I visited Uoya-ya-san at the western end of Otemichi shopping street arcade after a long time. It has been in operation since 1910, making it the oldest active restaurant in Fushimi Momoyama as far as I know. First, we had small dishes and a cooked dish. Then we had yu-an yaki (grilled fish paste) and roast beef with a hint of curry flavor. It felt like a light meal, whereas in the past the rice dishes were more substantial. Dessert was also included. It cost 1000 yen. Oh, and as a bonus, we were served a sparkling sake called Sarutobi. It's been closed more often these days, so if you're a fan, be sure to check it out.

Today's lunch was at "Kyoto Cuisine Uomaya". Located in the Furo-cho shopping street that extends north from Nishiote-suji in Fushimi, this traditional Japanese restaurant exudes a sense of history. The restaurant has a typical Japanese exterior, with only a counter inside and tatami seating on the second floor. There is no menu, but there are lunch specials displayed outside. When you sit down, the staff will inform you that today's options are fried food and simmered dishes, and you can choose both. I opted for the "Washoku Zen" set for 1,025 yen. The food is served on a square tray, with each dish elegantly presented. The flavors are delicate and refined, with a subtle taste to each dish. The soup contains bamboo shoots and cod, while the simmered dish includes shrimp, bamboo shoots, squid, and taro. The tempura assortment is small but delicious, especially when eaten with green tea salt. Despite its unassuming appearance, this hidden gem offers a taste of authentic Kyoto cuisine.

I felt like having Japanese food, so I stopped by a restaurant. The counter had only 4 seats, and I was the only one there on a Saturday afternoon. There was only one set menu available for 950 yen, along with beer. The appetizer was hijiki seaweed. Then I had eggplant and herring. It felt like dishes from a cooking book from Tsuji Culinary Institute. I enjoyed the eggplant and herring with my beer. Next, I had pickled shishamo smelt, pickled myoga ginger, mackerel, and curry-flavored meat. It was quite interesting. I finished my meal with miso soup and pickles. I heard stories about people trading coal in this town. I also heard that a nearby UFJ bank used to be a stone building like a mega bank in Shijo-Karasuma. There used to be a space in front of the bank as well. It seems like they had economic power comparable to the center of Kyoto. I think the set menu might be a better deal on days when they serve sashimi.

I had the impression that it was a catering shop, but I visited because I heard that they also have a storefront now. There are only 4 seats available. The lunch set, including tax, is 1025 yen. You will receive 2 dishes out of simmered, grilled, and fried dishes. It seems like they make a little extra of the day's catering and serve it. They told me, "Today's dishes are grilled and fried." The shop was founded in April 43 years ago, and the current head chef is the 4th generation. He used to serve as a director of the Kyoto Cuisine Research Association for a long time, but he said, "I quit a few years ago because it didn't suit me." By the way, all the catering shops around here have been around for about 100-110 years, according to him. The head chef is more humble than I expected and loves to talk. The rice is well polished and has a beautiful appearance, truly shining rice! It is very delicious rice. Also, you can have unlimited rice refills. The pickles seem homemade, with pickled Chinese cabbage and spinach with white sesame dressing. The miso soup is made with white miso and onions, with a slightly thick texture. I was told that they don't use kelp or bonito flakes, but only vegetables to make it. Ohh. The fried dishes included shiso leaves, eggplant, lotus root, onions, and something else. They are all made with high-quality vegetables and carefully cooked. I forgot to take a picture of the grilled dish, but it included small grilled shishamo smelt that was then pickled in vinegar. The portions are not large, but there is a strange feeling of fullness. They only accept reservations for dinner, and the price is quite high, but I would like to try it once.

Ukoshiya seems to be the correct spelling. When I wasn't sure if the place was open, I noticed they had their lunch menu displayed and the lights were on. It's a small place with 4 counter seats and a tatami room on the second floor. Surprisingly modern inside, with a commercial refrigerator. The lady was surprised when I ordered a beer, as it seems uncommon to drink during the day. The tempura seemed like it could be from a catered meal. When I asked the lady about the establishment year, the owner came out to talk. It turns out the grandfather started a catering business in 1910, serving sake breweries and lumberyards mainly. The restaurant started about 20 years ago. It seems to be the oldest food establishment in this town, excluding Nezame at Fushimi Inari. The owner didn't mention it, but the nearby Sakata Pharmacy is even older. The pickled fish, grilled miso, and carrot salad were delicious, although I wasn't sure what they were at first. It was a great experience. They seem to enjoy sharing old stories. I'll definitely come back if I have more questions.

Located near Keihan Fushimi Momoyama Station or Kintetsu Momoyama Mausoleum-mae Station, this Kyoto cuisine restaurant is tucked away in the Furo-cho shopping street, just a 5-minute walk west from Fushimi Otesuji Shopping Street. Despite its unassuming exterior, this restaurant is actually a long-established eatery dating back to the Meiji era. While their specialty seems to be traditional Kyoto-style dishes, they also offer reasonably priced lunch sets. With only 4 counter seats inside, the kitchen is immaculately clean and well-organized, run by the husband and wife owners. I tried their lunch set "Kimagure Zen" for 1,050 yen. The meal started with sashimi, featuring two kinds of fish - sea bream and medium fatty tuna. The miso soup was hearty and homey. The grilled dish was saury with yuzu flavor, offering a refreshing taste. The tempura consisted of shrimp and assorted vegetables, all fried to perfection. The rice was also delicious, cooked to a fluffy texture with a glossy finish. Each dish was meticulously prepared, showcasing the essence of Kyoto cuisine. The friendly and talkative owners added to the pleasant dining experience. I look forward to trying their omakase course for dinner next time.

Revisited for the night course in April 2011 (Fuk) ¥5250 - The dishes were still labor-intensive and the local ingredients were delicious. I had ordered the course dish "Nan-Fuku-Kami" from the three options, starting with the appetizer and ending with the clear soup, each dish was meticulously prepared and, of course, delicious. I also had a beer and a 300ml sake for a total of ¥4725. The restaurant was small with only 4 counter seats, and the atmosphere was serene with the owner and his wife running the place. I tried the "Kimagure Zen" for ¥1050, which included a sashimi platter, simmered fish, Kyoto-style grilled fish, pickles, miso soup, and rice. The food was delicious and I will definitely be back for dinner soon.

The lunch set was disappointing - sashimi, pickles, miso soup, tempura, and simmered eggplant and meat. I had high hopes after reading the reviews, but the rice was dry, the sashimi was mediocre, the miso soup was so-so, the tempura was greasy, and the simmered dish was too sweet, tough and smelly. It seems that online reviews can't always be trusted. I was considering booking the evening course if the lunch was good, but since everything was disappointing, I don't even want to give a rating of 1. However, the wife had a good demeanor.