I visited "Hokusen Oosako" for the first time in years. It is located on Kitaiizumi Street in Matsugasaki, near Kyoto Institute of Technology. This cozy local Japanese restaurant is loved by the community. For lunch, they recommend the Unagi Don, Ten Don, or Hachihozen. Other options include Chirashi Sushi. The restaurant has 8 counter seats and 3 tables with a total of 10 seats, giving it a homely atmosphere. They have parking space for 2 cars. The clientele mainly consists of middle-aged locals, with female customers being particularly fond of the place. Lunch prices start from 1,000 yen (excluding tax), and the most popular option is the Hachimori Sashimi Assortment. The Unagi Don costs 1,600 yen (excluding tax) and comes with a side of daily small dishes, pickles, and fruit for dessert. The Unagi Don features three simple pieces of eel grilled without steaming, with a perfectly balanced sweet and savory flavor. It's a quiet and peaceful environment to stop by for a meal. The owner and two staff members, who used to be rugby players, run the place. The owner's wife, a beautiful lady, sometimes greets customers on their way out.

Accompanied by an acquaintance, I had the opportunity to enjoy traditional Kyoto cuisine after a long time. The restaurant is not very large, with counter seats and three tables. It seems to have been open for several years, and the interior is impeccably clean and well-maintained. The central counter kitchen is where the former sushi chef, who is now the owner, skillfully prepares sushi and fresh fish, surrounded by young assistants. The atmosphere is harmonious, with no signs of tension. We ordered the chef's special course. The first dish was a delicate blend of green leaves and scrambled eggs, with vegetables soaked in a light broth and topped with eel as a highlight. The deep-fried taro was lightly coated in starch, resulting in a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior. The sashimi platter included tuna, octopus, sea bream, and sea urchin, all of exceptional freshness. The horse mackerel was particularly delicious, with a sweet and fatty taste. The white roe of the horse mackerel was also a pleasant surprise, with a smooth texture and a mild flavor. The fish noodles, a dish reminiscent of Kyoto's summer, were refreshing, with vinegar-marinated snow crab adding a nice touch. The miso-glazed rice-stuffed eggplant was flavorful, with a perfectly balanced miso sauce. The grilled head and fin of the sea bream were a delight to savor, with the fatty parts melting in the mouth. The vinegared dish consisted of eel, octopus, and turban shell, creating a luxurious combination. The whale bacon was both familiar and nostalgic, with a unique texture and taste. The tempura of young ayu was the highlight of the meal, with its delicate sweetness and slight bitterness. The steamed egg custard with plum paste melted in the mouth, complemented by the tangy plum flavor. The mixed rice, served with red miso soup, was a bit clumpy but still enjoyable. The dessert, a sweet orange, was surprisingly delightful. The owner kindly prepared a sushi roll as a souvenir, which we enjoyed the next day. Overall, the Kyoto-style course with sushi was a recommended experience for sashimi and sushi lovers. The seasonal touch, including the Kyoto-style pottery, added to the authentic Kyoto dining experience. Thank you for the wonderful meal. I look forward to visiting again and perhaps staying in Kyoto next time.

I had lunch at Hokusei Osako, located next to Kyoto Institute of Technology Matsugasaki. While tempted by the seafood bowl, I decided to order the tempura rice bowl. The restaurant was bustling with regular customers in their 60s and 70s, creating a cozy atmosphere. Unfortunately, the tempura rice bowl was not very good. The rice was too hard and the tempura was greasy, giving the impression of eating oil. It seems that the temperature for frying the tempura may have been off. The taste may vary depending on the skill of the chef, as there were several artisans working. Perhaps if the head chef had made it, it would have been more delicious. I have also been here at night before, but I don't remember the taste. Just like in construction where each carpenter has their own specialties, it is important for artisans to work together to maintain a certain level of quality. All the carpenters bear the name of Yamnak Construction, so any work done by them represents the company. I believe that the professionalism and diligence of all the carpenters will uphold the reputation of the company. This lunch made me think about such things.

