Food Reviews

2026/9/17

Ikaho Onsen Guide: Stone Steps, Ropeway & Mizusawa Udon

We visited Ikaho Onsen in Gunma Prefecture to enjoy the autumn leaves and hot springs. Ikaho is a nostalgic Japanese onsen town famous for its 365 stone steps. In addition to hot springs, visitors can enjoy traditional streets, mountain scenery, local sweets and regional food while exploring at a relaxed pace. In this guide, we share our experience walking through the Stone Step Street, riding the Ikaho Ropeway and trying the famous Mizusawa Udon, along with practical tips we learned during our visit. ▶ Find hotels near the Ikaho Stone Steps on Rakuten Travel Walking Ikaho Onsen’s Famous 365 Stone Steps The Stone Step Street is the symbol of Ikaho Onsen. Even before reaching the main staircase, we could see steam rising nearby, immediately giving the area the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese hot spring town. The staircase has 365 steps, and numbers along the way show how far you have climbed. This photo was taken around step 124. Cafes, pudding shops and souvenir stores line both sides of the staircase, so there are plenty of reasons to stop along the way. Looking back from the steps, we could see the surrounding mountains. The scenery was especially beautiful during autumn. Along the way, we found an unusual spot filled with tiny yellow ducks. It was a fun and unexpected photo spot during our walk. Buying Pudding and Almond Jelly on Stone Step Street After climbing the steps, something sweet felt like the perfect reward. We stopped at Yunohana Pan and bought pudding and almond jelly. ...

Thai

2026/10/7

Savoey Seafood Patong Review: Crab Curry, Prices & Our Lunch for 3

After our morning activity,we returned to our hotel to change clothes　and then walked to　Patong Beach. It took us around eight minutes on foot　from the Royal Paradise Hotel. The sea looked beautiful, and plenty of people were relaxing under beach umbrellas. In this article, I’ll share our walk around Patong Beach and the lunch we had afterwards at Savoey Seafood, where we tried their popular crab curry. I’m also sharing the actual receipt for our lunch for three people. Patong Beach Was Full of People Relaxing by the Sea Spending a lazy day doing absolutely nothing at Patong Beach looked pretty tempting. Next time, I would like to come back without planning anything at all. Before our trip, I had read comments saying that Patong Beach was not especially beautiful, but when we visited, the sand looked white and the beach looked quite pretty to us. The sun was very strong, so sunglasses, a UV-protection cardigan or a rash guard can be useful. It became far too hot to keep walking around comfortably and the sun was intense. At that point, we decided we needed to escape somewhere. We were hungry too, so we headed to the nearby Savoey Seafood. Savoey Seafood and Its Popular Thai Crab Curry Savoey Seafood is a long-established seafood restaurant in Patong. One of its popular dishes is Pu Pad Pong Curry, Thai-style crab stir-fried with yellow curry sauce and egg. We had gone inside partly to escape the heat, but... the restaurant was open-air and did not have air ...

Thai

2026/9/25

Number 6 Restaurant Patong: We Came Back for Breakfast

While staying at The Royal Paradise Hotel & Spa, we skipped the hotel breakfast one morning and ate at the nearby Number 6 Restaurant instead. This popular little place can have a queue in the evening. We tried to go at night, but the line was too long to get in quickly, so we came back for breakfast. That turned out to be a great choice! Breakfast at Number 6: Tasty Thai Food in Patong Number 6 is not a large restaurant. We were shown to seats by the road. Customers were arriving throughout the morning, but it was much less crowded than when we had tried to visit at night. Based on our visit, breakfast was a good time to go! Wide, Wobbly Sen Yai Noodles—So Good! I chose a dish made with sen yai, wide, chewy rice noodles. You could choose the noodle width. I forgot to photograph the menu, so I can no longer tell you the exact name of my dish—oops! These noodles were much wider than the ones I usually see in Japan. One bite and I was delighted by their wonderfully soft, wobbly texture and savoury flavour! There were plenty of vegetables and prawns. The broth was a little thick, with just the right amount of saltiness for breakfast. I want to eat this again in Japan!! A Lighter Rice Noodle Soup with Vegetables We also ordered another rice noodle soup, with noodles a little like those in pho. It had plenty of vegetables and chicken, and the lightly ...

