This is a restaurant in Muroran. The owner has appeared on "Iron Chef" before. It seems like a hidden gem with lunch options available. Next door is a traditional Japanese restaurant that only opens at night. During weekdays at lunchtime, there are about 5 people sitting at the counter and maybe one group in the tatami room. The interior is like an old-fashioned counter-style restaurant with 10 seats and a tatami area. For lunch, they offer sashimi set for 2,000 yen, special tempura rice bowl for 1,300 yen, tempura set for 1,400 yen, shrimp tempura rice bowl with 5 shrimp for 1,800 yen, seafood bowl for 2,000 yen, eel tempura rice bowl for 1,300 yen. I tried the tempura set and it was delicious, with crispy and crunchy tempura. The tempura rice bowl with seasoned rice looked tempting too. The prices are a bit on the higher side for lunch, but considering the quality, it's actually quite reasonable. Warm tea is served with the meal, and coffee is available for 110 yen. Closed on Sundays.

I had the special tendon lunch. It was unique to be able to pour the tempura sauce according to my preference while eating. The tempura remained crispy until the end, which was great. The tempura was fried in a thin coating and was of high quality. I tried the "tamagoyaki tempura" hidden under the shrimp for the first time. It came with coffee. It was a good value for the price.

This is a restaurant where you can take anyone without feeling embarrassed. Personally, I like the taste of the food and the seafood is delicious.

The restaurant had a welcoming atmosphere in Muroran. The service was good with no noticeable issues, but the food was disappointingly not delicious at all. Despite being advertised as having participated in Iron Chef, the food was underwhelming. Additionally, the prices were high.

The taste is so-so, but the food takes forever to come out. The prices are also high for the quality.

This is a place to spend special days like New Year's and birthdays with family. The carefully prepared dishes are so impressive that you can't help but take photos over and over again! The sashimi abalone is large, and the surf clams and shrimp are deliciously plump. The tempura includes luxurious crab. The seasonal bamboo shoots and fish go well with sake. The Shaoxing wine here is said to be very easy to drink and delicious. I am a beer drinker, so I only enjoyed the aroma... The meal ended with sesame tofu soup. I am full, thank you for the feast!

I had the opportunity to have a dinner meeting in Muroran, and visited this restaurant. The head chef has an impressive background, having competed against French chef Sakai on the legendary TV show "Iron Chef". When I asked about the competition, I was told that they made a big mistake in seasoning due to nervousness. The meal this time was a chef's choice course menu, including appetizers, boiled vegetables, crab, abalone, wheat gluten, bamboo shoots, crab shell gratin, mixed rice with red miso soup, and dessert. The sake served was Kita-ya Junmai Daiginjo polished to 50%, in a one-liter bottle. The restaurant has a spacious counter in a U-shape layout, providing a calming environment for dining. The elegantly presented appetizers were delightful, especially the crab meat that looked like a blooming flower. The fresh crab meat was sweet and firm, truly delicious. The abalone was also fresh and chewy. The sake from Kita-ya paired perfectly with the dishes, with a fragrant yet not overpowering taste. Overall, I was highly satisfied with the chef's choice course menu. The attentive service was also impressive. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

This restaurant is famous locally, but I was surprised to find that there are no reviews on Tabelog. In Muroran, yakitori and curry ramen are well-known, but other types of cuisine may not be as popular. However, if you want to impress VIP guests in Muroran, this restaurant is the go-to place. The name of the restaurant is "Itamae Ryori Sonobe" or maybe it was "Itamae Ryori Sonobe" - either way is fine. A friend recommended this hidden gem of a restaurant to me, and it truly lived up to its reputation. While not a high-end establishment, the entrance had a sign saying "hideaway" and the interior felt like a nostalgic trip back in time to old Japan, creating a relaxing atmosphere. I was seated in a tatami room with a sunken kotatsu table, which was very cozy. The food was delicious, each dish was well-seasoned, and the tempura was high-quality. What surprised me the most was the price - I had quite a lot to eat and it only cost around 1500 yen per person. Unbelievable! In Kyoto, a meal like this would easily cost over 4000 yen. I highly recommend this restaurant for its great cost performance.

I have tried the a la carte menu a few times and had tempura once. The a la carte menu has a slightly unique izakaya style. I mainly tried the chef's choice, but I didn't feel any particularly impressive dishes that showcased the chef's skills. As for the tempura, I was very disappointed. It didn't have the expected "crispy and light" texture, and I felt like I could have made the same at home. The atmosphere in the restaurant seemed to be mostly regular customers, making it a bit intimidating for first-time visitors. It seems to be a convenient place for entertaining with company funds.

★ Muroran's "Kurosoi" - A gleaming black brilliance ★