I passed by Kajihira after a long time and found out they were serving lunch, so I decided to go for lunch on a weekday. From the sign outside, it seems like there are 2 lunch options to choose from. When I went, the choices were simmered hamburger or fried sardines. I entered the restaurant before 12 o'clock, so it was relatively empty, but after 12 o'clock, many office workers from nearby companies started coming in. The food was served very quickly to accommodate the lunchtime rush of the office workers. ⭐️ Fried sardines (900 yen) The main flavor was freshly fried with tartar sauce and a sweet and sour sauce on top. There were 5 or 6 fish in the dish, and the portion was so satisfying that I ended up feeling full. The miso soup and rice were also freshly cooked and delicious, and the side dishes had just the right amount of saltiness and were very tasty. Looking at my old blog, I realized I hadn't been to this restaurant since 2015, so I thought I'd like to go back for dinner sometime.

Today's lunch options were "Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura" or "Pork Ginger Stir-Fry," and I chose the "Pork Ginger Stir-Fry." It was served in about 5-10 minutes, and it felt quite luxurious like last time. The main dish: The pork was sliced into easy-to-eat rectangular pieces. The sauce had a hint of sweetness with a slight tanginess, giving it a refreshing taste. Side dish 1: "Lotus Root Tempura" was a gentle and nice palate cleanser after the stir-fry. Side dish 2: "Okra" was just the right amount of firmness, not too hard or too soft. Side dish 3: "Tofu" with wasabi soy sauce had a slightly different twist but was also good. Soup: The miso soup with "Wakame" seaweed had a comforting flavor, possibly made with bonito broth. Pickles: "Chinese Cabbage" with bonito flakes sprinkled on top was delicious as is. Rice: The brand is unknown, but it was my preferred type - not too hard, not too soft, and fluffy.

I had been curious about it for a while, so I decided to give it a try. It's located very close to JR Takatsuki Station's Kitaguchi exit, and when you go down the stairs to the basement, it may seem a bit intimidating to first-time visitors. I mustered up the courage to go in, and the owner guided me to a counter seat that was available, explaining the daily lunch menu. In about 5 minutes, the food was served, and I was surprised to see how luxurious it looked. I had ordered the daily lunch special, but it was more than I expected. As I started eating: Tempura - golf ball-sized pieces, about 4 of them, were served in small portions and were crispy and delicious. Tamagoyaki - a firm, dashi-flavored rolled omelette with a gentle taste. Yuba tofu - small in size but tasty, it matched well with soy sauce. Ohitashi - possibly mizuna? It had a gentle taste that didn't overpower the other dishes but still had a presence. Rice - no distinctive flavor, cooked just the way I like it. Miso soup - with komatsuna and daikon, it had a soft and flavorful taste. Oshinko - it was pickled daikon, but it had something sprinkled on it that I couldn't quite identify. In the end, I added a new restaurant to my lunch rotation.

This place offers authentic cuisine at a reasonable price. I had visited once before and had a good impression, but it had been a long time since then. The restaurant is located underground, not too bad of a location but a bit difficult to find for first-timers. Upon entering, we were greeted with a smile. The dishes all tasted homemade and authentic! The tempura was delicious! I ended up trying a bit of sake, which I don't usually drink. They have a wide variety here - highly recommended! Scene: with colleagues, with friends. Seating options: 2 people at the counter, 4-6 people at a table. We sat at the counter this time. Thank you for the meal!

Daily lunch set for 900 yen near Takatsuki Station West Exit, a Japanese restaurant that I used to frequent with my colleagues at night and really liked. However, I had been avoiding it since the outbreak of the new coronavirus. But, as I passed by the area, I saw the lunch sign and just had to go. It was my first visit for lunch. The daily lunch set on that day was saury nanban and fried chicken, and I chose the saury nanban. The restaurant is located downstairs and a bit hard to find, but the seats were quite filled. The main saury came with 4 pieces, pickles, and miso soup, along with 3 small side dishes, all of which had a delicious and gentle taste typical of a Japanese restaurant. The saury nanban was fluffy and incredibly delicious. I couldn't resist and ended up revisiting the restaurant before posting this review... The fried horse mackerel on that day was also superb as expected. The quality of the daily lunch set was so high that I felt like visiting every day. This restaurant also offers evening course meals for around 5,000 yen, serving delicious dishes generously. They have unique dishes using deer meat from Takatsuki, grilled soba noodles, and delicious seared saury sushi. I would love to visit again at night after a long time, but this lunch set is definitely going into my regular rotation...

