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want to meet at fmd_good Market Square
want to meet at fmd_good The Spot
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Toyama's Best Kept Secret?
ngl if you're into foodie stuff, check out the tiny soba places tucked away in the residential streets near the foothills. there's one called Soba Kobo that's literally just an old house with a few tables, they make their noodles by hand and the broth is super light compared to the usual heavy stuff. also, the local convenience stores in Toyama have these random homemade pickles and snacks from nearby farms that you won't find anywhere else, grab some for a picnic
honestly, skip the seafood for a meal and go to Menya Ippei in the old town area, it's a tiny shop near the canal that does a killer Toyama black ramen. the broth is dark and garlicky, way different from the usual tonkotsu. also, if you see a vending machine outside a random izakaya near the station, that's usually a sign of a good spot with no English menu. just point at what looks good, the owners are always chill about it
Hit up some smaller shoten (shops) away from the main tourist drags. You'll find amazing local ramen places, often family-run, that don't bother with online reviews. Look for places with mostly locals eating there, that's usually a good sign. Don't be afraid to just wander around residential areas; that's where the real culinary gems are hidden. Also, check out local markets, the produce there is incredible, and you might find tiny little eateries tucked away serving amazing things made with super fresh ingredients. You'll probably stumble upon something unexpectedly delicious.
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.
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