辣油は飲み物
This is a stylish sushi restaurant located a little less than 10 minutes' walk from Marutamachi Station. It is situated in a quiet corner of the old furniture district, and the door is made of copper! Upon entering the restaurant, the walls are a combination of concrete and tiles, and the counter is made of white lacquered wood. The interior is stylish yet warm and inviting, making it comfortable and not too formal. The restaurant has been open for 1 year and 2 months, but its unique location and interior design in Kyoto are quite surprising. The course menu mainly focuses on nigiri sushi, which is great for sushi lovers. In a city like Kyoto where Japanese restaurants abound, focusing on nigiri sushi instead of a full course meal is a win-win situation for both the restaurant and the customers. The chef trained in Tokyo, which is why many of the fish are sourced from Tsukiji Market. Despite this, the course menu is priced at 8,000 yen, which is quite reasonable. The chef's nigiri sushi has a good balance of rice and topping, with the rice being slightly firm and not too soft. The vinegar flavor is not as strong as it looks, but it has a slightly strong acidity, which is typical of Kyoto-style sushi. The well-formed rice is a highlight, but the only downside is the temperature. This is likely due to the rice being cooked only once during business hours. If you visit later in the day, the cold temperature of the rice may be a drawback. Since the essence of sushi lies in the rice, it is important to address this issue promptly. As a customer, visiting earlier in the day may reduce this risk. Despite these points, the restaurant offers a very reasonable price and is a rare find in Kyoto for authentic Edo-style sushi. I look forward to seeing how the restaurant evolves in the future. One other point to note is the excessive use of "aburi" (seared) sushi. Out of 11 pieces, 4 are seared, and even the appetizer includes a seared dish, which is a bit too much. The aroma from searing is quite strong, so reducing the number of seared items would improve the overall dining experience and leave a cleaner aftertaste. The sake I had was Ittiki Junmai Ginjo from Tamagawa Sake Brewery, Shuppari from Sawaya Matsumoto, and Bakuren Chokaraguchi from Kamenoi Sake Brewery. The appetizer included fresh yuba (tofu skin), silk mozuku seaweed, and Kyoto burdock. The appetizer reminded me of Kura no Happosai, a famous Kyoto dish. The yuba was creamy and rich, while the mozuku seaweed was finely sliced with a subtle vinegar flavor. The following nigiri sushi course included swordtip squid with bamboo charcoal salt and vinegar, fatty amberjack with a side of green onion, and seared golden eye snapper. The swordtip squid was tender and flavorful, while the amberjack was moist and firm, providing a delightful texture. The green onion added a nice touch to the dish. The golden eye snapper was exceptionally flavorful, likely aged to enhance its taste. Served with salt, it allowed the natural richness of the fish to shine through. Next was red tilefish and spotted halibut, followed by a combination of sea urchin and sweet shrimp. The spotted halibut was tender and fatty, while the sea urchin and sweet shrimp melted in the mouth. The combination of flavors was excellent, although the slightly low temperature of the rice became more noticeable at this point. In between, a cleverly crafted lotus root bun provided a crunchy and sweet interlude. Lastly, the tuna lean meat marinated in soy sauce was chewy and highlighted the marinated flavor.