Thai

2026/10/11

Raya Restaurant Phuket Review: Crab Curry & Local Thai Food

On our first night in Phuket, we went to Raya Restaurant, a restaurant we had seen recommended in a YouTube video. It was also only about a four-minute walk from The Tint at Phuket Town, where we were staying, so the location was perfect. But of course, the important question was: How was the food? Here is everything we ate, how much it cost, and what we thought of one of Phuket Old Town’s well-known restaurants. What Is Raya Restaurant? A Historic Restaurant in Phuket Old Town Raya Restaurant is a long-established restaurant in Phuket Old Town. It opened in 1994 and is housed in a historic Sino-Portuguese-style building. The retro atmosphere gives the restaurant plenty of character. This is a place where you can try traditional Phuket cuisine (^^)/ Raya Restaurant has also been recognized by the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand restaurant, a distinction given to restaurants offering good food at a reasonable price. Inside Raya Restaurant and How We Booked The interior was colorful and stylish too♪ I did not want to arrive and find the restaurant completely full, so we made a reservation in advance. You can make a reservation through the official Raya Restaurant website. If you are worried about getting a table, I recommend booking ahead. Lots of Menu Choices — Including Phuket Specialties Raya Restaurant has a large menu. There are also dishes that are especially associated with Phuket! You can check the menu on the official website before visiting too. What We Ate #1: Crab Curry ...

Thai

2026/9/19

Phuket Old Town Guide: Colorful Streets, Shopping & Aungku Cafe

This is the next part of our walk around Phuket Town after having lunch at Mee Ton Poe. Read our Mee Ton Poe Phuket review Phuket may be best known for its beaches and resorts, but Phuket Old Town has a completely different charm. Colorful historic buildings, photogenic shops, fashion boutiques and stylish cafés line the streets, making it a fun area to explore on foot. In this article, we share our walk through Phuket Old Town, the colorful resort fashion and accessories we found, and our visit to the beautiful flower-filled Aungku Cafe. We stayed nearby at The Tint at Phuket Town, which made it easy to explore the area. Read our review of The Tint at Phuket Town Walking Through the Colorful Streets of Phuket Old Town Phuket Old Town is a historic district known for its distinctive architecture and colorful streets. Rows of pastel-colored buildings make the area feel almost like a storybook. The charming Sino-Portuguese-style architecture is one of the main reasons simply walking around the neighborhood is so enjoyable. This is the well-known clock tower in Phuket Town. There are plenty of photogenic spots around the area, so we found ourselves stopping again and again to take pictures. If you enjoy taking travel photos together, a selfie stick can be useful here. Colorful Fashion and Unique Shopping in Phuket Old Town One thing that really stood out to us was the amount of bright, colorful resort fashion. We found vivid dresses, beaded bags, sparkling accessories and plenty of fun tropical ...

Thai

2026/10/24

Mee Ton Poe Phuket: The Local Hokkien Noodles We Tried First in Old Town

On the first day of our Phuket trip, we stayed at The Tint at Phuket Town, which was conveniently located for exploring Phuket Town. After dropping off our luggage, we headed out to explore before check-in. In this article, we share our first local meal in Phuket, the drinks we tried, and some of the colorful streets and temples we found along the way. Trying Phuket's Famous Hokkien Noodles at Mee Ton Poe If you want to try local food in Phuket Town, one well-known place is Mee Ton Poe. The restaurant has been serving food in central Phuket Town for more than 60 years and is located near the clock tower. It has a casual, open-air atmosphere that feels almost like a local street-food restaurant. When we visited at lunchtime, the restaurant was busy. We wondered whether it would be full of tourists, but most of the people around us appeared to be locals. That made the experience feel even more authentic. Our main reason for visiting was to try Phuket-style Hokkien noodles, or Hokkien mee. We had read about this local specialty before our trip and wanted to try it as soon as we arrived in Phuket. Mee Ton Poe is also a well-known restaurant featured in travel guides. Thick, Chewy Hokkien Noodles Hokkien noodles are made with thick yellow noodles and can be served either stir-fried or in soup. The version we tried at Mee Ton Poe came in a light soy-based broth with ingredients such as pork and seafood. We also ...

Japan Nagano

2026/9/19

Shinshu Soba in Chikuma: Kayabuki Soba, Walnut Sauce & Sake Tasting

During our trip to Chikuma City and Togura Kamiyamada Onsen in Nagano Prefecture, we stayed at Club Wyndham Chikumakan. In our previous articles, we introduced the guest rooms, hot spring baths and meals at the ryokan. Read our Club Wyndham Chikumakan room review Read our Club Wyndham Chikumakan onsen and dining review This time, we are sharing one of our favorite lunches from the trip: Shinshu soba. The soba was delicious, the set meal was generous, and we especially loved the rich walnut dipping sauce. If you are visiting Chikuma or Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, this is a local food experience worth considering. Shinshu Soba at Kaya: Delicious Walnut Soba in Chikuma We visited Soba Ryori-dokoro Kaya, a soba restaurant located about a 10-minute drive from Club Wyndham Chikumakan. The restaurant serves Shinshu soba, including soba with a distinctive walnut dipping sauce. We arrived at around noon, and the restaurant was already busy, so we had to wait a little before being seated. We ordered a weekday limited set that was also limited in quantity during our visit. Along with Shinshu soba, the set included several small dishes such as: Tempura Walnut tofu Japanese rolled omelet Simmered dishes Sushi Dessert The highlight for us was definitely the walnut soba. The dipping sauce was thick, rich and full of walnut flavor, and it paired beautifully with the soba. This was one of the most delicious soba meals we had on the trip. The restaurant also explained that it pays attention to the ingredients used in its dishes. ...

