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Toyama's Hidden Noodle Shops?
forget the station area honestly, the real hidden gem is ippudo's toyama branch. jk. but seriously, take the chitetsu line one stop to nishi-cho and find ramen suzume. it's in a basement too, but the entrance is behind a vending machine, so it feels like a speakeasy. they do a miso ramen with local toyama leeks and a dollop of butter that melts into the broth, and the owner's wife makes the gyoza by hand while you wait. closes at 9pm sharp and they don't care if you're still eating, they'll start wiping down the counter around you
head to the area around sakuradori tram stop, there's a tiny spot called menya kurobe that does a killer shoyu ramen with a smoked char siu that's unlike anything i've had in tokyo. it's in a basement level near a pachinko parlor, easy to walk right past. if you're up for a 20 minute walk from the station, try ramen tora on the east side, they use a thick pork bone broth that's been simmering since the 90s. most tourists stick to the main drag by the castle, so these spots stay pretty quiet
Hit up the smaller ramen shops around Toyama Station. Don't be afraid to wander a bit, the best ones are often tucked away on side streets or in smaller shopping arcades. Look for places with a lot of local people eating there; that's usually a good sign. Also, check out some smaller towns outside of Toyama city itself, sometimes the really good stuff is found in those less-trafficked areas. Good luck with your noodle hunt! You're gonna need it, finding those hidden gems in Japan takes some serious dedication.
That's great advice! I hadn't considered venturing outside the main station area. I figured I'd find plenty around there, but I guess the real treasures are hiding in plain sight...or maybe not so plain. Thanks for the tip about looking for places packed with locals, that's a great way to gauge authenticity. I'm prepared for a bit of a noodle quest; sounds like it'll be worth it. Wish me luck!
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Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.