Descending the slope of the shopping street from Higashi-Koenji Station on the Marunouchi Line, and continuing down Okubo Avenue towards Nakano, you will come across a bright facade with a curtain hanging over it. Despite being a bit far from the station, it is popular and reservations are often hard to come by. While they offer set courses, this time we opted for a la carte. The sashimi platter with four types of fish was excellent, particularly the yellowtail which had a firm yet tender texture. The ankake (simmered in thick sauce) whitefish was a delightful winter treat. The grilled squid marinated in sake lees was a great accompaniment to sake, with just the right amount of saltiness. The charcoal-grilled thigh meat of beef, paired with a ponzu sauce made from daidai citrus, was a harmonious blend of flavors. While previous menus featured more eclectic combinations, this time the focus was on traditional Japanese cuisine.

"Byakuya" @ Higashi-Koenji ★☆☆Reservation available, table and counter seats, credit cards accepted, non-smoking, omakase course, beer, sake, etc. Condition: slight hangover, hungry. It's a bit of a walk from Nakano Station. It's a quiet place tucked away in Higashi-Koenji. Look for the lovely white curtain as a sign. It's a small restaurant and mainly offers courses, so it can be a bit difficult for walk-ins. It might be best to avoid visiting late at night. There is only one table seat, so make sure to reserve early. The dishes come out slowly but each one is very elaborate, careful, and delicious. Just by looking at the photos, you can tell how delicious they are. Personally, I enjoyed the horse meat yukke sushi and rare tempura. The sashimi and grinding broth were also excellent. I left feeling very satisfied. It's not a place for a casual meal due to the course menu and distance from the station, but the service was warm and it was a great restaurant. #Nakano #HigashiKoenji #Byakuya #NakanoByakuya #JapaneseFood #Izakaya"

Revisited in November (approximately one year later). The highlight this time was the tempura of Spanish mackerel and lily root, lily root puree, and grated egg yolk. Menu for this visit: - Deep-fried taro and shiitake mushrooms with white miso - Trout marinated in kombu - Steamed rice with abalone and bamboo shoots - Simmered bamboo shoots - Turbot soup with molokhia and vinegar citrus - Assorted sashimi: amberjack and marinated flounder - Tempura of Spanish mackerel and lily root, lily root puree, and grated egg yolk - Chawanmushi with natural nameko mushrooms and soft-shelled turtle broth - Figs with sesame and grilled soft-shelled turtle - Beef tenderloin with dried kombu, mashed chestnuts, and vinegar-pickled maitake mushrooms - Buckwheat flour panna cotta with poached pear in milk and lemon - 1 beer, 3 glasses of sake (in the evening) - Total cost: 10,700 yen per person Additional information: - This small restaurant is run by a chef from Kumamoto. - The set course meal with 8 dishes and dessert costs 7,480 yen. Drinks start from 750 yen for beer, 780 yen for a glass of sake, and 550 yen for shochu. There is an additional charge of 500 yen for appetizers. - The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere with a natural wood curtain and a simple interior design featuring concrete and wood. The main seating area is an L-shaped counter, with some tables at the back.

Every year, it has become a tradition to celebrate my birthday at Shiro-ya. The menu includes mozuku seaweed, clam broth, trout, yuba, yuzu jelly, horse meat, hand-rolled sushi, simmered conger eel, chestnut, mille-feuille, Sanriku oysters, ponzu grilled oysters, sudachi soy sauce, red snapper, amberjack, marinated sea urchin, steamed sushi, Me-hikari rice, fig tempura, softshell turtle broth, naratake mushrooms, chawanmushi, venison from Miyazaki Prefecture, fermented soybeans, mushroom paste, Hokkaido new buckwheat noodles, peach sherbet, brown rice, and thunder rice cakes.

Visited the restaurant after reopening in October. The dishes may look simple, but each one has a delicious and straightforward taste. The highlight this time was the minced chicken and shiitake mushroom steamed together, with the chicken being made into a paste with pepper and soy sauce. The menu included dishes like octopus with black-skinned pumpkin, assorted sashimi, tempura with monkfish liver and onion, and more. The atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy, with a natural wood decor. The set course is 10,100 yen per person, including one beer and three glasses of sake.

