01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Between races, settle in with a sausage dressed in curry-spiced sauce, some potatoes and a craft beer. STAR LIGHT, inside Oi Racecourse, serves just the sort of plate that suits a pause. Currywurst is a German classic: sausage topped with ketchup and curry powder, served with potatoes. One diner reported that the tang of the sauce and the aroma of the spices brought out the sausage’s savoury flavour and went well with the potatoes. Listed at ¥850, it is an easy choice when you want something to enjoy alongside a beer.
For a local pairing, choose from Star Light Craft Beer, made especially for Oi Racecourse. The Golden Ale is listed at 4.5% alcohol and 18.0 IBU; the Kölsch at 4.5% and 20.6 IBU; and the Stout at 5.0% and 17.8 IBU. A diner who tried the Kölsch and Stout with currywurst described the former as combining qualities of ale and lager, and the latter as a beer with deep body and a toasty character. Choose according to whether you want the beer to take centre stage or to complement your food.
If you are after a more substantial meal, consider one of the pita sandwiches. The menu includes the Crush Hamburger Cheese Sandwich (1,050 yen), filled with hamburger steak, and the Beef Steak Sandwich (1,200 yen), with steak grilled on a hot plate. Both are described as freshly cooked, fragrant and juicy. One diner had the latter with potatoes topped with Parmigiano cheese. Another remarked on the generous size of the hot dog, so if a snack is not enough, the sandwiches and hot dogs are worth a look.
Another contender for a signature dish is Starlight Motsuni, a stew made with offal. Alongside the classic version, there is a garlic-butter flavour and an ethnic spicy version with harissa for a kick, offering different choices depending on your mood. The listed price is 500 yen for the classic and 600 yen for each of the other two. Yakitori skewers are available in servings of 3, as is fried chicken, making it easy to put together a selection of smaller bites.
The racecourse setting brings its own options, including seats where you can eat and drink while watching the races, as well as terrace seating. The restaurant also has displays related to horse racing, which one diner took time to look at after eating. It is a place to stop during a race day, or to take a break while exploring the horses and racecourse exhibits.
