I visited on a weekend for lunch in October 2022 after a long time. I had the Suzhou Shui Jiao & Lotus Leaf Okowa set meal. Suzhou Shui Jiao: Special water dumplings with chives and pork. Chicken Okowa was changed to shumai style. Herbal small plates: Dried tofu and coriander Chinese salad, small taro and burnt scallion Chinese simmer, bell pepper and ginkgo nut Chinese salad, yuzu tomato. Dessert: Almond tofu, white dumplings with black sesame bean paste. The meal did not include lotus leaf that day, so the okowa was changed to shumai style. The flavors were gentle and rich throughout. The Suzhou Shui Jiao with chives and pork was delicious with a nice touch of black vinegar sauce. The Chicken Okowa turned shumai was light and easy to eat. The herbal small plates were varied in texture and seasoning, never getting boring. The dessert of almond tofu and black sesame bean paste white dumplings was consistently tasty. The menu is changed seasonally, and I look forward to visiting regularly.

It's difficult to make reservations on weekends, but I was able to book a lunch on weekdays. The theme for December was kidney nourishment. The lunch menu had so many options, but I chose the spare ribs. The Korean seaweed on top of the rice smelled amazing. The soup was gentle and warmed my stomach quickly. I was happy that each of the three appetizers was so generous. The spare ribs for the main dish had plenty of meat, so it was very satisfying. The sauce was delicious to the last drop, with a perfect balance of sweetness, spiciness, and acidity. For dessert, there were sesame dumplings and almond jelly, both not too sweet and incredibly tasty. They were different from the sesame dumplings I knew, but I actually prefer these. The jasmine tea had tea leaves in it, so you could keep refilling your cup with hot water from the pot on the table. This was really delightful. Feeling happily full. It's so sad that they will be closing on January 7th...

I am captivated. I won't say much. Visited on 9/28/2022. Taste ★★★★ Presentation ★★★★ Value for money ★★★ Service ★★★★ Ambiance ★★★★ From the moment you enter, you are enveloped in a unique atmosphere and gentle aroma. Just sitting at the table feels like being purified in a mysterious space. I ordered spare ribs. From the side dishes to the main dish and rice, everything is meticulously and delicately prepared, with a gentle taste. The rice is cooked perfectly, each grain standing firm, fluffy, and slightly sweet. The grilled seaweed has a wonderful aroma, as if it was toasted just before serving. The side dishes - potato noodles, yuzu tomato, and daikon salad - are each full of vegetables and incredibly delicious. The spare ribs main dish maintains a rich and mellow flavor, despite its light and gentle seasoning. The meat is incredibly tender and delicious. The almond jelly dessert is cold and refreshing, while the sesame dumplings are served hot, making them easy to enjoy even after eating a lot. I've written a lot, but words can't fully express the greatness, so I highly recommend visiting and experiencing it for yourself. It's such a wonderful restaurant. Thank you for the meal.

I made a reservation for the first half of lunch starting at 11:30 on the same day, and visited after a long time. The theme this month was herbal cuisine for lung health. Although the main dish was just okay, the new rice porridge and side dishes were consistently delicious. The dessert was always too good, so I added more because it wasn't enough— and I could add it for an additional 500 yen. I will definitely go back again.

I visited this restaurant for lunch before and liked it, so I decided to make a dinner reservation. It seems that it's quite difficult to make reservations for both lunch and dinner. For dinner, they only offer a course menu of medicinal Chinese cuisine, which includes: - Medicinal appetizer plate - Braised pork belly with skin, flower roll bread - Medicinal soup with Beijing duck - Special cold noodles, with an additional option of pumpkin congee as a complimentary dish - Black rice eight treasure congee and almond tofu. Although the number of dishes seems small, each portion is generous, so the overall volume is sufficient. The medicinal appetizer plate is plentiful with items like honey-soaked tomatoes, black garlic, carrot salad, steamed chicken, century egg with coriander and tofu, which may be satisfying if you don't mind the unique flavors typical of Chinese cuisine. The braised pork belly is a traditional Dongpo pork dish, and it's rare to find a restaurant that still uses pork belly with skin. The medicinal soup with Beijing duck is undeniably delicious, but I personally had some doubts about whether Beijing duck pairs well with soup. The noodles, congee, and sweet red bean soup at the end were all excellent. I was satisfied with my dinner experience, and it seemed like many repeat customers were present, as almost everyone seemed to be making reservations for their next visit. The location may attract mostly local customers, but it's worth driving and parking at a nearby paid parking lot to dine here. The quality is high even during lunchtime, so I assume that the evening crowd mainly consists of regulars from the neighborhood.

