Chabuton

Rating: OK
Meal: Dinner
Price: 750 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes:  Vegetarian ramen
English Menu: No
Smoking: No

Chabuton is a ramen shop in a basement food area near Yokohama Station.  I found it because I was looking for some vegetarian ramen (don't ask) and it was one of a couple near the station that serves one.  I met my friend and we walked over to it, though it is a bit tricky to find, as it's underground, beneath the Yodobashi Camera building.  But to enter it you have to go underground first, then find the Yodobashi entrance, then take an escalator down below.  Once down there you'll find quite a few interesting restaurants.  I reviewed one down here before (Xian) but it doesn't appear to be there anymore.

Forgot to take a picture before I messed it up...

Anyway, we ordered our ramen from the ticket vending machine and sat down.  They came to get our tickets and asked the usual question (firmness of the noodles).  They serve tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen primarily, so the vegetarian version uses an onion based broth.  All ramen come with one extra helping of noodles if you want it, and the noodles resemble a more hakata style (thin).

Overall I didn't love the vegetarian ramen, which should come as no surprise since I'm not a vegetarian.  But honestly, if you're going to go full veggie on the ramen, you should take some extra care with the broth and make sure it is super flavorful.  Maybe I'll come back some day and try their real ramen.  For what it's worth, my friend thought his tonkotsu was really good.

Kouwanou

Rating: Not great
Meal: Lunch for 2
Price: 1380 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes: Liver stir fry teishoku, black sesame ramen with half fried rice
English Menu: No
Smoking: Yes

My wife and I had a chance to grab some lunch after church in Ueno last Sunday.  We walked over to a nearby Chinese restaurant and were rather impressed by the badness.   The liver was ok and the ramen not terrible, but everything else was quite sub-par in flavor and quality.  Probably ok to pass this place up.

Black sesame ramen and fried rice

Liver stir fry teishoku

Maharani

Rating: OK
Meal: Lunch
Price: 1300 yen
Payment: Credit cards accepted
Dishes:  Mutton curry lunch set, lamb chop
English Menu: Yes
Smoking: Probably

I'm taking a class this week at the Mercure Hotel in Yokosuka.  There aren't a lot of places within walking distance of the base that I haven't already reviewed for lunch, but I took a walk around the Shioiri area and spotted a new (to me) Indian restaurant.  Of course I had to give it a try.

It is run by a very friendly Nepalese gentleman who asked me my opinion of the Indian restaurants in Yokosuka.  I was honest and said I liked them ok, but for my money the best Indian I've had in Japan is still Royal Parasol in Hayama because they have all of the breads and spices.  He was sympathetic and told me to come back he'd make me the real "indian" taste food and even other types of breads if he has enough notice and isn't busy.  I will definitely take him up on that.

Mutton curry

I ordered a mutton curry set with rice and a salty lassi (already accommodating me there) and a lamb chop that was on special for lunch.  The mutton was ok, pretty typical for around here, but not as sweet as some places.  The meat was a bit tough though.  The lamb chop was tasty, but pretty salty and again, a bit chewy.

Lamb chop with mint sauce

I'm giving this place an Ok for their typical food and will update later if the impression changes.

***

Update:  I came back later in the week and gave him a heads up I was coming.  Honestly the food wasn't that much better.  Still just an Ok overall.

Kitchen Hotaru

Rating: Not great
Meal: Dinner for 2
Price: 1890 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes: Katsudon and fried chicken teishokus, cold noodle dish
English Menu: No
Smoking: Yes

My wife and tried a new restaurant near Kenritsudaigaku station last night.  It's a nice enough Japanese cafeteria style spot.

We both ordered some teishokus that were ok at first, but not really that great.  The pickles were particularly nasty.

As the evening progressed, we both had rather bad reactions to the food, not food poisoning level, but general discomfort.  Not sure what ingredient caused it, but we'll almost certainly never go back there.