I'll be honest here: I had unreal expectations for this place as it lazed around on my list for *years*.
Its location is a quiet one - inside the streets and close to some of the better known ghats in the city; also good accessibility from the main chowk in Godowlia is a plus. It's a quaint, small cafe with only around 4 tables.
Now, I'm certain this may just be an effect of the pandemic, but the menu when we went was severely limited - only two types of ramen, some variant of an omelet and two types of soup were available. We tried the ramen and the Japanese omelet. (Pardon me for I don't remember its proper name.)
The omelet was quiet nice and delicate, albeit somewhat bland. The sauce served along with it helped to an extent.
Coming to the centerpiece of the menu - the ramen. Prepare yourselves in advance and go with an empty stomach as the serving size is very generous; a couple of us (not me!) had trouble finishing the entire bowl. Coming to the taste, the noodles tasted very... artificial, for lack of a better descriptor. They didn't taste very nice, and I remember myself trying to cut its taste with the broth as frequently as possible. Speaking of, the broth was amazing and was the highlight of the dish for me. Too bad there wasn't much else to write home about it, as it didn't come with any added heat and was only served with some sesame seeds and an egg on top.
In a nutshell, I'd say that this deserves a one-time visit. I'm not sure where you can get better authentic Japanese food in Varanasi than here. I give it a 4/5 as I'm the worst critic on Earth.
It is one of my favourites in Varanasi. The vibe and the food, both are great.
The Ramen, Katsu Don, Shouga yaki Don, etc. I have loved it all.
The timing is 10AM - 3PM and 3PM - 5 PM. You can eat at the cafe and order takeout as well. The cafe owners are very humble. ❤️
Opening hours Monday to Saturday 10am-3pm and 5pm-8pm. Sunday is closed.
This was absolutely spectacular. I left filled with love.
If you are in Varenassi, prioritise eating here!
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