This place isn’t all that outstanding, and yet I keep coming back. Thinking about why, I suppose it’s because they cook with Kyoto ingredients, and that’s the charm that keeps pulling me in. Honestly, if they sourced things the way Tokyo places do – this from Nagoya, that from Aomori – the food would inevitably taste better. But if you’ve travelled to Kyoto, especially if you’re Japanese, there’s no reason to go out of your way to eat another region’s specialities here. People travelling from Korea and people travelling from within Japan just can’t help seeing it differently, I think.

Eikun Muatsu Shibori

I started with this again this time. Lovely and fragrant, really good.

Otoshi

Satoimo – taro and dressed vegetables must be a Kyoto speciality, because they turn up at all sorts of places. Even the otoshi makes you feel you’ve properly arrived in Kyoto.

Tebasaki, tare

It goes without saying, but the tebasaki is delicious. The tebasaki here uses chicken raised in Kyoto, a notch below a proper brand-name bird, but the cooking is good.

Tebasaki, shio

This time there were several of us, so it was nice to be able to order a wide spread.

Negima and renkon tsukune

The negima was just okay, but the renkon tsukune has a wonderful texture to bite into.

Torikawa gyoza

Chicken-skin gyoza, and that crisp skin is so good. After eating these I couldn’t not order kawa on its own as well.

Kyo-namafu with yuzu miso dengaku

It’s like a rice cake, and it tastes good. Whether a dish like this is really delicious will divide opinion, but it’s a Kyoto speciality! and at this level it’s a treat when you’re travelling. Coming back again, I have a feeling I may well end up here next time too.

Kyo-tofu and mizuna salad

A salad built around tofu, and this one was a big hit too. The crisp, cracker-like bits make it easy to eat.

Asabiki sasami, ume and wasabi

The tartness of the ume is superb.

Tamago kake gohan

One of our party absolutely had to have rice, so we ordered it. No question about the taste, of course.

Momo

We could order this by type as well, but as always it really takes a party of four or more to eat properly anywhere you go.

Tontoro with kujo negi ponzu

Tontoro is fatty, but the flavour is a sure thing.

Eringi grilled with cheese

A palate cleanser to finish… on to part 2.

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