The combination of warm white rice, miso soup, pickles, and grilled fish is a homely and comforting menu, isn't it?
There is a shop with a red lantern hanging and a navy blue noren (traditional shop curtain) that says "sake," "rice," and "coffee," located near Kurashiki City Kawabe Elementary School in Mabi.
The name of that shop is "Noraneko Shokudo Mabi."
It opened on August 1, 2019.
After the heavy rain in July 2018, RACCO, who was providing meals centered around Kawabe Elementary School, opened this eatery based on the voices of local residents.
Let me introduce the charm of "Noraneko Shokudo Mabi," a place you can't help but want to visit!
It closed on March 31, 2022.
The information provided below is from when it was in operation.
What is Noraneko Shokudo Mabi?
It opened on August 1, 2019, based on the voices of people in Mabi who said, "We have lost our workplaces," and craftsmen who said, "There is nowhere to eat."
It is located about 250 meters north of Kurashiki City Kawabe Elementary School, along the old Sanyo Road.
It is a small eatery that was renovated from the parking space on the first floor of a house belonging to a resident of Mabi who was affected by the disaster.
There are two tables for four people and eight counter seats, making a total of 16 seats in this cozy shop.
▲The chairs at the table seats are made from sake cases.
The interior, which feels like the Showa era, is comfortable and makes you want to stay longer.
A menu full of endless charm at Noraneko Shokudo!
Noraneko Shokudo has a rich menu, from snacks that go well with alcohol to set meals that are great for the hungry.
There are also homely menu items like salted mackerel, tonkatsu, katsu curry, and yakisoba.
In addition to the menu, there are short menu items posted on the walls inside the shop.
The cat character drawn by the owner, RACCO, named Su-chan, is very adorable.
The drink menu includes soft drinks, beer, and cocktails.
Regular customers can also keep their bottles of alcohol.
The "wakame salad" made with wakame directly shipped from Kobuzuhama, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, where the owner provided support such as meal distribution after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.
Additionally, the cocktail "Sanriku Street Surfer," made with "Muscat Cider" from the coastal area of Iwate Prefecture, Rikuzentakata, is also recommended.
You can taste the local specialties of the Tohoku region, which is moving towards recovery after being affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Since all menus are available day and night, you can enjoy day drinking and have a hearty set meal at night, which is a charm of this place.
A must-see for the hungry! Filling set meal menu
▲The horse mackerel fry set meal comes with three pieces of horse mackerel fry, making it a great deal.
The set meal even offers free refills of rice!
▲"Tokyo Tanaka's ginger pork sauté" uses a single piece of pork.
This menu is a recipe provided by Tokyo Tanaka, the vocalist of the rock band "MAN WITH A MISSION," who is a friend of the owner of Noraneko Shokudo!
The surface of the pork is crispy and fragrant, while the inside is tender. The sweet sauce clings to it, making it a perfect match with rice.
▼The set meal menu includes the following six types. (As of July 2020)
- Tokyo Tanaka's ginger pork sauté
- Fried chicken
- Pork ginger stir-fry
- Horse mackerel fry
- Salted mackerel
- Chicken nanban
The set meal includes a main dish, white rice, miso soup, and mini cold tofu or pickles.
The main dish can also be ordered as a single item.
Side dish "Meshi-tori Monogatari" made with bamboo shoots from Mabi
▲Side dish "Meshi-tori Monogatari" made with bamboo shoots from Mabi
Since shortly after the heavy rain in July 2018, RACCO has been involved in activities such as removing flooring from flooded homes and providing meal support.
In collaboration with the people of Mabi, they opened "Noraneko Shokudo Mabi" as a new proposal for "local employment" and "the issue of meal places for recovery workers."
They developed "Noraneko Shokudo Mabi" as a place to process and manufacture bamboo shoots, a local specialty of Mabi, resulting in "Meshi-tori Monogatari."
"Meshi-tori Monogatari" comes in two varieties: "spicy," which uses piquant green chili peppers, and "sweet," which features a flavor of miso that is also recommended for children.
You can enjoy it in various ways, such as snacking with alcohol, placing it on freshly cooked rice, or mixing it with stir-fried dishes.
Snacks that go perfectly with alcohol
"Fried Corn" is a popular menu item at Noraneko Shokudo.
The sweetness of the corn is packed in, and the savory aroma stimulates the appetite.
Be careful of burns while eating it hot and fresh.
▲New menu item "Grilled Pork Tongue" at Noraneko Shokudo Mabi Store in July 2020
Try the crunchy grilled pork tongue seasoned with black pepper, topped with white leeks and "Ittori Monogatari."
"Grilled Pork Tongue" pairs perfectly with beer!
▲Noraneko Shokudo Mabi Store's specialty "Kaguya Mochi"
Kaguya Mochi is an arranged dish using Nanban miso and bamboo shoots from Mabi in the "Ittori Monogatari."
The outside is crispy, while the inside has a chewy texture. The spiciness from the green chili and the saltiness of the Korean seaweed in "Ittori Monogatari" makes it an addictive snack.
"Kaguya Mochi" is also sold at stalls during events.
Inside the store, hard rock BGM plays. The owner of Noraneko Shokudo, RACCO, is the vocalist of his own band.
We spoke with RACCO about his various activities, including music, restaurant management, and disaster support, as well as how he opened his store in Mabi.
Noraneko Shokudo Mabi Store Data
| Name | Noraneko Shokudo Mabi Store |
|---|---|
| Address | 946-2 Kawabe, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-454-8865 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Fridays and Saturdays only) |
| Closed | Sunday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | Counter seats: 8 4-person tables: 2 |
| Smoking | Smoking allowed |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Noraneko Shokudo Mabi Store (Instagram) |