I have visited this restaurant once. It is located about a 2-minute walk from Takatsuki Station West Exit and has a dining kitchen style for lunch service. The modern interior design is calming. The daily special set meal includes a variety of side dishes, which are nutritious and satisfying. Unlike many other lunch options that only offer a main dish, rice, and miso soup, this place offers a well-rounded meal for under 1000 yen. I found a great restaurant that offers a substantial meal at a reasonable price.

After leaving the first shop, we moved to the north side of JR Takatsuki Station. It had been a while since we visited this shop located in the basement of a building. We were seated at the end of the counter and decided to have bottled beer. The appetizer was a dish similar to "chicken ham". Since it had been a while, we were curious about the new menu items, but first we ordered the "Stir-fried wild boar meat with leeks, salt, and seven spices". The sweet fat of the wild boar helped the beer go down smoothly. Next, we had the "Kasbe" which I used to eat a lot in my hometown of Hokkaido. It was amazing to find "Fried cheek meat of Kasbe" in Osaka. The juicy meat and the nostalgic cartilage texture were irresistible. We also had the "Garlic potato fries". It was a perfect match for the beer. There were still many dishes we wanted to try, but since this was the second shop of the day, we ended here. Thank you for treating us to precious ingredients in Kansai. For more details, please check the blog.

Today, at my wife's suggestion, we met up in Takatsuki on a weekday evening to enjoy a casual yet authentic Japanese meal at the restaurant called "Kajihira." We started off with some beer as we looked through the menu, which had some seasonal offerings like chilled sake. We ordered some raw tsubugai (whelk) as an appetizer, which paired perfectly with the sake. Then, a large simmered flounder dish arrived, followed by a deep-fried roll of pork, leeks, and pickled ginger that my wife remembered from a previous lunch visit. The tempura with sakura shrimp, chestnuts, and ginkgo nuts was a delightful seasonal treat. We also tried a refreshing pickled dish of water eggplant, myoga ginger, and pickled ginger. To finish off our meal, we indulged in some grilled saury sushi, which was simply irresistible. We felt lucky to have discovered this restaurant in Takatsuki and enjoyed every bite. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Visited in March 2019, posted on April 2nd (all information is from the time of the visit) Prices are all inclusive of tax. Had a casual evening drink with a friend. The restaurant is located near JR Takatsuki Station West Exit, to the north of Al Plaza Takatsuki, close to Gyu-ri. The lunch menu is popular for being delicious and good value, but the dinner menu also seems promising. Since it's a popular spot, we made a reservation before visiting. They offer a 3-hour all-you-can-drink party course for 5000 yen (reservation required). We visited on a weekday at 5 pm. The interior had a calm atmosphere with 5 counter seats and around 6-10 table seats (not confirmed). There were also tatami rooms (not sure about the details). It was quiet at first, but around 6 pm, reserved customers started arriving one after another. Surprisingly, there were no solo diners. The kitchen had 2 male chefs and 2 female servers. We sat at the counter. The setting with paper-free placemats and lacquerware dishes matched the calm atmosphere. We ordered drinks and dishes to enjoy the variety of one-dish cuisine. We had a pleasant experience trying different dishes and drinks. The total bill for 8 dishes, 3 beers, 4 sake, 1 tea, and appetizers for 2 people was 13360 yen including tax. The service was a bit slow as it got busier, but everything we ordered was delicious. The menu is diverse, and the prices are reasonable. A reliable and popular spot indeed.

