At the top of Keisaka, there is a restaurant run by a former chef of the Antarctic observation team, located within the bird park and International Japanese Cultural Research Center. Known for its daily lunch specials at affordable prices, this restaurant is popular among the elderly and taxi drivers. The signboard features dishes like large shrimp fry (¥1,480) and Antarctic beef stew, along with a selection of power stones. The best seats are by the window facing the garden, creating a high-vibration world. Another favorite power stone spot is "Ishi" and "Yasaka" under the stone steps in Gion, but due to the crowds, I wanted to document this place before it becomes inaccessible.

After returning from an outing, I stretched my legs a bit and went to lunch with a colleague. The restaurant is located in a corner of the International Research Center for Japanese Culture, and I had trouble finding the parking lot, so I drove around the area. The chef who participated in the Antarctic wintering team is known for his large shrimp fry and beef stew. Since the beef stew was a bit pricey for lunch, this time I ordered the large shrimp fry. It came with three large shrimp, crispy and very delicious. Lately, I've been feeling a bit averse to oily foods, but when I sprinkled lemon slices over the shrimp, the greasiness disappeared and I finished it all in one go. The side salad and potatoes were also delicious. Located at the top of Keisaka, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, I enjoyed my meal with the birds' chirping as background music. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Today's lunch was at "Akaoni", a restaurant located in Katsurazaka, Nishikyo-ku. I happened to pass by it and saw the sign, so I decided to give it a try. The parking lot was a bit messy, but there was a sign indicating the entrance. I followed the instructions to go towards the back. After driving through a narrow road, I finally reached the entrance. The restaurant looked quite impressive and spacious. It is located within the International Research Center for Japanese Culture, so it seems like important people also visit here. However, the prices are reasonable. They offer daily specials, spaghetti sets, curry, kitsune udon, and even unexpectedly, eel rice bowls. They also have a luxurious beef stew. The chef apparently used to be a cook for the Antarctic Overwintering Team. Today, I decided to try their specialty, the "Ebi Fry Lunch" for 1380 yen. To my surprise, there was a Roomba standing by in the corner. There was also a corner in the restaurant selling natural stones, which was unexpected. After a while, a plate of impressive ebi fry was served. The soup had a light flavor with seaweed and green onions. There were three large prawns standing tall on the plate, with crispy breading and perfectly cooked prawns. The tartar sauce was light and tasty. However, the large portion of ebi fry made it a bit overwhelming towards the end. When I went to pay at the register, I noticed a sticker of a Living National Treasure on the next table. I wonder how they found this hidden restaurant deep in a residential area. It was a unique experience to discover this secret restaurant tucked away in the back streets.

I had some business at the International Institute for Japanese Culture, so I stopped by this restaurant for lunch. While the institute itself is not open to the public without an appointment, the restaurant is open to everyone. The entrance to the restaurant is not from the main gate, but rather from the back gate on the mountain side. It seemed to be quite popular among locals. I ordered the shrimp fry set, which came with three unusually large shrimp fries. The food itself was not particularly delicious, but it wasn't bad either. It was at a level where you might think it's just a bit tasty in town. It may be convenient for the residents of the surrounding new town where there are few restaurants. By the way, the building has a nice and calm atmosphere. It might be worth visiting just to see the building.

I had a lunch meeting with business associates and we were well taken care of. The large shrimp fry and hamburger, soup and white rice were very delicious. The atmosphere is amazing. It has a sense of luxury. It may be a restaurant that is not easy to enter in the town. It is located on top of the mountain, but I think it is definitely worth a visit.

The shrimp fry was even better than I imagined or expected!

The fried shrimp was quite impressive. It was substantial when dipped in tartar sauce. The seafood salad was also satisfying with plenty of seafood. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I was taken to a restaurant by a friend who is a university lecturer. The place is located in Kyoto, in the Sakyo district, which is a newly developed upscale residential area and an educational district. We climbed up a hill, passing by the expansive campus of Kyoto University with smart-looking students walking up the slope. We arrived at a restaurant called "Aka Oni" inside the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, which had a banquet hall-like atmosphere. The restaurant manager, Mr. Kitada, was a cook for the Antarctic wintering team, and their popular dishes included the Antarctic stew and the super-sized shrimp fry. We tried both dishes. The shrimp fry lunch set (1080 yen) was huge, with a thick coating but a substantial amount of shrimp inside. It was served with tartar sauce and lemon. The Antarctic stew (1780 yen, or 1980 yen with salad and rice) was made with domestic beef and had a subtle sour cream flavor. It was light and had a gentle taste, with the vegetables adding to the overall flavor. It felt like a gesture of kindness towards the wintering team members, for whom meals were probably a major source of enjoyment.