神戸でコンサートがあって、新神戸駅前のＡＮＡクラウンプラザホテルに宿泊した。新神戸の駅前は何もなかったが、ホテルの客室からの眺めはなかなかのものだった。
I went to Kobe for a concert and stayed at the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel right in front of Shin-Kobe Station. There was surprisingly little around the station, but the view from my hotel room more than made up for it.
コンサート前日の夕刻、時間ができたので、元町の商店街＆中華街に行ってみた。
On the evening before the concert, I found myself with some free time, so I headed over to Motomachi’s shopping arcade and the nearby Chinatown for a stroll.
出張であちこち出かけても、街中や観光地をブラブラする時間はほとんどないので、この日のように多少なりとも自由時間があると大変ありがたい。
Even when I travel for business, I rarely have the chance to wander around the city or visit sightseeing spots, so having even a bit of free time like I did that day felt like a real luxury.
スタッフの慰労会用に、中華街で安くてよさげな店はないかと探して予約したのがこの店。
I had been looking for an inexpensive yet decent place in Chinatown for a staff appreciation dinner, and this was the restaurant I ended up finding and booking.
5500円飲み放題付きのコースを注文。飲み物に生ビールがなかったり、紹興酒が常温でしか飲めなかったりと、イマイチな部分もあったが、全般的にはまあまあ。上の写真のひき肉のキャベツ包みやエビチリは独特だった。
We ordered a set menu with an all-you-can-drink option for 5,500 yen. There were a few disappointing points—no draft beer on the drink menu, and the Shaoxing wine was only served at room temperature—but overall it was fairly decent. The minced-meat cabbage wrap and the chili shrimp in the photo above were quite distinctive.
この店のとなりの豚まんの店が有名だというので、食後に立ち寄ろうとしたら、すでに閉店していた。概してこちらの中華街は夜の店じまいが早いのが意外だった。
I’d heard that the pork bun shop next to the restaurant was quite famous, so I planned to stop by after our meal. But by the time we went over, it had already closed. I was surprised to find that many places in this Chinatown seem to close rather early at night.
