Interview with the owner of Marindoll, Hiroshi Fujiwara
At Marindoll, you can enjoy Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, Fuchu-yaki, and a variety of teppanyaki and a la carte dishes.
I spoke with the owner, Hiroshi Fujiwara, about the background of opening the restaurant, his commitments, and future prospects.
Opening an okonomiyaki restaurant as a second life after retirement
Could you tell us about the background of opening your restaurant?
Fujiwara
Originally, I worked as a firefighter in Fukuyama.
Upon reaching retirement, I chose to open an okonomiyaki restaurant in my hometown, Kurashiki, as my second life.
While working as a firefighter, I visited various restaurants.
I also had cooking experience from working part-time at a restaurant in the past, and I continued to cook often, so I decided to open a restaurant after retirement.
Among the types of restaurants, I particularly frequented okonomiyaki and teppanyaki places.
I often ate Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
So, I thought if I were to open a restaurant, it would be great to have a place where people can enjoy Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and teppanyaki.
Where did you train to learn how to make okonomiyaki?
Fujiwara
Actually, I didn't train by working at a restaurant.
I took a training course for opening an okonomiyaki restaurant held by Otafuku Sauce.
After that, I researched and sampled various okonomiyaki restaurants, and I practiced by recreating the dishes that caught my interest.
It was a cycle of that.
Then, I was fortunate to find an empty store near my family home in Kurashiki, and I opened my restaurant.
The opening was on November 22, 2019 (Reiwa 1).
What is the origin of the restaurant's name?
Fujiwara
I have loved the sea since I was young.
In my youth, I also worked as a ship engineer.
So, "marin" comes from that.
The "doll" part comes from a time when many restaurants had "Doll" in their names.
I added "doll" in that spirit.
I think having a name that doesn't sound like a typical okonomiyaki restaurant is actually a good thing (laughs).
Focus on Bisei pork and Bisei beef. Delicious meat close at hand
What are the commitments or selling points of your restaurant and products?
Fujiwara
The most important thing is definitely the meat!
Our restaurant uses "Bisei pork" and "Bisei beef" from Ibara City, except for some items like beef tendon!
After trying various meats, I thought Bisei pork and beef were delicious.
Moreover, the meat is produced in a region very close to Kurashiki.
Since there is delicious meat in the nearby area, I really want people to try it.
Another selling point is the variety of okonomiyaki.
There are still few restaurants in Kurashiki that prominently feature Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
Moreover, our restaurant also serves the specialty of Fuchu City, Fuchu-yaki.
Currently, there are very few places in Kurashiki that offer Fuchu-yaki, so Fuchu-yaki is our restaurant's specialty.
In fact, when we first opened, we did not serve Fuchu-yaki.
It was added to the menu in April 2021 (Reiwa 3).
It became a topic of discussion when Fuchu-yaki was featured on television, and since I had previously worked in Fuchu, it was familiar to me, so I decided to incorporate it into the menu.
However, even though it is called Fuchu-yaki, there are many variations depending on the restaurant.
It took me about three months to develop my ideal Fuchu-yaki after trying various versions.
Since it appeared on the menu, Fuchu-yaki has been very popular with customers.
The third selling point is spicy noodles.
There are also few places in Kurashiki that serve this, making it quite rare.
All of our noodles are from Masuman in Hiroshima City, including the spicy noodles.
They are slightly spicy, and many customers find them addictive.
If you find it not spicy enough, please try adding the Otafuku Red Fire Sauce from the table.
Flexibly responding to requests not on the menu
What do you pay attention to while running the restaurant?
Fujiwara
I pay attention to hygiene.
In particular, I make sure to keep things organized and tidy.
Also, if customers have requests that are not on the menu, I try to respond flexibly as much as possible.
Our restaurant is located right next to the Bikan Historical Area, but the concept of the restaurant is to provide a place for locals to enjoy okonomiyaki and teppanyaki, making it a community-oriented restaurant.
In fact, there are many elderly people around our restaurant, and they often come to visit.
So, there are requests like wanting half the noodles because they don't need much, or wanting it made without noodles.
Also, during lunch, people working nearby sometimes come in.
And there are voices asking for more vegetables.
I respond flexibly to such requests.
Wanting to offer local services like okonomiyaki classes
If you have any future prospects or things you want to try, I would like to know.
Fujiwara
As I mentioned earlier, our restaurant's concept is more community-oriented rather than aimed at tourists.
So, I want to provide services that will delight the locals.
For example, I am considering renting out the restaurant for family-oriented okonomiyaki classes.
In that case, fathers and mothers would learn how to make okonomiyaki from me and use the teppan to prepare okonomiyaki for their children.
When making okonomiyaki at home, it usually involves a hot plate, but it's narrow and difficult to make, and the heat is weak.
Using a commercial teppan to make authentic okonomiyaki dynamically would surely delight the children and be fun for the parents as well.
Marindoll, where conversations with the friendly owner flow
At Marindoll, you can enjoy various Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and teppanyaki, including Fuchu-yaki and spicy noodles as toppings.
The local delicious meats, Bisei pork and Bisei beef, are also highlights.
Furthermore, the friendly personality of owner Fujiwara is also part of Marindoll's charm.
Please come and enjoy delicious okonomiyaki and conversations with the owner at Marindoll, a community-oriented okonomiyaki and teppanyaki restaurant.
Data on Marindoll
| Name | Marindoll |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-10-9 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-424-2244 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - Last order at 9:00 PM *Only open for lunch on Sundays |
| Regular Holidays | Monday Sunday evening |
| Payment Methods |
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| Reservation Availability | Yes Phone reservations are recommended for both dine-in and takeout |
| Seating | 9 seats total (8 seats during COVID-19 measures) ・Counter: 5 seats (4 seats during COVID-19 measures) ・Table for 4: 1 table |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | Strollers are allowed, but there is a step at the entrance Children's utensils are available |
| Barrier-Free | Wheelchair accessible, but there is a step at the entrance (assistance required) Toilet is not wheelchair accessible |
| Website | Official Instagram of Marindoll |
