The current Japanese cuisine uses high-quality ingredients, resulting in prices soaring. Some restaurants charge over 50,000 yen when alcohol is included. In such an environment, the average person may be able to spend around 10,000 yen for a special occasion. However, it is difficult for such establishments to compete with high-end restaurants. Moreover, chefs who have trained hard would not want to serve casual pub-style dishes. This restaurant has solved this difficult equation with a dish called "caviar rice" as the finishing touch. The meal starts with traditional Japanese dishes leading up to the main course. Then, the chef's pride is showcased with caviar! Even though it is a small portion, when poured generously over the rice and mixed in, it makes for a fulfilling evening.

I happened to walk by Takano while thinking about where to have lunch, and it seemed like they were open for lunch service, so I decided to go in. They only had 10 servings of the Matsukado bento box for 2200 yen. It seemed like the lunch reopening was not well-known, or maybe the price was a bit high, because the place was empty. I was served a complimentary small beer or oolong tea, so I chose the oolong tea. After a 10-minute wait, the Matsukado bento box was brought to me, along with tempura, nametake miso soup, and rice. The bento box included tuna sashimi, tempura (shrimp, smelt fish, green pepper), simmered dish, and grilled silver cod with egg. The sashimi was decent, the tempura had a slightly thick batter, the simmered dish had an elegant flavor and was delicious, and the grilled silver cod was tasty. The rice was good, and the miso soup was also delicious. The owner was running the restaurant alone, so maybe they can't handle too many customers at once, but it's a rare find for Japanese cuisine. They offer a 5000 yen course menu for dinner, so it would be nice if the lunch menu was a bit cheaper.

I have been to this restaurant several times, and I am always impressed by the overwhelming variety of appetizers in the kago course. The lineup of Japanese sake is also excellent. I am moved by the meticulous workmanship that is evident in all the dishes. This is a restaurant that I would like to visit seasonally.

We visited as a family of three and enjoyed dishes mainly focusing on grilled chicken and fish. Each dish was meticulously prepared with elegant flavors that left a strong impression on us. The small side dishes that came with the main course also added to the anticipation for the next dish. The atmosphere of the restaurant, like a hidden gem, was very Aoyama-like, making our visit even more enjoyable. We also tried takeout on another day, and the tuna rice bowl was also fantastic. Highly recommended!!

The Japanese restaurant near Ritorilma that I sometimes go to for lunch has a chef who used to work at an embassy. The owner has changed and apparently now they serve caviar rice as the final dish. Despite serving caviar, the prices are kept low so maybe that's why the quality of the sashimi seemed low to me. The rice was delicious. Personally, I thought the rice would be tastier without the caviar. It cost 15,000 yen per person.

The tuna bowl is delicious.

Visited with 4 people in October 2017. This restaurant is a hidden gem that you might easily pass by if you're not paying attention. Everything we ordered was delicious, from the dashimaki tamago to the simmered dishes and grilled fish. The standout dish of the day was the crispy fried mehikari. We were served steamed white rice at the end, which was so good that we were glad to be Japanese and have such a great meal to finish off with.

It's been a while since I visited. Had dinner with a lovely couple who are regulars at this restaurant! We ordered a la carte from the recommended dishes on the washi paper. The corn tempura was deliciously sweet. And then, the Kinmedai that they were looking forward to arrived! The fish was fatty and the skin was crispy, so satisfying. The bonito was beautifully presented with just the right amount of condiments, a different experience from eating it at home. It's not easy to find a place where you can enjoy delicious Japanese food without any pretense. Hidden gem in Minami-Aoyama!!!

I almost missed out on lunch, as the restaurant I found online was closed. Eventually, I found a small place tucked away on a side street near Roppongi. The restaurant had a limited menu with only two options priced at 1200 yen each. I ordered the pork shabu-shabu, which was served promptly and was quite tasty. The restaurant was small with only a few tables, so it could get crowded during peak hours. Overall, despite the slightly high prices, I found the meal to be satisfying.

This was my second visit to this restaurant, which had just opened recently. When I made a reservation, I mentioned that I like squid and octopus, and the staff kindly prepared several dishes featuring squid and octopus for me. I was impressed. This time, I ordered each dish focusing on my favorite squid and octopus dishes. I had never been a big fan of ankimo, but someone in my group ordered it, so I decided to try it, and it was surprisingly delicious. We ordered individual dishes, but they also offer a chef's choice course menu. When you're unsure of what to order, the chef's choice course might be a good option. The restaurant has a small and cozy atmosphere with counter seating for about four people and two tables for four. It's more of an adult-oriented vibe rather than geared towards younger customers. The location is a bit hidden off the antique street, which adds to its charm as a hidden gem. The manager and waitstaff were very attentive, making us want to stay longer. In terms of pricing, it was not as expensive as I expected, but rather reasonable. I look forward to visiting again at a leisurely pace.

