My friend had decided to look up a restaurant called Nojyuur for dinner in Kyoto, but I insisted that we should make a reservation because it's popular and sweet-talked them into it. We managed to secure a counter seat reservation before the restaurant opened on a weekday. The place was a bit difficult to find, especially with the narrow and dark alleyways, so we relied on our smartphone navigation from the subway station. When we arrived at 6:30 pm, the restaurant was already fully booked. It seems like a new but popular spot. My friend, who was proud of finding this place, mainly ordered three appetizers as starters. They were all delicious. I particularly enjoyed the boiled conger eel with plum jelly, the crab miso croquette, and the small sweetfish tempura. The homemade potato salad with crispy bacon was also a standout dish. The eggplant with minced meat sauce had a rich flavor that paired well with rice. For the finale, we shared a salmon and salmon roe mixed rice dish, which was a bit too much for one person to finish. The salmon was served in a large piece, which was a unique presentation. We washed down the meal with beer and plum wine. We left the restaurant feeling full and satisfied with the delicious food. We will definitely come back again.

I was able to use it for the second time. There are many delicious looking menu items. They also have a good selection of alcohol, and I tried some sake. The Matsusaka beef jerky was delicious. The pounded dishes were also very tasty. We ordered a variety of dishes and they were all quite tasty. They also have private rooms. The restaurant is located in a quiet alley off Karasuma, away from the hustle and bustle. It was a nice place.

When it comes to Kyoto, I highly recommend this izakaya! Every dish was delicious. The staff, although young, provided attentive service. Reservations are a must as it's always full! I tried bonito with sansho pepper for the first time and it was surprisingly good! Each dish had a unique twist, offering flavors that can't be replicated at home. They have a wide variety of sake as well. I definitely want to go back!

This is my first time visiting. Was it because of the Gion Festival or the three-day weekend? Everywhere was crowded, so I made a reservation before visiting. The sashimi recommended to me was 1400 yen per person, and the slices were quite large. However, they were tough and a bit difficult to eat. The crab miso cream croquette was just right as a sake accompaniment. Overall, the food was decent. It didn't have the delicate feel of Kyoto cuisine. The variety of sake was a good point.

Good evening♪ Continuing with my trip to Kyoto... For dinner, due to COVID, there are time restrictions, some places are closed, and alcohol is not being served, so I decided to get takeout from a department store or a nearby restaurant and have a drink in my room. Since I was in the Shijo-Karasuma area, I thought I would find something around there and started wandering around. Just a short walk from the hotel, I spotted a restaurant with tanuki (raccoon dog) figurines that stood out. It was open! Before entering, there was a young man there, so I asked him if this place was open. He said, "Yes, it's open! It's delicious, so I recommend it!" He also mentioned that he was starting a part-time job there. The location was about a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Station, in a somewhat hidden alleyway. The restaurant was called "Sake to Ryori Tsugu." It was a popular place, almost full. The interior had dim lighting, giving it a chic atmosphere, with a counter and tables totaling 32 seats. There seemed to be private rooms in the back as well. I was happy to see that it was a shoe-free establishment. We toasted with some beer and looked at the menu. The menu had a variety of dishes that would go well with alcohol. We started with the appetizers: steamed egg custard with plum, salmon stick sushi, and dried baby sardines and shrimp with walnuts. They were all delicious! I couldn't resist ordering the corn tempura, which was crispy and sweet. We also had some foie gras with ponzu sauce, crab and crab miso cream croquettes, and simmered whelk. Everything was so tasty, especially the homemade salted sea urchin and fresh seaweed rice. We ended the meal with a warm lily root steamed bun with tofu skin sauce. I might have had a bit too much to drink, as I don't remember much after that. The bill came out to about 18,000 yen for two people, which was a bit of a surprise considering the reasonable prices. The staff were kind and even gave me a complimentary mask. Overall, it was a great dining experience, and I would definitely visit this restaurant again when in Kyoto. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Visited in August 2021. At the time of posting, the restaurant had a rating of 3.36 on Tabelog based on 34 reviews. The daily lunch special costs 900 yen at "Sake to Oryouri Tsugu." It seems that lunch service has temporarily ended, with plans to announce the reopening, probably on Instagram. Today's lunch special included: tuna sashimi, fried chicken, miso soup, dried daikon radish, rolled omelette, glass noodle vinegar dish, and rice (with free refills) - a variety of dishes to enjoy. The tuna sashimi had soy sauce already added, which was a unique presentation. The fried chicken was a bit dry for my liking. The miso soup had a strong flavor but was a bit too thick, and the ingredients were too finely chopped. Surprisingly, the pasta-like dish was the most delicious. The rolled omelette was light and tasty. While this visit didn't quite meet my high expectations from a previous visit, it was still enjoyable. Looking forward to the reopening of the lunch service!

