There is a corner with several restaurants a little west of the intersection of Shirakawa Street and Imadegawa Street. The restaurant seemed to be promoting cabbage rolls outside, but inside there were various menu items such as udon, soba, rice bowls, and set meals. It was quite confusing as to what type of restaurant it was. After some contemplation, I was drawn to the recommended "Beef Tendon and Egg Rice Bowl" menu on the wall. So I ended up ordering that with a small udon. The place had a pub-like atmosphere with a counter and about two tables. When the dish arrived, it looked average and tasted average as well, but it had a good amount of beef tendon which made it quite satisfying. However, the udon that came with it seemed to have instant soup base and lacked any delicious flavor. The only downside was that it was a bit difficult to enter the restaurant.

I checked the lottery results for the New Year's postcard with a cash gift and I won! Yay! But I'll keep the details of what I won a secret for now. Maybe it's something like two sheets of stamps... Next year, I'm aiming for a trip abroad. This is Kunimaro. Today, Ebimaro is busy from lunchtime, so if you're nearby and looking for a quick meal, why not try Ebimaro's favorite restaurant "Ajiko"? They always ask, "Are we going to Ajiko?" to Ebimaro as if it's a mystery why they like it. Maybe because the daily specials change quickly. Whether it's the pork with ginger or the grilled flounder, it's definitely the flounder, right? The grilled flounder is unexpectedly shiny and fatty, delicious. You can also pour plenty of teriyaki sauce on it to your liking, so of course, you should go all out with the sweet and savory sauce. Yum, it's a winner! Ebimaro chose the pork with ginger, so Kunimaro was drooling while looking at the flounder. I sent a glance that said, "I won't share with you," but I couldn't resist sending a hint. This month, Kunimaro is focusing on eating more fish. Ajiko, Kita-Shirakawa Kubota-cho 60-21, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. Kunimaro is here → Jutaku Keikaku Co., Ltd. [http://www.jyutakukeikaku.net/] Kunimaro's blog on Kyoto's delicious food [http://www.jyutakukeikaku.net/blog/]

This is a restaurant located along Imadegawa Street, less than a 10-minute walk from the north entrance of Kyoto University. You are always greeted by a friendly woman at the entrance. There is a counter and several tables, but the best option is the sunken kotatsu-style seating on the left side after entering. The menu usually includes around 3 daily specials (around 700 yen each), as well as regular set meals and rice bowl options. The recommended dish is the shrimp fry set meal! For 700 yen, you get 3 shrimp, and you can add 5 more for an additional 50 yen. The shrimp fry is delicious and fluffy, without too much batter. Other fried dishes like pork cutlet are also tasty. The daily specials offer a variety of options like chicken ginger stir-fry, ham-wrapped pork, and simmered flounder. The most delicious one I've tried was the simmered flounder. The Taste Happiness set meal (780 yen) allows you to choose 3 side dishes from a selection, and it comes with tasty miso soup and homemade dressing for lettuce and cabbage. The atmosphere is calming, and the cheerful service from the staff is enjoyable. Overall, if I were to choose a similar set meal restaurant, I prefer this place over Kenya or Highlight.

At lunchtime, I found this restaurant in the neighborhood and decided to try it out. The reputation of being cheap and the frequent temporary closures of nearby shops made it a good timing. The menu board displayed the daily special set meals, which were indeed affordable. The interior was new and pleasant with a counter, tables, and a raised seating area. There were various noodles, rice bowls, and set meals, mostly priced at 800 yen or less. The owner recommended the "Grilled Squid with Aromatic Flavor" (700 yen) from the daily specials, which I ordered. The atmosphere was cozy, and the prices for drinks and izakaya-style dishes were reasonable, making it a good spot for a casual drink. The squid dish was visually appealing and had a strong flavor, although I personally wished for more spice or soy sauce taste instead of just saltiness. The rice was delicious, but the miso soup lacked depth. Despite offering a variety of noodles, the dashi broth seemed lacking. The pickled vegetables were decent, and the homemade dressing was tasty, but the portion of fresh vegetables was a bit small. The service was attentive and accommodating, suitable for tourists who stopped by casually. Overall, while my dish choice may not have fully met my expectations, I hope to discover more about the restaurant's charm on a return visit. Note: Since March 2009, the evening closing time has been changed to 10 pm.

The menu consists of set meals, noodles, rice bowls, and a la carte dishes, with about half of the options being noodles. For lunch, there are daily set meals and several udon set options available. In the evening, in addition to these, alcohol is also served, making it suitable for izakaya-style dining. Like other restaurants in the area, the prices are reasonable and the portions are satisfying. While the sign mentions that the food is well-prepared home cooking, the standout dish is the cabbage rolls, although personally, I prefer the cabbage to be more thoroughly cooked. The fried dishes could also have a lighter batter, but that's just a matter of personal preference. They offer typical home-cooked dishes, as well as some more unique options like unagi donburi with mountain vegetables or Yanagawa-style dishes. The exterior has a slightly stylish vibe, which doesn't immediately give off the impression of a place where you can enjoy set meals, and the dim lighting inside and the counter seating give off a more bar-like atmosphere. However, there are also small raised seating areas available. I've been observing this place since it opened, and I can't quite grasp what direction they are trying to go in with their service and interior design.