I finally got to visit the restaurant I've been wanting to go with my friends for a long time, Jasmine for Chinese herbal cuisine. They have two sessions at 11:30 am and 1 pm. The restaurant has a spacious seating area with a lovely Chinese-Asian atmosphere. The Jasmine tea served before the meal is strong! It might be bitter for some, but it's so delicious that it wouldn't be strange if it cost over 600 yen for a pot. They currently only serve lunch, and the menu changes monthly. On this day, there were four types of herbal lunch sets. Since there were three of us, we ordered three different sets, each for 2,400 yen. The dishes arrived, colorful and delightful! First, I had the scallion oil cold noodles & soy milk soup set. The oil, the scallion oil, was incredibly delicious, full of umami, no other flavors interfering. The egg noodles were just right, and the tofu soup with clams and seaweed was gentle and flavorful. It felt herbal. "Mmm, delicious!" I couldn't help but say it multiple times. We shared and tried the other sets: Shanghai congee & special drooling chicken and spare ribs and jujube honey stew. The drooling chicken with homemade spicy sauce on top was deliciously sweet and sour, crispy, and delightful. The spare ribs melted in sweetness, reminiscent of Okinawan cuisine. We even mixed the leftover sauce with rice! Each lunch set came with herbal side dishes: Kaga thick cucumber and peanut Chinese salad, yuzu tomato, dried tofu and coriander Chinese salad, eggplant and ginger Chinese steamed dish. They were all flavorful, not bland, and felt body-friendly. The use of natural and delicious oil made the dishes rich in flavor yet guilt-free to enjoy. The portions were quite generous, and halfway through, I thought, "There's still half left!" When we discussed which dish was the best, we all agreed on the scallion oil cold noodles! It was truly delicious and made us happy. And there were desserts too: sesame dumplings and almond tofu. The sesame dumplings were chewy, with a slightly crunchy texture from crushed sesame, and the almond tofu was rich and pure, a true almond taste! I didn't want the meal to end—I definitely want to go back!

★★★ Jasmine ★★★<03.03.27> Today's lunch was a Chinese herbal cuisine in Uji. Both lunch and dinner have resumed. As usual, the restaurant was full, and customers were enjoying the coveted dishes. There are 4 menu options [March lunch menu] to choose from. The lunch menu includes: - Shanghai congee & herbal steamed dumplings for 2400 yen (tax included) - Spare ribs and honey-glazed brown rice with freshly cooked rice for 2400 yen (tax included) - Sichuan-style meat miso noodles & tofu soup for 2400 yen (tax included) - Ginseng-infused seasonal vegetable pot-au-feu for 3000 yen (tax included) - Suzhou-style dumplings & hot and sour soup for 2400 yen (tax included) - Seasonal vegetable and pork pot-au-feu for 3000 yen (tax included) Location: 169-7 Uji Myoraku, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture Phone: 0774-23-3753 Business hours: [Wed-Sun] Lunch <reservation priority> (2 sessions) 11:00-12:45, 13:00-15:00 (last order at 14:00) Dinner <reservation only> 18:00-21:30 (last order at 19:30) Limited availability for a few days every month. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Website: https://uji-jasmin.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/jasmin.uji?igshid=9arn255so65f Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2607/A260701/26007664/

