Kyoto, Japan｜Hassaku

Nothing makes me happier than supporting family-owned restaurants. Absolutely loved this place. The staff was exceptionally kind. The father is the chef, the mother and daughter multitasked between waiting on the tables and helping prepare food. The food was so delicious, we ordered half the menu.

This was a delightful find! I had such a wonderful lunch, and the owners were so kind and friendly! The restaurant is slightly off the main shopping street. I am so lucky to have found it. The decor is charming, and the Japanese omelet was perfection. It was truly an oasis. The market stalls 50 feet away were crowded and hot. If only those folks were aware of the tasty and affordable option! I would absolutely return to this lovely spot, and highly recommend it.

We were simply trying to find a family-friendly restaurant and this izakaya kindly accepted us. We were not expecting much but the quality of the food really surprised us. The Kyoto style braised pork belly has the perfect fat to meat ratio and the whole chunk simply melts in your mouth. It also has a subtler mirin sweetness compared to Chinese Dong Po Rou. I don't know if it is common to serve oden in collagen broth but this restaurant does! Best oden I've ever had by a mile. Finished all the soup of course. Best of all, the price is amazing. Dinner for 2 with a cocktail and juice is only 5400 yen!