Today, I went to an izakaya on Rokkaku Street with my gym friends. Nishimura Sengyo-ten serves fresh fish for lunch and uses the same fish for their dishes at night. It's a hidden gem located a bit off the main street. We sat at the counter and enjoyed our meal. The menu was written on a small blackboard. We started with a toast. They also offer non-alcoholic cocktails. We had a small assortment of obanzai dishes, including hijiki seaweed, komatsuna greens, sand lance fish, and thick fried tofu. The saikyo-style grilled sawara (Spanish mackerel) was rich and flavorful. It was surprisingly delicious. We ordered another round of drinks and tried the oyster yakisoba. It was made with plenty of Ise-Shima oysters and was a unique dish that focused on bringing out the best flavor of the oysters. Next, the owner recommended the "oyster kombu-yaki" and chestnut shochu. The oyster was grilled on a shichirin with Rishiri kombu, and the result was a delicious dish with a hint of kombu flavor. The oyster was plump and sweet, and the soba noodles absorbed the essence of the oysters, making it very tasty. Overall, we enjoyed a variety of seafood dishes showcasing the freshness of the fish from the fish market. It was a delightful dining experience.

Tako sashimi, salted mackerel. Beer, shochu, highball. Total cost 3,500 yen. As the name suggests, it feels like a fish market, with ingredients sourced fresh for a night izakaya experience.

I noticed a fish market at the back of the alley during lunchtime (they also sell fish). By night, it turns into a seafood bar! When I visited, they were still in the middle of opening, and the chef was writing the menu with chalk. As expected from a fish market, the fish dishes were delicious, and you could feel their love for fish. The tuna sashimi was carefully sliced, and the grilled salmon was thick and juicy. They grilled fresh salmon with just salt, not salted salmon. It's different from salted salmon, you know? The flesh is plump and fatty, and the salt melts into it, creating a unique flavor. The salmon skin was crispy, and it was served with Kyoto-style pickles, which was a nice touch. I rarely buy pickles myself, so it was a fresh experience to have them served this way. It goes well with alcohol. I'm curious about the Tom Yum mackerel dish! They serve sophisticated fish dishes that I want to try more of! I found a great restaurant☆

During the day, it's a real fish market, but at night it turns into a bar where you can enjoy drinks with various fish dishes, as I heard from a friend six months ago. The first time I tried to visit, it happened to be closed, but this time I was determined to go in! The small shop had a cozy atmosphere with a few seats at the counter, and both the master and customers were friendly. I started with a toast with a Japanese sake that I've been into lately! Sorry, I forgot the brand... I've been treated to drinks a lot recently, so I mixed and matched a few. But more importantly, the food was really wonderful. I never expected to find such a casual and delightful seafood feast in Kyoto, and the variety of dishes was impressive. From the assorted sashimi to the grilled Spanish mackerel sushi, everything was delicious. The freshness of the sashimi, the skillful touch in dishes like Spanish mackerel sushi, and the quality of the grilled ayu were all top-notch. It dawned on me that the master was a fishmonger, and the talent he displayed was remarkable. Not to mention, the prices were reasonable, the atmosphere was casual, and the selection of sake accompaniments was spot-on! The pickled zucchini served with the grilled ayu was a clever and tasty touch. It's these small details that draw me in. This is a great place to enjoy fish in a casual setting, whether you're just popping in for a drink or looking for a nice meal. I've definitely decided to visit again!

I visited this restaurant during a business trip to Kyoto in April 2016. It is a small local place that transforms from a fish market during the day to a bar in the evening. The atmosphere was cozy with a few locals and the owner present. They offer a variety of sake and I tried a Junmai Ginjo sake with some delicious squid and horse mackerel. The owner was friendly and we had a great time chatting about Kyoto. It's a place I would definitely visit again when I come back to Kyoto. Timing seems to be important as it can get crowded. Overall, it was a great experience and I even ended up drinking with the owner and another customer. Thank you to the owner for a wonderful evening!

I found it on my way back to the hotel. Last time I came to Kyoto, I passed by this stylish fish shop near Kyoto Graphi, and this time, on my way from the hotel to Sanjo, I passed by it several times on Rokkaku Street. After leaving three izakayas that night and heading back to the hotel, I noticed lights shining in the shop, so I decided to check it out. There was a counter with a few customers drinking. I asked if I could drink there, and they said it was fine. I sat down, ordered shochu, and had some conger eel. The owner used to run a fresh fish shop in a different location about 9 years ago, and then started a bar next to the shop in its current location. I enjoyed chatting with the regular customers and had a great time on my last night in Kyoto. The attention to detail in the fish dishes was evident, as they only serve fish on the menu. For example, they had both conger eel and tuna on the menu. In Kyoto, conger eel, or meji maguro, is commonly served, but very few places distinguish between meji and regular tuna on the menu. The last dish, if I remember correctly, was sashimi of red sea bream. By the time we got to the fourth place, I was already too drunk, but I definitely want to visit this place again next time I'm in Kyoto. When I got back to the hotel, I felt really happy that I was able to visit that shop.

