I visited for the first time on the second Saturday of February 2020. I had bottled beer, three glasses of shochu, appetizers, sweet potato tempura, marinated horse mackerel, and kibinago tempura plus one more dish. The last dish was the best match for today's shochu. I plan to visit regularly. Thank you for the meal. The photo is of kibinago tempura.

I have visited this place a few times before, but it had been over a year since my last visit. It's a shop that is a paradise for shochu lovers. They have a shochu menu listed in alphabetical order, but since I don't come here often, I can't possibly try them all. So let's just give up and order something that catches our eye or that we want to try! This time, we chose the 3000 yen course which includes pork hot pot for our New Year's party. I was so excited that I only took a picture of the hot pot (^^;) I've always wanted to try the hot pot here! They also offer all-you-can-drink, but it seems like you can't choose the bottled beer individually and you can't choose the shochu, so we decided not to go for the all-you-can-drink option. The course included a sashimi platter (with cherry tomatoes for decoration), the famous freshly fried Satsuma-age, two types of pork skewers, and pork hot pot (with udon noodles for the finishing touch). The Satsuma-age was as delicious as ever (≧▽≦) This shop serves different appetizers for each person, which is great because you get to try a variety of dishes. The pork hot pot was served in a big pot for the whole group, with the broth and vegetables already inside. Once the steam started coming out of the lid, we added the pork belly - there was hardly any scum, and the taste was even gentler than I had imagined! You can add shichimi or ichimi spice according to your preference. The meal was finished with udon noodles (≧▽≦) Even on a weekday, the restaurant was full of customers. I recommend making a reservation.

【Another visit after a year】This time, we opted for the all-you-can-drink shochu course, which came with assorted dishes. Before the classic pork hot pot, we enjoyed sashimi, grilled skewers, and sweet potato tempura to get a bit tipsy. The pork hot pot was the perfect finish, always delicious no matter how many times we have it. The pork with just the right amount of fat is hard to beat.【Overview】Located in Sanjo-Ohashi Nishi in Kyoto, this restaurant specializes in Kyushu Kagoshima cuisine. You will be welcomed by Kagoshima Ogojo. The atmosphere feels like a combination of an izakaya and a traditional Japanese restaurant, but the quality of the food and drinks sets it apart.

【1 year revisit】This time, I visited with a pattern to keep costs down by including all-you-can-drink (premium limited shochu is extra). The food is still delicious. In particular, the tonkotsu hot pot after a year feels nostalgic to the point where not just my taste buds, but my whole body reacts. The richness of the pork fat, this is Kagoshima black pork. As before, the homemade satsuma-age is delicious, and I feel like shouting "Banzai for Kagoshima". And so, the night in Sanjo, Kyoto, comes to an end...【Overview】A Kyushu Kagoshima-style restaurant located west of Sanjo Ohashi in Kyoto. Kagoshima Ogojo will welcome you. From the atmosphere, you could say it's an izakaya or a traditional Japanese restaurant, but the sake and dishes served feel exceptional.

My friend from Tokyo asked me to find a shochu bar, so I came here because it looked good. I didn't even notice it was in such a bustling area! It was tucked away a bit. The interior was being run by three older ladies, which was surprising. Maybe the mother is from Kumamoto? The food was even more delicious than expected! And the variety of drinks was impressive - perfect for shochu and sake lovers. The black pork tempura, pork belly, and black pork bowl were all very tasty!! The pork belly came on skewers and was thick and juicy! This was my second visit this time so I couldn't eat much, but I want to recommend this place to my friends who love shochu.

Revisited again. It has become a shop that I always visit when I come to Kyoto. When I called after a long time, the energetic landlady's voice greeted me, "Happy New Year. Thank you for your continued support this year." I arrived just before 7:30 pm to find the place still bustling as usual. I sat at the counter and had a chat for a while, then a staff member brought a magazine with a page introducing the shop. No wonder it's so busy here. The landlady blushed a little and said, "It will be crowded for a while." She is the same age as my mother, so she is like a mother figure in Kyoto. Whenever I come to Kyoto, I make sure to visit her unless there is something urgent. This time, there was a good sake selection, including "Shichiken Nama Nama," "Shichiken Kinu no Aji," "Shichiken Birodo no Aji" from Yamanashi, and "Junmai Ginjo Harada" from Yamaguchi. For appetizers, we had "Simmered Octopus," "Mukago Rice," and ordered "Horse Sashimi" and "Black Pork Stew." The combination of delicious sake and perfectly matched dishes always makes it hard for a sake lover like me to resist (I'm weak when it comes to sake). Thank you as always.