★★★ Jasmine ★★★<01/17/21>Today's lunch was a Chinese herbal cuisine in Uji. From the menu of four items, we had the Suzhou water dumplings & hot and sour herbal soup for ¥2400 (tax included). - Spinach and three-element pork special water dumplings - Tofu and glass noodle spicy herbal soup - Herbal small plates: dried tofu and herb Han salad, field vegetable and ginseng Han salad, simmered radish, yuzu tomato - Two desserts: almond tofu with black sesame paste, white rice cake with red bean paste. For this month, the theme is "enhancing kidney function" to combat the cold winter causing cold limbs and stagnant blood flow. The spicy soup and hot pot made our bodies warm and cozy. The gentle home-cooked dishes and water dumplings were delicious. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Jasmine will temporarily close next month for winter hibernation. Location: Uji Myoraku 169-7, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture ☎ 0774-23-3753 Business Hours: [Wed-Sun] Lunch <Reservation Priority> (2 sessions) 11:00-12:45, 13:00-15:00 (Last order at 14:00) Dinner <Reservation Only> 18:00-21:30 (Last order at 19:30) Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays Website: http://uji-jasmine.jugem.jp Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2607/A260701/26007664

It's one of my wife's favorite restaurants. We made a special trip from Kyoto city to enjoy the New Year limited herbal lunch until January 9th. It's like a Michelin three-star restaurant. There are two menu options: "Eight Treasure Rice & Steamed Shrimp Dumplings Set" and "Silkie Chicken Pot-au-feu & Freshly Cooked Rice Set." The price is a bit higher at 3,200 yen than usual, but it's worth it because it's delicious. Especially the Eight Treasure Rice and Steamed Shrimp Dumplings are amazing. The rice is flavorful and too good to eat quickly. The dumplings have delicious skin that complements the shrimp flavor. The Silkie Chicken Pot-au-feu soup is truly herbal. It seems to improve your condition when you eat it. There are one extra small dish and dessert compared to usual. I've raised my rating slightly from last time.

★★★ Jasmine ★★★<01/03/21>Today's lunch was a Chinese herbal cuisine in Uji. I had the New Year's limited lunch menu from January 3rd to 9th. I was healed by the unique and body-friendly dishes as always. The menu included plenty of seasonal vegetables in the Chinese herbal pot-au-feu with silky shrimp dumplings. The price was ¥3200 (tax included). The dishes included Chinese herbal pot-au-feu, freshly cooked rice, four small Chinese herbal dishes, and three desserts (almond tofu with black sesame paste, white peach steamed bun, and others). Another option was the Chinese herbal eight treasures rice and special shrimp-filled dumplings, also for ¥3200. The restaurant is located at 169-7 Uji Myoraku, Uji City, Kyoto. Operating hours are Wednesday to Sunday for lunch (reservation required), with two time slots: 11:00-12:45 and 13:00-15:00. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. For reservations, call 0774-23-3753 during business hours. Website: http://uji-jasmine.jugem.jp

Today's lunch was a Chinese herbal cuisine in Uji. I was deeply impressed by the rich flavor of the pot-au-feu soup. From the menu of 4 types, I chose the "Shanghai meat miso noodles & soy milk hotpot herbal set for 2400 yen (tax included)" which includes homemade Sansho pepper meat miso mixed noodles, herbal soy milk and tofu soup, 4 types of herbal side dishes, and 2 types of desserts. The seasonal vegetable and three-element pork herbal pot-au-feu set for 3000 yen (tax included) includes Chinese pot-au-feu with danggui and licorice, freshly cooked rice, 4 types of herbal side dishes, and 2 types of desserts. This month's theme is "enhancing lung function." The dishes made with bamboo soup have an indescribably gentle flavor that soothes. Gentle on the body and mind.

