This chili oil from Momoya is a favorite that I’ll keep buying again and again! It’s not too spicy, just right for people who like a little heat. It’s very fragrant without overpowering the flavor of the food itself. I usually add a little when making noodle soup, and it instantly gives the whole bowl a fragrant, spicy flavor—simple and delicious. It also goes really well mixed into dipping sauce for dumplings. It’s a very useful bottle of chili oil to have at home, and I use it often. Most importantly, the small jar is more hygienic, so there’s no need to worry about it sitting around for too long.
Slightly Spicy La Yu Chili Oil from Momoya (KARASOUDEKARAKUNAI SUKOSIKARAIRAYU) | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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OKINAWA NANPUDO Co., Ltd. ”YUKISHIO CHINSUKOU”
Since its birth in 2005," Yukishio (snow salt) Chinsukou" has been loved as a standard Okinawa souvenir for more than 15 years. Crispy texture at first. And then moist.
The first time I saw the name “Chinsuko,” I thought it was very distinctive and had a bit of a tropical feel. Okinawan sweets seem to like adding a little sea salt. Chinsuko has a rich buttery flavor with a hint of saltiness, making it sweet without being too rich. Overall, it’s pretty good. However, the texture is slightly dry, so it goes down better with some tea or coffee.
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MOMOYA’s MENMA YAWARAGI
It's great as a snack on its own, perfect as a side dish with rice, or even as an ingredient or seasoning in cooking.
Momoya is a well-known Japanese food brand, and its fukujinzuke is one of its most popular signature products. Fukujinzuke is a Japanese pickle made mainly from pickled vegetables. It has a bright color, a sweet and slightly salty flavor, and a crisp, appetizing texture. It goes especially well with curry rice. A bite of curry with fukujinzuke makes the overall flavor more refreshing and less heavy. The seasoned bamboo shoots are also good, with a light flavor that pairs well with dry noodles or white rice.
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Nankai Soba Namba 3rd Floor
A popular stand-up soba shop known for being "delicious, affordable, and fast." The shop takes pride in its Kansai-style dashi, made from a blend of four carefully selected ingredients, including bonito and urume. This results in a fragrant, clear, and refreshing broth.
When traveling in Japan, I sometimes choose a standing restaurant for a quick and simple meal. Small standing noodle shops like this usually aren't very big and only have space to eat while standing, but you can always see plenty of local office workers coming and going. They use their short lunch breaks to order a bowl of piping-hot noodles, then hurry back to work as soon as they finish. This everyday scene also gives me a sense of the fast pace of life in Japan.
The biggest appeal of standing restaurants is their affordable prices. You can usually get a bowl of hot noodles for less than JPY 500, making them very convenient for travelers looking to save time and money. You can sometimes find these little shops near train stations as well. Especially in the cold winter, when you're walking down the street shivering and see the lights on inside, you can't help but go in. A sip of hot broth not only fills your stomach, but also adds a little warmth to a tiring journey.
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