小市民的深夜食堂 / The midnight diner for the common folks

美食總是最能療癒人心，《深夜食堂》是一部知名的日本漫畫，它以都會區巷弄裡從深夜開始營業的食堂為舞台，主角是位臉龐看似安詳無害，左眼卻有一道長長的刀疤的中年大叔，而不管是黑道大哥的純情回憶、半紅不黑演歌女歌手奮鬥史，或是AV男優與家庭的羈絆，都在大叔的巧手下，化成一道道平凡但美味的料理，讓人不但品嘗美味的料理，也咀嚼最質樸的人情味，後來《深夜食堂》也改編為同名日劇，叫好又叫座。

當然，我們的生活中，不可能出現如同漫畫情節般的深夜食堂，不過，生活在華人社區，要在半夜找到美食的機會，我想還是較多，前幾天，我被事情耽擱，錯過了原本吃晚飯的時間，直到晚上九點多才有空找食物吃，這種不上不下的時間，我有幾個選擇，第一是去附近的夜市大快朵頤，要不然，就是在回家路上找便利商店，便利商店應該會有賣熟食，這種冷冷的天，就是要吃熱食，因為我明早還有要事要早起，特意去趟夜市，應該要花個一到一個半小時，看來只能在便利商店看看了。

在回家路上，就有兩家便利商店，第一家便利商店的熟食區，賣得差不多了，剩下的餐盒並沒有我較喜愛的食物，第二家商店的選擇就較多一些，有義大利麵、麻辣鍋、和排骨飯，我有些餓過頭了，想吃一些有飽足感的食物，就選擇排骨飯了，是五星等級的晶華酒店和 7-11 聯名的晶華府城肉燥排骨飯，看起來排骨還算大塊，咬下去，入口即化，鹹甜滋味中帶些許八角香氣，筍乾脆口鹹香，肉燥很下飯，雖然是便利商店的商品，但是好吃，真心不騙。


雖然生活在這裡，美食不少，不過，臨時不知道吃甚麼美食時，走個幾步，去住家附近街邊巷口的便利商店逛逛，或許可以挖出些美食，假如我住家附近，真的有如同日本漫畫中描敘的深夜食堂，一定是大排長龍、一位難求，而對於我這樣的市井小民，便利商店就是我的深夜食堂，它比較實在有用。

Food always has the power to heal the soul, and "Midnight Diner" is a well-known Japanese manga that takes place in alleys of urban areas, featuring a late-night eatery. The main character is a middle-aged man with a seemingly calm face but a long scar over his left eye. Whether it's the pure-hearted memories of a yakuza boss, the striving story of a half-red, not-black enka singer, or the ties between an AV actor and his family, everything is skillfully transformed into ordinary yet delicious dishes by the uncle. This allows people to not only savor tasty food but also chew on the most genuine human emotions. Later, "Midnight Diner" was adapted into a Japanese drama of the same name, receiving acclaim and popularity.


Of course, in our real lives, we can't expect a late-night eatery with storybook scenarios. However, living in a Chinese community, there are plenty of opportunities to find good food late at night. A few days ago, I was caught up with things and missed my usual dinner time. It was past 9 PM when I finally had the chance to look for food. Faced with this in-between time, I had a few options. First, I could go to the nearby night market for a feast, or I could stop by a convenience store on my way home. Convenience stores usually have ready-to-eat meals, and on a chilly night, warm food is a must. As I have an early morning appointment, making a trip to the night market would take too long, so it seems I'll have to settle for what the convenience store has to offer.


On my way home, there are two convenience stores. The first one seems to be running low on its ready-to-eat section, and the remaining options don't include my preferred dishes. The second store has a better selection, offering spaghetti, spicy hot pot, and pork chop rice. Feeling quite hungry, I decided on the pork chop rice – a collaboration between the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel and 7-11 called "Mandarin Oriental Pork Chop Rice." The pork chop looks substantial, and with each bite, it melts in my mouth. The savory-sweet flavor with a hint of star anise aroma is delightful. The crispy and fragrant bamboo shoots add a nice touch, making the minced meat sauce very appetizing. Despite being a convenience store product, it's genuinely delicious, and I'm not kidding.


While there are plenty of culinary choices in this area, when I'm undecided about what to eat, a short walk to the convenience store at the corner of my street might reveal some hidden gems. If there were a late-night eatery like the one described in the Japanese manga near my home, it would surely be crowded and hard to get a spot. For someone like me, a regular person, the convenience store is my midnight diner – practical and reliable.