Chicken Shack

The Chicken Shack is a restaurant complex about 30 minutes by car outside Iwakuni.  The correct name of this complex is Irori Sanzoku, however I've only ever heard Americans refer to it by the nick-name "Chicken Shack".  This nickname is so persuasive that it even pulls up on google maps!  I struggle to properly describe the spectacle that is Chicken Shack.  Imagine you are curving around a two lane road coast to the Japanese coast outside of town.  There aren't really any street lights or traffic, and you are enjoying your drive through the country side.  Then, all of a sudden, you turn a corner and see the following:

There are lights and music and activity everywhere.  On the side of the small country road in the middle of nowhere.  The first time Hubby and I saw the Chicken-shack, we were attempting to drive from Iwakuni to Hiroshima .... jokes on us, its in the opposite direction and were blown away by the surprise of it all.  It was several days later before we went back and ate here for the first time, but enjoyed doing so greatly.

This year several friends joined us for dinner at the Chicken Shack.  We ate at the restaurant to the left of the main entrance and enjoyed sitting around a log bar on bar-stools.  (i.e. not-Japanese style sitting on the floor).  The most famous dish served here is a teriyaki chicken.  Honestly, I think it is over hyped.  We are big fans of the beef dish that you cook at your own table.  See video of the deliciousness below:

The chicken from which Chicken Shack is named: 

Gyoza:

Beef awaiting cooking:

Rice ball filled with rice, seaweed, salted plums, and tuna.  

Everyone were great sports in smiling for the camera!  

After finishing our dinner, we walked around the complex while some of our friends shopped in the nearby shops.  Here's our video tour: 

On our way to the car, we started noticing a particular Christmas tree which was filled with small paper ornaments.  Of course, we add to add our own to the tree.  We're pretty sure based on google translate, context, and the one English item on the tree you're supposed to put your Christmas Wish on the tree.  We copied a Spanish language ornament with our family "we were here".  

Merry Christmas!  

A round up of places and things we've eaten but not blogged

Lunch at Gyoza No Osho.  

Dinner at Fukuoka.  We visited Fukuoka on our last day in Iwakuni last year.  It was a breath of fresh, non-Japanese food after a week of very traditional eating.  Remembering the Pizza fondly we were excited to return and bring our friends along for the ride.  We attempted to eat here 3 different times this trip before successfully making a reservation and having dinner.  The pizza was so good ... I didn't manage to get a photo!  Seriously THAT GOOD!  

The 'mall' near our hotel includes a food court.  This food court is really just one restaurant without an English menu.  Good times.  The food was fantastic though!  

Wifey also tried out a coffee shop while Hubby was away at work one day.  She thought she ordered like a coffee float.  Ya know, coffee with ice cream on top?  Yeah, When they say "Coffee Jelly" ... that's secret code for coffee jello.  It wasn't too bad.  Wifey at the top half mixed with the ice cream and opted to skip the bottom half.  

Okonomiyaki in Iwakuni

When I find something I like, I LOVE to share it with anyone who will listen.  Okonomiyaki is no exception to this.  Tonight we met up with some friends and went out in search of dinner.  Our first choice was all booked for the night and didn't have any seating or reservations available.  We then googled and found a local restaurant serving the Hiroshima Soul Food we'd come to love earlier in the week.  After walking several blocks to reach Sobatamaya.  Sadly, a quick glance in the window revealed a hibachi style bar full of customers.  Since we were a group of 5, there appeared to be no room. Hubby came to the rescue, going inside, and (Wifey assumes), sweet talking our way into an open table in the Japanese style room to the side.  Receiving the go-ahead we proceeded inside, removed our shoes, and settled in!  

The menu:  Nearly everyone in our party ordered the house special.  It was excellent.  And for about $8 a great deal.  I can't imagine anyone leaving hungry.  We do recommend sitting at the bar where you can watch your food being cooked if you come here and have the choice.  The Okonomiyaki takes a while to make and waiting is a drag.  

Dining with friends is the best .... we have built in photographic skills!  Shout out to our photographer, M! We're loving traveling with you this week.

Sadly, I did not notate what the following dish was called .... rumour is that it was good though!  

Our crew ... out and about on the yellow brick road!  #selfiestick

Nails

About two weeks before our departure for Japan, Wifey's Nana passed away.  We miss her.  As a result of the activities surrounding her passing, Wifey's mani-pedi schedule got 'off'.  This resulted in a mid-trip need to pursue a manicure and polish change.  

Being a huge fan of Google, wifey spent part of this morning researching the nail salon options and pricing structures and choosing her desired location.  She then walked to the winning location and held up her nails and hopefully said "manicure".  The nail tech asked in response "today" and wifey said "maybe".  Several minutes later, an appointment was offered for two weeks out.  Using the google translate app, Wifey declined and asked about something sooner.  The tech in response grabbed her smartphone, pulled up google maps, and sent wifey toward a different nail salon near Iwakuni Station.  

After walking back, past her hotel, to Iwakuni station, wifey looked for the nail salon.  Unsuccessfully.  And without wifi or data, couldn't' look up its exact location.  So she returned to the hotel.  Google to the rescue again!  Attempt two led wifey to the following storefront.  She walked in and again held up her hands, said "manicure" and then "nails" and was told by the clerk "upstairs".  Yep, she was in a massage parlor, but on the right track! 

Having found my second nail salon of the day, again I asked for a manicure and again, the nail tech asked in response .... "today?"  Yes, yes I'd like one today.  More appointment book flipping ensued and then I was offered a 2:00 appointment (it was 11:00 am at this time).  I repeated 2:00, smiled and nodded a lot and left.  

Three hours later, I returned and began my manicure.  My preferred type of nail polish is gel or shellac.  These last longer than regular color and have to be soaked off in acetone.  My nails were in pretty bad shape and some had already come off, but several still required soaking.  The tech had a unique way of doing so.  After preparing my nail to soak, she took acetone soaked cotton, placed it on my nail bed, wrapped each nail in foil (so far so normal), and then rolled what appeared to be the ends of rubber gloves over each nail.  I assume this keeps the acetone in place and soaking more securely.  

Panorama of the nail salon. 

I was happy to see that I would be able to get my normal Gel polish and chose a color.  When the time came to begin painting my nails, I knew something was different.  The polish (base, color, and top coat) all came in small tubs and was applied using a paintbrush of sorts.  The polish texture is thicker than that of American gel polish.  I thought for a time "I'm ending up with acrylic nails.  I haven't had acrylic nails since I was in high school". The resulting nail texture is a bit thicker than that of American gel nails.  I'm do prefer the nail polish to which I'm accustomed, but this experience wasn't altogether unpleasant.  

The finished product.  A bit thicker, and a bit darker than expected, but it'll do the trick for the remainder of this trip!  

Green Rich Hotel, Iwakuni

Our biggest challenge our first night at the Green Rich, Iwakuni was parking.  The hotel itself does not include parking, but does recommend two parking lots as options nearby.  We ended up in one of these lots on accident, and decided to stay put for the night.  We were less than a block from our hotel and made the walk quite easily. 

                  

The Green Rich Hotel is far nicer than Wifey had anticipated.  Reading reviews online, our main goal was "private room" with reasonable commute time to work for Hubby.  All higher aspirations were nixed in the pursuit of realism.   The front desk staff spoke sufficient English and check-in was smooth.  Soon we reached our room, figured out how to insert our key to activate the electricity and thus lights and were ready to settle in!

 The neat, clean view upon check-in.  We soon made this modern oasis a bit more cluttered and homey.  Video tour below!

Enjoy the after view and tour below: