Located in Hatsukaichi City, near Miyajimaguchi, this restaurant is a recipient of the Tabelog Award 2026 Silver and has been selected as one of the Innovative 100 Restaurants of 2025. This is my 11th visit since last summer (excluding DELI operations). I made a reservation through Pocket Concierge for this visit.Here are the dishes we enjoyed (course priced at JPY 22,000). As I am sensitive to alcohol, I requested tea to pair with the dishes as usual.[Rating System] ☆☆☆ Exceptional > ☆ Super Impressive > ☆ Impressive > ◎ Love It > 〇 Like It > □ Average > △ > ×【Photo 1】Grilled Dried Sweetfish (Usagawa) Chawanmushi ☆☆☆ The first dish from AKAI, which I always look forward to! It’s a chawanmushi made with dried sweetfish! The aroma from the charcoal grilling and the concentrated umami flavor were astonishing! The ginger was perfectly balanced, making it exactly the kind of taste I secretly expect from AKAI, and I was thrilled!【Photo 2】Washed Sweetfish (Usagawa) ☆ I’m so glad to be able to enjoy this dish outside of Mikado-ya! Plus, it comes with extra seasoning! The sweetfish had a delightful bounce and a clear umami flavor that surprised me! The side of zucchini and myoga added an exquisite refreshing touch!【Photo 3】Steamed Rice with Grilled Sweetfish (Usagawa) ☆☆ The aroma and fluffy texture of the grilled sweetfish were wonderful, complemented by the bitterness of the liver soy sauce and the refreshing pop of the sansho pepper, along with the sticky sweetness of the glutinous rice… pure bliss!【Photo 4】Deep-fried Wild Softshell Turtle (Yamaguchi) ☆☆ The bouncy texture released a strong umami flavor and unique aroma from the turtle! I couldn’t help but grab it with my hands and devour it!【Photo 5】Wild Softshell Turtle (Yamaguchi) Soup with Local Chicken (Kita Hiroshima) Wontons ◎ A gentle and beautiful turtle soup with wontons filled with the sweetness and umami of local chicken floating in it!【Photo 6】Sweetfish (Usagawa) Bone Senbei and Charcoal Grilled Dried Sweetfish with Summer Vegetables ◎ Following the super simple wontons, this dish also showcased AKAI’s unique style! Summer vegetables like bitter melon and okra were mixed with dried sweetfish in a delightful okara salad!【Photo 7】Boiled Kijihata (Karatsu) with Shimarakkyou and Shiso Sauce ◎ The boiled Kijihata was plump and juicy, enhanced by the spiciness and aroma of the Shimarakkyou!【Photo 8】Rock Oysters (Etajima) Marinated in Water Kimchi Broth 〇 The creaminess of the rock oysters paired perfectly with the fermented acidity of the water kimchi broth! The strong flavor of the oysters was quite intense, but the cucumber served as a refreshing palate cleanser!【Photo 9】Roasted Ezo Deer (Hokkaido) ☆ While the beef from Sakaeya is delicious, I personally prefer the rich flavor and low-fat, clean taste of iron-rich red deer meat!【Photo 10 & 11】Grilled Sweetfish (Usagawa) and Green Pepper (Tomoda, Hatsukaichi City: Maekawa Farm) Takikomi Gohan ◎ The final rice dish featured sweetfish! How delightful! The aroma of the sweetfish and the vibrant green peppers from Maekawa Farm made it impossible to stop eating! I even asked for a second helping!【Photo 12】Sweet Boiled Green Plums and Kuzumochi ◎ While ice cream is nice, I feel that the flow of this course pairs perfectly with the green plums and kuzumochi! The pits were removed, making it stress-free!【Photo 13】Free-range Eggs (Kita Hiroshima: Farm Buffo) Pudding ☆ The reliable closer, the famous pudding made with free-range eggs from Farm Buffo in Kita Hiroshima! As always, it has a rich egg flavor! It’s delicious every time!【Drinks 1 & 4】Ali Mountain Tea 【Drink 2】Kanpo Kinshin 【Drink 3】Japanese Black Tea (Onomichi City) 【Drink 5 (after meal)】Coffee The dishes featuring sweetfish from Usagawa were even more fulfilling than last summer! I was amazed by the variety and quality! Additionally, we had deep-fried turtle, rock oysters, and Ezo deer! From start to finish, I was thrilled by the continuous flow of dishes that matched my secret expectations for AKAI! This wonderful summer course perfectly satisfied my craving for sweetfish!【Three Things I Love About AKAI Besides the Food】 - The service is very warm and attentive, creating a comfortable atmosphere (the new male staff member who joined this year also made a great impression!) - Although physically close to the national road and station, the location allows for a psychological distance from the real world. - There is no background music or phone ringing in the restaurant, creating a quiet space.Indeed, this restaurant has a unique charm that sets it apart from others! I think I’ll suddenly crave it again and return, so I look forward to it!