Today is a perfect day for Japanese cuisine, so I decided to visit this place that I have been curious about for a while. I called around 4:50 PM and the owner's wife answered, saying that if it's for the counter, it's possible with a reservation. I immediately made a reservation and was impressed by the friendly phone response. I arrived at 11:25 AM, just before the opening time, and was the first one there. However, soon after, many customers arrived and the place quickly became full. The interior of the restaurant is spacious, with a beautiful single plank counter at the front. The owner's wife politely announced when the restaurant was full as more customers arrived. It was a very hot day, but there was a slight lack of air conditioning. However, there was a fan placed behind us, so it wasn't too hot. I had already decided what to order, but when I looked at the menu, most items were set meals priced at 1,430 yen. I ordered the Wagyu beef set meal for 2,420 yen, which included sashimi, small dishes, chawanmushi, salad, rice, miso soup, pickles, and the main dish of grilled Wagyu beef wrapped in magnolia leaves. The sashimi, including medium fatty tuna, amberjack, and sea bream, was fresh and delicious. The chawanmushi was flavorful and had a nice texture, with lily bulbs at the bottom. The main dish of grilled Wagyu beef had a nice miso aroma and was tender and juicy. The rice was also delicious, and you could get free refills. The dessert was matcha ice cream with sweet red bean paste, which was a satisfying end to the meal. The owner, who handled the full restaurant almost single-handedly since opening, was efficient and attentive to customers. The owner's wife was also busy serving customers but always refilled our tea promptly. There is only one parking space, but there is a paid parking lot nearby. Overall, I was very satisfied with the meal and will definitely be back, maybe for dinner next time.

I had some errands nearby, so I decided to have lunch after a long time. It was busy with many customers during the weekend lunchtime. I usually have the grilled fish set meal here, but this time I decided to try the tempura bowl for the first time! The tempura looked crispy and delicious. It had two slim shrimp, zucchini, eggplant, asparagus, shishito pepper, baby corn, pumpkin, and more, all generously piled on top. The colorful presentation was lovely. And as expected, it was very delicious. Eating the hot steamed egg custard in the cool air-conditioned restaurant was also fantastic. I was happy to have hot tea as well. (I like drinking cold tea outdoors in the hot weather, but indoors in a cool place, I prefer hot drinks). Having dessert included at this price made me really happy. I will definitely come back again.

- Grilled Fish Set Meal... 1200 yen (tax included) *Consisting of Saikyo grilled cod and salt-grilled sea bass. I visited a restaurant along the Ooguri River in Horinouchi that I had been curious about, just before noon on a weekday. The store was renovated from a normal house, and I almost missed it as I passed by. The blue hydrangeas at the entrance were beautiful. There is only space for one car in front, which seems to be for the owner's use, so it's better to contact them in advance to secure a parking spot. The 5-6 counter seats were already full. I was guided to a table at the back, where there were 3-4 tables. The hostess was very polite. The back area had a cafe-like atmosphere. I could feel the season with the firefly tapestry. The food was served about 15 minutes after ordering. It took a bit of time, but it was worth the wait. The sea bass was grilled to perfection, with just the right amount of salt. The sweet and fatty Saikyo grilled cod was also delicious, and the rice went down smoothly. The simmered small eggplants, chawanmushi, flavorful miso soup, and well-prepared side dishes showed no signs of cutting corners. The rice could have been a bit firmer to be perfect. I also had matcha ice cream for dessert, and I thoroughly enjoyed the fish lunch, feeling 120% satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

