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July 29, 2012 at 12:12 pm in reply to: Sake Bars in Kyoto: Nihonshu Bar Asakura, Jizake Bar Zen, Sake Bar Yoramu #4730

Michael
Participant

Madoka (欒まどか)

Another nice sake bar in Kyoto is Madoka, located just north of Nishiki Market on Sakai-machi Street.

Madoka has a pretty good line up of sake and is not expensive (not cheap either).

Madoka is very ‘Kyoto’, has an elegant atmosphere and service – a sake bar for grownups.

Check out this Kyoto Postcards post for more info, photos and map location: https://openkyoto.com/postcards/kyoto-sake-bar-madoka.html

July 29, 2012 at 12:05 pm in reply to: Sake Bars in Kyoto: Nihonshu Bar Asakura, Jizake Bar Zen, Sake Bar Yoramu #4729

Michael
Participant

I have been to JAM about 10 times since Nils posted about it. Very grateful for the info! (The place is new.)

I completely agree. JAM has a great line up of sake, a lot of it fresh ‘nama’ (unpasteurized), the only sake I will drink.

JAM is VERY reasonably priced and the atmosphere, while not ‘Kyoto’, is very friendly and casual.

Surely the cheapest sake bar to drink good sake at in Kyoto.

If you are on a budget yet want to drink some nice sake, put JAM on your list of destinations when you come to town.

May 17, 2012 at 2:34 am in reply to: Gift certificates for Kyoto restaurants? #4727

Michael
Participant

Hello Abby,

Hmmm… this is a tough one. I haven’t heard of a service like this.

If you have a restaurant in mind that takes credit cards, I suppose that you could fax them your credit card number and they could just charge you for the meal.

I know a few chefs here that would probably work with you on something like that. Let me know if you are interested and I will ask around.

michael

May 10, 2012 at 1:07 am in reply to: Suribachi and drop lids #4726

Michael
Participant

Hello Kiivi,

Suribachi & Wooden Drop Lids

These items are available most anywhere in Japan. You could try Nishiki Market, but that is more for food stuffs and a bit pricy. For an adventure, check out the Kyoto Wholesale Food Market. The West and Southish side of the market has a number of shops and stores that sell cooking utensils and so on. (Best to go in the morning as the shops are pretty much closed by lunchtime.)

https://openkyoto.com/sightseeing/kyoto-wholesale-food-market.html

Sweetfish

Sweetfish are in season in early summer. Most fish restaurants serve them. There is one that I like in Nishiki Market, it is an old fishmonger that recently opened a very nice fish restaurant back behind their store. The name escapes me at the moment but I will get it for you and post it here in a few days.

Do you know about sweetfish confection? They are one of my favorites! Check out the article below.

http://kyotofoodie.com/wagashi-ayugashi-waka-ayu-sweetfish-confection/

March 15, 2012 at 3:29 am in reply to: Sake Bars in Kyoto: Nihonshu Bar Asakura, Jizake Bar Zen, Sake Bar Yoramu #4721

Michael
Participant

Hello Nils, Thank you very much for the info about JAM. I had not heard of it. It looks like they have a top notch line-up of sake and reasonable pricing is always a plus! I will be sure to check it out in the near future.

November 7, 2011 at 5:10 am in reply to: Buying vinegar starter (mother of vinegar) in Japan… #4718

Michael
Participant

Dear drdave,

Unfortunately I know nothing about making vinegar from scratch. To my way of thinking, vinegar is one of those things I would rather buy than make. I am just not going to be able to make it very well.

I do make the Japanese ‘drink’ vinegar with ume, peaches, etc. I am actually just about to make some with Japanese lemons. However, this just involves macerating the fruit in vinegar and sugar.

I did find this REALLY detailed post on how to make persimmon vinegar.

http://tkksi.web.fc2.com/kitchen/autumn/kakisu.htm

Now, this would be really interesting to make. And, the ‘starter’ is naturally occurring on the skins of the persimmons.

I have been able to get into a lot of sake, shoyu and miso breweries in Japan. I just cold call them and tell them what I am interested in. They are usually willing to take a little time to give you a tour and let you see the production process. You might try that.