The appetizers were cute in mini sizes. The sashimi was decently delicious, and the eel soup roll was really tasty. The rest was just average, like a typical chain izakaya. The corn tempura had greasy batter and the corn itself wasn't tasty. The pork Caesar salad had too much dressing, too intense, and the pork didn't go well with it. It would be better with crispy bacon instead. The edamame was also just average. I was bothered by the fact that all the staff making the food were wearing masks while talking. The atmosphere inside was noisy and cramped, not very relaxing. As a restaurant operating during the pandemic, it seems like a good place for a second round or after-party.

I visited the restaurant around 11:50 on a holiday. There were no other customers when I arrived, but three people came in by the time I finished eating. I had the special GW lunch for 1300 yen. The sashimi was delicious and the shrimp was very tender. The tempura assortment included eggplant, shrimp, and two small fish. The eggplant had a nice texture from being sliced with a knife. The dashimaki tamago was cool and delicious. There were two small side dishes - one with bean sprouts flavored with sesame oil and another with tasty nikujaga (stewed meat and potatoes). The kasujiru (sake lees soup) was delicious, with a hint of spice adding a nice touch. The pickles included kombu with sansho pepper seeds and what seemed to be pickled mountain vegetables. I was happy to see the sansho pepper seeds. The rice had a high salt content, possibly from having a lot of sesame salt sprinkled on top.

During the state of emergency, I had a business trip to Kyoto and spent my time working in the hotel. Feeling hungry, I decided to contact "Tsugu" which I had been curious about. They informed me that they were open until 7:00 PM, so I went for a solo drink. I arrived at 6:10 PM and ordered a Sapporo Lager. I wanted to try a variety of dishes, so I asked for a special arrangement of small dishes like an obanzai. It was so enjoyable! For sashimi, I requested a platter with 6 thick slices of various fish. It was incredibly delicious! I also ordered the recommended crab miso cream croquette and half portion of conger eel tempura. I couldn't ask for more! Despite it being my first visit, they were very accommodating and I left completely satisfied. I look forward to coming back next time and trying their kamameshi after the pandemic. Thank you for the wonderful meal. Cheers!

It's a hidden gem with four seats. The appetizers are delicious, especially the crispy bone crackers on the counter seasoned with curry powder, perfect with beer. The sashimi is served in individual portions, perfect for enjoying with sake. The chef is very considerate. I was impressed. I will definitely visit again.

The fried chicken, miso soup, and pickled cabbage are all too salty. I'm not doing any physical labor, so maybe they're meant to be like drinking snacks. Well, the place is always busy with customers, so maybe it's just me not liking salty food. Also, despite being called pork soup, there's hardly any meat in it. The rice seasoning and garlic chives with liver stir-fry were delicious. It's been a while since I had lunch, but it seems that soup dishes are popular in this area. It's the Kyoto and Osaka style, I guess.

Visited in July 2020 with a rating of 3.38 on Tabelog (based on 24 reviews). I went to a small izakaya near Karasuma Station for lunch. They only offer a daily special for lunch on weekdays, and this time it was the "Limited to 5 servings" Natural Sea Bream Rice Bowl for 900 yen (tax included). It came with two small side dishes and you could also get rice refills, which I thought was a good deal. The "ara-daki" (simmered fish head) had a delicious flavor and the gelatinous parts around the eyes were especially enjoyable. I tend to give good ratings when eating ara-daki, so I really liked this dish. The miso soup had a lot of ingredients but was a bit low on broth. It was a lucky surprise to be able to try the unexpected fish set meal. If they continue to serve dishes like this, I might consider revisiting. Thank you for the meal.

I've been slacking off on posting reviews, and my device's data storage is getting dangerously low, so I'll start posting little by little. This is a review from the third week of March 2020 during lunchtime. I had a meeting in Kyoto's Karasuma area in the morning. I went to a restaurant with a former colleague who moved to Kyoto two years ago. The restaurant we went to was their favorite spot. The lunch consisted of a daily special with a variety of side dishes and a main dish of tempura, as shown in the picture. Everything was delicious, especially the crispy tempura. I envy my colleague who can enjoy the daily specials. They also have a great selection of Japanese sake, and I would love to come back for dinner and sit at the counter. Thank you for the meal.

We went to Tsugu for lunch with three people on March 12th. It is one of my top three favorite lunches recently. The lunch here has a lot of dishes, which makes it very cost-effective. The daily special on this day had a variety of options. The seasoned rice also made me happy. I wish there was a little more sauce on the chicken cutlet. The cream croquette was deliciously sweet. But the best part is definitely the pork miso soup. I was very satisfied today. Thank you very much.