If time allows, I always want to eat lunch here as much as possible. There are two lunch options: pickled tuna bowl or chirashi bowl, and a daily special for 1200 yen. I can't help but look forward to the daily special and end up going. The dishes like mackerel miso, pork ginger stir-fry, Japanese-style hamburger, pork cutlet bowl, eel rice bowl, grilled sawara with yuzu, and grilled chicken with teriyaki sauce make me want to eat them again when I remember. They may have ordinary names, but when served by the owner of Takano House, they become exquisite set meals. The fried food doesn't feel heavy on the stomach, and the flavors are not too strong, making it gentle on the body. The miso soup is also delicious. Before the meal, a small glass of fruit juice and a small side dish are served as a service of the day. When my friend and I go, we each order the two lunch options to taste each one. The lunch crowd is packed with regulars as soon as the store opens, so I recommend going around 1 o'clock. There are about 7-8 counter seats and 3 tables, so it's best to make a reservation for dinner. Although there are not many a la carte dishes, the variety is wide. There are two course options. For the 5000 yen course, it's best to make a reservation in advance. Both courses offer freshly cooked rice in a clay pot at the end. Last time, I had bamboo shoot rice, and they kindly packed the leftovers for me to enjoy the next morning.

I had always wanted to visit this Japanese restaurant. As soon as it opened at 12 o'clock, I went in. Going down the stairs to the basement, the small interior had about 6 counter seats and 3 table seats. Today's daily special was ginger-simmered mackerel & chilled miso soup set. It also came with simmered eggplant, pickled daikon, and a complimentary glass of guava juice. The mackerel had a nice balance of sweet and salty soy sauce flavor, topped with thinly sliced green onions and ginger. The simmered eggplant was also delicious. The chilled miso soup was not too cold, with plenty of crumbled tofu, sesame seeds, and sliced cucumbers, and it was very tasty. I will definitely come back! However, if it had been priced at 1000 yen... once it goes over 1000 yen, it feels more like a lunch for a special occasion, making it a bit too expensive for my taste. But I guess it can't be helped when they put so much effort into making it... When I sat at the counter by myself, I happened to be sitting near the sink, where the female staff was working hard washing dishes. She was washing dishes with such vigor, and she had piled the miso soup bowls so high that at one point, the stack fell into the sink with a splash! And I ended up getting splashed with water while eating... The woman didn't seem to notice that she had splashed me with water. Since it's a small traditional Japanese restaurant, I hope they can provide more attentive and meticulous service, rather than being too casual.

I went to dinner with a friend. The restaurant is small and has a cozy atmosphere, but it is clean. We ordered ginger-infused rice, two servings of simmered sardines with plum, pork shabu-shabu, and cherry shrimp salad, which cost around 4800 yen. The ginger-infused rice is cooked fresh upon ordering, and it has a delicious ginger fragrance. However, at 900 yen per bowl, the cost performance may not be great. The meal also comes with pickles and miso soup. Overall, the food has a homemade taste. Some people may find it comforting, but it lacks the refined taste of traditional Japanese cuisine. It tastes like a regular dinner you would have at home. This restaurant is more suitable for those who want to relax with a home-cooked meal after work.

It may seem like a place for casual dining, but it's a cozy restaurant with a focus on vegetables and fish. We enjoyed it with sake and shochu. The interior and the menu display case look a bit cheap, but overall it has a decent atmosphere. It might create a better ambiance if they dim the lighting in the seating area! But maybe this welcoming feel is what makes it nice!? We went as two guys. We had 2 beers, 3 sakes, 2 shochus, dashimaki tamago, grilled edamame, simmered vegetables, grilled fish, vegetable tempura, and sea bream rice, all for a total of 11,000 yen. The dishes have a gentle flavor and go well with the drinks. The grilled edamame and sea bream rice were especially delicious. We would like to visit again casually. The atmosphere is okay, but on the contrary, it's easy to walk in, and it's a restaurant with excellent cost performance.

In Aoyama, there are many Japanese cuisine restaurants, including traditional Japanese restaurants and izakayas. While there are some highly rated restaurants, such as "Ak..." and "Ko..." and "Ju...", there are often even better options in that category, making it less appealing to visit. This place is a cozy traditional Japanese restaurant and izakaya with top-notch flavors that can compete with high-end Japanese restaurants. The broth and quality of fish are excellent. Most customers are local office workers. This restaurant is a rare gem in Aoyama.

¥12,000 for 3 people.