Tuesday. I took a day off on a weekday, so I decided to go to a Japanese restaurant that I had been curious about with my friend. I called the restaurant to confirm if they were open, and they said it was okay. I also asked if there was a parking space nearby, and they said they could reserve a spot for me in the restaurant's parking space since it was empty. I gave my name and requested the reservation. We arrived at the restaurant around 1:30 PM. It was a single-story building along the Oogurigawa River that had been turned into a dining establishment. They had put out yellow cones to save a spot for us. I parked my car in the designated parking space after a friendly greeting. Just a note, the restaurant's parking lot has a slight slope, so low cars might scrape the bottom. We entered the restaurant after disinfecting our hands with alcohol. The restaurant was run by a lovely couple with welcoming smiles. Inside, there were 5-6 counter seats along an L-shaped kitchen counter and three 4-person tables and one 2-person table at the back of the restaurant. The interior was decorated with white walls and dark brown wooden tables and wall decorations, creating a calming atmosphere. We were guided to a table at the back and offered hot hojicha tea and a warm towel. I ordered the Saikyo grilled cod set meal (¥1,500 including tax), and my friend ordered the sashimi set meal (¥1,500 including tax). They mentioned that you could get one free refill of rice for the set meals. Since we were the only customers, it was very quiet. We waited for about 15 minutes, listening to the sound of tempura frying and plates clinking, before our dishes were served. Wow, the presentation was quite impressive! I started with miso soup with wakame seaweed and green onions. It was warm and comforting. I then carefully picked up the fluffy Saikyo grilled cod with my chopsticks and took a bite. It was so tender and flavorful that it melted in my mouth. It was skillfully prepared with no small bones, and even the skin was delicious. I couldn't resist eating the whole piece. The salad consisted of two types of lettuce and finely shredded carrots with a light dressing. The mozuku seaweed vinegar was tangy, and the turnip and cucumber pickles were also tasty. Next, I tried the chawanmushi, which was a large serving with bonito-flavored dashi, Mitsuba leaves, shiitake mushrooms, naruto fish cake, and lily root at the bottom. It was silky smooth and I loved the texture of the lily root. My friend's sashimi set included a platter of bream, yellowtail, and firefly squid, all of which were fresh and delicious. The tempura consisted of eggplant, shrimp, carrot kakiage, pumpkin, baby corn, and shishito pepper, all crispy and hot. To finish off the meal, we were served a dessert of matcha ice cream with red bean paste. We also had a refill of hojicha tea, which complemented the matcha and red bean flavors perfectly. It was a delightful lunch experience on a weekday afternoon. The restaurant is hidden along the back streets near the Sarugaido River, and its unassuming exterior may cause it to go unnoticed. It's definitely a hidden gem that more people should know about.

I hope Hachioji becomes a more lively town!!! This time, I visited a Japanese restaurant called "Makado," located 1.2 kilometers from Keio Hori-no-uchi Station on the Keio Sagamihara Line. This restaurant is truly a hidden gem in a standalone house. It is located along the Okurimichi Road, parallel to the Ookuri River. The road is a quiet backstreet with minimal car traffic. You might not even notice there is a restaurant here if you walk by. While there are only two old reviews on Tabelog, the comments on Google suggest that this restaurant is quite promising. It seems like Tabelog and Google are not providing enough information. - Visit: around 12:00 pm - Restaurant: very clean and stylish, with counter seats and tables in the back - Staff: husband and wife team - Nishikyo-yaki set meal (1500 yen, tax included) When I entered the restaurant, fortunately, there was an available counter seat. I decided to order the Nishikyo-yaki set meal, thinking it would be delicious if it's grilled silver cod in Nishikyo style. The owner was grilling fish on skewers. I was excited to see what kind of dish it would be. After a while, the dish was served. It looked delicious from the start. When I tried to pick up the silver cod with chopsticks, it crumbled. I carefully picked it up with chopsticks and tasted it. "Ohhh, this is amazing! So delicious!" The silver cod had a rich flavor and melted in my mouth without needing to chew. Among all the fish dishes I've had, this was the best in terms of taste. It was a pleasant surprise. My cheeks almost dropped, and I had to support them with both hands. Next, I tried the chawanmushi, which was piping hot. It didn't burn when I removed the lid, but it was very hot. When I took a bite, "Ohhh, this is delicious! So good!" The chawanmushi was like a smooth drink that melted in my mouth while releasing its umami flavor. It was a first-time experience after decades of life. It was incredibly delicious and moving. I found a very good restaurant. I highly recommend it to everyone. The matcha ice cream and sweet red bean paste were also a refreshing treat. Thank you for the meal.

