I visited the popular restaurant Beniyama that has been gaining attention lately. I had heard great things about this place from Instagram and various sources, so I made a reservation for when they opened at 3pm. I had planned to visit alone, but a friend wanted to join me so we went together. The dishes created by the former sushi chef owner were all very creative, skillful, and well thought out. We tried almost all of the menu items, including nodoguro sashimi, butter squash with pumpkin and prosciutto, homemade tuna and bitter melon salad, various cheeses that paired well with alcohol, chicken and mitsuba hot pot, beef harami and enoki mushrooms, cod roe and smoked cheese wrapped in fried dough, grilled parent chicken thigh with cardamom, matsutake mushroom croquette, and grilled white eggplant, carrot, and fruits. Each dish was delicious and paired perfectly with alcohol. The selection of Japanese sake was also impressive, with a wide variety to choose from based on your preferences. I highly recommend this restaurant as it was an amazing dining experience. The nodoguro sashimi we had at the beginning was so delicious that I even asked the owner for a special sushi and sake course. I'm not sure if it will be possible, but I definitely want to revisit this restaurant in the future.

I entered through a colorful noren curtain and found myself in a beautiful restaurant! The interior had a stylish wooden counter in the shape of a "Co." The place had just opened in July this year. When I arrived around 4:30 pm, the chef said, "Honestly, we're still preparing things..." with a bit of a standoffish aura. I looked at the handwritten menu with cute characters and saw a long list of delicious items! First, I ordered some sake, the "Yamanokami Special Junmai" for 650 yen. It came in a stylish glass with a chaser glass to match! The sake was gentle and had a deep flavor, making me feel a bit tipsy. Next, I was intrigued by the "Set of 4 small dishes for solo diners" for 2000 yen. When I asked what was included, the chef replied, "We'll decide from today's menu after you order!" in a cool and quick manner. Let's go with that. The first dish was the "Katsuo salted matured egg yolk soy sauce." It arrived beautifully presented, with each item served individually in a dish. The balance of flavors between the tender bonito, fluffy egg yolk foam, and salt was exquisite! The bonito skin was still slightly crispy, reminiscent of French cuisine. At this point, I knew I had found a great restaurant! The chef's expression softened as he saw my delight. The second dish was the "Slow-cooked sardine with plum." It was cool and tender, with zero fishy smell and a sweet plum flavor that paired well with sake. The third dish was the "Surely you'll get addicted Tsukemen with shiso." It was like mixing soba noodles, with a slippery and refreshing texture that was truly addictive! The fourth dish was the "Shabu-shabu Iberico pork light meat tofu." The aroma of the broth alone made me drink more! The pork was lean and the meat was tender, creating a delightful dish! The cost performance of the 2000 yen set was incredible, and each dish was delicious! I ordered another round, hoping for a different set of four dishes. The "Mori Nori Special Junmai Namazake" for 600 yen was served in a flask and a wooden cup, which was extremely stylish! The sake was smooth and went down easily! I also tried the "Butternut squash and prosciutto appetizer" for 800 yen. The unique presentation resembled French cuisine, and the combination of fresh cheese and salty prosciutto worked well with the slightly sweet squash. I wanted to try the salmon rice in a clay pot, but they only had one serving left, so I opted for the "Grilled mackerel miso rice ball" for 500 yen. It was incredibly delicious! The sweet mackerel was crispy and well-seasoned, complemented by the fluffy rice and tasty nori. The side of white melon with katsuobushi soy sauce was also incredibly tasty! I wanted to eat more, but being alone limited my stomach capacity! I'll definitely come back for the fresh rice with salmon next time!

Located about a 5-minute walk from Keihan Nakashojima Station, I stopped by a new shop that had opened. They had a wide variety of Japanese sake and delicious appetizers. The prices were reasonable as well. It was a great shop that you don't often find in this area. Although it only had a counter, I enjoyed a leisurely time savoring good sake. The "Okunokami" sake was delicious. The food was to my liking, and whenever I feel like drinking Japanese sake, I will definitely want to visit this nice shop again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.