I rarely have Christmas off from work, but this year I unexpectedly had the day off so I didn't have any plans. I decided to go eat the food I wanted to eat and ended up visiting a restaurant I hadn't been to in a while. The appetizers were different for each person, which was a unique charm of this place. We had red konjac, simmered eel with greens and fried tofu. The eel was soft and had a gentle sweetness. The sweet potato tempura was a must-have when coming here, as it is served piping hot. I forgot to take a photo, as usual. The white fish with ponzu sauce was a new experience for me, as I had only ever had it fried before. It was surprisingly crispy and had a good texture. The ponzu sauce was mild and complemented the dish well. The black pork tempura was also delicious and tender. I forgot to take a photo of this dish as well. The tempura was perfect with either ponzu sauce or just salt. The carrots were also tempura and surprisingly sweet and tasty. I usually make a reservation before visiting, but the restaurant was busier than usual on this day. Despite the slight delay in serving the food, the customers and staff were all understanding. We ended up leaving after only three dishes, but everyone seemed content.

If you were from Kyoto, you might not be familiar with this obanzai restaurant. It has been a few years since my last visit, and all the dishes were delicious on average. The highlight is the Satsuma-age, which is freshly fried by the landlady after you order. It is served hot and you can enjoy it as it is with the flavors already infused. The bonito tataki was also excellent, although it quickly sold out. Personally, I recommend the red konjac, which is flavorful. The chicken karaage was also very tasty. The service is prompt in this small restaurant, although there was a slightly unfriendly waitress, but you can ignore her. The atmosphere is welcoming for solo female diners. The speed of service is quick, and the drink menu is extensive.

This is a revisit. Whenever I come to Kyoto, I always find myself heading to this place. When I called, I heard the usual cheerful voice, "This is 〇〇 from Shizuoka~" "Long time no see~ I hope you're doing well. Let's have a great year together." I visited at 7 pm. Luckily, it was a Monday after New Year's, so it wasn't crowded. I drank a lot that day and forgot to jot down the names of the sake, but they were all unique and delightful (laughs). For food, I had "horse sashimi" and "obanzai," among other dishes. I struck up a conversation with a female regular sitting next to me, and it turned out we were the same age, which was a surprise. Later, a beautiful daughter of the owner came by, which was another surprise (＞＜). I received "chayote tempura" and "bracken fern tempura" as gifts and returned the favor with shochu. Lastly, I had curry soup as a gift from the landlady (laughs). It was cold outside with snow, but my body and heart were warmed inside. It's great to see the lively Kyoto mothers.

At the end of last year, I went back to my hometown and had a persistent drinking party with my old friends until late at night, as usual. We meet almost every year, so we always end up talking about the same things, but I wonder why we never get tired of it. This time, we went to a restaurant called "Suginokotei," which was arranged by a friend I call "Kanto Ramen Master." It was my first visit. When we entered, it had a relaxing atmosphere like a hot spring town izakaya, and it seemed like a place where salarymen could unwind. The lady working there was really working hard and had excellent teamwork. We started with sweet potato tempura, which was unbelievably fluffy and delicious, unlike anything I had ever tasted before. It was freshly fried and incredibly exciting. After that, we quenched our thirst with beer and quickly switched to sweet potato shochu. I tried "Hozan Kikuchi" and "Tenchu," but I don't remember the latter half. They served it in a large glass with crushed ice, and it was incredibly delicious. Even though I sometimes drink high-quality shochu at home, it's different when you taste it at a professional establishment like this. The sweetness seemed richer and the taste was exceptional. We also had sake later on, and it put us in a great mood. The main dish was "Ton Nabe," which was like a hot pot of pork, light and delicious, with the deep umami of each ingredient. Even enoki mushrooms soaked up the flavor, making it exceptionally tasty and warming. Our friend suddenly shouted, "If you turn enoki mushrooms upside down, the tips look like balls," emphasizing how even the supporting ingredients were delicious. We laughed so much that my memory starts to blur as time passed, but it was a great night. I want to come back to this restaurant again. I hope to spend next year's New Year's Eve the same way! I am grateful to all the people I met that night. And thank you for the wonderful meal!