Visit again (April 21.4) Not aiming for high-class, but choosing interesting ingredients. For example, red squid, hairy crab, matsutake mushrooms, and princess bamboo shoots. From such ingredient selection, weaved dishes that shine with creativity and simplicity. For example, zucchini broth with firefly squid, bamboo shoots and bracken in mugwort white dumpling soup, salt-grilled Holoholo bird breast meat with chestnut flour. Seeking the joy of encountering such dishes, a place you want to visit regularly. ◆Menu for this visit Zucchini broth with firefly squid Red squid, red snapper, marinated mackerel Bamboo shoots and bracken in mugwort white dumpling soup Hairy crab with salted tomato Salt-grilled Holoholo bird breast meat with chestnut flour Red snapper shirako with matsutake mushrooms and mochi rice Grilled eel with soy sauce, salted with kelp Thin beans and princess bamboo shoots clay pot rice Udo and trefoil miso soup Egg and milk ice cream + 1 beer, 2 glasses of sake (for 2 people) (evening) 8000 yen/person ※The following is basic information about the restaurant, so it is repeated from the first visit. ◆Enjoying this restaurant ＜Profile＞ A small restaurant run by a chef from Kumamoto. ＜Ordering＞ The chef's course is 5800 yen. Drinks start from 680 yen for beer, 780 yen for sake, and 550 yen for shochu. There is a 500 yen table charge. ＜Atmosphere＞ The warm natural curtain on the wooden entrance catches the eye subtly. The interior is simple, with concrete and wood as the main theme. There are table seats at the back, but the L-shaped counter is the main battleground.

Visited again in October. The course included matsutake mushroom soup, eggplant and mugwort dumplings, simmered anago, Shine Muscat grape salad with ayu fish and edamame, matsutake mushroom fry, eel with soy sauce, and a finale of rice cooked in a clay pot with bamboo shoots and clams. The attention to detail and authentic flavors elevate the experience beyond just a typical izakaya. Found a great restaurant on the outskirts of Nakano!

I visited a restaurant for the first time and was impressed by the great post-meal feeling it gave me. I was wondering if I could try all the courses next time. I made a reservation a few days ago for the 5800 yen course. We were seated at a table since there were three of us. The restaurant was very clean and had a nice atmosphere. By the way, there is also a 3000 yen course available on the day of the visit. The striped jack and eel were delicious. This restaurant made me want to come back for a cozy drink at the counter next time.

◆Turning a great dish into a new potato manju: The sea urchin and edamame hidden inside the manju elevate the flavor with a fermented sea urchin that adds a buttery richness, while the red beef lamp with shiitake broth combines the clean taste of the beef with the umami and aroma of shiitake mushrooms. The turban shell and trefoil clay pot rice features a crunchy texture of turban shell complemented by the perfectly cooked rice. The crafted dishes are simple yet refined, showcasing a strong foundation in Japanese cuisine. Although located not very close to either Higashi-Koenji Station or Nakano Station, this hidden gem is a must-visit for food enthusiasts! ◆Menu for this visit: Chef's choice course - 3000 yen Appetizer: Cold-boiled tilefish and nori, plum tofu with perilla Sashimi: Kochi mink whale, largehead hairtail New potato manju with sea urchin and edamame Octopus and bitter melon, simmered fruit tomato Grilled red beef lamp with shiitake broth Additional: Conger eel and water eggplant tempura Additional: Turban shell and trefoil clay pot rice Plus one beer, two servings of sake, one serving of sweet potato shochu (night) - 8000 yen per person ◆How to enjoy this restaurant: <Profile> A small eatery run by a chef from Kumamoto. <Ordering> While the basic ordering style is a la carte, there is a light chef's choice course for 4 items at 3000 yen, to which you can add individual dishes. Drinks range from 680 yen for beer, 780 yen for sake, and 550 yen for shochu. There is a 500 yen charge for the appetizer. <Ambiance> The restaurant features a natural wooden facade that subtly catches the eye. The interior is simple, with a blend of concrete and wood. While there are table seats at the back, the L-shaped counter is the main seating area. ◆Source: Discovered this place by chance and had a wonderful meal~

A hidden gem nestled in a residential area near Nakano Station South Exit. At Shirayoru, we enjoyed a New Year's course meal featuring Kyoto-style dishes such as simmered Kyoto vegetables and white miso soup with rice cakes. Each dish was so delicious, I couldn't help but be captivated by them. The meal also included white fish sashimi with jelly vinegar dressing, fried Kyoto taro, steamed egg custard with white shrimp sauce, grilled pork from Kanai, and citrus sushi with shiitake mushrooms. To top it off, we had ramen made with dashi broth from various ingredients like pufferfish and pike conger. As for drinks, we enjoyed salt-roasted ginkgo nuts, salted squid roe, and sake from Ocean 99 (Chiba), Senkin (Tochigi), and Ichihaku Suisei Tokubetsu Junmai (Akita). It was truly a delightful experience savoring each and every dish. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

