(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)
At Okado, diners can take the phrase “from farm to table” up a notch by enjoying a fresh meal inside a hundred-year-old farmhouse.
Okado sits on the Tonami Plain of Toyama Prefecture surrounded by large trees and the snow-capped Tateyama Mountain Range in the distance.
The large wooden farmhouse has wide glass windows, allowing diners sweeping views of the pastoral landscape while they enjoy delicious meals made with local produce.
I ordered koi-akane, the restaurant’s signature lunch set for 2,900 yen ($20). Though my perception of what a local farm meal was something similar to what a grandma might serve at home, what I received was not what I expected.
The large lunch set was a gorgeous sight of tri-colored kuzukiri starch noodles, yubesu ginger-flavored egg jelly, yogoshi miso-dipped vegetables, maruyama deep-fried bean cured, tempura vegetables and somen noodles. The volume of dishes would easily be comparable to a full-course French dinner, but healthier!
The delicate flavors of the dishes are something I won’t soon forget. My favorite, however, was the Okado somen noodles. According to the server, the noodles have a unique shape called “mage,” meaning married woman’s coiffure, and have been handmade in the Tonami area for over 160 years. What makes these noodles special is the use of water from the Sho River and cold-wind drying for 10 days. The traditional method gives the Okado somen an extremely refreshing, chewy texture.
The somen noodles come served in a cold soy-sauce based broth with ground ginger and steamed fish paste. The flavors paired well with the chewy noodles and were a taste of the surrounding landscape and its severe weather which make the noodles possible.
Dining at Okado gives a great chance to enjoy time-tested local delicacies in a unique pastoral environment with a celestial landscape. Don’t miss dropping by Okado when you explore the Hokuriku region.
Farm Restaurant Okado
Location: 165 Okado, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture
Hours: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 5 – 10 p.m.
Tel: 076-333-0088
