On August 1st, a restaurant serving Nishikyo-yaki opened at Kyoto Isetan on the first floor of the food section. The restaurant offers both table and counter seating. I decided to try the "Sawara Nishikyo-yaki set meal" (1,980 yen) after looking at the menu. The dish arrived beautifully presented on a tray, with side dishes, miso soup, rice, pickles, and the shining Sawara Nishikyo-yaki. The Sawara Nishikyo-yaki was firm and flavorful, marinated in Nishikyo miso which added depth and a balanced saltiness. The side dishes were also delicious, with spinach sprinkled with bonito flakes, a light and fragrant eggplant ohitashi, and refreshing pickles. The combination of the Nishikyo-yaki and rice was excellent, tempting me to get a second helping, but I refrained this time. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the Nishikyo-yaki, side dishes, miso soup, and pickles.

A new restaurant has opened in the basement of Isetan at Kyoto Station where you can enjoy delicious Saikyo-yaki and rice in a casual and easy way. The restaurant also sells souvenirs, so it seems like a good place for takeout, but there are times when it is not open between lunch and dinner. When I went shortly after the evening opening, there were already two groups of customers. I ordered the "Salmon Saikyo-yaki set meal" for 2090 yen (including 10% tax). It came with side dishes and a small dish. The mustard on the cabbage and the yuzu-flavored eggplant were both delicious. The salmon had just the right amount of fat, and I ended up asking for seconds of rice!

I visited the newly opened Nishikyo-yaki Kyoto Yamaroku in one day. The shop is located on the basement floor of Isetan. The round counter is stylish, and the table seats have a chic and nice atmosphere. The female staff was very friendly and explained the menu carefully. I chose the popular Gindara Nishikyo-yaki set meal (2480 yen including tax). After a short wait, the dish was served. The main Gindara was hot and delicious, with tender and flavorful meat. The side dishes were also of high quality, with a rich flavor. The rice was exceptionally tasty, and I ended up having seconds. The attention to detail in the presentation was evident, and although the price may be a bit high for lunch, I believe it is worth visiting this restaurant.

To the newly opened Kyoto Yamaroku at JR Kyoto Isetan. Surprisingly, there were almost no people during lunchtime on a weekday! It might be a hidden gem. The menu consists of set meals only. There were 5 options, with only one being pork. Rice is all-you-can-eat. Also, I was surprised by the variety of alcohol on the menu. In addition to the main fish or pork, each set meal comes with small side dishes. This time, I had spinach, hiryugashira (a type of vegetable), pickled eggplant, and red miso soup. I chose mackerel as my main dish. The mackerel was delicious with a good amount of fat. It was tasty! However, the portion was a bit small, so I ended up getting a second helping of rice. It may be a bit pricey for everyday use, but it felt like a healthy set meal.

Today, I visited a dining hall that opened on the basement first floor of JR Kyoto Isetan. Nishikyo-yaki Kyoto Yamaroku, a long-established store that originated in Kyoto in 1927, is behind the Nishikyo-yaki main dish dining hall. The opening day was August 1, 2023. The circular counter seats, resembling barrels of Nishikyo-zuke, are distinctive. I was guided to a counter seat. The interior exudes a sense of luxury. The set meal consists of Nishikyo-yaki, three small side dishes, rice, miso soup, and pickles, totaling five items. The small side dishes are uniform, allowing you to choose the main Nishikyo-yaki (priced from 1,980 yen to 2,420 yen). Silver cod Nishikyo-yaki set meal is the main focus, with the small side dishes lined up around it. The dishes are served in unique vessels, showing attention to detail. The staff kindly explained each dish. First, I tasted the silver cod. It was hot and the flesh easily flaked off. The cod had a good amount of fat, making it delicious. The mellow flavor of Nishikyo miso enhanced the umami of the cod. The gentle taste of Nishikyo miso whetted my appetite, and I couldn't stop eating! Rice was free for seconds, so I couldn't resist getting more. I even ate the cod skin, which was delicious. Not only the main Nishikyo-yaki, but the small side dishes were also tasty. The eggplant was soaked in a cool dashi with a hint of yuzu flavor. The hirousu (ganmodoki) was well soaked in dashi. The sweet dashi blended well with the tofu dough and was delicious. Overall, every dish was delicious, and it was a satisfying set meal. Especially, the silver cod Nishikyo-yaki was exceptionally delicious.