A little while ago, I visited this restaurant and although my memory is a bit fuzzy, it was delicious so I decided to share my experience. We made a reservation and were seated at the counter since there were two of us. The restaurant had a counter and several table seats, and the staff consisted of all women who had a no-nonsense, professional demeanor, especially the older staff members. They were more like artisans than regular waitresses, speaking politely but with a slightly intimidating presence. However, their service was not bad at all. It seemed like there were many regular customers at this place. Even on the day we visited, the counter was filled with what seemed like regulars. It could probably seat about 8 people if squeezed in tightly. The clientele seemed upscale. The shelves were lined with bottles of shochu, which would definitely appeal to shochu enthusiasts. For our first drink, we ordered shochu, but there were so many options that we just went with something safe. As for the food, the satsuma-age (deep-fried fish cake) here is delicious! We also ordered daikon salad, black pork stew, stick chicken, and fatty pork from black pigs. The satsuma-age had grated daikon radish and ginger on the side. Every dish we ordered was delicious! Each dish seemed carefully prepared and had a depth of flavor. The stick chicken was especially tasty, and the black pork stew had a rich flavor. The daikon salad was not just a simple mix of vegetables with dressing, it was much more. The restaurant is located deep inside a building, so you wouldn't just stumble upon it without prior knowledge. I think shochu enthusiasts would enjoy this place, but even if you're not, the delicious food makes it a recommended spot. When I first entered, I felt slightly intimidated by the atmosphere, but as I settled in and enjoyed the food and drinks, I started to feel more comfortable. I would like to return with a few friends, especially those who enjoy shochu, and perhaps next time I can provide more detailed insights on the shochu selection. It's more of a place to relax and enjoy your food and drinks, rather than a lively atmosphere. Sitting alone at the counter, sipping on shochu and savoring the food while chatting with the staff, it was easy to see the appeal of this place and why it has so many regular customers. I would recommend making a reservation, especially on weekends. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I used it for a work-related gathering. The shop is located on the first floor and basement of the Takase Building in Sanjo Kiya-machi Higashi. We were welcomed by traditional noren curtains and red lanterns, creating a lively atmosphere with cheers all around. Despite being a light drinker, I somehow enjoy gatherings, so I'll just keep sipping on my non-alcoholic drinks and oolong tea! (laughs) For the gathering, we had a course menu with dishes served on large plates. The menu included: Appetizers, Yellowtail Salad, Satsuma Fried Fish (exquisite!), Grilled Pork Tongue, Pork Belly Hot Pot, Roasted Ginkgo Nuts. The shop seemed to specialize in dishes from Kagoshima, and the Satsuma fried fish was freshly fried to a golden brown, with a slightly sweet minced fish paste that was delicious. The grilled pork tongue and pork belly were from Kagoshima as well, where they were raised only on apples and sweet potatoes, resulting in a meat with a good amount of fat that was light, not greasy, and had zero odor, with even a hint of sweetness. The owner recommended these dishes, and they were truly outstanding. Even though I can't drink, there was a wide selection of shochu and sake, which would be irresistible for shochu lovers. Despite not being able to drink, I enjoyed the delicious food. The staff here are mostly women and provided attentive yet hearty service, making us feel comfortable and allowing us to have a fun time. This time was for a gathering, but I would like to visit personally next time. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

