ボンパパ
This time, I planned a Kyoto tour hoping to see autumn leaves. I made a reservation at a restaurant in Arashiyama for the second night, but it turned out to be a complete failure! It seems like I was a week or two too early (*´▽`*) Although I have visited Kyoto countless times, I have never seen autumn leaves (-_-;) Maybe next year, I'll research the timing a bit more before coming to Kyoto. As I get older, I find myself seeking "healing" rather than just focusing on food. So, I visited Arashiyama just before the autumn leaves. It had been a while since I visited Arashiyama. Nowadays, with the situation improving slightly due to COVID-19, even without autumn leaves, it was bustling with people. There were more foreigners too! If it's this crowded without autumn leaves, it might be almost double the number of people during autumn! This time, I took a short drive on the Takao Parkway. The weather was nice, and I felt refreshed! Then, I returned to Arashiyama and took a stroll in the garden of Tenryu-ji Temple. After being dragged along by the kids for souvenirs, we walked to the restaurant. In the evening, Arashiyama strangely becomes empty of people ^^; The restaurant was about a 10-minute walk from Togetsukyo Bridge, quietly nestled in a residential area. It's a historic restaurant established in 1973, but the interior is stylish and modern. It's run by the elderly parents and their daughter, seemingly a family business. The daughter welcomed us with a wonderful smile (^^♪ Although I didn't find healing in the autumn leaves, I was healed by this daughter's smile ~(^^)~! She had a very pleasant demeanor. The whole family agreed, "The daughter's smile was great, right?!" The younger daughter said quietly on the way back. Perhaps her smile left a stronger impression than the food (^^)/ Oh no, that's not true, the food was also amazing! Delicious vegetable appetizers, a rich soup with unique flavors, and fantastic meat. Plus, it was surprisingly cost-effective for Kyoto. This restaurant alone is worth coming to Arashiyama for! It was a wonderful restaurant in every aspect (^0_0^) Wagyu Beef Steak (Filet) 10,000 yen, Wagyu Beef Steak (Sirloin) 7,000 yen. Both come with three appetizers, soup, salad, Wagyu beef steak, rice, and pickles. We paid extra to change the white rice to curry. Now, onto the details. ◆ Asparagus Butter Grilled ◆ Atsugi Shiitake Teppanyaki ◆ Marudai Negi Fried with Yuzu-flavored Vegetables The quality of the vegetables is excellent. The flavors of the vegetables were brought out beautifully, and the cooking methods were superb. Especially the deep-fried round radish was outstanding! ◆ Consomme + Potage + Chicken Broth + Beef Bone Soup It's a very rich soup. The taste is excellent. A soup that is truly one of a kind. It reminded me of the rich soup I had at Sushijin in Toyama, but this one is like the "meat version." ◆ Kitakari Potato Salad with Fruit Tomato and Cucumber Salad This potato salad is also excellent. It has a great texture, and the taste is unique as well. ◆ Main Meat Dish Tokushima Awa Beef Female * Fillet - Tender with plenty of meaty flavor. It's incredibly delicious! * Sirloin - When you chew, the sweetness of the fat spreads in your mouth. Both are delicious! ◆ Curry This curry is made with fatty parts. It's not very spicy. It tastes like high-quality curry. To get such high-quality meat at this price... In the expensive Kyoto city center, it would easily be 1.5 times the price (;^ω^) Even compared to other prefectures, the cost performance is undoubtedly good. Apart from meat dishes, their emphasis on vegetables is also a point of praise! This aspect gives a Kyoto-like feel to the restaurant. Overall, it's a high-cost performance restaurant without cutting corners. However, since the ingredients are imported from various regions, you may not feel much of the "Kyoto essence." Nevertheless, it's definitely a great restaurant with wonderful dishes and the best smiles. It might be a better harvest than the autumn leaves (^_-)-☆ Thank you for the meal.