When you enter the restaurant, the friendly atmosphere created by the owner and hostess is wonderful, with a retro and Japanese-style ambiance. The 4-person table is a bit cramped, but just right for two people. We enjoyed a variety of dishes including sashimi platter, simmered eel liver, fried scallops, simmered beef tendons, and topped it off with a 300ml bottle of chilled sake.

After attending the pre-opening party at a showroom hosted by the kind folks, we were taken to this restaurant. It seems to be a popular spot as it was fully booked. The tables are quite small like those in Tokyo, so it was a bit of a struggle to find seating! There was no menu, only small strips of paper with the menu items posted on the wall near the kitchen. After some contemplation, we ordered the following: - Assorted sashimi - Assorted oden - White asparagus salad - Yuba sashimi - Deep-fried anglerfish - Pork kimchi - Okara croquette - Horse mackerel fry The sashimi was delicious, especially the yellowtail was outstanding. The oden had a clear Kyoto-style broth! The yuba was a unique Kyoto delicacy! Everything we tried was delicious. The pork kimchi was exceptionally tasty. The okara croquette was a bit too filling, but we managed to finish it as well. There are still so many dishes we want to try! We vowed to come back for more on our next visit and ended the meal by sharing a pork bone ramen before leaving the restaurant. Currently rated 3.33 on Tabelog.

I often visit Kusa-an. This is because it is close to my home, but I hesitate to write about this restaurant on Tabelog. It's because I love this place so much that it feels like it has become a part of my personality. The food is delicious no matter what you order. It's not overly elaborate, but it has a mysteriously gentle deliciousness. The relaxed and comfortable atmosphere feels like a dream izakaya. The only flaw is the poor selection of sake, but the delicious food and great atmosphere can overcome even that weakness (I drink shochu here). However, I'm not sure if this is an objective evaluation. I think it's a place that perfectly fits my taste. I discovered this restaurant about 25 years ago when I randomly walked into it during a business trip to Kyoto. I was impressed by the wonderful izakayas in Kyoto at that time, but when I finally found this place after living in Kyoto and searching diligently, I was truly overjoyed. When I shared the story of my first visit with the staff, many things matched up, so I am certain that this is the place. The oden, various sashimi, and all the dishes are delicious, but the fried food is particularly recommended.

I visited "Souan" after a long time. As usual, the restaurant is getting more and more crowded and remains popular. First, the eel with grated yam on top was delicious when eaten with wasabi and soy sauce. It feels like I could eat this forever. The assorted sashimi plate included yellowtail, striped jack, ark shell, and flounder, all delicious and easy to eat with their thick slices. The flounder fry was crispy and light, especially tasty with tartar sauce. The chashu turned out to be braised pork belly instead of roasted pork with green onions and bean sprouts, and it was irresistible when eaten with mustard. The dried young sardines with green onions in ponzu sauce were a perfect appetizer. The onion croquette was sweet and delicious, with the potatoes being soft and easy to eat, almost like gratin. We enjoyed various dishes and drinks for about 9,000 yen for two people, and the cost performance remains excellent as always.

Sugaki. They squeeze lemon for you, and it's delicious. Deep-fried throat of blackthroat seaperch. It's a small deep-fried dried blackthroat seaperch, and you can eat the whole thing from head to tail. I think there are many regular customers at this restaurant. The restaurant's exterior and interior give a sense of history. The portion size of each dish is not large, so you can try various items. The hotpot ramen that the customer next to me was eating looked delicious.

I've been curious about this restaurant for a while, so I went there with my friends as our second stop. It seems like an old-fashioned place, packed with regular customers even on a weekday. I was pleasantly surprised. We ordered draft beer, "kumoko" (potato and pork soup), green onion miso, natto croquettes, and more. Everything was delicious, and I've decided to come back here again. The green onion miso felt like something I could eat forever. They were fully booked for Saturdays when I called to make a reservation. It's a popular spot, so it's better to make a reservation for weekdays. This place is now my favorite. Thank you for the meal.

The croquettes at this local favorite restaurant were incredibly delicious. I wanted to take about 10 of them home. Be careful though, the portions are quite large overall.

Every dish is delicious! It would be nice to have a few more options for drinks. It's better to make a reservation as it was crowded.

On April 7th, in the evening. Morokyu (cucumber with miso), eel liver stew, deep-fried Kamo eggplant, ham cutlet, served with sake "Shinsei". Total cost: 4400 yen.

The plum wine is delicious.

It's a pretty old izakaya, but when I walked in, it was packed with salarymen coming from work. The kitchen is extremely narrow, with five people working inside, including three young gal-like employees! The place is lively and offers a wide range of seafood and traditional Japanese dishes. It's not a fancy place, but it gives off a special vibe where you can relax and have a good time. It feels like a place where Yoshida Reiji might show up.