I visited Muru Sengyo-ten, located right on the west side of the Machiya Rokkaku area. It's a fish market during the day and transforms into an izakaya at night. The interior has only 7 counter seats. I initially thought the owner would be an older man, but he appeared to be in his 30s. They only serve draft beer, and I enjoyed looking through the menu written on a small blackboard. The assorted appetizer plate had 6 dishes like simmered hijiki and squid with daikon, all with gentle flavors. The sashimi of horse mackerel was good, but I wished it had a bit more volume. The concept of a fish market during the day and an izakaya at night is interesting, but I found another place in Sanjo Shotengai more intriguing. Perhaps my impression would change after a few more visits.

I finally went to a place I had been curious about for a while =3 Located a short walk west from the Karasuma Rokkaku intersection. Look for the sign that says "Nishimura Sengyo-ten." In the cold season, there are only 8 counter seats inside the simple and clean restaurant. The menu is written on a small blackboard, and on this day, there were quite a few hot pot options available. The sashimi was delicious, especially the slightly blanched octopus, which had different textures to enjoy. The raw guchi fish with ponzu sauce was also a pleasant surprise. The dried and grilled saury was elegant and not as strong as mirin-dried saury. The "Managatsuo no Saikyo-yaki" was not very strong in Saikyo miso flavor, but the clam and kiritampo soup was refreshing and delightful. The hot wine with apple and caramel was a unique and tasty drink. They are willing to make items not on the menu, so I am looking forward to trying their various hot pot options next time.

This is a shop run by my junior from my student days. During the day, they run a fish store as the name suggests. This time, they kindly opened the shop for me even though it was their day off on Sunday. Currently, the shop only has a counter. They are planning to expand it outside in a stall-like setup. As the name of the fish store suggests, fish dishes are the main focus here. They have plenty of fresh seasonal fish. In addition, they have a wide variety of off-menu items. This time, I tried "whale" and "tetchiri" which were not on the menu. The tetchiri had a rich broth and was delicious. Lastly, we finished with ramen, topped with clams by the shop owner. The flavor of the clams added to the dish and made it even more delicious. The location is a bit hard to find and the shop may seem intimidating to enter, but once you do, it's a cozy and welcoming space. The friendly shop owner will greet you with a smile.

I thought "Nishimura Fish Store" was trying to be clever with its name. It was located between Muromachi and Shinmachi on Rokkaku Street, hidden in the narrow space between buildings with only a small neon sign as a marker. There was a fish-like showcase at the storefront, which I initially thought was just for show. Turns out, during the day, the parents run a fish store, and in the evening, their son operates a fresh fish bar. The place was filled with the smell of fish, but not in a bad way. The young chef was still rough around the edges in his presentation and skills, but his earnestness was endearing. The bar had only six seats, and each dish was just enough for one person, making it a great place for solo dining. The horse mackerel sashimi was a standout, while the sea urchin was a bit too strong for my taste. The marinated sandfish and pumpkin were delicious, and the dried and smoked saury was the highlight of the day, with its unique preparation that allowed even the bones to be enjoyed without any unpleasant taste.

I went with my colleagues. The small pot was delicious. It had a lingering scent reminiscent of a daytime fish market, which reminded me of a harbor izakaya. Personally, I didn't find it unpleasant at all. They also had a variety of menu items and were willing to make recommendations, creating a casual atmosphere that made me want to come back even on my own. If you're looking to enjoy a little bit of delicious fish, this place is perfect. You could easily stop by alone and enjoy a couple of sashimi dishes with a little bit of sake.

K-san from the same workplace mentioned that there is a shop on Rokkaku Street that turns into a fish market during the day and an izakaya at night, so I searched on Tabelog. I saw the photos and thought it looked delicious, so I decided to visit alone that day. There is a modestly lit sign for "Nishimura Sengyo-ten" on Rokkaku Street, so you won't get lost if you get close. There is a vinyl tent in front of the entrance to the apartment building, and behind it is a glass-walled shop. When I approached, I briefly felt the fishy smell. It had a feeling of being known only to those in the know, and if I hadn't read the Tabelog reviews beforehand, I probably wouldn't have entered. The capacity is only 7 counter seats. When I sat up a step, I saw business cards of what seemed to be regular customers hanging on wooden clothespins in front of me. First, I requested warm sake. For snacks, I ordered raw gizzard shad, raw squid, oden (daikon radish, octopus, egg), and pumpkin salad. Both the sashimi and the salad were served in small portions. The sashimi was delicious, especially the gizzard shad with grated ponzu sauce, which had a rich and well-balanced flavor. With such snacks, the sake goes down smoothly. However, I can't praise everything without reservation; the daikon radish in the oden was too firm and lacked sufficient flavor from being simmered. Even with that taken into account, this became one of the shops I want to become a regular at in the future.

I've always wanted to try Nishimura Fish Store. It's cheap and the freshness seems good. The side dishes are also very reasonable. The owner is kind of stylish and cool, but also friendly like a grandfather. It's located next to Kanaya Main Store. Definitely recommend checking it out. #NishimuraFishStore #NextToKanayaMainStore #Mimokito