Spakichi has resided in the old section of Kichijoji for what seems like ages. You wind your way through narrow passageways to find it; if you’re familiar with the street-side alley to the left of Fujiya, it’s right past the fish monger. On weekends and weekday lunchtimes, it’s always crowded. Come early or late to avoid waiting too long. It’s a little uncomfortable waiting in a very narrow passageway with the aromatic(sic) smell of fresh, aging fish tickling your nostrils, especially during the warmer months. Lunches include a small side salad which was fresh, crispy lettuce with thinly sliced onion, red cabbage, cucumber, corn all covered with a lite vinegar dressing. Pasta here is «nama,» which means made fresh on the spot. The noodles are a flat linguine, boiled to a nice al dente. Today’s sauce of fresh mushrooms and ground chicken was quite tasty. You could taste the spices and white wine that were rich, but did not overpower the mushrooms. Extra large sizes available for an extra ¥150; lunch drinks cheap at ¥150. Wish they had some French bread to sop up the last drops of sauce; instead, I used my finger.(Kidding!) Its a very small literal hole in the wall, but surprisingly spacious once you’re seated. The BGM was a bit on the loud and obnoxious side, and the young staff could use some smiling lessons from McDs. But other than these details, the food quality warrants a solid four stars. It’s a nice discovery, seek it out and you’ll be rewarded.