Restaurant Information Name: Souan (Iori) Location: 210-4 Owari-cho, Fuyacho-dori Nijo-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Access: 5-minute walk from Kyoto City Hall Station Phone Number: 050-5589-9081 Closed: Sundays, Mondays, and holidays Tabelog Page: https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260202/26002576/ Review: Taste: [4] High quality no matter what you order! Atmosphere: [4] Traditional and charming Price: [4] Good value for money! Service: [4] Friendly and energetic staff! Location: [3] About a 5-minute walk from Kyoto City Hall Station Review: Today's recommended restaurant is the long-established izakaya "Souan (Iori)" near Kyoto City Hall Station! Founded in 1971, this popular izakaya offers a wide range of seafood and other dishes. The interior exudes a sense of history and is always packed with customers. The menu is extensive, making it hard to choose just one dish. I recommend making a reservation in advance, especially for the popular tatami seating area. I will introduce my recommended dishes for your reference: - Assorted sashimi: Sweet shrimp, scallops, yellowtail, and sea bream - Crispy and fluffy okara croquettes - Generous portion of juicy fried oysters - Fresh and crunchy jellyfish - Creamy ankimo (monkfish liver) - Large-cut mackerel sushi with a sweet flavor - Aged black garlic, perfect for wine pairing - Silky yuba (tofu skin) sashimi, a Kyoto specialty - Gigantic and flavorful unagi (eel) rice bowl Overall, the dishes exceeded my expectations in terms of quality and taste. The prices are reasonable considering the portion sizes and flavors. Don't miss out on the "uzaku" eel rice bowl, it's a must-try!

In the gourmet area of Gosho Minami in Kyoto, where many notable restaurants gather, there is a restaurant with a striking straw curtain and lattice facade. It is more than just a casual izakaya, offering a variety of delicious dishes that make it one of the top traditional izakayas in Kyoto. The restaurant was established in the 1970s at a different location and has since cultivated a lively atmosphere over the years. Visiting in late March 2017, the place was bustling as usual. Elderly regulars sat at the counter, younger groups occupied the tables, and there were lively gatherings in the small tatami room. Despite being a regulars' izakaya, newcomers and infrequent visitors feel welcomed easily, with warm hospitality from the elderly couple who run the place and several young female staff members. The menu, displayed on wooden strips on the wall, offers a wide variety of dishes including fresh fish, grilled items, fried foods, yuba dishes, soba, and udon. Among the dishes ordered were: ■ Fried Pacific saury (450 yen) ■ Fried small taro (450 yen) ■ Grilled potatoes with butter The fried Pacific saury was particularly delicious, with a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. When dipped in tartar sauce, it was irresistibly tasty. The grilled potatoes were soft and had a great combination with butter. The fried small taro also had a satisfying flavor. The interior of the restaurant consists of a counter, several tables, and a small tatami room. While the staff doesn't initiate conversations, they provide pleasant service when approached. Surrounded by elderly regular customers, the nostalgic charm of this old izakaya made for a delightful and enjoyable time. While Kyoto is known for izakayas like the ones in "Sakaba Horoki," "Kusan," with its unique atmosphere and charm, is also among the top izakayas in Kyoto. Offering more delicious dishes than your average casual izakaya, this izakaya from the Showa era deserves more recognition.

I went to the long-established izakaya "Souan (Iori)" located on Fuyacho Street, just below Nijo. I was recommended by the master of my favorite Italian restaurant, "Rush Rush," nearby. An elderly couple runs the place. There were also about three female college students working part-time. The part-timers are well-trained, always smiling and working efficiently. The service was very pleasant, no wonder the regulars love it. I sat at the counter and looked at the menu on the wall. I started with beer, assorted sashimi, and mackerel sushi. I also added a sweet potato salad and a "ostrich cutlet," which is a rare item on the menu. We had the assorted sashimi, ostrich cutlet (850 yen), sweet potato salad (450 yen), mackerel sushi (980 yen), draft beer, and dark beer. The assorted sashimi included flounder, squid, bonito, and a few other types, all fresh and delicious. The mackerel sushi was rare and absolutely delicious, although a bit pricey at 980 yen, it was worth it. The sweet potato salad was like a traditional potato salad, but the name "sweet potato salad" sounds more appetizing. It had a homely and soft texture, with salad and tomatoes on the side for a balanced meal. And then, the "ostrich cutlet." Yes, it's a cutlet made from ostrich meat. I've only had foie gras before, so I was imagining something like a "chicken cutlet" (since it's poultry), but it was more similar to whale meat. The meat was firm and flavorful, and it paired well with the homemade mustard sauce. The dishes were incomparable to those at regular izakayas, each one handmade and delicious. The atmosphere was great, and the smiles of the college girls were adorable. I can see why this place is popular. Personally, I just wish they had at least one of my favorite junmai sake options... (a luxurious desire). There are still more dishes on the menu that I'm curious about, so I definitely want to visit again.