★★★ Jasmine ★★★ <20.10.31> Today's lunch was at a long-awaited Chinese herbal cuisine restaurant in Uji. The bamboo soup used throughout was incredibly delicious. I warmed up with a pot-au-feu today. From the menu, I chose "Shanghai porridge & herbal black vinegar chicken" for 2400 yen (tax included), which includes ginger Shanghai porridge, stewed chicken thigh with black vinegar, 4 herbal side dishes, and 2 desserts. I also tried the "Seasonal vegetable pot-au-feu with soup made from danggui and duzhong" for 3000 yen (tax included), which includes the soup, freshly cooked rice, 4 herbal side dishes, and 2 desserts. This month's theme is "improving lung function." I feel like my body has been healed and energized.

Located a short walk from Uji Station, famous for its tea and the Byodoin Temple, this Chinese herbal cuisine restaurant is tucked away from the shopping street leading to the Byodoin Temple. It's a popular spot that's hard to get reservations for on weekends. The menu features four monthly rotating herbal Chinese lunch sets priced at 2400 yen and 3000 yen, which is a bit on the pricier side for lunch. I opted for the Spare Rib and Honey-glazed Brown Rice set, while my companion chose the Shanghai Congee & Special Water Dumplings set. We were served chilled jasmine tea first, with a pleasant bitterness that seemed good for the body. The dishes arrived on a tray, including three herbal side dishes, Chinese salads with yam and bitter melon, carrot and peanuts, and yuzu tomato. All were delicious, but the carrot salad was my favorite, pairing well with the rice. The yuzu tomato had a nice fragrance of yuzu on sweet tomatoes. The bamboo soup and side dishes like pickled mustard greens and pickled radish were also tasty. The rice, topped with crispy roasted seaweed, and the tender Spare Ribs that easily fell off the bone and paired well with the sweetness of honey were particularly delicious. Mixing the leftover sauce with rice was a nice touch. Dessert was sesame dumplings and almond tofu. The sesame dumplings had sesame inside the mochi, boiled instead of fried, giving a light texture. The almond tofu was slightly firm. Despite being herbal Chinese cuisine, all the dishes were delicious without any complaints, with plenty of vegetables suggesting health benefits. The portion sizes were satisfying even for men. Though located in the midst of a tourist area, this restaurant is worth visiting just for the food. It seems to attract regular customers and is popular among female diners, which is unique to herbal Chinese cuisine. I definitely want to revisit this restaurant.

