I visited around 12:00☺️ I made a reservation over the phone and the phone service was really good. The service was also good when I actually visited. It's less than a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station. I ordered the Nigiri Sushi Set (Ume) for 2,700 yen (tax included). If you order additional Natto Maki and Negitoro Maki sets, you can get half off one roll per person. This feels like a good deal! The Ume set was visually appealing and colorful! The wasabi was a bit strong, but overall, all the sushi was delicious. The side dish was jellyfish, which was exceptionally delicious. The additional rolls I ordered had cold natto. It's not bad, but it felt a bit strange because the natto was colder than the rice. The Negitoro was incredibly delicious! This is definitely worth trying!

I ordered the 1500 yen set again. The quality of the sushi is good and the taste is safe. There are few customers in the early hours. The prices seem to have not been raised, which is a bit reassuring. I will visit again.

I was interested in this lunch set, so I went to try it. It was a sushi set that cost 1500 yen, and it came with red miso soup. It was really delicious. The restaurant was full when I noticed, so I recommend arriving early. Thank you for the meal.

I decided to enter this restaurant as it is rare to find one open on a Sunday afternoon. The restaurant has a history of 95 years. The current owner, possibly the son or apprentice, had a strict demeanor. I ordered the sushi set for 1500 yen. Each piece looked ordinary but tasted delicious and high quality. The price includes tax, which is very reasonable.

This is a long-established sushi restaurant located near Karasuma Oike Station in Kyoto, at the corner of Higashitoin-dori and Nishikikoji. I visited for lunch with my colleagues and enjoyed the limited lunchtime nigiri set, which includes 8 pieces of sushi and miso soup. It was delicious sushi at a reasonable price. Thank you for the meal.

I visited for lunch and had the 1500 yen lunch set. It's amazing that you can eat sushi at this price. I assume it's leftover from the previous day, but it's lunch so I understand. The fish was as expected, fresh for the horse mackerel, maybe a bit old for the white fish, but the umami from the amino acids was still good. The biggest issue was the rice, which seemed to be leftover from the previous day. It was cold and had a hard texture. Neglecting the important rice in sushi was disappointing. I apologize for evaluating based on lunch, so I will visit again for dinner next time.

I asked to celebrate a colleague's birthday at the company with a light sushi set for lunch. The set included eel sushi, perfect for summer. All the sushi was delicious and we enjoyed our meal. Thank you for the feast.

The loach soup lacks the quality expected of delicious sushi.

It was better than expected.

Saturday lunch can be a bit tricky, but today I felt like having some sushi, so I went to a sushi restaurant called "Isami Sushi" near my workplace on Higashitoin-dori Gojo-dori down the street. The restaurant, with 80 years of history, has a charming exterior as mentioned on Tabelog. As I entered, I found a counter and tables in the back, as well as a tatami area. I chose to sit at the counter, where the master and head chef were present. The head chef served us tea personally. For lunch, I chose the "Nigiri (bamboo) set for ¥3,560" from the menu. While there were various options like "Kyoto-style chirashi," "Edo-style assorted sushi," and "chirashi," I went with the classic Nigiri. As I waited for my order, I listened to the chef talk about various topics, including a book featuring 60 Japanese authors that is recommended for purchase. The sushi served on a wooden geta included tuna, sea urchin, cucumber, cockle, horse mackerel, shrimp, sea bream, and conger eel. The conger eel and mackerel sushi were excellent, but the sea urchin was slightly overcooked, and the horse mackerel had a hint of fishiness. Overall, I was satisfied with the meal. Next time, I might try the "chirashi" set. The conversation with the head chef was enjoyable and I had a great time. I look forward to visiting again during lunchtime.

Visited "Isami Sushi," a restaurant with 80 years of history, in January 2015. Located on Higashinotoindori Street, just a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station. Ordered the Limited Nigiri Sushi Set (1500 yen) with a choice of red miso soup or clear soup. Opted for the clear soup. There was only one other customer, but the sushi was made slowly and carefully, so there was a short wait. The soup was served just in time for the sushi, which consisted of 7 pieces of nigiri (grilled conger eel, shrimp, horse mackerel, sea bream, squid, tuna, salmon roe battleship) and 2 rolls. The sushi rice was slightly sweet, typical of Kyoto style, and the toppings were satisfyingly large. The horse mackerel and sea bream were particularly delicious. While the grilled conger eel was good, I still prefer steamed conger eel. Overall, I would love to visit again at night and try ordering various favorite toppings. Upon research, I found out that their mackerel sushi and conger eel sushi for takeout are popular hidden gems.

