I went for lunch! It's a nice restaurant with a wide counter around the hearth. I arrived after 12 o'clock and it was full, but I was able to enter after a short wait. I ordered an anago and shrimp tempura rice bowl. The tempura was large and I was full! It takes a bit of time from ordering to serving, so it's better to go with some extra time.

I decided to use the "Uji restaurant support coupon" again today and went for "Uji lunch"! The chosen restaurant is "Irori Koya", which I heard has been awarded a Michelin one-star. When I arrived at the restaurant around 11:20, there were 3 groups of customers already there, but luckily it was only about half full. We waited near the entrance to be seated, but the young man cooking (probably not the head chef) didn't even acknowledge us. It seemed like the female staff in the backyard were chatting. After a few minutes of being ignored, a girl from the back finally noticed us and seated us. We ordered the "Irori grilled set meal", with me choosing the salt-grilled salmon and my friend choosing the mackerel. The salt-grilled salmon was a bit on the small side, and without any side dishes, I was worried it wouldn't fill me up. It was cooked nicely on the grill, crispy skin and tender flesh, but lacked a bit in flavor. The rice, cooked in a traditional pot, was shiny and delicious. The pickles, a mix of pickled greens and daikon, were a great accompaniment to the tasty rice. The miso soup with pink hand-rolled wheat gluten and green onions was also flavorful. My friend's mackerel was much larger than my salmon, and she generously shared some with me. However, the mackerel had a slightly fishy smell and the fat content was not as good as expected.

I had the course meal. It seems like you can also order dishes individually, and they offer not only fish but also meat dishes. The seating is only at the counter, but you can see the cooking space (a large hearth) from your seat, where the fish is grilled. The owner is quite friendly and sometimes makes jokes while talking to customers, creating a good atmosphere. The dishes I had this time were all delicious, and personally, I really liked the grilled yellowtail with thick slices and the dashimaki tamago on top as an accent. I wasn't extremely hungry, but the overall dishes were not greasy or heavy, so I could eat comfortably. The homemade cherry blossom mochi for dessert was also delicious.

Located in the Ujihashi-dori shopping street, this relatively new restaurant offers lunch in a clean and modern setting. The surprise comes when you step inside to find a counter surrounding a large sunken hearth. The lunch menu ranges from 1000 yen and includes various rice bowl and set meal options. I chose the "irori-yaki" which allows you to select from mackerel, salmon, trout, or seasonal fish. I opted for the mackerel, which was grilled right in the center of the hearth. Although it took a bit of time, the arrival of the grilled mackerel was worth the wait. For only 1000 yen, I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portion and thick cut of the mackerel. The main dish was served with rice, miso soup, and pickles. The mackerel was delicious, with a rich and flavorful taste, thanks to being grilled over the hearth. The flesh was tender and satisfying. The rice was perfectly cooked and had a nice aroma. I had a great dining experience and look forward to returning for a night out with drinks next time!

Counter seats only, where they grill fish in front of you on an open hearth. This is my second visit today. I finally fulfilled my wish and ordered the mackerel. Last time I ordered the tempura bowl, and I couldn't help but envy the sight of the fish ordered by other customers being grilled right in front of me with oil sizzling. Of course, the tempura bowl was delicious too (lol). The mackerel, rice, and miso soup cost around 1000 yen. It's not often you get to eat a whole mackerel. It was my first time. The mackerel was incredibly thick and the portion was huge. And it was delicious. Really delicious. But, this is entirely because of my age, I couldn't finish it due to the oil halfway through. It was a shame. I reached my limit with half of the mackerel. The staff were also polite and even taught me how to remove the fish bones, I'm sorry. My friend managed to finish it beautifully. Ah, it was really delicious so it was a waste. Next time, I want to try the meat bento.

I read an article about how the shopping street in Uji is struggling due to the impact of the coronavirus, so I decided to drive there to see if I could help a little. There are 16 shops selling bento boxes with the same exterior and price of 800 yen each. The first one I tried was from Beniya, featuring Japanese cuisine with deliciously seasoned salmon and carefully prepared bamboo shoots. The overall meal was light and gentle, perfect for those looking for a healthy option rather than a large portion. It's a tough time, but let's all endure it together.