I decided to make my first visit to this traditional Japanese izakaya that recently started serving lunch. The restaurant is located on a narrow street known as "Ura Pontocho," where other popular eateries like "Sugari," "Enya Hanare," and "Menbo Yamamoto" are also situated. As I occasionally visit this area for lunch, I was excited to try out this new place. Upon entering, I noticed the extensive selection of sake bottles displayed near the entrance, raising my expectations for a great dining experience. Despite the lunch rush at 12:30, I was quickly seated at a shared table. However, I felt a bit uneasy as no tea or wet towels were provided, and the staff seemed too busy to take our orders. Just then, the "Daily Lunch Special (900 yen)" arrived. It was a bento box containing minced cutlet, root vegetable sauté, rolled omelette, macaroni salad, and rice with furikake seasoning. I was delighted to see hot udon noodles, perfect for the season. The meal also included pickles and simmered kombu seaweed. I particularly enjoyed the "Root Vegetable Sauté." With such a satisfying lunch spread, it's no wonder the restaurant was packed. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience.

I went to Tsugu for lunch by myself on February 20th. They started serving lunch around mid-February, and I was curious about this place. It was my first visit, both for lunch and dinner. Every time I passed by during lunchtime, I saw a woman outside calling out to passersby, saying "We've started serving lunch!" It seemed like they were working hard, so I was excited to visit the place. Inside the restaurant, you have to take off your shoes and they provide slippers because the floor is cold. This kind of thoughtfulness is nice. The restaurant has a counter and sunken kotatsu tables, with a slightly upscale traditional Japanese atmosphere. The staff all wear white traditional Japanese aprons, which is nice. The menu consists of daily lunch sets. The food was brought out and it exceeded my expectations. The fried chicken, rolled omelette, pork simmered in potato stew, glass noodles, curry-flavored cabbage, fish soup, rice sprinkled with yukari, and pickles were all delicious. The fried chicken was moist and tasty, the rolled omelette was like something you'd expect from an upscale restaurant, and the fish soup was thick and had fatty pieces of yellowtail. It's rare to find a lunch that includes chicken, pork, and fish. Each dish seemed to be carefully and thoughtfully prepared. In a sea of rushed lunch places, it's precious to find a place where you can enjoy a delicious lunch like this. I hope more people visit so that they can continue serving lunch. Thank you very much.

I was recommended to visit this restaurant by a friend. The steamed egg custard served as an appetizer was delicious. I then eagerly awaited my order, and when it arrived, I tried a dish with salmon roe and fresh tofu in a Kyoto-style broth. It was cute and tasty! The corn tempura was almost perfect, and the Miyazaki beef was tender and well-seasoned. The sea urchin and seaweed rice dish was rich in flavor, perfect for someone who enjoys drinking. However, I felt that the portion size of the rice in the rice dish was a bit too much for a small group, so I think this restaurant is best visited with a larger group, like for a girls' night out.

The seasoning was not bad, but the stew was too sweet, so the carrots and potatoes were not well flavored and remained hard. The onions were not cooked through and were too crunchy because they were not soaked in water. The cucumbers were very fresh and delicious. The oshibori (wet towel) also had a bad smell and had to be replaced. When I opened the lid of the rice pot, I was hoping for steam to come out, but it was lukewarm. However, the rice was cooked well. I don't think I will visit this restaurant again.

Tourists don't often visit this restaurant, so my eldest son and I decided to check it out. [Good Points] It's a local spot where you can enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace. We ordered a la carte dishes, and each one was excellent. It's no surprise that even discerning Kyoto locals frequent this place. [Disappointments] None in particular. [Price] 8000 yen

This is Fuji. Last week, I went to a creative Japanese cuisine restaurant called "Tsugu" in Shijo Karasuma. The Shigaraki pottery raccoon dog welcomes you. The exquisite hassun dishes showcase the fresh flavors of each ingredient, all of which are irresistible. Just with this, I ended up drinking 2 beers. The fresh sashimi presentation is also beautiful. We also had the first matsutake mushroom steamed dish of the year, which was so delicious that we couldn't help but exclaim. We ordered a course meal, but we thoroughly enjoyed it with both our eyes and taste buds. For the finale, we had the famous kamameshi rice, two types for three people. I forgot to take a picture, but they offer a wide selection of Japanese sake, including Daishichi Namazake, Urakasumi Yamahai Junmai, and Genshu Tsuki no Katsura, as well as a rich drink menu with wine and plum wine. I highly recommend "Tsugu" for its sake and cuisine. "Tsugu" is located in Kyoto, Nakagyo-ku, Muromachi Shinmachi, between Nishiki Koji and Shimogyo-ku, Kannon-docho 468. Phone: 050-5872-2344. Open from 17:30 to 1:00 (last order at midnight), closed irregularly.

I went to a sake and food restaurant called Tsugu-san in a back alley of Karasuma with an acquaintance. They have a wide variety of dishes and appetizers that go well with sake, making the Japanese sake flow easily. The atmosphere of the restaurant is calm and relaxing, allowing us to spend a leisurely time. The side dishes and appetizers are well-prepared, and there are many other menu items that I would like to try, making it a restaurant I want to visit again. For the final touch, we ordered kamameshi, and there were many varieties to choose from. The sanma (Pacific saury) kamameshi made with seasonal ingredients was rich in flavor and delicious.