[January 2014 / Evening] Located just a short walk from Kyoto City Hall Station on the municipal subway along Fuyacho Street. Among the modern cafes and bars scattered between apartments and houses, the traditional straw noren curtains and lattice of this establishment catch the eye. I visited this place along with my favorite bar "Awawa" this time. Upon entering the restaurant, the decor resembles a suikinkutsu water harp, with old Kirin beer posters that seem to have been polished for decades. It was founded in the 1970s in a different location from where it is now and is bustling with locals. The menu is displayed on wooden slats hanging on the wall. They offer a wide variety of dishes including fresh fish, grilled items, fried dishes, yuba dishes, soba, and udon. The veteran owner and hostess, along with young women, run the place in a friendly and cozy atmosphere. Starting with a large bottle of Kirin Lager, surrounded by a down-to-earth atmosphere. ☆ ■ □ Grilled mackerel 450 yen | Potato salad 450 yen ■ □ Dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet) 450 yen | Yakiniku (grilled meat) 650 yen Grilled shime saba is a vinegared grilled mackerel. The dashimaki tamago has a gentle flavor, and the potato salad has tomatoes in it. Today's recommended dish by the owner is the yakiniku. It's delicious. It has a tender texture, plenty of meat umami, and is served with a ponzu sauce. ■ □ Atmosphere & Service ■ □ The interior has a counter, several tables, and a raised tatami room. It seems to be widely loved by local elderly people as well as young people. The staff are friendly and welcoming to all customers. You can spend a pleasant time here. ▼ △ Although today's prices were only a part of it, they are reasonable. It reminded me of the regrettable closure of "Tarun" in Kawaramachi. Just like the long-established izakayas that often appear in Kyoto books and magazines, I think this place is also one of the best in Kyoto. While it has many regular local customers, I also recommend it to visitors from afar.

I came to a cozy izakaya called Kusaan with my drinking buddies. We left the ordering to our frequent visitor friends and asked for a few recommended dishes that we wanted to try. We raised a toast with chilled sake, bottled beer, and shochu, all to our liking! We ordered yellowtail sashimi, spider crab with ponzu sauce, marinated mackerel, and tonkatsu. The dishes were served with incredible speed, and soon our table was filled with delicious food. The fish was so tasty, especially the spider crab... devilishly good! We even managed to enjoy some soba as a perfect finish to our second stop. There were still many other tempting items on the menu, so we'll have to make it our first stop next time. Thank you for the feast!

I went to "Kusaan," a holy place for middle-aged men, with my friend. I've been here many times because it's calming and you can eat delicious food at a reasonable price. As soon as we entered the restaurant, the owner greeted us with a "Oh, welcome back!" even though we're not regulars. We sat at a table, and at the counter, there was a middle-aged man who seemed like a regular already enjoying his second drink. When I asked the owner what sashimi was delicious, he recommended the amberjack. So, we tried the amberjack. It was thick, firm, fresh, and delicious!! ♪( ´▽｀) The sashimi here is truly the best!! Next, we had grilled chicken. It was juicy and tasty!! I love chicken (laughs) The dish came with plenty of vegetables, and we ate it with the dressing that came with it. My friend ordered croquettes. They were just normal croquettes but had a nostalgic taste o(^▽^)o Lastly, we ordered bonito, which was also fresh and delicious! Oh, Kusaan never disappoints! You can go there with peace of mind o(^▽^)o

Iori is recently catching my attention. It's located north of Oike. There seems to be many good restaurants in the area, making me want to visit more places. So, on this day, I went to Iori, an izakaya that feels like a relaxing spot for salarymen, without any gimmicks. It's not a very big izakaya, with around 20 seats including the counter. There might be a bit more with the tatami seating. When you enter the restaurant, a very friendly owner greets you, and there are also the owner's wife and a few female staff members. I visited around 6 p.m., and it was already bustling with local customers. Izakayas loved by locals often seem to be good places. The menu is wide-ranging and the food was delicious. They had dishes like horse sashimi, yuba sashimi, and deep-fried yuba. There were quite a few fish names I heard for the first time. A bit disappointing was the limited variety of sake (about 3 types, haha). The cost was reasonable, around 2,000 to 3,000 yen. Sitting at the counter and enjoying a lively atmosphere seems fun at this restaurant. Thank you for the delicious meal.