I stumbled upon a really nice restaurant as I was passing by. Upon entering and going downstairs, I found a relatively small establishment with a counter and tatami seating. In the kitchen, there were two men, and in the dining area, there was one woman. All of them had lovely smiles and made me feel very welcome. I ordered the daily special for 850 yen (tax included). For lunch, if you don't make a reservation, you can only choose from two main dishes for the daily special. On this day, the options were "Shrimp and Young Corn Tempura" or "Simmered Hamburger Steak." The tempura was freshly fried after I placed my order, giving it a nice crispy texture. It came with three slightly small shrimps and three young corns. Overall, the flavors were very gentle yet you could still taste the vegetables well. Every side dish was delicious. I would love to come back every day and even visit for dinner. This restaurant left a great impression on me.

I used it for lunch. It was delicious, but it would have been even better if I could have ordered coffee after the meal.

One weekend, I decided to visit this restaurant after a long time. I managed to get a seat at the counter with a last-minute reservation. I started with a glass of draft beer and was served sesame tofu as a starter. Of course, I couldn't miss the "Avocado Croquette" that this place is famous for. Then, my husband ordered a sashimi platter and a tempura platter. We quickly moved on to sake time, using bottled beer as a chaser and sipping on sake. It was my first time having tempura served in such a large bowl, but the variety and volume were impressive. The deep-fried scallops, shrimp, shrimp heads, purple sweet potatoes, paprika, asparagus, chika, and anago were all delicious with a sprinkle of salt. The edamame and sakura shrimp tempura was also a hit. More sake please! The pickled water eggplant and myoga was a refreshing palate cleanser. We couldn't resist ordering the "Grilled Miso" - a unique dish of sweet and savory miso with grilled white fish, topped with nuts and chopped green onions. The sake bottle labels were quite distinctive. Lastly, we ordered the "Grilled Salted Ayu" which looked like it was swimming. Despite the bones, we enjoyed eating the whole fish. It was a satisfying and delicious experience at Kajihira once again. Feeling a bit too tipsy, we headed home without going to another place.

After finishing a blissful solo post-party at Bar Agit, I met up with my husband who was returning from a business trip at 8:00 PM at this restaurant. This place is located slightly north of JR Takatsuki Station West Exit, in the basement, and I became a fan of this place after experiencing "fast, delicious, and cheap" during my previous company's lunchtime. I made a last-minute reservation and managed to snag a counter seat at this popular restaurant. Inside the counter, there were posters of my favorite movies... I had already had two beers, but I started with a bottled beer and made a toast. I decided to start with the "Avocado Croquette" that I had decided to repeat. It was filled with minced meat and went well with beer. The "Plenty of Grated Daikon Radish and Tofu Salad" was dressed with black shichimi sesame ponzu dressing. It had dried young sardines and bonito flakes on top, and the scent of wood sorrel was also delicious! The "Grilled Chicken Tataki" with a crispy skin... followed by hot sake. I really wanted to pair it with sake, which is the number one repeat dish at this restaurant, the "Miso Grilled Fish". The savory miso and nut aroma, along with the umami of the sea bream, and the scent of wood sorrel were irresistible! ... followed by the "Matsutake Mushroom Steamed in an Earthenware Pot" with my favorite conger eel. The matsutake mushroom and the remaining conger eel were rolled up in shiso leaves. As a Hokkaido native who doesn't know the traditional way of eating earthenware pot dishes, I ate it in my own way... The "Suruga Bay Cherry Shrimp, Broad Beans, and Corn Tempura" was surprisingly rich in the flavor of the shrimp. There were still more dishes I wanted to eat and drinks I wanted to continue enjoying, but the truth is both of us had overindulged the previous day and were not feeling our best, so we decided to call it a night after this. Despite being at such a great restaurant, we decided to leave for another time. For more details, please refer to my blog [Kokoroma's "Ma"] https://ameblo.jp/39lohas/entry-12312806540.html

