◻︎ Visit Date: June 16, 2026 (Tuesday) ◻︎ Reservation Time: 11:45 ◻︎ Reservation Method: Instagram ◻︎ Reservation Difficulty: ★★★★ ◻︎ Visit Time: 11:30 ◻︎ Number of Guests: 1 ◻︎ Payment Method: Cash ◻︎ Notes: Nearest Station: Kintetsu Nara Station Address: - (Not disclosed) 【Today's Order】 • Chinese Sai Naramachi Kuko 2026 Total: JPY 25,000 ◻︎ Course Menu ~ Chinese Sai Naramachi Kuko 2026 ~ ○ "Welcome Appetizer" "Spring Pancake with Loquat and Foie Gras" ○ "Eight Flavors Cold Dishes (Appetizers)" "Nara Prefecture Yamato Chicken's Spicy Chicken" "Rabbit Meat from Akita Prefecture with Mountain Spinach" "Homemade Eggplant and Manjyu Pepper in Dashi" "Black Fungus from Asuka Village, Nara" "Kabocha with Grilled Chili" "Snails from Mie Prefecture" "Sea Jellyfish with Red Vinegar and Mini Tomatoes" "Sichuan Spicy Cashews" ○ "Soup" "Chives and Yellow Fish Fin Winter Melon Soup" ○ "Kuko-style Salty Heart" "Xiao Long Bao with Yamato Pork" "Shrimp Dumplings with Fennel" "Shumai with Yamato Pork and Abalone from Hokkaido" ○ "Small Dishes" "Fried Dumplings with Five-Flavor Rice (Ham Sui Gok)" "Yamato Rouge Spring Rolls from Nara" "Homemade Roast Pork Pie from Yamato Pork, Baked in Puff Pastry" ○ Yamato Chicken with Zucchini and Three Sauces ○ Baozi ○ Fried Rice with Jinhua Ham and Egg Whites, Dried Scallops ○ "Dessert" "Taiwanese Pineapple Tart" "Mugwort and Sesame Dumplings" "Fresh Lychee from Kochi Prefecture" "Malakau" "Mango Pudding" "Raspberry Pie with Red Bean Paste" ◻︎ Pairing Menu ~ Chinese Sai Naramachi Kuko 2026 ~ ○ Dawn ○ Auspicious Light ○ Fragrant Aroma ○ Dewy Flower ○ Rich Fragrance ○ Scented Breeze ○ Fragrant Harmony ○ Beautiful Evening ○ Moonlit Night ○ Many Fragrances ◻︎ Memorable Dishes ○ Homemade Eggplant and Manjyu Pepper in Dashi ★★★★ The homemade eggplant and Manjyu pepper are marinated in Shanxi aged vinegar, a traditional black vinegar from Shanxi Province, China. The eggplant is slit open, absorbing the black vinegar broth, creating a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The Manjyu pepper is not too spicy and pairs perfectly with the eggplant. The moderate acidity is addictive. Although I wasn't fond of eggplant, my aversion has faded after tasting the excellent dishes served at this restaurant. ○ Xiao Long Bao with Yamato Pork ★★★★ These black-colored dumplings are filled with soup and enjoyed with black vinegar and ginger. Taking a bite releases a burst of meat juices, exploding with flavor in your mouth. ○ Fried Dumplings with Five-Flavor Rice (Ham Sui Gok) ★★★★★ This was a highly anticipated dish for my visit. Ham Sui Gok refers to the classic "Five-Flavor Fried Dumpling" from Hong Kong dim sum. The crispy yet chewy texture is unforgettable, and I can't help but drool every time I think about it. The five-flavor filling is addictive, perfectly matching the glutinous rice dough, making it difficult to describe just how delicious it is. This is the number one dish I've ever had among all the dim sum I've tried. It was my favorite dish in this course. ◻︎ Other Dishes ○ Chives and Yellow Fish Fin Winter Melon Soup ★★★ This is a winter melon soup made with a base of superior broth from Jinhua ham, Yamato chicken, and Kesennuma shark fin, along with yellow chives. It's impressive that such a rich flavor was achieved without using any chemical seasonings. The refined taste seeps into the body. ○ Yamato Chicken with Zucchini and Three Sauces ★★★ The Yamato chicken is smoked with cherry blossom aroma and cooked at low temperatures to lock in the flavor. The skin is crispy, while the inside has a texture closer to that of chicken breast rather than being juicy. Personally, I found the homemade zucchini served alongside to be more memorable, as it was fresh and sweet, leaving a strong impression. The three sauces are Sichuan pepper salt, scallions and ginger, and chili jam. The Sichuan pepper salt was delicious, but I preferred the sweetness of the chili jam the most. ○ Fried Rice with Jinhua Ham and Egg Whites, Dried Scallops ★★ I thought it was slightly bland, but when combined with the saltiness of the dried scallops, it was just right. Since there were no clams, I assume the broth was made from them. Unlike regular fried rice, this dish uses only egg whites, which leaves a bit of a craving for more. Additionally, the rice from Nara Prefecture had a firm texture and was well-cooked. ◻︎ Personal Thoughts I applied to the previous location before it moved and was turned down twice, so this is my third time's the charm. "Chinese Sai Naramachi Kuko 2026" is the fourth event this year, a special lunch course (with pairing) created in collaboration between "Kuko" and "Shinjuan." The address is not disclosed and is sent via DM before the visit date after winning the reservation. Since the address is not disclosed on Tabelog, it does not appear in the search bar even if you are nearby. The exterior of the restaurant has a charming atmosphere, blending into the old town. It feels like a nostalgic traditional house that brings peace to the heart. The interior has only table seating with a total of 12 seats. Since I made a reservation for one, I was seated with others. I tried to take photos without showing other people's faces, but it was difficult to capture them beautifully. I was able to enjoy compassionate dishes that can only be tasted here. I would love to visit again if given the chance. The course lasted about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Although it was a long time, it was strange how I didn't feel tired from eating, as no seasonings were used. The dishes felt like they melted into my body. ◻︎ Recent Awards "Top 100 Chinese Restaurants WEST 2026"