As the cold season approaches, I find myself craving a warm sake the most. I usually head straight to my usual spot, but I suddenly remembered a new place called "Byakuya" that I had meant to visit. So, I decided to go for my first visit. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really nice, I love it. Even though I'm a foodie, I was dining alone and was hesitating over the menu, but the female staff (maybe the owner?) kindly said, "We can do half portions for you." So, I enjoyed my meal with some warm sake. The owner also provided excellent service with a gentle touch, and I had a wonderful time. I wish I had come here sooner. The food was delicious. Thank you for the meal. I will definitely visit again.

Recommended by a friend, I finally visited this restaurant after about three years. Every dish was carefully prepared with delicate and gentle flavors. They also offer a selection of Japanese sake that pairs well with the food. The owner of the restaurant is friendly and provides concise yet informative explanations when asked. I was able to learn more about Japanese cuisine and traditional cooking methods. I am delighted to have such a great restaurant nearby.

There are 10 counter seats and one table that can accommodate about 6 people. Everything you eat is delicious. The broth is carefully made. You can enjoy a course meal starting from around 4,000 yen. The food is so delicious that it's worth paying even more.

Walk straight from Nakano Station South Exit, turn right at the intersection where the roof of the shopping street ends. After about 5 minutes, you will see a stylish exterior. It is located next to the cake shop Soa Meme. There is a counter surrounding the chef, and there are also table seats in the back. It's surprising to find such a stylish restaurant on this street. A dish of boiled hamo (pike conger) was served as a complimentary appetizer, and we toasted. It was delicious. We promptly ordered a sashimi platter with three types of fish. The recommended dish was grilled eel without sauce, so we ordered that as well. Along with soy sauce, the sashimi also came with a mustard sauce. While I prefer bonito with salt or ponzu sauce, the mustard was also good. The eel was grilled with salt instead of sauce, and I was impressed by it as I had never tried it without sauce before. We also added tsukune (chicken meatballs) and porcini mushroom simmered dish. While waiting, some small appetizers were served, showing their thoughtfulness. The simmered dish was elegant, fragrant, and delicious. The total bill for two people was 10,000 yen. This included 4 dishes including the appetizer and drinks. If dining in Ginza or Shinjuku, it would likely cost around 15,000 yen, so in that sense, it's reasonable. However, for dining on this street, it may seem a bit expensive. I hope this hidden gem of a traditional Japanese restaurant becomes popular and continues to thrive, so that we can indulge in a little luxury when we want to.

Before the opening, I asked the owner who came out of the shop under construction, "What kind of restaurant are you opening?" and he said, "It's a Japanese restaurant. We don't plan to make the prices too high." I was looking forward to the opening of this shop. It is still new and clean. The seating consists mainly of a counter and two 4-seater tables. The menu shows originality with items like sashimi platter, fried mince and yuba with kudzu stew, deep-fried softshell turtle spring rolls, simmered horse tendons, dashimaki tamago, and horse mackerel rice. First, the appetizer was visually stunning with winter melon stew garnished with chrysanthemum and cherry tomatoes. It had a refreshing taste and was a perfect appetizer. The sashimi was fresh and flavorful, truly delicious. Since I didn't drink alcohol that day, I wanted some rice. They even served me a bonus dish of raw cuttlefish. The fried mince and yuba with kudzu stew had a delicate broth and a gentle taste that soaked into the soft fried mince and yuba. The deep-fried softshell turtle spring rolls were nicely crispy without being greasy, but maybe there was no need to make them with softshell turtle. The simmered horse tendons were tender and seemed like a good match for alcohol. The dashimaki tamago was fluffy, and the broth was delicious. It was served with plenty of grated daikon radish, which was not spicy and made it easy to eat. The horse mackerel rice was a bit different than expected. It was rice topped with horse mackerel paste and broth poured over it. I felt a slight fishy smell in this dish. Each dish had generous portions, and the tea was worth mentioning for being delicious. The oolong tea I ordered was refreshingly cold and very tasty, and the green tea served at the end was truly, truly delicious. There are various interesting dishes on the menu, and it seems like they are constantly changing, so I think this Japanese restaurant is a place where you can enjoy yourself whenever you visit.