I always visit here in Uji to pay respects to my ancestors during the equinoctial week. This year, due to the impact of the new coronavirus, the environment is difficult to move around, but I can't skip paying respects. Since I'm going by car and not inconveniencing anyone, I've decided to go ahead with my spring visit this year! I always think about where to have lunch while heading there, and I've been wanting to visit this restaurant, Mokka, for a while. I've tried to drop in twice in the past, but it was full both times (T-T). However, with the new coronavirus this year, I thought I'd try my luck and called for a same-day reservation. Luckily, they had one last available seat from 13:30 onwards (^^) so I immediately booked it. After finishing paying respects at the grave, I entered the restaurant excitedly! I checked the menu - this is a Chinese herbal cuisine restaurant. It seems like the lunch menu changes with the seasons. The theme for spring is "enhancing liver function"... how thoughtful (^^) There are four lunch options to choose from. It's a tough decision... Shanghai porridge & Suzhou water dumplings herbal cuisine for ¥2400 - Mushroom and Longjing tea Shanghai porridge, Pork and celery water dumplings with special black vinegar, Herbal side dishes (4 types) Daikon and charred green onion Chinese salad, Dried tofu and coriander Chinese-style salad, Clam Chinese simmered dish, Yuzu tomato, 2 desserts (Almond tofu and White sesame paste-filled Shiratama), Spare ribs of Three-Yuan Pork and honey-glazed roasted brown rice & freshly cooked rice herbal cuisine for ¥2400 - Three-Yuan Pork spare ribs and honey-glazed roasted brown rice, Rice topped with plenty of roasted seaweed, Herbal side dishes (3 types) Daikon and charred green onion Chinese salad, Dried tofu and coriander Chinese-style salad, Yuzu tomato, Bamboo shoot soup, Diced mustard greens and pickled scallions, 2 desserts (Almond tofu and White sesame paste-filled Shiratama), Sichuan-style minced pork miso noodles & fragrant spicy soup herbal cuisine for ¥2400 - Homemade Sichuan-style minced pork miso and whole wheat noodles, Herbal soy milk and tofu soup, Herbal side dishes (4 types) Daikon and charred green onion Chinese salad, Dried tofu and coriander Chinese-style salad, Clam Chinese simmered dish, Yuzu tomato, 2 desserts (Almond tofu and White sesame paste-filled Shiratama), Korean ginseng seasonal vegetable pot-au-feu herbal cuisine for ¥3000 - Pot-au-feu of seasonal vegetables and Three-Yuan Pork made with Korean ginseng and bamboo shoot soup, Herbal side dishes (4 types) Daikon and charred green onion Chinese salad, Dried tofu and coriander Chinese-style salad, Clam Chinese simmered dish, Yuzu tomato, Freshly cooked rice (free refills), Diced mustard greens and pickled scallions, 2 desserts (Almond tofu and White sesame paste-filled Shiratama) Sichuan-style minced pork miso noodles sound so appetizing, so I chose that. My wife went for the spare ribs. It arrived after about 10 minutes. By then, the restaurant was full. Looks delicious! The staff kindly explained. They said the fragrant spicy soup is similar to Tom Yum Goong. I love Tom Yum Goong (^^) so I started with the soup... Delicious! It does have a taste similar to Tom Yum Goong. Although it's described as a spicy herbal soup with seasonal vegetables, it's actually a gentle taste with soy milk and tofu soup, but it packs a punch. It has a deep umami flavor with a moderate spiciness and refreshing acidity, earning my highest soup rating in the Reiwa era! Next, the Sichuan-style minced pork miso noodles - the noodles are delicious. They're smooth and have a good texture. Perhaps because they're so smooth, they don't quite cling to the minced pork miso, but that's okay. The daikon and charred green onion Chinese salad refreshes the palate after the minced pork miso. The yuzu tomato is also delicious! It apparently has honey in it, but it's not overly sweet, and it's super tasty. The clam Chinese simmered dish is tasty but... a bit troublesome maybe (^-^; Let's just say it's for enhancing liver function! All in all, a satisfying meal.

At lunchtime, I revisited the popular Chinese medicinal cuisine restaurant "茉莉花（Jasmine）". Still a very popular spot where it's impossible to get in without a reservation, with a full house even before the 11:30 am opening time. Upon entering, we were greeted with Jasmine tea served in a teapot. I chose the "Pot-au-feu meal with Korean ginseng and seasonal vegetables" for 3000 yen from the four monthly changing menu options. The theme of the medicinal cuisine changes monthly, and this month it's said to "enhance kidney function". The main Korean ginseng soup is served with plenty of ingredients and grated black sesame in a mortar. Additionally, the four side dishes included delicious tomatoes marinated in sweet and sour yuzu soup. With free refills, I enjoyed the remaining soup in a risotto-like style and left feeling full. Furthermore, I had almond jelly dessert and sesame dumplings, feeling more energized as my kidney function improved. It was great to enjoy such gentle medicinal cuisine for the body.

I revisited this restaurant following my visit in June last year. During my sightseeing in Kyoto, I stopped by Uji to have lunch at this restaurant. It feels like a Michelin-starred place, and the food here is definitely worth it. The winter theme is "enhancing kidney function." The January lunch set includes three main dishes: "Shanghai congee & daikon mochi," "spare ribs and jujube honey stew," and "lotus leaf rice & seafood soup," all priced at 2400 yen each. On this day, my wife chose the Shanghai congee, while I opted for the lotus leaf rice. The daikon mochi had a delicious grilled flavor, offering a variety of tastes. The seafood soup was a masterpiece, with various ingredients swimming in a thick soup. The four small side dishes and two desserts were consistently tasty and enjoyable. The jasmine tea served before the meal was also good. Despite being served in a teapot, I finished it all. When I visited, the restaurant was fully booked with reservations, and most people were making reservations for the following month's lunch as they were leaving. I can understand the desire to come back every month for that month's lunch.