This restaurant has been in business since the beginning of the Showa era. Although it was not originally located here, they have been operating in this area for quite some time. This restaurant is quite well-known in Kyoto. I visited after a long time and was greeted by a friendly and courteous owner who provided excellent service. The restaurant has undergone some renovations and now has a counter seating area, which was not there in the past. For lunch, I tried the Kyoto-style chirashi set for 980 yen, which includes chirashi sushi and a side dish. The side dish was a vinegared octopus dish, which was satisfying in both quantity and quality. The chirashi sushi had finely chopped gourd simmered in vinegar mixed with the sushi rice, topped with finely chopped seaweed and shredded omelette. The toppings included tuna, sea bream, shrimp, conger eel, simmered shiitake mushroom, and cucumber, all of which were fresh and delicious. The dish was garnished with green peas, which added a nice touch. The miso soup served with the meal was also delicious, with seasonal vegetables added. The overall experience was nostalgic and comforting, with the familiar taste of Kyoto. The reasonable price, generous portion, and quality of the food make this restaurant a great choice for a satisfying meal. I look forward to trying their Kyoto-style assorted sushi next time.

I passed by and found out that I could purchase Ehomaki without a reservation that day, so I decided to stop by. I also heard that Tekkamaki was available at a special price, so I bought both. Each was 500 yen. The Ehomaki had a small variety of ingredients, including egg, kanpyo, and greens. It had a pleasant sweetness in the seaweed and rice, and was delicious. The Tekkamaki seemed to have been made a little while ago, but it had a good wasabi kick and tasted great even with soy sauce. It made me crave natto. The shop seemed to have more depth inside than it appeared from the outside. They have a wide menu, so I would like to try freshly made dishes in the store sometime. I am also curious about the mackerel sushi that can be taken home. Thank you for the meal!

Nostalgic "Mushizushi". It was still going strong even after relocating. I must have been in junior high school when I used to see the steamer of this restaurant set up on the street in front of the Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, with steam rising vigorously. I vaguely remember it being a corner. It was definitely winter. After it moved to its current location, I couldn't visit as often. I must have been amazed when I tried their "Mushizushi" again after about 20 years. It is a well-established store for Kyoto sushi and steamed sushi. The atmosphere seems to have a touch of a traditional Japanese restaurant. Nowadays, when I enter Shinkyogoku in winter, I see "Sushi Otowa" with a similar steamer set up, but in my opinion, "Isami Sushi" feels more fitting. The "Mushizushi Set" - a set of steamed sushi, chawanmushi, and pickles. The steamed sushi is served in a bowl the size of a large teacup. Unlike Otowa, it has toppings on top of the egg sushi. It seems to have set the standard for places like Izugen. The steamed sushi is just that. I didn't write this to introduce it. You can eat it as it is or mix it up as you like. "Izugen" has a rating of 3.50 based on 11 reviews, while this store has a rating of 3.15 based on 7 reviews. It's a bit sad that the original store seems to be overlooked. It feels lonely to see how the opinions of recent Kyoto residents written in Kyoto books or featured in the media are influencing public opinion. The traditional stores that have been loved by generations of Kyoto residents are gradually disappearing in the age of the internet. Personal preferences are fine, but relying solely on the opinions of books and media can lead to the neglect of traditional stores that have been loved by Kyoto residents for generations. That's why I wrote this. Personally, I prefer Edo-style sushi, except for some items like mackerel sushi. However, when viewed as a part of a food culture, there are aspects that go beyond personal preferences. By the way, I wonder if they still sell large "Ohagi" even now...? *The visit was about 5 years ago, around the end of December. (Authored by Kyonatsu Shuusora, June 3, 2017) (3.18/January 21, 2018) (*The photo will be posted later.)