!
Oh noー
I went a little over againーー
This fine-tuning is difficult every time……
But I can’t get too timid either……
Well, I’ll do my best next time!!
This time I ordered three draft beers, chilled yose-dofu tofu, and the assorted kushikatsu set (7 skewers)
That was it～～!!
“串膳” Menu
Of course they have a wide variety of kushikatsu, but you can also enjoy a diverse selection of other dishes, including grilled items, fried dishes, rice dishes, sashimi, and desserts.
It also looks like they offer takeout for kushikatsu and dashimaki omelet.
The drink menu is well stocked too.
Inside “串膳”
Inside, there are counter seats and tatami seating areas.
These are the counter seats.
This is the tatami seating, but since it’s a sunken floor style, I think you can use it much like table seating.
Inside the restaurant, there was an autograph from Fujikawa, the Hanshin Tigers pitcher.
Apparently, he used to visit the restaurant often.
Exterior of “串膳”
It’s located along the river southeast of Hanshin Nishinomiya Station.
This is the exterior of the restaurant.
The menu is displayed prominently on the sign outside too.