On a weekday at 12:30 PM, I visited this restaurant for the first time with a drinking buddy. We passed through three shopping streets leading from Kintetsu Nara Station (Higashimuki, Mochiidono, and Shimo-Gommon) and arrived at this place, which is about a 10-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.I made a reservation for a counter seat about a week in advance and chose a course priced at JPY 10,000, starting from JPY 5,000.The soup and grilled dishes were prepared in an unseen kitchen, while sashimi and finishing touches were done right in front of us. I enjoyed the lively atmosphere, especially watching the chef skillfully cut the eel bones, which made me feel it was more like a kappo (a type of Japanese dining) than a traditional kaiseki.The portions were not overly large, but each dish was intricate, beautifully presented, and delicious. (Here are my thoughts on the dishes):- The appetizer of frozen squid sliced thinly with ginger and dipping sauce was intriguing.- I smiled at the sight of the now-rare sweet potato, octopus, and pumpkin dish.- The slightly bitter young sweetfish with wasabi vinegar made me feel the season.- The soft eel, cut in front of me and served with plum vinegar, captured the essence of summer in Kansai.- The soup with clams from Chiba Prefecture provided a comforting moment.- I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious tuna caught in Nagasaki for the sashimi.- I savored the thick, fatty mackerel sushi.- After enjoying the saikyo-grilled butterfish, I refreshed my palate with a crab vinegar dish.- Finally, I filled my stomach with soft-shelled turtle porridge and enjoyed a sweet dessert with matcha.They also offer a great selection of sake from Nara and famous breweries across the country at reasonable prices, which is a blessing for sake lovers (see photos).The chef and staff were attentive yet maintained a friendly distance, which was very pleasant. As we left, the chef and staff saw us off warmly.Both my drinking buddy and I agreed that this restaurant would surely delight my wife if I brought her here.We enjoyed four glasses of draft beer and sake, and our total bill for the day was in the JPY 28,000 range.Nara has many wonderful Japanese restaurants now, but this place, which opened over 30 years ago, can be considered a pioneer. I hope they continue to thrive in Nara for many more years to come.
We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.
