ボンパパ
Kyoto is really fun! Once again, I encountered a unique shop. There aren't many sushi restaurants in Kyoto, but recently, there have been some appearing that serve traditional Edo-style or Kyoto-style sushi. Since Edo-style sushi doesn't have a good reputation in Kyoto, I decided to try a unique shop this time. It's located about a 10-minute walk from City Hall, near a place called Tagawa. The name of the shop is "Fukagawa Ryujo," pronounced as "fukagawaryujo," which is the owner's real name. I made a reservation and entered the small shop a little before 12 o'clock. The owner, who appeared from the back, was wearing a red leather apron, which was quite unexpected for a sushi restaurant. However, the owner is very knowledgeable about fish, especially from a biological perspective. He doesn't focus on the typical origins of the fish but rather on things like the stress of the fish, the best way to taste it, how to store it, and using natural seasonings. He is like a scholar when it comes to fish! I had a great time listening to his interesting stories and had a fun time once again. Kyoto is really enjoyable! The owner was also great with kids, and my children quickly felt comfortable. The sushi was unique and delicious, and my kids were very satisfied. Now, onto the food. I had the 10-piece lunch sushi course and added a few more pieces. The tuna was delicious with natural soy sauce. The nori had a good freshness and sweetness. The shrimp from Amakusa was cut in a unique way that didn't look like a typical shrimp. The sea urchin had a piece of natural seaweed from Tango on top. The sea bream sushi was unique with the skin on, but it concentrated the flavor. It was a tasty sea bream. The combination of yuba, sea urchin, seaweed, salmon roe, and olive oil was like a decorative sushi. My second child loved it and ordered more! Among the Bon Family, only my second child always gets special treatment from the owner of sushi restaurants. This time, only my second child received special treatment. I wonder if they like his face... The grilled flat clam had mustard seeds on top. The whale meat didn't look like whale at first glance but had a unique texture and was really delicious. The sea bream and turnip pickles were a perfect match, a Kyoto-style sushi. The egg and minced fish paste had a sweet, cake-like texture. It was like castella. The owner recommended the mullet roe, which was also delicious. I'm usually not a fan of this type, but it was tasty. The conger eel was a soft and steamed eel. The owner had trained in a traditional Kyoto sushi restaurant before the war and still values Kyoto-style sushi. He is a unique sushi chef in a sea of Edo-style sushi chefs. The way he makes sushi is also unique. He uses slightly firm white rice for the shari, shapes it into a small round ball with a dent in the center, places the topping on top, adds wasabi, and sprinkles homemade soy sauce to finish. It's not just sushi, but a delicate fusion of traditional Kyoto cuisine and sushi. Each piece is made with care and time. The result is quite delicious! This type of sushi is definitely worth trying. It's full of unique charm. Another surprising thing was that the owner stores the fish in an old-fashioned refrigerator that doesn't use electricity. I've seen this in history museums, but it was surprising to see it in use. According to the owner, it keeps the fish in much better condition compared to an electric refrigerator. However, it can only last for a day since it's cooled with ice. The Bon Family had a very meaningful and enjoyable time. We would love to visit this shop again. I highly recommend trying this unique Kyoto-style sushi when you visit Kyoto. Thank you for the wonderful meal.