The other day was our 29th wedding anniversary. It was a bit of a milestone, so we decided to celebrate by going out to lunch together. We went to a restaurant called Oosako in Matsugasaki, which we had visited before with my mother. It was a rainy day, but we walked there hand in hand. We were the first customers to arrive at the restaurant. We ordered the lunch special, "Rikyu Sashimi Platter" for one person, which came with sushi. For the rest of the meal, we chose some a la carte items: simmered sea bream, deep-fried blowfish, and grilled flatfish. All the fish dishes were delicious, and my husband, who loves fish, was very satisfied. We also found a sake from Yamagata, where our eldest son's girlfriend is from. We raised a toast to our son's upcoming wedding and enjoyed the sake. The restaurant owner kindly gave us a gift of simmered hijiki. The miso soup and fruit that came with the Rikyu Sashimi Platter were also served to us without us asking. It was a lovely gesture that made us feel cared for. By the end of our meal, we were the only customers left in the restaurant. We had a relaxing time and were pleasantly surprised that the bill for our meal was reasonable. Next year, we will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We joked about having a party at Hotel Okura, but wondered who would come to celebrate with us.

In October 2009, I revisited Hokusen Osako, a restaurant located in front of Matsugasaki Kosen, with my husband and mother for lunch. The restaurant has a clean and beautiful interior with a counter for 7 seats and 3 tables for 4 people each. The lunch menu includes various rice bowls such as tempura bowl, seafood bowl, chirashi sushi, and eel bowl. My husband had a tempura bowl, while my mother and I had the Eight-Plate Assortment. The assortment included sashimi, tempura, simmered dishes, grilled dishes, cut rice, and red miso soup. It was a luxurious spread with dishes like yellowtail, kanpachi, conger eel, octopus sashimi, shrimp, lotus root, eggplant, shishito pepper, sweet potato tempura, simmered daikon radish, eggplant, sweet potato, and fu, as well as pickled vegetables, grilled chicken, and simmered herring roe. The dishes were meticulously prepared with attention to detail and delicious flavors. The simmered dishes had a rich dashi flavor, while the grilled chicken had a crispy skin. The refreshing orange juice provided a perfect ending to the meal. The hot tea was continuously refilled, and the service was efficient and pleasant. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience at Hokusen Osako.

Located next to Matsugasaki and Kyoto Institute of Technology. There is also a parking lot (probably for 2 cars) next to the restaurant. It is a small shop but the interior is clean. I was hesitant because the reviews mentioned that the fish was delicious, but I decided to order the chirashi sushi (1050 yen). The appearance was ordinary and the taste was nothing special, just average for the price. The sushi rice wasn't very tasty and the freshness and taste of the ingredients were not particularly commendable. Perhaps the location of the restaurant attracts many locals and people from Kyoto Institute of Technology.

You can enjoy Kyoto-style cuisine that makes the most of the ingredients. The restaurant is run by the owner, his wife, and their two sons, and it is usually filled with regular customers. During busy times, the smoke and chatter from the smokers might be a bit overwhelming. The recommended dish is definitely the fish. For lunch, the seafood bowl is a good choice at 1050 yen, which I think is a great deal. For tourists, the Rikyu meal might be a good option. You can enjoy a reasonably priced meal with a variety of dishes that would cost a lot more in a course meal in Gion. At night, although it's not on the menu, if you say "omakase for 3000 yen," you'll be served a variety of dishes at the right timing. The staff are all very friendly, and their attention to detail is evident, making the dining experience very pleasant. The only issue is the presence of regular customers, but that's something that can't be helped.

During the day, I recommend the "Happozen" bento box, which is a versatile meal. Try the tempura bowl and seafood bowl once each. You probably know why 😉 For the sharp-minded ladies out there, this is a little gift without a stamp. At night, I suggest trying the fried sweet potato sashimi and mackerel tea-soaked rice at the counter. If you happen to be near Kyoto Institute of Technology at Matsugasaki, this is one of the better traditional Japanese restaurants around here. Give the tempura bowl a try, and you'll understand. Once you taste the sashimi, you'll get it. If you're hungry, you'll finish the meal, but it's not worth going out of your way for. As long as that master is alive, I won't go anywhere else. The grilled fish is just too good.