This day was a long-awaited day to meet up with friends. I chose a restaurant near JR Takatsuki Station West Exit to be able to meet them as soon as possible. I hurried from my workplace in Umeda back to Takatsuki and headed to this restaurant. For our long-awaited reunion, we started with a glass of draft beer. However, since it was a weekday, I was determined to drink as little as possible. I'm looking forward to another day where I can drink heartily at Kajihira-san, so I decided to refrain from ordering dishes that might tempt me to try sake. However, U-chan, who strangely can't drink alcohol, ordered the "Shime Saba." I quickly ordered the "Avocado Croquette," which I had been wanting to try with beer, and it turned out to be even more delicious than I imagined, with plenty of minced meat inside the hot and creamy avocado. I will definitely order it again next time! U-chan, who has a sensitive tongue, ordered the "Nyumen" as the closing dish. I ordered the "Beef and Japanese Soba Yakisoba." I look forward to coming back on the weekend, enjoying sake and indulging in the delicious dishes at Kajihira-san. For more details, please refer to the blog [Kokoroma's "ma"] https://ameblo.jp/39lohas/entry-12301857670.html

I visited "Wadining Kajihira" located in the basement of a building just a little north of JR Takatsuki Station West Exit, which I had been curious about for a while. I thought I could walk in without a reservation, but it turned out they only had 2 seats at the counter available, so it was quite busy. We started with the appetizer of "thinly sliced kelp and daikon peel in vinegar," and had a gulp of draft beer! At first, I thought it was dried radish, but when I asked, I found out that it was thinly sliced daikon peel that would usually be discarded. The crunchy texture of the daikon peel and the slimy kelp were very pleasant, and I was really looking forward to the dishes to come. The "assorted sashimi of the day (probably under 2,000 yen)" was all incredibly fresh, and even my wife, who doesn't usually eat supermarket sashimi, said it was delicious. We paired the fresh sashimi with the "recommended cold sake" from Kajihira. The "sausage, mushroom, and new potato garlic butter sauté (650 yen)" had an irresistible aroma of garlic butter, so we ended up ordering another draft beer to go with it! The "Suruga Bay cherry shrimp, fava beans, and corn tempura (880 yen)" was absolutely delicious! The aroma of cherry shrimp, the fluffy texture of fava beans, and the sweetness of corn created a wonderful harmony, which paired perfectly with the cold sake. The highlight of the day was the "simmered Ainame (greenling) (1,300 yen)" which was surprisingly large for the price! The taste was exquisite, with a perfect balance of firmness and tenderness, making it a perfect match for the cold sake. We couldn't resist ordering the "Kajihira specialty! Grilled miso for sake (400 yen)" which was clearly marked as the menu's top recommendation. The savory aroma of grilled miso, combined with the nutty flavor and texture, was addictive! The side of pickled firefly squid was a delightful addition, and we ended up having several more glasses of cold sake. Watching other customers order it, we couldn't resist trying the "avocado croquette (680 yen)" which was packed with plenty of avocado, crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and bursting with the flavor and umami of avocado. It was so delicious! Although you might crave beer with this, we enjoyed it with cold sake. With the quality of the food and sake at this price, I will definitely be coming back! There are still more dishes I want to try, so I look forward to my next visit. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Located just a short walk from the west exit of JR Takatsuki Station, there is an underground izakaya. My husband and I took a day off on a weekday and visited this place. During lunchtime, the "daily set meal (850 yen)" which includes rice, miso soup, pickles, a main dish, and 3 side dishes is very popular among office workers. You can choose between 2 main dishes (fish or meat). The freshly cooked rice makes the dishes taste even more delicious. My husband ordered the "ginger pork" and I ordered the "shrimp and bamboo shoot tempura". My husband regretted not choosing the tempura as it came with 2 large shrimp and a generous amount of bamboo shoots. He ended up getting a second helping of rice due to the large portion of the meal and was quite full by the end. For more details, please refer to the blog [Kokoromano "Ma"].

