米Lab百福
(Kome Labo Momofuku)
■ Osaka / Japanese-Teishoku / Price per Person: Lunch ¥1,000-Dinner ¥4,000
※ Prices are based on my visit and may vary by location or time.
At Kome Labo Momofuku, “Kome” means rice in Japanese, while “Labo” is a shortened Japanese-style pronunciation of the English word “Laboratory.” Even the name suggests a place dedicated to experimenting with rice and exploring new ways to enjoy it.
To be honest, I don’t usually like rice very much, and I rarely eat it at home. But here, perhaps because they use carefully selected premium rice, the flavor was truly impressive. Each grain was plump, glossy, and carried a natural sweetness. For the first time in my life, I even asked for a refill of rice — that’s how delicious it was.
This is the entrance of the restaurant. The space is not very large, and the interior feels relatively cozy. With both counter seats and table seating combined, it seems to accommodate around 24 people in total.
The warm, compact atmosphere makes it suitable for dining alone as well as for small gatherings.
RLab Momofuku: Menu and Lunch Sets Review
Here is the lunch menu. At the time of my visit, all set meals were priced at 1,000 yen including tax. It felt like a very reasonable price considering the quality of the meal.
The menu also noted that the rice served here is carefully selected from Nara Prefecture. Their dedication seems to show even in their choice of rice.
The weekly set meal changes every week, and in addition, there were options such as grilled mackerel with salt and fried oyster set meals. For an extra 500 yen, you could also enjoy three kinds of fresh sashimi on the side.
As for the rice, you can choose between plain white rice and multigrain rice, though the multigrain option is available only in limited quantities, making it feel a bit more special.
This is the menu of regional specialty sake, perfect for a pleasant buzz. It features unique selections from different areas of Japan such as Hyogo, Wakayama, and Akita, allowing you to enjoy the flavors of various regions in one place.
Each sake can be ordered either by the glass or in the traditional “ichigo” (一合) serving, which is about 180ml and typically comes in a sake-dedicated glass flask. This makes it easy to sample and compare different varieties without overdrinking.
In the evening, the restaurant operates more like an izakaya, and I’ve visited during that time as well. The atmosphere was lively and the menu was different from lunch, giving me another chance to enjoy their food in a new way. The contrast between the neat set meals at lunchtime and the casual izakaya vibe at night was quite memorable.
When the meal was served, the portion of the main dish felt a little small, and I honestly found that a bit disappointing.
However, even I — someone who usually doesn’t eat much rice — ended up asking for a refill because the rice was that delicious. The aroma and texture of the grains stood out, and I felt that coming here just to enjoy the rice was worth it. Of course, the main dish was also excellent in flavor, despite the smaller portion size.
By the way, when I visited, rice refills were offered for free, which makes it even more enjoyable for those who love rice.
■Kome Labo Momofuku
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