城友さんと松本城の旅でランチ : Takeshiya Nishiboriten

I visited Matsumoto with my castle friends using the 18 Ticket, as there was an event featuring five national treasures on the castle app.

When I think of Nagano, I think of soba, but I can't forget the yakisoba I had during my last visit to Matsumoto.
I invited my castle friends to come here for a delicious meal.

We arrived at the restaurant at noon, and there were two customers ahead of us.
Inside, there are counter and table seats available.
We quickly took a table and placed our order by writing it down on paper.
Even the regular portion of yakisoba is a hefty 450g.
I ordered a set with meat, while my friend opted for just the yakisoba with a spicy flavor, and of course, we ordered a draft beer.

After a few minutes, our draft beer arrived along with some kaki-pi (a snack of persimmon seeds and peanuts).
We toasted and enjoyed our drinks, which is one of the pleasures of train travel.
Before long, the yakisoba arrived—thick noodles with a generous portion.
Then, four more castle friends came in, and we celebrated our reunion together.

Now, about the yakisoba: it has a rich color, but the thick noodles balance it out nicely, making it just the right level of flavor.
When mixed with the runny yolk of the fried egg, it becomes sweet, and adding pickled ginger gives it a nice tang, making it even more delicious.
The wakame soup had a subtle saltiness, and the small rice portion was just right to fill us up.

My friend's spicy order was made by the chef's recommendation, and it was delicious but quite spicy.
I tried a bit and found it to be spicy!
I think it would be great for spice lovers.

Many customers were also getting takeout, as several people came in while we were eating.

I thoroughly enjoyed the hearty carbs and left feeling very satisfied.
It was a delightful trip to Matsumoto.

It was a great meal. Thank you!

During my expedition to Matsumoto City to attack the Yamashiro stronghold, I stayed right next to Matsumoto Castle.
I checked in in the evening and met a friend in the lobby at 6:30 PM. After washing off the sweat in the large public bath, I headed to the lobby to meet my friend and first enjoy the night view of Matsumoto Castle. The black silhouette of Matsumoto Castle against the dark sky was beautifully illuminated, resembling a white castle.
We admired the national treasure, the existing keep, for a while.

Now, where shall we have dinner and a drink tonight?
After discussing with my friend, we decided to head to this yakisoba spot I had bookmarked.
We quickly made our way there.

We arrived at the restaurant just a short walk from Matsumoto Castle, entering just before 7 PM.
There was nobody else in the restaurant.
Is takeout the main service here?
We promptly took our seats and checked out the menu. I immediately decided on the meat set after seeing the pictures. A medium draft beer and a side of kimchi for just 50 yen.
Ordering is done by writing on a memo pad provided on the table.

Before long, the medium draft arrived, followed by the kimchi and kaki-pi (chestnut peas).
Cheers!
After sweating at the castle and taking a bath, the beer was so refreshing.
The medium draft here feels larger than usual. These days, some places serve only a small glass when you order a medium draft, but here, the serving is impressive. After finishing one drink, I ordered a second.
At just the right time, the meat set arrived.
450g was more than enough, and while it was free to upsize the rice, even the regular portion was plenty.

Enjoying yakisoba while drinking beer, we engaged in lively conversations about the castle.
I ordered a third drink - a lemon shochu highball - along with more yakisoba and rice, feeling completely satisfied and full. The total bill was just JPY 2350 per person, which was excellent value for money.
It was around 8 PM when we left the restaurant, feeling great.

It was a great meal. Thank you very much!