がーそー
Visited the third generation of Kushiyaki Robata, Ganryu for the first time. Located in the drinking district of Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu City, this popular restaurant, which requires reservations, has been in business for over 50 years. It is a 10-minute walk from JR Kokura Station and a 4-minute walk from the Monorail Heiwadori Station. The restaurant is located in the Nangoku Building on the first floor, surrounded by one-way streets filled with bars and restaurants in the bustling nightlife district. As soon as I walked in, I noticed the primitive charcoal grill where fish and meat are cooked, a teppanyaki grill in the back, a skewer grill on the left, a tank on the right, and a glass case in front with skewers and vegetables. The staff, including the energetic young manager and male and female servers, were full of energy and enthusiasm, creating a lively atmosphere. I was seated at the counter, which had a glass case displaying various skewers, and wooden signs with the menu items lined up above. There were also salt, shichimi, soy sauce, and sashimi soy sauce on the counter, along with drumsticks and drumsticks for hitting them, with a sign encouraging guests to hit them if needed. I looked at the menu and was overwhelmed by the variety of options, including fish and meat cooked on the grill, skewers, robatayaki, sashimi, and izakaya dishes, all at reasonable prices. The selection of sake was also extensive, with a wide range of options at affordable prices. I started by hitting the drumstick and ordering various items one by one. First, I was served oolong tea and a complimentary plate of vegetables. The vegetables were free for refills, and the dip that came with them could be chosen from six options (pork miso, chicken miso, tuna wasabi cheese, Hakata mentaiko cheese, bagna cauda, dressing salt), with additional or extra dips available for +100 yen. I added two more dips - pork miso, Hakata mentaiko cheese, and bagna cauda - and they were all delicious. The Hakata mentaiko cheese and bagna cauda were particularly tasty. Next, I had potato salad, which was a delicious combination of sweet and spicy sauce, mayonnaise, and a hint of curry flavor. The autumn salmon roe with ponzu sauce was a rare delicacy with a firm texture and a delightful taste. The homemade karasumi, placed on a small grilled rice cake, was rich and would pair well with sake. The live shrimp sashimi, which was just fried, was fresh and sweet, with the head served salt-grilled and crispy. The Musashi Mori (sashimi platter for 2-3 people) consisted of hamo, hirasu, maguro, hotate, tai, and tako, all perfectly fresh and expertly sliced. The Kyushu shiitake, grilled on a teppan, was thick and juicy, bursting with flavor. The nagaimo yaki, also grilled on a teppan, was incredibly soft and tasty. The scallop with butter and wakame was also delicious, as was the squid legs with butter.