Located a 5-minute walk from Hanshin Ashiya and about a 10-minute walk from JR Ashiya, this Japanese restaurant is a renowned spot on the WEST 100 Best Restaurants list and is known for its difficulty in securing reservations.I made a reservation through Omakase, and surprisingly, there was availability for lunch on the reservation release day, so I quickly booked it. The lunch omakase course is priced at an incredible JPY 16,500.The restaurant has a raw concrete exterior, with only six counter seats inside. The area in front of the counter is not for cooking but for presentation. The distance to the chef is just right, and he is quite the conversationalist, making for an enjoyable dining experience.The course includes a total of 9 dishes, including dessert. The first dish, a soft-shelled turtle soup, had a rich broth with a clear umami flavor, raising my expectations for the rest of the course. All the dishes were excellent, but my favorite was the Shin-damaki. While it may not be a flashy dish, the exquisite softness from the yam, the broth and salt balance absorbed by the fried exterior, made it the best Shin-damaki I’ve ever had. Other dishes like the surf clam somen and asparagus mixed rice were also delightful. The dessert, strawberry daifuku, was freshly wrapped, and the sweetness of the red bean paste was just right, making for a perfect ending.Overall, my impression is that the broth is truly exceptional. The umami is strong but not overpowering, offering a gentle flavor. As I continued to eat, the deliciousness only increased, leaving me completely satisfied.It was a great meal.Today's Course (✅: Favorite)Appetizer: Shiga Natural Soft-Shelled Turtle SoupStarter: ✅ Surf Clam Somen with Eight-Flavor Broth and Clam BrothSeasonal Dish: Sesame Tofu, Mozuku Vinegar, Tempura Young Sweetfish, Asparagus Fry, Lotus Root Kinpira, Shrimp Chima, TokobushiSoup: Rockfish, Snap PeasSashimi: Horse Mackerel (Miyazu), Chives Flowers, Wild GarlicSimmered Dish: ✅✅ Shin-damakiFried Dish: AinaRice Dish: ✅ Asparagus Mixed RiceDessert: ✅ Strawberry DaifukuCoffee: Honduras and Costa Rica Blend
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