メニューが豊富なお食事処 : Oosawa

I came to AEON MALL Zama for shopping and decided to grab lunch while I was at it. There are many restaurants in the mall, but I wasn't really in the mood for anything specific that day. I felt like having a set meal from a diner. While searching for nearby options, I found this place that had good reviews, so I headed over. The opposite lane has two lanes for right turns and straight traffic, which often leads to congestion, making it difficult to turn right across no matter what. So, I had to go past it and come back around. This restaurant had caught my eye when I was waiting at a traffic light previously. The name "Oosawa" suggests a friendly vibe. The mix of hiragana gives it a feel of a more upscale restaurant, but it has a very casual atmosphere. It seems like it would be a perfect fit in Yamato City, but this is Zama City. Around 11:45 AM, the parking lot in front of the restaurant was empty. Upon entering, there were no customers ahead of me. I sat at the left side of the counter. While set meals sounded good, I was also hoping to find some Omurice. The menu is covered in hanging strips on the counter and walls, making it quite overwhelming, and unfortunately, I couldn’t find any Omurice. Instead, I ordered the ginger pork set meal (JPY 780). I was asked if I wanted a large portion of rice, but I opted for the regular size since it was an additional JPY 100. I guess I must have looked like I could eat a lot! The interior has a very diner-like feel. They also offer several dishes that could be great for snacking, so it seems like a nice place to drink as well. The main menu is hung on strips, but the menu board above the counter looks quite old, suggesting this place has quite a history. Given the location, it's likely that this used to be a regular spot for Nissan factory workers. The counter has six chairs, but the space is narrow, so it realistically accommodates only about four customers. In addition, there's one table for four and a tatami room in the back right corner. The TV is in the tatami room, making it somewhat hard to see from the left back of the counter seats. The partition in front of the counter is low, so I could see the pots and pans in the kitchen very clearly. The staff might be a mother-son duo. They seemed friendly, with vibrant greetings that made me feel welcome. Both the exterior and interior gave off a down-to-earth vibe, which I found quite charming. However, being right in front of the AEON MALL and surrounded by warehouses and factories, the road is quite busy. While I was checking out the wall menus and the interior, my ginger pork was already being prepared. I noticed them adding grated ginger as I watched, and within about four or five minutes, my dish arrived. Right off the bat, for JPY 780, the portion looks good. There was a big bottle of mayonnaise on the table, which I added to the cabbage and some of the ginger pork. I also sprinkled some shichimi (Japanese seven spice) on it for an extra kick. Starting with the pork without any toppings, I could definitely taste the ginger, which was quite nice. The pork was cut into small pieces, allowing the flavors to really merge, so it paired well with both rice and cabbage. Eventually, I changed up the flavors with mayonnaise and shichimi. Interestingly, I found out later that they also offered ginger pork with pork loin for JPY 880. Next to the cabbage was a macaroni salad, which I found a nice addition. The pickled vegetables looked well-preserved but had a light taste. The miso soup was rich in umami flavor. Although there were no customers when I came in, others followed quickly after. It seems the ginger pork is quite popular, as I saw other customers ordering it too. I even heard someone mention "Omurice". I couldn't find it on the hanging menu, but it might have been on the wall in the tatami room. While I was enjoying my ginger pork set meal, they prepared food very efficiently and quickly. I noticed them lighting the stoves before orders were even placed when new customers came in. If I heard correctly, they seemed to talk about "Akoudai" (a type of high-end fish), and the smell of grilled fish started filling the air, which was quite appetizing. Dishes that feature seafood also sound enticing. I thought I heard the word "lunch" when they placed an order, wondering if they had a daily special set meal, but it turned out they were ordering "menchi" (fried meat patties). Menchi katsu also piques my interest! With the cabbage and macaroni salad, the regular rice portion was more than enough. I left feeling satisfied and full. The menu is so diverse that I would love to come back for lunch again. It was a great meal!