2014 is finally approaching the end of the year. Is there anything left over or forgotten to eat?


By the way, in Kichijoji, Tokyo, there is a shop of exquisite fresh pasta that is revered by fans as "unique". Its name is " Spa Kichi ". It's a popular restaurant where you can line up at lunch time, so you're sure to have eaten it already.

It's a restaurant I've always been interested in, but I've missed the opportunity for a few years ... I definitely want to eat it this year! So I went to the store in a hurry!


Spa Kichi is located in the corner of "Harmonica Yokocho", a humane shopping street full of unique shops. Look for the bright red sign and the banner that says "Boiled raw noodle pasta specialty store".

Despite visiting around 13:30, a little after lunch time, there were about 7 people in line in front of me.


Waiting for about 15 minutes while looking at the menu will take you to the store. You will be guided to the seat right next to the open kitchen, so you can feel the realism of your brother boiling the noodles with beautiful hands.


That aside, the essential order. This time, we decided to order Spa Kichi's classic popular "meat sauce" (930 yen) and "Spa Kichi style carbonara" Shimizuya "kimchi sauce" (870 yen). You can add toppings to the meat sauce, so I asked for natto (50 yen) and mozzarella cheese (100 yen). I wonder what kind of taste natto has in meat sauce ... I'm thrilled to see the first combination in my life!

● Meat sauce with natto and mozzarella cheese

After a while, the fluffy and steaming meat sauce pasta was brought in. Mozzarella cheese and natto are firmly on top. As a fermented food enthusiast, the combination of fermented (cheese) and fermented (natto) is irresistible!


The clerk said, " Please mix the whole thing in a mess before eating." Your will!

Sprinkle with grated cheese and stir from top to bottom with a spoon and fork ... the whole thing turned very sticky and brown . Yeah, I'm a little worried! But I'll eat it right away.


Including a bite, the natto's "fermented feeling" and stickiness are entwined with the rich meat sauce, and it is novel and extremely delicious! The taste of minced meat sauce is strong, but thanks to the cheese, it is mellow!

The meat sauce, which is cooked for 20 hours (!) Like "pork bone ramen", has a savory taste like caramel. The tightly condensed umami that has been boiled to the point of burning spreads throughout your mouth. Natto and fragrant cheese add an exquisite richness to it. At first glance it looks chaotic, but it's amazingly cohesive!

And don't forget the "mochimochi" texture of flat fresh pasta! The core does not remain too much, but it is not too soft, and the exquisite texture is irresistible. There is also a good taste.


● Spa Kichi style carbonara "Shimizuya" kimchi

Next, I tried Spa Kichiryu Carbonara using kimchi from the pickle specialty store "Shimizuya" in the corner of Harmonica Yokocho. This menu is said to have arrived as a result of repeated improvements to make "carbonara that you will never get tired of eating all the time".


Combine soy sauce instead of fresh cream and top with wood ear, hawk claws, fragrant seaweed, green onions, and plenty of kimchi. If you list only the ingredients, isn't it carbonara anymore? It's easy to think that it's creamy because it's bound with an egg!


The pasta is somewhat reminiscent of "Kamatama udon", combined with the chewy noodles. Accented with sour and spicy kimchi, it has an exquisite taste that is just halfway between Japanese, Korean and Western styles. This is also insanely delicious!


Both the minced meat sauce and the carbonara with kimchi are based on the perfect balance of umami, spiciness, sweetness, and acidity, and once eaten, it was definitely delicious. I use ingredients that are likely to be found in the refrigerators of every home, but I wonder if this taste can never be produced at home.

By the way, Spa Kichi also has a sister store "Hirata Pasta" in Kichijoji. It seems that the lineup is different from Spaghetti, such as "Wasabi greens from Kamakura and peperoncino of fried shirasu" and "Tomato sauce of fried eggplant, bacon and mozzarella cheese". Check it out along with Spa Kichi!