There are so many types of shochu that I was having a hard time deciding (laughs). This time, I was also hungry, so I ordered a variety of dishes. As starters... simmered daikon radish and hijiki seaweed. Satsuma-age... of course, you have to order this when you come here! The Satsuma-age itself is already seasoned, so you don't need soy sauce or anything. Water eggplant salad... the eggplant is crunchy. It's topped with bonito flakes, mayonnaise, and a slightly sweet soy-based sauce. Anago tempura... the batter is crispy, and the anago is incredibly fluffy! Yam potato steak... thickly sliced yam potato served on a hot plate. It's piping hot and delicious. All of these dishes go well with alcohol, of course, but I think they would also go well with rice! Thanks to a recommendation, I finally got to visit this place that I had been wanting to go to for a long time (laughs). There are so many types of shochu that I couldn't decide easily! I usually enjoy the ones I like, but since I had the opportunity, I decided to try something new (like Morioh Kizou, which was available for up to 2 cups at a reasonable price). The first time I tried sesame shochu... it was easy to drink and dangerously good. Satsuma-age... seems to be a specialty here. They fry it when you order it, so it's served hot. It's thick and has a bouncy, juicy texture! With just this dish, you could drink endlessly. Sliced seared mackerel... I was surprised because I had never had seared mackerel before. It's sliced thick, with the outside cooked and the inside raw. It's served with condiments, similar to seared bonito. This is the perfect place for shochu lovers! The atmosphere of the restaurant is also relaxing and cozy. The fact that all the staff call you "mom" adds to the cozy atmosphere. It seems to be a popular restaurant, so I recommend making a reservation.

Revisit. Whenever I come to Kyoto, I always end up coming here again. It feels like my family home in Kyoto, haha. The landlady here is the same age as my mother, so it's like visiting my mom. This time, we enjoyed various delicious Japanese sake. First, we had Kii Kuniya Bunzaemon Shiboritate Namagenshu from Nagaku, Wakayama. This rare sake is directly bottled after pressing, using 100% new rice. It has a lingering spiciness and acidity after the sweetness of the rice. Next, we tried Harada Special Junmai Sake (Nishito no Shizuku) Muroka Genshu from Hatsumomidzi in Yamaguchi. It uses the recommended rice from Yamaguchi, "Nishito no Shizuku," giving it a clean and crisp taste with a unique character due to being unfiltered. We also had Tamadaka Sashidate Nakatori (Nama) from Tomita Shuzo in Shiga, a fresh sake bottled without heat treatment or filtration, perfect for January. We also tried other sakes, but I forgot their names, haha. The food was delicious, and we ended up drinking 5 cups of sake. The next day, we had to wake up early and walk from Sanjo Kiya-cho to Miyagawa-cho, so the power of travel is amazing. Revisit. Whenever I come to Kyoto, I always end up visiting here again. This time, I enjoyed many unique sakes that cannot be found elsewhere. In the summer in Kyoto, especially when Gion starts, I must have Hamo Otoshi, which is thick and delicious with homemade plum sauce. We also had a water eggplant salad, unique to Kyoto, made with water-grown eggplants that have a texture similar to cucumbers. This paired well with the dry sake we tried, the Kariho Yamahai Namagenshu with a sake meter value of +25, known for its intense dryness and concentrated umami flavor. The landladies were as lively as ever, and it's nice to have a place to relax far from home. Revisit. I visited with a friend from Kyoto after a long time. It was as lively as ever, almost full even though I arrived at 7 PM. The landladies were in high spirits, mentioning that they had recently been wondering how I was doing. This day, we indulged in various sakes such as Isojiman Junmai Ginjo Namagenshu, Ugo no Tsuki Jimai Ginjo Yamada Nishiki, Dassai Junmai Daiginjo, and Takachiyo Junmai Sake. We also enjoyed dishes like tempura made with freshly picked bamboo shoots, grilled yam, black pork char siu, and assorted sashimi, all perfect with sake. We even had white fish roe of Spanish mackerel, a rare delicacy. Although I was too busy to talk to the landladies, my friend was satisfied, and it was great to see the lively faces of the landladies. The lineup of Japanese sake and shochu here is amazing. Revisit. On this day, I watched the Hoko Parade of Ato Matsuri during the day. I went to Nishii to rest at the hotel after getting tired. The restaurant I planned to visit was fully booked or not available for private events, so I called the place I was taken to last time as a last resort. Luckily, they had a table available, so we went there.