Travel: Japan 2014 Day 14 // Osaka // Eat: Ippudo; Coco's Curry // Walk: Momofuku Ando Instant Noodle Museum; Kaiyukan Aquarium

We planned to go to Momofuku Ando Instant Noodle Museum, located only around 5 minutes walk from Ikeda station.

Sorry, just another case of my obsession with cool-looking manholes all around Japan....

Then we were enchanted by this small shop advertising awesome sushi deals. If it was this cheap in Sydney, I probably would doubt about the freshness of the establishment. But it seems that we have not had a single bad sushi here, so in we went for brunch.

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権太呂すし 池田店Website: Sankyu Susi〒563-0041 Osaka Prefecture, Ikeda, Masumicho, 2−7
(〒563-0041 大阪府池田市満寿美町2-7)中島ビル１F

There is no english menu, but all of the meal set and other dish have pictures, so point point point away.



Sushi Sets for lunch (JPY 780 and JPY 890) were great. Apart from the itty bitty uni that we got for the set (oh well, the price was cheap), they were all wonderful. This was the first time I actually liked uni. It was sweet and creamy. I have had one bad one in Sydney (and it was even expensive) and it kinda deterred me from uni from then on. I'm glad I gave this one a go.





The lunch set came with fish soup (more likely fish bone soup), the soup was quite thick and flavorsome.

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Then off to the museum we went. Admission the museum is free, but there are some activities inside that guests can pay for.

Rows and rows of various instant noodles

Instant noodles for astronauts

So we partook one of the activities that is no doubt really popular with adults and kids alike - designing our own cup noodle (well, only the container that is). We spent quite some time on the design stage - and it seemed that everyone took this seriously and put on their artists' hat to the max.

Choice of MSG soup base and various toppings you can add (up to 4) into your own cup noodles

Mine and my pathetic attempt at drawing the opera house & harbour bridge



While 1/2heart drew randomly (and what's with the Ghibli soot/ Susuwatari -_-), but I still think his pork looks great :D



The process ...





The museum also offer noodle-making workshop - but you have to reserve in advance. Looks fun, but I only understand a little Japanese, and 1/2heart is competely Nihon-go-blind.... .

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After getting out of the museum, we passed by Ippudo (Ikeda branch) on the way to the station, so ramen for late lunch it was.

Ippudo - Ikeda branch

〒563-0041 池田市満寿美町2-10

Ippudo is awesome :) and as it is way cheaper than Sydney's, of course we wouldn't pass the chance to eat some good thick Tonkotsu ramen.

Various condiments - self-serve at each table

1/2heart had Akamaru Special (JPY 1030), as he loves Ippudo's version of black garlic ramen; and I had Ippudo Karaka (JPY 880) with extra ni-tamago (JPY 80)- I chose extra spicy level.

Akamaru Special

I think the Karaka Ramen is different from Sydney's Ippudo's?(I may need to revisit...). I thought this was going to be just another TanTan Men, but turned out it was way more awesome. The miso chilli paste was also mixed with some cashew nuts, giving the ramen more texture and nutty taste.

Then we went to Kaiyukan Aquarium. Admission is JPY 2300 per adult. We have gone here 7 years ago, but I always love aquariums, so I went again. It was kinda disappointing though, as the whale shark was not there :(

a crab lost its front claw today...

What's different from 7 years ago - now Kaiyukan also has a small section of rainforest animal.

sloth

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After the aquarium, we headed back to Namba station and visited Coco's Curry (branch Namba). There is english menu available and here, you sit by the bar.

Coco's Curry (Namba branch)

〒530-0012 大阪府大阪市北区芝田１丁目３−１６

Here, you can customize your curry - from the rice portion, the 'main course' to go with your curry (whether tonkatsu, chicken,vegetables, eggs, etc), and the spiciness level (they recommend that first-timers do not go beyond 5)



But hey, I was a first-timer and I ordered Beef based Curry with Tender Chicken Cutlet (and soft boiled egg), and spiciness Level 10. YOLO, right? Besides, I am confident with my tongue's endurance in chilli department.



I was right. It was spicy, but it was quite pleasant and I don't mind having this from time to time. BUT gosh, I had the smallest rice portion and I was so beyond full by the end of my meal.

1/2heart had Pork based Curry with Tonkatsu with spiciness level 5 and he was sweating soon after ^_^ Have to train him more...



Dinner at Coco's curry costed JPY 2114.