Japan Osaka

2026/9/16

Tsutenkaku & Shinsekai Osaka Guide: Views, Kushikatsu & Retro Cafe

We visited Shinsekai in Osaka for the first time. During our walk, we went up Tsutenkaku Tower, explored the colorful streets of Shinsekai, and stopped at a popular retro-style Japanese cafe. It was a casual day of sightseeing, but Shinsekai has such a distinctive atmosphere that we wanted to share what we thought of the area and whether it is worth visiting. Our First Visit to Tsutenkaku Tower｜What Time Should You Go? Here it is: Tsutenkaku Tower. Tsutenkaku is approximately 103 meters tall. The current tower was rebuilt in 1956. The original Tsutenkaku was constructed in 1912, but was dismantled during World War II. The tower standing today was rebuilt after the war. For our visit, we purchased tickets online in advance. Tickets can also be purchased on site, but advance tickets may sometimes be available at a different price. At the time of our visit, we purchased a ticket that included the special open-air observation deck. Prices and ticket types may have changed since then, so check the current official information before visiting. Even though we already had our tickets, we visited on a weekend and waited around 30 minutes before reaching the observation deck. We arrived at around 10:00 a.m. Later in the day, the wait appeared to increase to around 50 minutes. Based on our experience, going earlier in the day can be a good idea. Views from Tsutenkaku｜The Open-Air Observation Deck Is Thrilling! Tsutenkaku has an indoor observation deck and a special open-air observation area. The regular observation deck is enclosed ...

Australia

2026/10/24

Cairns Night Markets: Cheap Food, Souvenirs & the Shop Where We Couldn’t Find Any Prices

One of the liveliest places we visited in central Cairns was Cairns Night Markets. We bought souvenirs, had dinner in the food court and spent an easy evening looking around. When you hear “night market,” you might wonder: “Will it be tiring if it gets too late?” or “Will I feel comfortable walking around at night?” We only stayed for a relatively short time from late afternoon into the evening, and we found it easy to enjoy even in our 60s. In this article, I'll share what the Cairns Night Markets were really like when we visited, including food court options, souvenirs, nearby convenience stores and practical tips for older travellers. Cairns Night Markets: Basic Information Here is the basic information for Cairns Night Markets. Opening hours: Daily, 4:30 PM–11:00 PM Address: 54–60 Abbott St, Cairns City QLD, near the Esplanade Indoor market: Convenient even on rainy days Credit cards: Accepted at many shops, although this may vary Restrooms: Available Opening hours may change, so check the latest information before visiting. Prices shown in this article include prices from our own visit and may have changed. How Long Do You Need at Cairns Night Markets? One nice thing about the food court is that you do not usually have to wait as long as you might at a sit-down restaurant. So even if you do not have much time, you can still enjoy the market. If you want to browse souvenirs properly, I would allow a little longer. General visit: Around 1–2 hours Food court ...

Australia

2026/9/30

Cheap Steak in Cairns: Grand Hotel vs Hog's Breath Cafe

During our trip to Cairns, Australia in our 60s, we ate steak at two different restaurants. Both were relatively affordable by Cairns standards! So in this article, I'll compare the two and share what we liked about each one. The first was a time-limited $10 steak special at the pub on the ground floor of the Grand Hotel when we visited in 2024. The second was HOG'S BREATH CAFE, famous for its slow-cooked Prime Rib. We had read reviews saying people wanted to come back for the steak, so we decided to try it too! If you're looking for an affordable steak in Cairns or want to save a little on food while travelling, I hope our experience helps. We stayed at Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns during this trip. Read our Shangri-La Cairns review here. Grand Hotel Cairns｜We Tried the Time-Limited $10 Steak Special in 2024 We went to the pub on the ground floor of the Grand Hotel on our first day in Cairns. We didn't make a reservation. When we visited in 2024, there was a time-limited $10 steak special. The current regular menu lists a 300g rump steak at AUD 32, but the Grand Hotel still runs Daily Specials. There have also been reviews in 2025 and 2026 mentioning AUD 12 steak specials. The price, menu and available times can change, so I recommend checking the latest specials before visiting. When we visited, we had to order in English. But these days, even if you don't speak much English, translation apps ...

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