I bought this nostalgic soft-noodle set at Michi-no-Eki Hota Elementary School, a roadside station created from a closed school. After enjoying school-lunch noodles at its café, I was delighted to find a take-home version in the souvenir shop.
Retro School Lunch Soft Noodle Taste Comparison: Tomato and Curry
The set contains two servings and costs 480 yen. Its retro illustration of a school lunch cook gives the package a charming Showa-era feel.
Illustrated cooking instructions appear on the back. The best-before date was about five months from purchase.
The set includes noodles plus tomato and curry seasoning powders.
Cooking and tasting the tomato flavor
I stir-fried onion, green pepper, and sausage, added a little water and the noodles, then mixed in the seasoning once the noodles loosened.
The sweet, low-acid tomato flavor has a buttery aroma that children will love. The noodles resemble thin udon but have a texture between udon and pasta—pleasantly chewy and not too soft.
Tasting the curry flavor
The curry version is genuinely spicy and full-bodied. Green pepper pairs especially well with the noodles, and the dish even works with beer. Both flavors were delicious and brought back school-lunch memories.
Retro School Lunch Soft Noodle Taste Comparison (Tomato and Curry) Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
| Product Name | Retro School Lunch Soft Noodle Taste Comparison (Tomato and Curry) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Seller | Sanuki Menshin Co., Ltd. / All Advertising Management Center Co., Ltd. |
| Address | 4285-323 Hayashidacho, Sakaide, Kagawa / 869-7 Yachimata-ho, Yachimata, Chiba, Japan |
| Expiration Date | Approximately 5 months from the date of purchase |
| Place of Purchase | Michi-no-Eki Hota Elementary School |
| Price | ¥480 |
