A Michelin 2-Star Japanese RestaurantJune 2026 Japanese Cuisine "Akasaka Kikunoi"✨✨ Yes, Akito's classic dish~ I visit every month. The flavors are comforting.The restaurant opened in 2004 and is a 5-minute walk from Akasaka Station on the Tokyo Metro. The elegant entrance, trees brought from Kyoto, and stone pavement are wonderful. As you pass through the green approach, the entrance to Kikunoi comes into view. Upon entering, Mr. Yamaguchi greets you with a smile. Let’s enjoy the food today.■ June Lunch Kaiseki Course JPY 13,000 (tax and service charge not included) ⚫ First Drink "Shiso Sake" The sake changes every month. Today it’s shiso sake, which has a lovely aroma of shiso.……………………………………………… ⚫ Appetizer "Yose Ume with Ume Jelly" This has been on the menu since last year, but I don’t find it appealing. I wish it would change to something else.……………………………………………… ⚫ Assorted Dishes I love Kikunoi's assorted dishes (//∇//). The presentation is beautiful, and while simple, the quality is high. 1. Tai Ko Rakugan: Yes, yes. This is the finishing touch of Kikunoi! The way the baby octopus is cooked is excellent. The addition of lily root and the aroma of yuzu is a nice accent. 2. Small Eggplant in Jade Broth: Simple but crafted with care. The gentle dashi soaked into the small eggplant is irresistible. 3. Biwa Egg: The yolk of a soft-boiled egg is pickled in miso. It’s creamy in the mouth. A unique finish. 4. Cucumber with Miso: A rare delicacy. The miso is excellent. 5. Hamo Nanban-zuke: The hamo (pike eel) is delicious!! This flavor is unique to Kikunoi. 6. Edamame: The flavor of the edamame beans is delightful. 7. Grilled Sweet Shrimp: Wow, the sweet shrimp has a wonderful umami flavor. It makes you want to drink. 8. New Sweet Potato: The sweet potatoes are cooked to perfection. 9. White Clam with Spicy Vinegar Miso: Yes, this is delicious✨✨. The sliced white clam is tasty. The spicy vinegar miso is spot on.Yes, as always, I enjoy Kikunoi's assorted dishes♪ ……………………………………………… ⚫ Seasonal Side Dish "Natural Tai from Akashi, Striped Jack, and Assorted Garnishes" Presented like a boat floating on a summer river, with ice for a refreshing touch. The sashimi is plump. The striped jack is served with ponzu jelly. Yes, it’s rich and delicious♪ The quality of the natural tai from Akashi is also excellent.……………………………………………… ⚫ Covered Dish "Anago Tofu, Winter Melon, Kinome Sauce, Kinome, and Ice Senbei" The kinome sauce is very unique! The anago tofu is made with den-suke anago, scallops, soy milk, and egg whites, prepared as a true delight. You can really taste the umami of the anago. After eating half, adding the ice senbei creates a refreshing experience. The change in flavor is enjoyable.……………………………………………… ⚫ Grilled Dish "Grilled Sweetfish with Salt and Wasabi Vinegar" Young sweetfish from Lake Biwa. This is a seasonal classic. It’s my first time this year, and everything from the grilling to the salt and fat content is perfect! The wasabi vinegar mixed with watercress and olive oil is unique.……………………………………………… ⚫ Strong Dish "Chilled Mixed Vegetables: Kamo Eggplant, Fried Lotus Root, Aoi Stem, Yuzu Zest, Beef Loin, Snap Peas" The kamo eggplant is coated and served with fried dashi. Each ingredient is cooked with a different seasoning. You can really taste the umami of the vegetables. The fried lotus root has a strong flavor, but it offers a nice change. This year, beef loin has been added, further enhancing the dish.……………………………………………… ⚫ Rice "New Ginger Rice with Mitsuba" Yes, the aroma of ginger is wonderful. Just a hint of ginger’s spiciness. The dashi is just right. It has a gentle flavor. It’s simple yet delightful.……………………………………………… ⚫ Soup "New Onion Puree with Small Onions and Red Manjanji Pepper with Shichimi" A classic puree. The sweetness and umami of the new onion come through well. Adding the manjanji pepper provides a nice accent.……………………………………………… ⚫ Dessert "Black Sugar Ice Cream with Fruit Mizu Dofu" The fruit mizu dofu is luxuriously filled with cherries and strawberries! It’s a simple finish, but the quality is high and it was delicious✨✨■ Service As always, the service is pleasant. Employee training is thorough.■ Pricing I think the cost performance is very good. Considering the location, atmosphere, variety, and taste of the dishes, this price is quite rare.■ Usage Scenarios - When trying authentic Japanese cuisine for the first time (I highly recommend this place if you want to know what Japanese cuisine is!) - Suitable for families, couples, and colleagues. It can be used in various scenarios. The good service makes it a reliable choice.Yes, I’m satisfied (*´ｪ｀*). This season, the "young sweetfish" is delicious✨✨ It was a great meal m(_ _)m□ Rating as of June 2026 Tabelog Rating: 3.87, Number of Reviews: 572 Less