DNW
First of all, what is this restaurant?! Who would have thought you could find such a fantastic seafood bowl in a place like this, surrounded by the Erimo Mountains inland! I was so surprised. I decided to visit this restaurant after being recommended by my fellow reviewers, Inayaman and mayupapa, mainly because of the cost performance. But the fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked rice, delicious side dishes, and slightly rude but warm service from the staff all added to the wonderful experience. I enjoyed a very fulfilling lunchtime. Two days ago, I planned to have lunch with my friends. We were looking for a place within a 30-minute drive from my friend's house in Uemine where we could enjoy Japanese cuisine suitable for the season. This restaurant came up, and honestly, I didn't expect it to be such a hidden gem. We arrived right when the restaurant opened at 11:30. The restaurant is located on a small road off National Route 210, next to an old fish shop. The entrance doesn't look like a restaurant at first glance, but the road bends, so we noticed it. The interior of the restaurant seems to be a renovated private house. There are about 6-7 table seats. A framed calligraphy with the word "friendship" caught my eye. Next to it was a certificate with the words "Ministry of the Imperial Household Agency." Since it is now the Imperial Household Agency, it seems that this place has been in business for a long time. This made me wonder if I was just ignorant and if this was actually a remarkable restaurant. As more customers came in, we quickly placed our orders. My friend and I ordered the seafood bowl set, while my friend's wife ordered the lunch set. After about 10 minutes, our meals arrived, beautifully arranged. The seafood bowl set came with miso soup, salad, three side dishes, chawanmushi, pickles, and even coffee and dessert after the meal. For 1500 yen, this was definitely worth it. The lunch set for 1000 yen also had a generous portion. The presentation was beautiful. And the taste was amazing. The fresh seafood on top of the rice was incredibly fresh, with no fishy smell. The rice was cooked just right, providing a good base for the toppings. The cucumber and mountain jellyfish with plum dressing for a palate cleanser, and the crunchy texture of the sea crystal salad added a nice touch, creating a refreshing taste perfect for the season. Even the miso soup was well-prepared, and the pickles with my favorite shredded mountain pepper were a nice addition. It was surprising to hear that on Thursdays, you can enjoy the seafood bowl for almost half the price, 800 yen. Unfortunately, it was Wednesday, so we didn't get that deal, but we definitely got our money's worth and enjoyed the coffee and dessert after the meal. What a wonderful restaurant this is. When we paid at the entrance, there were about 6 counter seats that looked like a sushi counter. Oh, I can't resist the idea of enjoying sashimi and tempura with sake at a place like this. As we passed by the neighboring fish shop on our way out, the owner thanked us warmly. The wonderful feeling lingered in my mind for a while. I will definitely come back! By the way, the cost performance at the regular price of 1500 yen deserves this rating. I can't say for sure until I try the seafood bowl on Thursdays, but if it's similar to what I had today, then a rating of 4.5 or even 5 is definitely possible.