As summer comes to an end, I treated my tired body to some medicinal Chinese cuisine. I made a reservation one month in advance for this day. The Sudachi cold noodles were delicious. The soup made good use of Miyazaki Jidori chicken in every way. You can even eat the Sudachi whole. Other side dishes were also tasty, with flavorful broth. It cost 2400 yen.

Today, on a hot Sunday, I searched for a restaurant near my home on Tabelog and called Jasmine-san. They said they had availability, so it was my second visit. For lunch, I had two rounds. Starting from 1:30, they served homemade jasmine tea. I had Sudachi cold noodles and steamed chicken, which were refreshing. The noodles were average. The spare ribs had a honey and Chinese medicinal herb flavor. I also had sesame dumplings and almond tofu. The restaurant was almost full. Thank you for the meal.

Located a short distance from Uji Bridge Shopping Street near JR Uji Station, close to Ujihayashi Harumatsu Honke. Lunch reservations are made in two time slots, and on this day, we reserved lunch starting at 11:30 am. The lunch menu changes monthly, and in June, there were four options including "Shanghai Congee & Drooling Chicken," "Three-Yuan Pork and Honey-Stewed Brown Rice," and "Suzhou Wonton & Lotus Leaf Rice." My companion ordered the Shanghai congee, while I chose the Three-Yuan Pork. The main dishes are served side by side, surrounded by small plates of soup, salad, and more, creating a visually pleasing "picture." While it may not be necessary to explain the menu in detail since it changes monthly, we truly felt that healthy food can be delicious. Additionally, the jasmine tea before the meal and the almond jelly dessert were outstanding.

Located a short distance off the shopping street connecting Uji Station to Byodoin Temple, this restaurant specializes in Chinese herbal cuisine. It's a popular spot that's quite difficult to get a reservation at. The menu features four types of monthly herbal lunch sets. During my visit, I chose the "Spare Rib and Jujube Honey Stew Set" for 2300 yen. Each set comes with herbal appetizers and dessert. The meal starts with chilled jasmine tea, which has a refreshing bitterness that seems good for the body. The dishes are beautifully presented on one tray. The herbal appetizers are all delicious. The spare ribs are tender and easily fall off the bone, complemented by the sweetness of the honey. It's hard to see in the photos, but the black item on the side is grilled seaweed rice. Despite my initial hesitation towards herbal cuisine, my perception has changed. The dishes are all tasty, packed with vegetables, and seem to be good for health. While the restaurant attracts many female customers due to its herbal cuisine concept, the portion sizes are satisfying for anyone. Situated in the heart of the popular tourist spot Byodoin Temple, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

On the second day, I made a reservation and visited this restaurant for lunch to cleanse my tired body! I was excited for the Chinese medicinal cuisine. It was a bit off the main street, but I found it. The restaurant was full and popular. They served Jasmine tea for each person, which was nice. They also had a pot for foot baths on the table. This month's special was dishes for improving liver function. Our orders were: - Three-element pork wonton soup & black rice set x3 - Three-element pork spare ribs & freshly cooked rice set - Shanghai congee & steamed young chicken set (mine) The Shanghai congee was delicious with plenty of mushrooms and scallops. The young chicken was average, but the snap peas were tasty. The three side dishes were overwhelming in portion, with dishes like turnip salad, dried tofu, and komatsuna peanut salad. Most were too rich for my taste. Others enjoyed the black rice set. We finished with almond jelly and sesame dumplings as a palate cleanser. Overall, I wish the side dishes were smaller. Despite that, the meal filled me up and warmed me on a cold day.