Today, I visited a tavern that I had been curious about for a while during lunchtime. It is located just north of JR Takatsuki Station West Exit, in an underground shop. The lunch, which does not require a reservation, consists of a "daily special set meal (850 yen)" where you can choose from 2 main dishes. I was tempted by the "horse mackerel sashimi," but ultimately decided on the "chicken tempura with grated ponzu sauce." After ordering, rice, miso soup, pickles, main dish, and 3 side dishes were served in front of me in about 1 minute. Fast!! I arrived at around 12:05, with only 2 other customers at first, but then it quickly filled up with male office workers, almost reaching full capacity. I soon realized why the lunch trays were lined up at the counter from the beginning. The freshly fried chicken tempura wasn't piping hot, but you could tell it was freshly made by its warmth. With grated daikon radish, chopped green onions, and ponzu sauce, it was a refreshing tempura dish. The most impressive part was the freshly cooked, shiny, and hot steamed rice! As a rice lover, I truly appreciate it. I have found a restaurant that I want to visit once a week during lunchtime. For more details, please refer to my blog [Kokoroma's "Ma"] http://ameblo.jp/39lohas/entry-12230161483.html

I wanted to eat Masala curry, so I wandered around Takatsuki. However, I found a sign saying that the restaurant is closed until mid-April! So, I decided to go to another restaurant where a reviewer had recommended. When I entered the restaurant before 13:00, there was only one customer at the counter. The lunch options were either a daily special set or a course meal. Today's daily special options were seared mackerel set or chicken nanban set with plenty of homemade tartar sauce. I chose the chicken nanban, which was delicious and juicy. The broccoli side dish had a unique flavor, which I enjoyed and decided to try making it at home. Overall, the meal was tasty, although the seasoning was a bit strong for my liking. The tartar sauce with condensed milk added a nice touch of sweetness and acidity. Thank you for the meal!

I was appointed as the organizer for a summer party at work, so after researching, I decided to hold it at Kajihira, which has a reputation for delicious food! We chose the all-you-can-drink course with assorted dishes, priced at 4,500 yen (excluding tax). The course consisted of a total of 11 dishes, all of which were homely and delicious! Among them, the homemade potatoes were highly recommended by the staff, and they were incredibly tasty, almost like they were sprinkled with the magic powder of Happy Turn snacks. The turtle's paw included in the sashimi assortment initially made us hesitant to eat it, thinking it was a real turtle's paw, but upon realizing it was a type of shellfish, we cautiously tried it and found it surprisingly light and ended up enjoying it. The "Reishu" sake included in the all-you-can-drink menu was a big hit with the members, and about five people who love alcohol managed to finish about 5-6 bottles. The staff at the restaurant were also very kind, and we were able to have a fun and lively time from 19:30 to 23:00. Thank you, Kajihira, for the delicious meal and the wonderful time! ♥️

I went to see a movie at Al Plaza Takatsuki. "Interstellar" is not just a typical tearjerker family love story with some sci-fi scenes, but a very authentic sci-fi movie about space, time, and science, very impressive. After the movie ended around 1 pm, I was hungry, so I went for lunch at Takeoff. In the building on the north side of JR Takatsuki Station West Exit, there is a restaurant called Kajihira. The interior is a sophisticated and calm counter with about 10 seats and a tatami room with about 12 seats. I visited around 1:30 pm on a weekday. There were 2 customers before me and 2 customers after me, all dining alone, with more men than women. The lunch menu consists of a daily set meal for 850 yen (tax included) only, with a choice of 2 main dishes. On this day, it was either "Chicken Nanban" or "Pork Shabu". Bento box for 2000 yen or course menu starting from 3240 yen require reservations. I chose the daily set meal "Chicken Nanban", which included Chicken Nanban, Assari-style Japanese food, boiled watercress, vinegar-soaked dried daikon and shredded kombu, simmered eggplant, boiled komatsuna with small dried fish and Japanese pepper, rice, and soup (usually miso soup). The waiting time after ordering was less than 10 minutes. It was delicious, filling, and satisfying. I also couldn't resist trying the hot sake since I saw a menu with the phrase "Sake is Junmai, even better if served hot" ... I ended up enjoying a warm sake from Shiga Fukui Yahira Shoten, Hagi no Tsuyu, Special Junmai Yamahai for 700 yen. It was served in a hot water bath to keep it warm, which was very nice. It had a mellow and slightly sweet taste, a bit different from the usual. With the well-seasoned side dishes and one cup of sake, along with the gentle flavor of Chicken Nanban, it was a perfect combination. Looking at the kitchen, it seems like they serve quite decent dishes even in the evening. There seems to be a variety of sake as well. I might drop by for a drink in the evening sometime soon.