I ordered the special deluxe unagi rice bowl. I had made a reservation in advance and was able to park my car. The service was not particularly fast despite the reservation. The unagi in the special deluxe bowl was a bit small, the sauce lacked sweetness, and the overall flavor was a bit bland. The unagi was not crispy but rather soft, and I found the bones to be on the sweeter side.

I searched for a lunch spot near Sanjusangendo Temple and made a reservation at this popular restaurant known for its eel dishes. However, I was drawn to the lunchtime Kyoto cuisine menu and ordered the Kyoto Bento Box for ¥3300 (tax included). The meal was beautifully presented with a variety of dishes, each carefully made and incredibly delicious. I had a peaceful and leisurely time enjoying the meal.

Today, my family and I came to this restaurant. Despite the sweltering heat, we are still living the mask life and feeling exhausted. We decided to boost our spirits with a lunch outing on our day off, so we searched and found this place to visit after making a reservation in advance. The restaurant had a refined atmosphere with incense burning and gentle background music playing. The interior had a kitchen in the back, counter seating for 5-7 people in the front, and 3-4 small tables on both sides. The elderly couple who ran the place moved gracefully and greeted us warmly. The menu was limited, with options like "flower chirashi, flower gozen, Kyoto bento (bamboo, pine), daytime kaiseki nogomi, eel rice bowl (special, premium), drinks," and no a la carte dishes. We had pre-ordered the eel rice bowl (special) to avoid waiting stress. Each table had a sign saying "reserved," and our order arrived beautifully presented on trays and dishes. The eel, sourced from Hamamatsu, was steamed and grilled carefully, with tender and fluffy meat that easily cut with chopsticks. The slightly sweet sauce was excellent. The side dishes of shellfish and vegetables in a white sauce were also outstanding. Although the clear soup was delicious, it lacked liver, which was a bit disappointing. We enjoyed our meal, and the eel truly brought smiles to our faces. As more reserved tables filled up, we felt like we had discovered a hidden gem in the local area. The service was excellent. Overall, a delightful dining experience. Additional notes: Not wheelchair accessible, washlet available in the back on the right side, and there is one parking space next to the restaurant.

During a drive in the area around lunchtime, I decided to stop by and try the "Unaju" (special) for ¥3,800, paired with a non-alcoholic beer for a total of ¥4,270. The eel was cooked perfectly, with a sauce that was just right, not too sweet. The meal also included homemade tofu with wild herbs, a soup with bamboo shoots, and pickled vegetables such as finely chopped pickled radish and kelp simmered in soy sauce. While the finishing touch may not be as bold as that of an eel specialty restaurant, the chef's background at a traditional Kyoto cuisine restaurant known for river fish dishes is evident in the depth of flavors. They have really put together a well-rounded meal.

I visited the restaurant on a weekend afternoon in February 2020. It is located near the Uji Higashi Interchange on the Keiji Bypass. It took me about 30 minutes to walk from JR Uji Station. The restaurant is situated in a calm residential area. Inside, there are about 7 seats at the counter, 3 tables for 4 people each, and 1 table for 2 people. The chef was busy preparing dishes in front of the counter. I ordered the special eel rice box. The difference between the special and regular eel rice box is only the size of the eel. Despite being told there would be a wait of over 30 minutes due to the busy lunch hour, the dish was served in about 25 minutes. The lady owner was very polite and attentive. The special eel rice box comes in a box. As mentioned by other reviewers, it is prepared in the Kanto style with a steaming process. The eel is tender and delicious. The thickness of the eel is just right, not too thick or too thin. The rice at the bottom is well soaked in sauce. The sauce is less sweet and more on the salty side compared to the Kansai region. It may be a matter of personal preference, but I found it slightly salty. However, it may pair well with alcohol. Alongside the eel, there are lotus root with plum sauce, pickles, and a clear soup with scallops (not liver). They are all delicious and provide a nice break from the eel. At first, I thought I should have asked for more rice, but by the end of the meal, I was comfortably full. Whether you prefer the Kanto or Kansai style, or the taste of the sauce is a matter of personal preference. However, considering the quality, portion size, and taste, the price of ¥3,500 including tax seems quite reasonable. I look forward to trying some of the other course meals on my next visit.

This is a shop I have been visiting occasionally since it opened. It's about to celebrate its 24th anniversary. They put a lot of effort into their New Year's osechi dishes. It's a high-quality osechi meal. The menu includes dishes like sesame tofu, baby ayu fish, chestnut-coated potato noodles, freshly cooked mushroom stew, a platter of sashimi with pears, persimmons, and tofu, steamed anglerfish and matsutake mushrooms, eel, salmon and mushroom rice, and soy milk pudding. Same-day reservations cost 5,500 yen. The food is delicious, with a focus on traditional Kyoto cuisine from the Minoyoshi lineage.

I had dinner with my soulmate. It was my first time at a Kyoto cuisine restaurant, and it was very delicious. I have no vocabulary...

I visited after half a year and it was still delicious. This time, I tried the eel bowl for the first time, and it was very fluffy and delicious!

I ate eel. There were quite a few bones and the portion of rice was small.

I ate eel. It was delicious and the price was great. I want to go again.

I came to Uji for a meal at this restaurant. They offer 3 types of courses, and I chose the one with the middle price. First, I had tofu made with soy milk topped with raspberries. Then, I had a variety of sashimi including clam, mackerel sushi, green plum, salmon with seaweed, and squid with sea grapes. The sashimi was delicious! The soup had soba noodles and eel, and the broth was tasty. There was also a cold assorted dish with sweet potato lemon stew, small potatoes with egg, snow peas, and Kamo eggplant. The eggplant was fried and soaked in broth, and it was delicious! The ayu fish was deboned and grilled with tade vinegar, served with mountain peach. I wish I could have tried the ayu fish with just salt! There was also fried hamo fish with corn and paprika tempura. The hamo fish had a hint of greenness, so it was best enjoyed with tempura dipping sauce. Lastly, I had hamo rice with red miso soup and pickles. The pickles were delicious, and I finished the rice in no time! Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I visited from Byodoin Temple. The seasoning and cooking methods that bring out the flavor of the ingredients in every dish were amazing. The taste was not just delicious, but outstanding. Especially, the agedness of the sea bream sashimi was superb. It's hard to choose the best dish as they were all delicious, but I feel like I truly experienced the essence of Kyoto cuisine. The sea bream rice cooked in a clay pot had a delicious broth as well. I definitely want to visit again.

I have visited Okamoto-san's restaurant for lunch several times. I always enjoy the Hana Chirashi (pictured) which costs 1,890 yen. The contents of the meal are almost always the same, but it's a dish that I start to miss if I don't have it for a while. The Hana Chirashi includes Chirashi Sushi, Fuki no Takuwan, Kobachi, Tempura, and Akadashi soup. My favorites are the Chirashi Sushi and the Akadashi soup. The sashimi on top of the sushi rice is fresh, and the balance with the rice is perfect. The vinegared rice has just the right amount of vinegar, and the cooking is superb. The Akadashi soup has an amazing dashi flavor! If possible, I would want to have multiple servings of it. The meal is meticulously prepared, so I understand the price of around 2,000 yen. However, I wish they would include a small dessert to make the overall experience even more satisfying.