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When you think about popular local dishes in Fukui, I guess the first one you think of
is “Pork cutlet with sauce topped on rice”. In Fukui, there are other popular local dishes
such as “Buckwheat noodles with grated radish”, “Salted mackerel in rice-bean paste”
and “Grilled mackerel sushi”. But today, I will introduce the “Volga Rice”. Volga Rice
is a kind of a rice omelet topped with pork cutlet. There are many theories about the
origin of the name. For example, it’s from the Volga in Russia or Volgana Village in Italy etc.

I went to the most popular restaurant for Volga Rice “Yokogawa Bunten” in Echizen City.
In fact, I ate the Volga Rice for the first time on the day.

Yokogawa Bunten is located just in front of Soja Daijingu Shrine.
It may be hard to find for people coming for the first time but you can park in the precincts or in front of the restaurant. If both are full, you can park in free city-run parking lot.

Yokogawa Bunten opens at 11:30 a.m.
I arrived at the Yokogawa Bunten early and strolled in the precincts. I used to come there
in my high school days. As far as I remember, the precincts were more spacious but
now they look relatively small.

When it opens, a female staff called me “Please come in”. She was friendly and it made
me feel relaxed. And then two women came over and I asked them “Where do you come from?” They came from Tokyo and Nagoya but their hometown is Shirayama, Echizen City. Also, we graduated from the same high school. We had much in common and had lunch together.

Their aged parents are in nursing homes and they visit hometown to see them on the same day at least once a month. I asked them “Is Fukui a good place for you?” and they said “Of course, it is great. We think so year by year. After all, it has few natural disasters and doesn’t snow much recently. But fresh food is a little expensive.” I was surprised to hear that few disasters and high prices. Indeed, I am living in Fukui, on the contrary, there might be invisible parts.

By the way, the Volga Rice was different from what I expected. Actually, I imagined a big volume but it was quite plane, the portion was right, the cutlet was thin and soft and the tomato sauce was good. I recommend a large portion for men. Writing this makes me feel eat it again.

You can eat Volga Rice in many restaurants and cafes in Echizen City.
Each restaurant or cafe has its own recipe, so why don’t you find your favorite Volga Rice?
(H.S)
Seven recommended restaurants and cafes for Volga Rice in Echizen City

The entrance of Yokogawa Bunten

Inside Yokogawa Bunten

Here is the Volga Rice!
Looks good, doesn’t it?

A flag of Volga Rice is hanging under its eaves.

Today, I will introduce a small soft-serve ice cream shop in front of Seibu Department Store in Fukui City. Their soft-serve ice creams are made from milk of rare Jersey cattle in Japan, which is from the Lovely Ranch in Katsuyama City.
You can enjoy a nice taste of plain-milk. On the other hand, it has light taste so it is recommended for calorie-conscious women. They also have cream puffs, crapes and drinks.

By the way, if you come to Fukui from other prefectures to visit Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum or Hakusan Heisenji Shrine, “Milk Tea House”, the directly-managed store of the Lovely Ranch, which is in the free parking lot of Katsuyama Castle, is a must-stop. （H.S)

Lovely soft-serve ice cream (mini cup)
Of course, you can choose in a cone.

Their shop plate with a cute cow makes you warm fuzzy feeling.

The appearance of the shop.
Also, vegetables are sold at the side of the shop.