It was a hot afternoon, and I found myself walking along the Asuwa River, looking for somewhere to sit and escape the heat. But no matter how far I walked, there just didn’t seem to be a good spot to rest.
Most restaurants were already packed. There were lines everywhere, and every café or diner looked completely full.
Just when I was starting to give up, a bright yellow sign caught my eye. It was a Vietnamese restaurant. On the menu outside, it said “Draft Beer ¥450.” Not bad, I thought.
My friend Antonio wasn’t convinced. He hesitated outside the entrance. But then, a Japanese couple came out and spoke to us. “It’s mostly Vietnamese customers inside,” they said, “but the food was good. A little spicy, though.” That gave us the push we needed.
Inside, we noticed a portrait on the wall. Antonio asked who it was, and I guessed, “Maybe Ho Chi Minh?” Turned out I was right.
We ordered a plate of “sour ham” and two cold beers. It was simple, but hit the spot after all that walking.
Next came the fresh spring rolls.
They looked light and fresh, but were spicier than expected. The ham inside had chili peppers, and the red sauce—maybe chili ketchup—really had a kick. Antonio, who thought we were cooling off, ended up sweating even more than before.
After that, we tried 333 beer, a Vietnamese brand. But it came with ice in the glass, which Antonio didn’t like. He mumbled something about how he used to love Thai food, but now he’s not so sure about Southeast Asian cuisine anymore.
Anyway, we decided to move on and look for another place to eat. The search continues.
“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye
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