大きなやまちゃん
This day, there was a dinner gathering in Osaka organized by the head chef of a Kyoto traditional Japanese restaurant. The head chef, who hosted a recent snow crab gathering, recommended Choya-san, so expectations were high. It seems that he used to be an apprentice at the same place... It's quite a distance from Uehommachi, as the restaurant is located on the first floor of an apartment building. With just a small lantern sign, it's easy to overlook, but once inside, the space is elegantly simple, which I personally love. We settled in at the counter seats in the back. There were two head chefs, my husband and I, and two female friends. Choya-san, who used to work at the renowned "Iida" before going independent, has a similar atmosphere to "Iida" with the way he prepares the broth and such. You can't help but exclaim, "Ah... this is delicious." The husband and wife team running the place is doing a great job. While taking photos of the food is allowed in the restaurant, posting them online, including on food review websites, is not allowed. This is to ensure that customers can enjoy the food without any preconceived notions. It's a shame, as the presentation and dishes are beautiful, and I would have loved to share them online. The menu for the evening in Osaka included: 1. Awaji sea urchin & natural shrimp with lily root and agar jelly 2. Red snapper and steamed eggplant in a beautiful bowl 3. Sashimi of Awaji conger eel and bonito 4. Steamed rice with sea bream and peas 5. Steamed abalone, fried ginkgo nuts, loofah, and edamame 6. Marinated crab, chrysanthemum greens, and bonito with chrysanthemum and vinegar jelly 7. Grilled mackerel with salt and vinegar 8. Cold herring soba noodles with Japanese pepper and yam 9. Simmered red taro stem, sweet potato greens, and winter melon 10. Mushroom rice (shiitake, maitake, and awabi mushrooms) 11. Seaweed, miso soup, and pickles 12. Dessert Every dish was elegant and delicious. The ingredients were of high quality, and it seemed like the organizer of the gathering, who is the head chef's senior apprentice, put in extra effort. It might be better to come to Choya instead of waiting endlessly for a reservation at Iida... that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the good nature of the head chef and his wife, combined with the quality of the food, will surely make this place popular. I am grateful to the organizer for bringing us to such a wonderful restaurant, and I am sure I will visit again. Difficulty of reservation: ★★★☆☆ - Starting to become difficult Car accessibility: ★★★★☆ - Nearby coin parking available Cleanliness of the restaurant: ★★★★★ - Beautiful interior Staff service: ★★★★★ - Excellent service Possibility of revisiting: ★★★★★ - Definitely will return