Irori Benkei, April 2020 Visit Due to the global spread of the new coronavirus infection, many restaurants are closed. The Ujibashi shopping street is no exception. The number of tourists has also drastically decreased, causing hardship for businesses. In such a situation, several shops have started selling something called "Cliffside Bento" by working together. I purchased it this time. After ordering, they grill the fish and pack the rice for you. - Cliffside Bento: The main fish is probably yellowtail. It has a good amount of fat and is very delicious. The sides included bamboo shoots, spinach, chicken karaage, grated radish, and pickles, all of which are additive-free and very tasty. The bamboo shoots in particular gave a sense of the season. They are made with seasonal ingredients and handmade at the shop. At ¥800 including tax, it is a great deal. I will definitely buy this again to support them.

I visited the restaurant on a weekend afternoon while multiple places were under a state of emergency. The restaurant opened on June 27, 2019, making it one of the newer establishments in Uji. It is located in the Ujihashi-dori shopping street and has 20 counter seats. I ordered the seasonal fish, Toroa Aji, which is grilled in the central hearth of the restaurant. It took 15 minutes to grill and was served. The chef kindly explained how to remove the skin. The fish was delicious with a good amount of fat, thick meat, and perfectly cooked. The rice was cooked in a traditional stove and was fluffy. It was a great experience to enjoy such delicious fish. I look forward to trying a different menu next time.

I registered for the first time and tried my best! It's a great restaurant. Mr. Ikeda, who used to run a Japanese restaurant near Heian Shrine, had to close due to health reasons. He has now started a new restaurant here in Uji City! It's a robatayaki and kaiseki restaurant. The interior has a nice woody scent with a central hearth, which is not common in Tokyo. It's because we're in the countryside. I went for the chef's selection course and had some drinks, totaling just over 10,000 yen. The drinks are reasonably priced! The tasting set of three 30ml drinks costs 800 yen, but I'm sure there's more than 30ml in each glass. The first dish was herring, with a deliciously tender skin. The next dish was an oak-shaped sweet potato, not a regular sweet potato. The following dish was not blowfish milt but salmon milt. It was my first time trying salmon milt, and it was so impressive. The boiled pork in broth was subtly sweet and delicious. The orange cabbage was also sweet and tasty. The combination of broth and vegetables brings out the natural sweetness of the ingredients. The grilled fish with a hint of Saikyo miso from the hearth was delightful. The finishing grilled rice ball was quite filling. I used to think Kyoto restaurants were known for their light flavors due to their emphasis on dashi, but this place showcased the natural flavors of the ingredients, and it was delicious.

On June 27, 2019, a new traditional Japanese restaurant opened in Ujihashi Street Shopping Arcade, so I visited it. The interior was very beautiful, with a hearth where fish were being grilled. I heard that the chef had worked at a one-star restaurant in Kyoto. I ordered the grilled fish set meal for 1000 yen. The taste of the fish was authentic and delicious. It's great that you can easily enjoy the taste of real fish.

From my seat, I could see the irori fireplace, which got me excited! The prices vary depending on the fish, and this time I chose the seasonal fish, which was a delicious grilled mackerel. The skin was crispy and the flesh was fluffy and flavorful. The atmosphere of the restaurant is also great, it's a hidden gem! ❤️

The grilled fish set meal cooked on the hearth is too delicious for 1540 yen.

If you like seafood, you should definitely go! The cost performance is good and the taste is delicious. I would like to visit again.

I tried working from home and came to have lunch with my son. The dried fish grilled over charcoal was delicious. The chef was friendly and we had a pleasant time, but we ended up taking too long and I was a little late for work in the afternoon.

We had a course meal that included grilled fish cooked in a hearth. It was very delicious and filling. The rice cooked in a pot and fresh eggs were also delicious. The owner's attention to detail is amazing!

The entrance is small, but inside is quite spacious. They grilled fish over charcoal in the hearth, and it was delicious with thick, juicy meat.