I'm not sure if this was the main reason why we came to Kyoto but this restaurant has been all the hype recently, especially on Instagram. So many followers, so many views and photos of this one man cooking fried rice and then topping it with a folded omelette, which he then cut in the middle and it flows down like molten lava, covering the rice. He then tops this with his signature sauce - a dark and rich demi glace and a sprinkling of chopped parsley.
So, was this worth all the hype? The omurice, however, I had to ask my cousins how it tasted. None of them could honestly tell me that it was the best omurice they had. Despite of that, we really enjoyed the night because of the smiles, entertainment and warmth of our chef. If it weren't for those elements, the food would have been just mediocre and slightly overpriced. What a difference entertainment makes!
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| The infamous Kichi Kichi Omurice |
I did not order the omurice, because I had my eye set on the ox tongue stew, also cooked in the same (I believe it's the same) demi glace sauce. Granted the ox tongue was extremely tender with no give at all. It just instantly melts in your mouth and the thick rich sauce covers your mouth with flavor. So now, when I say richness, this is not about the sauce being sweet. In fact, the sauce has a slightly bitter (some would think burnt) taste to it. It was also not salty but has a very meaty, beefy sensation to it, like drinking beef stew cooked in red wine for hours and hours. For a smallish amount, I also felt that the meal was overpriced.
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| Ox Tongue Stew |
At the end of the meal, we requested for a photo with the chef, which he graciously did by coming around the counter, and all with a huge smile on our faces. It was enjoyable and if you're a food enthusiast, should try at least once when you're in Kyoto.
MUST READ: Just to note that it is very important to book in advance, as this place is small. They take bookings 6 weeks in advance and with a few holidays and business closing days in between. They have a bar with 8 seats and a table inside that can accommodate also another 6-8 seats. If you do get the table inside, the chef will come over and demonstrate the greatness of his omelette cooking skills - right at your table to avoid disappointment.
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