Today's lunch was at "Kateiryori Takeishokudo" in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, along the Keihan railway line west of Toji Temple. It's a Korean restaurant with handwritten signs that add a touch of mystery. Despite the hot weather, the windows were open. I visited out of curiosity, prepared for the heat. The small interior was filled with various posters, and the owner, a lady, engaged in conversation. Although there was a fan running, she offered to fan me with a handheld fan from behind, which I politely declined. The lunch menu had numbered options, with recommendations for #4 and #9. There was also a seasonal menu featuring cold noodles at #14. Following the recommendation, I ordered the "Tofu Set" for 800 yen, an original dish the owner has been serving for 20 years. The shop had a narrow layout with photos on the back wall. There were also thin tatami seats by the window, decorated with kimonos for sale. Water was served in a 2-liter bottle, and paper cups were self-serve. There was an ashtray, but smoking policy was unclear. I felt the cool air from the air conditioner. The meal was a unique experience, with a generous portion of tofu and side dishes like cabbage kimchi, lotus root, and bean sprout namul, all homemade. The main dish was thinly sliced tofu with a crispy coating and slightly spicy seasoning, which was surprisingly tasty. The rice was a blend of barley and mixed grains, a healthy choice. The meal was filling, but I started to feel a bit full towards the end. Throughout the meal, the owner shared life stories and wisdom, adding to the chaotic yet rich experience of dining at this restaurant.

I went to a Korean home-cooked restaurant near Tofuku-ji Temple, guided by a friend who lives in Kyoto. We had lunch at the restaurant, which had counter seats and floor seating. Since there was a foreigner already seated at the floor seating area, we opted for the counter seats. We tried the popular tofu set menu priced at 800 yen. The tofu was coated with egg and grilled, giving it a crispy texture. It was served with multigrain rice and namul (seasoned vegetables), truly resembling home-cooked dishes. The food had a warm, comforting taste that was different from typical Korean restaurants. Thanks to my attentive friend, we were able to hear various stories from the Korean mama who runs the restaurant, which was very interesting. It seems that many inbound foreign visitors frequent the place. The mama runs the restaurant by herself, so sometimes they run out of prepared namul or rice, and only noodle dishes are available. Despite this, the restaurant is welcoming and accommodating to customers with a big heart.

Today I had work at Toji Temple, and for lunch, I went to the mysterious and lively Takkeishokudo restaurant. The interior was small and crowded with customers. I ordered the Kuppa set meal, and since there was only one staff member, the service was a bit slow, but understandable. They served three types of simmered dishes first, with the option for seconds if needed, which was a great service. The main Kuppa dish was piping hot, very generous in portion, and delicious. It really warmed me up! The owner even offered a special homemade kimchi as a bonus. I was quite full, and the owner kindly checked if I had eaten enough. After finishing the meal, they even gave me black candy as a generous gesture. I wondered why this place wasn't on food review websites before, but I found out that a popular Kyoto gourmet YouTuber, Akki-san, had visited. According to the owner, the tofu set meal is their specialty. It was a delightful experience, and I will definitely visit again soon. Highly recommended! Thank you for the meal!