Adachi Market's Kadonomeshi-ya

Almost hidden away in Kita-Senju lies Adachi Market, one of Japan's oldest seafood markets. Decidedly not touristy, the markets rarely feature on a visitor's itinerary. In some ways this is a good thing as all the experiences there are pure Japanese, authenticity is the name of the game here because authenticity is all there is.

Heading there to try one of the handful of restaurants that call the market home left me feeling tingly all over. I love a good value, unpretentious meal, especially when it involves seafood in Japan. Fresh seafood to boot. Unlike its more famous cousin in Toyosu, you won't find scores of restaurants and bars here. A very small handful of tiny bars and eateries do just fine, thank you very much.

After quickly going over the outdoor menus, we stepped inside one Kadonomeshi-ya, a bare bones basic interior leaving us in no doubt that we weren't lining up for haute cuisine. But that's fine. Absolutely fine. Blue collar is underrated and underappreciated. At least by some. You see, the restaurant was empty when we entered but within ten minutes, it had filled up. Literally.

And here is why. The store is known for two dishes, one a ramen hailing from way up north in Aomori Prefecture known as hachinohe ramen. Kadonomeshi-ya serves this ramen with a side dish of tuna on rice. The other dish they take pride in is their kaisen-don seafood bowl. Oh my. Oh very, very my this was delicious. A smorgasbord of fresh seafood on a base of rice left us feeling stunned, especially given the miserly price of JPY1050. Anywhere else in Tokyo and you are looking at at least twice the price.

Open between 630-200 pm, even now, we are preparing to head back there on our next trip.