(Takahiro Takiguchi, Stripes Japan)
In Japan there are many restaurant options for every budget. Sometimes, however, you might be in a rush, low on time or just craving a quick pasta fix. Mamma Pasta, a casual Italian chain, has you covered!
I stopped at the Mamma Pasta location near Kanazawa Zoo in Yokohama City for a hearty meal after spending the day with my family enjoying the zoo’s residents. The zoo spans 13 hectares and is home to elephants, deer, giraffes, kangaroos and perfect for a full day of family fun.
Mamma Pasta is about a five-minute drive from the zoo and about 20 minutes away from Yokosuka Naval Base. The restaurant offers seasonal dishes and lots of delicious options on the regular menu.
The staff is very friendly, and from our seats we could see the chefs baking fresh pizza thanks to the open-kitchen concept of the restaurant. Mamma Pasta is run by cake shop chain Giraud, so don’t forget to save space for some delicious dessert! The cake shop is conveniently located on the first floor and a staffer will head downstairs to grab your order.
For our orders, my family went with the tomato and mascarpone cheese pasta, eggplant and salmon in cream sauce pasta, and vongole (pasta of clams with shell). In 10 minutes, three plates with heaping pasta portions arrived. I’m sure that each plate has nearly double the size of the standard portion of other restaurants.
This might be a chain, but the Mamma’s taste of Italy was not like a chain at all! My vongole pasta was the perfect mix of garlicky sauce and dozens of fresh clams. The noodles were served perfectly al dente. My wife and daughter’s carefully cooked pasta were just as delicious with fresh ingredients and excellent flavor.
Though we thoroughly enjoyed our meals, we were, unfortunately, way too full to have dessert. If you plan to visit any of the many locations Mamma Pasta has around the Kanto area, make sure to save some room.
Mamma Pasta Kanazawabunko
Location: 2-6-27 Kamariyahigashi, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Tel: 045-785-3853
*Mamma Pasta has great lunchtime deals on weekends and holidays. The set includes main dish (pasta or pizza), soup, focaccia (refill free) and soft drink for 1,680 yen ($12).
