Winter is here so you know what that means. Time to break out the nabe pot! I love nabe or hot pot. It is so simple to make and so delicious. Plus it keeps you warm during these cold times. There are some many different types. Kimchi nabe, goma nabe, curry cheese nabe. The possibilities are endless. Recently, I got to try a place that was famous for it's spicy miso nabe. That place is called Aka Kara.
Aka Kara
First up, I want to say that this place does not come from Ibaraki. It is a chain izakaya from Nagoya. There are quite a few Aka Kara's in Ibaraki. Tsukuba, Toride, Ryugasaki, Mito, to name a few places. I recently went to the Aka Kara in Hitachinaka city with my wife and her coworkers.
As far as the menu goes, the main attraction is the spicy miso nabe which of course we ordered. There are also different Nagoya dishes to choose from.
Cheese Omelet
Our group ordered the cheese omelet as a small appetizer and I am glad we did. It was delicious. The cheese had small pieces of chives in it and it worked really well together. The egg was warm and fluffy, and the cheese was gooey and amazing. It was a good light appetizer to start with.
Miso Spicy Nabe
Finally, our nabe arrived. When you order this nabe you can choose the size and spice level. That night we chose level 3. I was a bit worried since it had been a while since I had had spicy food, but I was still looking forward to it.
The staff turned our gas stove on and we waited over beers and conversation. Finally, it was time to dig in.
Amazing Nabe
This nabe had everything you would expect from any other nabe and more. Bean sprouts, Chinese cabbage or hakusai, pork, and tofu. The nabe actually had long strips of tofu skin which was excellent with this spicy broth. It also brought some red peppers to up the spice level.
So how was the level 3? You might be asking. There was a kick to it at first but afterward, I got used to the spice level rather quickly. I think I can probably handle a level 4 or 5. The nabe broth was incredible. It was a perfect blend of miso and spiciness. I was so warm and comfortable with this nabe, it felt like I was relaxing in a kotasu. I absolutely loved everything about this nabe, but it wasn't over yet.
Risotto
After you finish all the vegetables and meat in the nabe, you can order noodles or rice to put in the nabe as a finisher to the meal. Our group ordered risotto. The cheese, rice and spicy nabe mixed together was a perfect ending to our evening. Everyone at the table was full, warm and satisfied.
I felt so full and warm after our meal that the cold Hitachinaka air did not bother me at all. I am definitely coming back to Aka Kara to get my nabe on and I recommend you do too. Especially if you love spicy food. If you end up ordering a level 8 or 9, let me know if the spicy level was doable or that you tongue was on fire the whole time.
So if you like spicy food and want to give Nagoya cuisine a try, head on over to Aka Kara and get some of that spicy miso nabe.
Enjoy!
For more information on Aka Kara, check out their website:
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