What do you think of when you think of winter food?

Nabe (hot pot) with everyone, mikan (mandarin oranges) eaten over a kotatsu, mochi (rice cakes) in ozoni (a soup stock) ... these are all winter traditions.

This time, I would like to introduce 'oobanyaki' as such a winter speciality. But this is not just any oobanyaki.

The shop visited was Ishiguro Oobanya. The shop is located on the Kamimachi shopping street in Yoita. I forgot to take a photo of the exterior, but there is a large 'Oobanyaki' sign. No, it was there. In fact, I visit the shop every year, but this year it was upgraded to an electric signboard.

The Kamimachi shopping street where the shop is located is what is commonly known as a 'shuttered shopping street' and is not very lively. However, there is always a long queue at Ishiguro Oban-ya..! What is the secret behind its popularity?

The interior of the shop looks like this. The workshop is open across a large window. It is fun to watch the scene of large oval pancakes being baked. Although not shown in the photo, the space opposite the workshop is a waiting room, so you don't have to wait outside in the cold winter. but the shop is always popular, so if you don't have a reservation, you will often have to wait 15-20 minutes.

On this day, we visited at around 17:40, just before closing time, so there were few customers and we got a freshly baked oobanyaki in about five minutes. However, it is not recommended to go there just before closing time, as they announce that they close at 6pm, but they close as soon as they run out of ingredients, which was at 5.45pm that day. Just in time!

I see the actual baking scene. ... Um, it's sticking out so much from the mould. I wonder if it's OK! On top of the overflowing dough, they boldly put anko (sweet bean paste) and cream on top. There is also a cheese-flavoured one, but you need to make a reservation for this one.

The cream is placed on top of this overflowing dough and more dough is added... Normal oval-shaped biscuits are made in a mould...? They become about twice as thick as normal...!

Bite into a mouthful.

This time we had the cream flavour. As I ate it on the spot this time, I had to take photos in the car. Sorry for the darkness.

The sweetness of the cream was well balanced with the crust. If you're going to write an article anyway, eat the red bean paste too! You are right. However, what is amazing about the oobanyaki here is its size. The weight of the oobanyaki is quite heavy when you hold it in your hand. Just eating one will fill you up, so we don't recommend eating it before rice. Rather, eat it instead of rice (laughs).

However, many customers are not afraid to order large quantities of five or ten at once. I have the impression that more customers take their oobanyaki home to eat than eat it on the spot. Of course, freshly baked oval omelettes are better, but you can enjoy the crunchiness of freshly baked oval omelettes again if you wrap them in plastic wrap and warm them in the microwave!

These oobanyaki are big in size, yet conscientiously priced at 120 yen each! Be sure to check out Yoita's oobanyaki this winter.

Shop information

Ishiguro Oobanya

• 227?1, Yoita, Yoita-cho, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-2402, Japan.
• tel: 0258-72-2926
• Period of operation: october - may.
• Opening hours: until 6pm (closing when all ingredients are gone) *Opening hours are rather vague, so we recommend calling and making a reservation if you want to be sure of purchasing.