{"id":10065,"date":"2020-06-30T13:31:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-30T04:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/evergreenhostel.com\/?p=10065"},"modified":"2020-06-30T13:31:10","modified_gmt":"2020-06-30T04:31:10","slug":"%e3%82%ab%e3%82%ad%e5%b0%8f%e5%b1%8b%e3%81%ab%e3%81%84%e3%81%93%e3%81%86","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/evergreenhostel.com\/en\/2020\/06\/30\/%e3%82%ab%e3%82%ad%e5%b0%8f%e5%b1%8b%e3%81%ab%e3%81%84%e3%81%93%e3%81%86\/%20","title":{"rendered":"Oyster\u2019s delight at Kakigoya"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi there! This is Hazuki, I\u2019m the owner of the hostel.<\/p>\n

Hiroshima Prefecture has access to 60-70% of Japan\u2019s oysters. And have you ever been to Kakigoya? It\u2019s been one of my favourite oyster restaurants for a while now. I took a visit from a friend as an opportunity to drop by again. Kakigoya is located in the Hiroshima Minato Park in front of Hiroshimak\u014d Station. The restaurant\u2019s huge sign can\u2019t be missed.<\/p>\n

\"image1<\/p>\n

For those wondering about that Milky Tetsuo guy on the right, he is their mascot (not that it\u2019s a very huggable one).
\nEven though we went there first thing in the morning, a line had already formed! Everyone sure loves oysters around here~\"💕\"<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how it works: pick what you desire and pay the bill. Next, you\u2019ll be guided to your seat by a grumpy middle-aged man. To put it fashionably would be to call it cafeteria style.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8601\"\u3000\"IMG_8600\"<\/p>\n

I ordered a plate of 10 oysters for 1000 yen,\u00a0kaki meshi\u00a0<\/i>or oyster rice for 300 yen, octopus and\u00a0gansu<\/i>, a local fried dish made of boiled fish paste. There\u2019s a standard 300 yen fee added for the use of charcoal. 1000 yen for 1 kg of oyster with shell is rather cheap. This translates into 10 to 12 small to medium oysters. If you can’t choose, why not have a mixed selection of seafood specialties? Although it is not visible on any picture, there is meat as well. In any case, the variety of the menu is amazing. Calling it a true haven for grill enthusiasts would be no exaggeration. I also appreciate the wide availability of different drinks\u00a0\"👏\"\u00a0A number of vending machines line the restaurant.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8597\"
\nThe same grumpy\u00a0occhan\u00a0<\/i>(who we\u2019ll call a coach because he gave so many instructions) explains how to grill an oyster. Occasionally the coach goes on patrol to check up on everyone\u2019s progress, making blunt remarks like \u201cEat up. You\u2019re overcooking it,\u201d but he does it with love. Necessary utensils like plates, cooking gloves, oyster knives, picks for shellfish, an hourglass (important), and even aprons are prepared at every seat. They even thought of providing a vinyl cover to protect your luggage basket from stains. Naturally there\u2019s also the usual suspects: all kinds of seasonings such as soy sauce and ponzu. With all of these amenities, it feels a bit like paradise.<\/p>\n

\"E9FBC3D9-F076-4EFA-975B-9FBEB77CFE67\"<\/p>\n

Keep an eye on the hourglass as you bake each oyster for 3 minutes on each side, as instructed by the coach. Perhaps because of the strong firepower, some of the scallops popped open and flew away. The thrill of the grill is real. It also feels like a very \u2018adult\u2019 thing to do. When it\u2019s all getting too intense, just put a lid on it and you\u2019re safe! Baking time depends on the condition of the charcoal and the size of the shellfish, so continuous adjustments will be required. Your coach will warn you if you\u2019re fooling around too much! Lol. The small team of coaches may not be the most cheerful, but they\u2019re all\u00a0occhans\u00a0<\/i>with a good heart. All of this contributes to the unadulterated nostalgic atmosphere of an authentic, local mom-and-pop restaurant.<\/p>\n

What I like about it most is that for this cheap price, you can barbecue your own oysters, but you don\u2019t have to do your own cleaning-up. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant!!! Just by baking your own oysters, they are so much more delicious! Moreover, the oysters here are huge! Go Hiroshima!!<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8596\"<\/p>\n

A succulent\u00a0kaki meshi<\/i><\/p>\n

When I asked the coach about who this \u2018Milky Tetsuo\u2019 would be and whether this came from the owner\u2019s name, he answered: \u201cNo, I think the naming comes from the fact that oysters are rich in iron (tetsu\u00a0<\/i>is Japanese for iron). But the patron\u2019s face might bear some resemblance to the mascot\u2026\u201d Now I really want to see the owner\u2019s face!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m thinking of coming back to Kakigoya alone when I\u2019m having a mood during winter. I feel like this whole concept with the charcoal BBQ and the conversations with the\u00a0occhan\u00a0<\/i>have a refreshing effect on me, haha.<\/p>\n

Restaurant name: Milky Tetsuo\u2019s Kakigoya (Ujina)<\/p>\n