Nara, Japan｜akordu

An unexpectedly fantastic dinner experience and a well-deserved Michelin 2 stars restaurant. We are on our honeymoon trip in Japan and visiting a few cities and many michelin restaurants, this one being the only non-pure-Japanese restaurant during the trip but out-competed other 2 stars we experienced. Impressive things come as follows: 1. The menu: each course is written on a small card and you are not allowed (I mean, you could, but it may spoil the surprise) until the next course, which adds some mystery of the entire meal and enhances the overall dining adventure. 2. The food: Crafted with locally sourced ingredients from Nara, each dish demonstrated heartfelt creativity and perfect harmony. Inspired by nature, the chef masterfully fuses Spanish and Japanese culinary traditions. To offer just a taste without giving too much away: the menu featured local seafood (like shrimp, seabass, and barnacles - a rare shellfish-like seafood) along with a variety of fresh Japanese vegetables, duck, Wagyu beef, dairy products, and fresh fruits. We were so enamored with each course that we left not a drop of sauce behind—which were, incidentally, my favorite part of the meal. 3. The price: At around $150 per person, which included service, tax, and two glasses of hand-squeezed, freshly sweet grape juice, Akordu offers an extraordinary experience at a surprisingly reasonable price, particularly when compared to other two-star restaurants in Tokyo or Osaka. 4. The service: Both the waitress and the manager displayed exemplary hospitality and professionalism. They enriched each course with stories and information about the ingredients. Attention to detail was evident in the quick change of utensils between courses, each specifically tailored to the dish served.The manager/server would help with the chair every time you sit down, from the beginning and middle when you leave table for restroom - when I was back from restroom in the middle of the course, I found he was waiting for me and the chair was already pulled out and slightly face outside, and at that time I knew he had prepared my seating. 5. The chef: After dinner, when we expressed the enjoyment of all the dishes and felt impressed by all the creation and combination of the food, the chef and his wife came out to thank us for coming and were very happy that we enjoyed the food. As a Japanese tradition, they bowed (90 degree angle) to us when we left and they bowed again/until we got on the taxi. Highly recommend this restaurant if you would like to experience a harmonious blend of Japanese and Spanish cuisines on your trip to Nara - Japan. A restaurant resides at the bottom of Mount. Wakakusa where you might see many deers hanging around nearby.

Well deserving of its 2 Michelin stars, we had a fantastic dinner at akordu during a recent trip to Nara. The service was pleasant and accommodating despite us not knowing any Japanese. Our waitress did a fantastic job presenting each dish, describing the ingredients and the inspiration drawn by the chef. We were impressed by the artistry of the plating, especially the dishes designed to evoke landscapes and highlight the local seasonal scenery. The food itself was superb, showcasing the finest of the local Nara produce. We will fondly remember our meal at akordu for years to come.

Exquisite cuisine, elegant settings, and flawless service. All six of us enjoyed our lunch immensely. Next time we go to Kyoto, we will make another trip to Nara just to go back again.