If you go straight from the road on the outskirts of Tama New Town for a while, you will find this shop. It's more like a regular house than a shop. A corner of the first floor seems to be used as a dining area. You can enter with your shoes on, as it is a normal house. There is a hand sanitizer spray at the entrance. There seems to be a parking lot, but it is not very spacious as it is just a regular house. I rode my bike as I am a local. Lunch starts at 11:30. The interior is always clean and well-maintained. The owner, a friendly man, served me a set meal with two types of grilled fish. Last time it was silver cod marinated in miso sauce and saury. This time it was silver cod marinated in miso sauce and scabbard fish. The fish fillets may look small, but they are three times thicker than usual, providing a satisfying bite. The bones are perfectly removed, leaving nothing behind. The grilling is perfect, crispy on the outside and tender inside. The silver cod is smooth and the scabbard fish is fluffy and tender, a dreamy texture. The steamed egg custard served with the grilled fish is also amazing! It's piping hot. The miso soup, white miso-dressed mountain vegetables, and homemade pickles are all delicious. The rice is perfectly cooked and glossy. For dessert, there was green tea ice cream with sweet red bean paste. It was delicious too! You can also get a refill of roasted green tea. All of this for only 1200 yen including tax! I won't tell anyone about this amazing deal! My stomach and heart were both satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

A hidden gem of a house-like shop. Many delicious dishes from Niigata. Sake brands include #Shimeharitsuru and #Kagetora Junmai.

I was impressed by the deliciousness of the Saikyo-yaki (miso-marinated black cod). It's not something you can easily find elsewhere. Although it may be a bit pricey for a casual lunch, the set meal with a jiggly chawanmushi (savory egg custard), salad, and dessert is very satisfying. I'm also curious about the hoba-yaki (grilled food on magnolia leaves).

The quality, quantity, and price are good. The tempura is not too heavy and easy to eat. The sashimi is of better quality compared to other nearby restaurants. In short, it's delicious.

The operation is behind, but the taste is good, so I want to go when it's not busy.

The fish dishes are very delicious! The prices are reasonable and it's a wonderful place to relax. There aren't many types of alcohol available, but it doesn't matter when you're enjoying the food.

I went to a Japanese restaurant called Makado with a coworker who drove us there. I didn't know about this place before, but they serve lunch and dinner. I ordered the grilled fish set meal, which came with salad, chawanmushi, and miso soup, and you can get extra tempura for an additional 400 yen. The grilled fish set meal I ordered was small but delicious, with three types of fish including grilled silver cod. I also tried the pork miso dish, which was tender and tasty. You can get free refills of rice and miso soup. The meal also came with matcha ice cream for dessert. It was a great value for 1000 yen.

Hidden gem in Hori-no-Uchi! The restaurant's sign is so small that many people may not notice it. For lunch, I tried the grilled fish set meal, simmered fish set meal, and fish special set meal. They were all delicious! Especially the yellowtail miso-grilled in the simmered fish set meal was amazing. At night, you can order individual dishes, so you can enjoy a variety of dishes compared to lunch. You can also order the lunch set meal at night, so even big eaters can feel satisfied. The dessert after the set meal is also delicious. Last time, I had matcha ice cream with red beans on top, and it was so tasty. I definitely want to go back again!

I recently found a really impressive Japanese restaurant that I haven't been to in a long time. It's located in a house along the river on a side street off the Sarugamichi Road. It's quite hard to find, but there's a famous soba restaurant, Kuruma-ya, nearby. The first thing that caught my eye was the incredibly clean open kitchen and counter! It's like a sushi restaurant or tempura restaurant, where you can see everything... This is really important, right? The menu offers choices like sashimi, grilled fish, seafood bowl, or full course meals. Since I love both sashimi and grilled fish, I went for the fish set meal~♪ The silver cod with miso glaze was truly amazing. I feel so happy. The sashimi platter had bluefin tuna, live yellowtail, and scallops. They were all so fresh, reminding me of the fish from Chiba's Fish Bamboo. The chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) was usually too salty at other places, but here it had a hint of sweetness in the broth and eggs! It's the best I've ever had. All the customers were saying how delicious it was when they were leaving. If only I had known about this place sooner. I'll definitely make a reservation for next time! The location isn't great, but it's a popular spot!