I was curious about "Shop Owner's Japanese Level 2". It was featured in various media and I finally got to visit. When I opened the door of a house in a residential area, the shop owner welcomed me. The space was quiet and comfortable. Decorated with mysterious goods and small items from unknown countries. I ordered a lunch plate. Soup came first. The pumpkin and carrot potage had a variety of expressions with coconut milk and spices mixed in. The colorful plate that was brought out later was explained one by one in broken Japanese, which was cute and lovely! Hummus, stuffed tomatoes, onion jam, and more. The cherry tomatoes were coated with caramelized sugar on the outside, giving the impression of candy apples. The carrot marinade was delicious! The purple one was beets and potatoes. I had never tried any of them before, stimulating my taste buds with unfamiliar flavors. The walnut bread and focaccia were soft and gentle, pairing well with the hummus and side dishes. Each dish was elaborate and enjoyable. It was a very nice space where time passed slowly. On the way back, I took home a cinnamon roll from the showcase. It was also soft and gentle, but had a firm taste of cinnamon and orange peel that was unforgettable.

This was my first visit. I struggled with my smartphone map, missed a turn, had to backtrack, and ended up in a narrow alley that seemed like only residents would enter. With trepidation, I finally found the shop, but the small sign at the entrance made me wonder if this was really the place and if it was open. Gathering my courage, I opened the sliding door to find two other customers inside. The restaurant had a Mediterranean vibe and I had a lunch plate with chilled pumpkin and coconut milk soup (surprisingly spicy), apple and purple cabbage salad with honey dressing, potato and pumpkin salad with orange dressing, watercress hummus, grilled eggplant with miso and almond sauce, spinach quiche, mini tomatoes with caramel and sesame, and almond whole wheat focaccia. Each dish had a unique flavor that I had never experienced before, but they were all delicious. Personally, I especially enjoyed the watercress hummus and almond focaccia. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of the food, so here's a picture of the shop card.

It was quite delicious. I am a big fan of meat and fish dishes with inosinic acid, but surprisingly, I was moved by the vegetable dishes that were conscious of veganism. Be prepared for a considerable wait time. The lovely atmosphere makes it worth it. The homemade bread is definitely worth trying.

I visited a restaurant near Nijo Castle that is as difficult to find as a curry shop that is highly recommended by foodie friends. I arrived around 11 o'clock and thought about getting takeout if it was crowded, but luckily there were good seats available. The weekly lunch plate included focaccia, walnut bread, a large broccoli and beet salad, chicken and roasted vegetable soup (pumpkin flavor). The focaccia had a hard surface, different from what you would find at an Italian restaurant. The walnut bread was thinly sliced and I enjoyed dipping it in the soup. The combination of olive oil, vegetables, beans, whole wheat, and chicken seemed healthy. I left feeling full. The service was provided by a French person who has been in Japan for three years and speaks limited Japanese. It felt like the kind of service you would receive in a foreign country. They were friendly and explained the dishes in detail, but it may not be suitable for those in a hurry. Even Google couldn't help me much, so I recommend checking out some images before you go.