In addition to eels, Hamamatsu offers a variety of other attractive foods. Among them, the most popular are Mikkaichi beef, Hamamatsu’s brand-name beef, and shirasu (baby sardines) caught in the Sea of Enshu.
Hamamatsu Station has ekiben that serve Mikkaichi beef and shirasu (dried young sardines), and the “Hamamatsu Mikkaichi Beef & Enshu Shirasu Bento” introduced here has become popular as an ekiben that offers both at once. In fact, it is said to be the most popular ekiben at Hamamatsu Station.
The package is relatively simple, but the contents are quite luxurious. One of the diagonally partitioned bowls is filled with Mikkaichi beef, while the other is filled with shirasu (dried young sardines), creating a visually appetizing sight even at a quick glance. The Mikkaichi beef is served with pickled wasabi greens, while the shirasu is served with simmered scallions, a broiled egg, and red ginger, giving the dish a gorgeous colorful impression.
Mikkaichi beef is finished as grilled meat dipped in a slightly sweet sauce. Unlike sukiyaki-style beef stew, which is common in beef ekiben, the flavor of the meat can be enjoyed quite straightforwardly. Of course, because it is an ekiben, it is cold, but it has just the right amount of chewiness and remains juicy, making it quite tasty.
The rice served under the Mikkaichi beef is mikan rice cooked with the juice of Shizuoka’s famous mikan oranges. Although it does not have enough flavor to directly convey the taste of mikan, it has an interesting flavor that is not found in ordinary white rice. The combination of this mikan rice and Mikkaichi beef is also very good. The wasabi-gai (wasabi leaves) are a perfect accompaniment to the rich Mikkaichi beef, and you will never get tired of eating it.
In contrast, the shirasu is slightly salty, and you can enjoy the taste of shirasu more straightforwardly than Mikkaichi beef. The rice used for this dish is white rice, so it has a light flavor that goes well with the shirasu. However, the slightly sweet and spicy asari (scallion) stew and the sweet broiled egg give the dish a variety of flavors. In particular, when the shirasu (baby sardines) is served with the asari stew, the flavor of the two together makes the dish even more delicious. The taste of the asari and the shirasu together is even more delicious.
Underneath the Mikkaichi beef and shirasu, the bowl is almost completely covered with rice, making it a very generous portion. With its flavor, it is no wonder that it is the most popular ekiben at Hamamatsu Station. If you ever visit Hamamatsu, you should definitely pick up this ekiben.