[Fukushima] Opened in 2017. I tried the famous burger at the popular roadside station "Kunimi Atsushi no Sato"!

Roadside Station Kunimi Atsushi no Sato held its grand opening in May 2017 in Kunimi Town, Date District, in the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture.
Kunimi Town is also known for its abundance of agricultural products such as peaches, and at this roadside station you can enjoy a unique local hamburger. I heard rumors that it is so delicious that many people come just to eat it, so I immediately tried it.

A roadside station with good access. You can even stay overnight!

Atsukashi no Sato is located along National Route 4, also known as Rikuu Kaido, and is easily accessible not only from within Fukushima Prefecture but also from Miyagi Prefecture.

``Atsukashi no Sato'' was named after Mt. Atsukashiyama, a mountain that is said to be the symbol of Kunimi Town, with the hope that it would become a place that is loved by many people.
True to their wishes, the restaurant has been crowded with many people since its opening. Since it's a roadside station, there are 180 parking spaces, but I was surprised to find it nearly full when I visited. That's no wonder; this place has an information rest facility, a farmers' market, a restaurant, a cafe, a 24-hour convenience store, and even lodging facilities.You can even have a "Roadside Station de Wedding" here, so stop by while sightseeing. It has become an important spot not only for the people but also for the neighbors.

``Kunimi Burger'' with an unexpected combination that is delicious beyond your imagination

Now, it's the Kunimi burger you're looking for.
First, let me introduce you to my profile. Kunimi Burger is a town-revitalizing gourmet dish developed by members of the Kunimi Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Youth Division after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and debuted in 2012.

This burger, made with miso-stewed mackerel made by Sakuma Shoten in Kunimi town and sandwiched between tomato, lettuce, and onion, in a bun made by Sakuma Bakery, won the Grand Prix at the Fukushima Burger Summit in 2014 and 2015, and won the Grand Prix in 2016. is also registered as a trademark.
Previously, it was sold at events and on the go in kitchen cars, but now that a sales corner has been opened in Atsushi no Sato, you can enjoy it anytime.

The main ingredient is miso-braised mackerel, which is excellent.
The name of the product is ``Mackerel simmered in miso to the bone.'' The mackerel is stewed with only miso and sugar, and although it has a good flavor, it is not chewy or sticky at all, and as the name suggests, you can eat even the bones. . As you can see from the photo, there are quite large pieces of fillet in it.

And this miso-stewed mackerel goes very well with raw vegetables. Combined with the freshness of the vegetables, it tastes even more refreshing.

Since the ingredients are unique, the bun is also important.
If you have unreliable bread, you will lose. In that respect, Sakuma Bakery's buns are perfect. You can really enjoy the deliciousness of the bread, and the burger is quite satisfying to eat.

I also tried some promising new products! "Squid carrot burger"

Actually, when I ordered the Kunimi Burger, I was introduced to the "Squid Carrot Burger" and was told, "How about this too? It's a new product! It's popular!"
The fact that the Kunimi burger contains mackerel alone is scary (exaggerating...), but on top of that, squid and carrots! ? That's what I thought, but I couldn't get over my curiosity and ordered them at the same time.

By the way, ``squid carrots'' is a representative of the local cuisine of northern Fukushima Prefecture. The squid used for this is dried squid, which is cut into thin strips, softened with sake, etc., and marinated in a sauce made with soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, etc., along with carrots, which are also cut into thin strips. Since it is a home-cooked dish, each family has a slightly different way of making it.

That aside, this is a squid carrot burger.

However, it's not just the squid and carrots sandwiched between the buns, but also fried white fish and lettuce.
It looks like a fish burger. but! When you eat it, the presence of carrots is amazing. The correct answer is to open your mouth wide and shake the carrots so as not to spill them.

Tartar sauce is used to go with the fried fish, and the umami of the squid, carrots, and dried squid seems to work as a hidden flavor, giving it a deep flavor.
Once you eat this, a regular fish burger may no longer be enough for you. However, personally, I would have preferred to eat this burger with white wine rather than coffee.

It's not just the burgers that are unique. Atsushi no Sato, where you can find a variety of souvenirs

“Kunimi Burger” and “Squid Carrot Burger” are both large in volume, so if you are a picky eater, it may be difficult to eat both. But I want you to try both!

You can fill up your stomach by wandering around Kunimi Market, a direct sales store with freshly harvested local vegetables and fruits, processed products unique to Kunimi Town, and Fukushima Prefecture specialties.
There are many products that are hard to find anywhere else, such as Kunimi-cho's new local sake ``Atsushi-san.''

Events are held from time to time, so be sure to stop by Roadside Station Kunimi Atsushi no Sato to try some unique burgers!

INFORMATION