"Human Gourmet: Omoumai-ten" (Chukyo TV/Nippon TV, Tuesdays at 7pm) is a variety show that introduces "surprising restaurants" that go beyond imagination. On February 17th, they will be introducing a restaurant in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, run by a former sumo wrestler and his mother.
The owner was a member of Tamanoi stable for 12 years, where he served as the chanko manager for many years. The restaurant, which he runs with his mother, is open both during the day and at night, and only offers takeout bento lunches during the day. In the evening, you can enjoy alcoholic drinks with your meal inside the restaurant. The main dish of the bento lunch is fried chicken, which is a large piece of domestic chicken cut in half, rubbed with rosemary, oregano, chopped garlic, ginger, mirin, sake, and paprika powder, and left to rest for a day. It is then deep-fried for about 12 to 18 minutes to complete. According to the owner, by marinating the chicken in sake and mirin, "it absorbs moisture and doesn't become dry even when fried."
The popular "Daichan Bento" (1,400 yen) includes two fist-sized pieces of fried chicken, spring rolls, fried potato mochi, salted yakisoba noodles, miso-braised mackerel, teriyaki chicken, and six other side dishes of the day. You can also order the "Shio Chanko" set, which includes meatballs, chicken, carrots, daikon radish, Chinese cabbage, and many other ingredients, for an additional 300 yen to take home. The "Ohagi (2 pieces)" (400 yen), handmade by the owner's mother, also attracts many repeat customers.
In the evening, they serve 5 to 7 types of appetizers, including curry with coffee milk as a secret ingredient, fried fries with the skin on, kimchi chanko, and sweets, all for 500 yen. The owner says he doesn't want to serve mediocre appetizers, but customers say the appetizers are the highlight, and they often fill up on them. Another popular a la carte dish is the seafood pancake (1,100 yen).
The owner and his mother offer free sweets and fruits to customers one after another. They say that "this year (2025) will be completely in the red," but they welcome customers with the same spirit of service, saying, "I hope customers will come again."
The show will be hosted by talent Hiromi, and hosted by comedy trio "Bike King"'s Eiji Kotoge. Guests will include actor and singer Koichi Domoto, the comedy duo "Magical Lovely," and former Olympic figure skater Narumi Takahashi.
