moja77
I made a reservation for three people at 11:00 via Tabelog. I was curious to try it because it was featured on "Chachai-re Monday." The time limit for our visit was 75 minutes. Upon arriving before 11:00, there were about eight people already there. We all sat around a large table, and since we were at the corner, one of us faced a different direction than the two others. There was a seat left open between us and the group next to us, which was considerate (though it might vary depending on the crowd).
The staff informed us that they would explain the buffet once everyone was seated together with the other group. They brought us rice balls and miso soup to our seats, and these could be refilled. We would also receive egg roll and tsukune, but those were not refillable. At the buffet area, we took a tray and then arranged small plates on our tray. The small dishes had various cute designs, and I found that grabbing a larger salad plate made it easier to serve the salad.
Next, we chose our dishes and placed them on the small plates. At the end of the line, there were white rice and curry, but since the rice balls were served first, no one initially took curry. When we went for a second round, the staff cleared our trays and plates, allowing us to grab new ones for the next round. A few new dishes had been added.
As for the taste, all the dishes were lightly flavored and delicious. I was surprised by the stuffed peppers, which had raw peppers that weren't bitter at all, and the meat had a slightly sweet flavor. There was also a deep-fried dish made with daikon, lightly salted and tasty even without any sauce. The miso soup of the day was tonjiru, satisfying with plenty of eggplant. The sansho key curry wasn’t very spicy, so even someone like me who usually eats sweet curries found it enjoyable. The daikon from the oden was thick but tender, with a gentle flavor from the broth. I tasted everything, but I regretted my small appetite. I wanted to grab more of the pickled daikon for an ochazuke at the end. While none of the dishes were overwhelmingly delicious, they all showcased the flavors of the ingredients well. The light seasoning meant I could eat a lot without getting bored. The dessert was a delightful mochi-like warabi mochi.
For payment, we could use PayPay, and each of us paid separately.
As for the ambiance, we had a view of the large torii gate of Kamigamo Shrine from our window. The restroom was clean and well-maintained, with enough space without being cramped. There seemed to be a higher ratio of women among the customers, but there were also two men present. The age group was generally older on this day (maybe due to it being a weekday or the location?).
I recommend this place for anyone who wants to eat plenty of vegetables, enjoy a variety of obanzai dishes, or have a slightly luxurious lunch after visiting Kamigamo Shrine.
A note of caution: the teapots provided for each group have wide spouts, so be careful pouring; we all spilled tea on the table! Give it a try!