October 8, 2011 at 3:00 am in reply to: Ryokan Stories #4717

Michael
Participant

Hello Jeff,

As I live in Kyoto, I haven’t stayed at a ryokan in the city. I have eaten dinner at several though. Below is post about top of the line ryokan in Kyoto.

https://openkyoto.com/kyoto-support/topic/fine-ryokan-japanese-style-inn-in-kyoto

Good: I used to live in the neighborhood of the Three Sisters Inn ryokan and have friends that have stayed there. It is reasonably priced, friendly and English is spoken by most of the staff.

Sakura Ryokan, near Kyoto Station is not an old, traditional ryokan, but it is built to be like one. I know a lot of people that have stayed there in the last few years and everyone says it is great. New, clean, friendly service and pretty cheap.

Bad: From my personal experience and that of friends, Gion Hatanaka is one that I would avoid.

October 4, 2011 at 2:52 pm in reply to: Ramen: Great Ramen Shops in Kyoto #4716

Michael
Participant

Mamezen Soba Soy Milk Ramen

Mamezen offers a very nice soy milk based ramen, that is very unlike conventional ramen. While the ramen is very good and worthy of your attention, Mamezen is very often closed without notice. Call the ‘Zen master’ owner on his mobile phone before you go and make a reservation!! 090-1153-5297

KyotoFoodie article: http://kyotofoodie.com/mamezen-soba-soymilk-ramen/

October 4, 2011 at 2:46 pm in reply to: Ramen-ya (Ramen Shops in Kyoto/Arashiyama) #4715

Michael
Participant

Hello Silke,

Please see the link below for a run down of some excellent ramen shops in Kyoto. Unfortunately, I don’t know of any ramen-ya in Arashiyama. Arashiyama is a real tourist destination and ramen is more the food that local residents eat. So, I suspect there aren’t much for red-hot ramen destinations there.

https://openkyoto.com/kyoto-support/topic/ramen-great-ramen-shops-in-kyoto

I checked Tabelog, which is a gourmet community site in Japan. I didn’t see anything too exciting in the Arashiyama area.

http://r.tabelog.com/RC110101/kyoto/A2604/?sk=らーめん

I think that you would want to try Sumashi Ramen at Takaraya (Ponto-cho location) and maybe Soy Milk Ramen at Mamezen Soba (but Mamezen is very often closed without notice).

Enjoy!

September 12, 2011 at 1:09 am in reply to: Kyoto Yatsuhashi: delicious bridge cookies #4714

Michael
Participant

Aloha rranger,

Unfortunately, I don’t know of anywhere online that you can order the baked yatsuhashi cookies that ships abroad. I will keep my eye out and post here if I hear of anything.

Take care.

July 12, 2011 at 2:37 am in reply to: Abura soba in Kyoto #4712

Michael
Participant

Hello berroci,

Sorry for the slow reply. For the benefit of others, abura means oil and soba means ramen, in this case.

I had not heard of abura soba before. I looked into it and I understand that it is more Chinese than Japanese. The ramen noodles are covered with oil that has usually been flavored with scallions. Scallions are fried in the oil until the flavor is imparted. This is then garnished with scallions (usually fried crisp), salt and soy sauce.

I have asked around and this dish is not common and doesn’t have a very good reputation, i.e., not very good.

I think it is a very un-Kyoto dish, as it is not very refined and is oily. You might have better luck finding it in Tokyo.

Here are some links to several shops that have been reviewed by Japanese ramen fans. (I have not been to any of them.)

ラーメン荘夢を語れ (ramen shop)

Japan, 〒606-8112 京都府京都市左京区一乗寺西杉ノ宮町４８−１

075-724-5995 ‎

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=7126858173036499513&q=油そば京都&hl=en&ved=0CF0Q-gswAA&sa=X&ei=4rEbTtaQEs74mAWS4eW4Cg

京都千丸しゃかりき (ramen shop)

Japan, 京都府京都市中京区聚楽廻東町3-9

075-813-5198 ‎

http://www.syakariki.jp

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=6929642223730245080&q=油そば京都&hl=en&ved=0CHsQ-gswAw&sa=X&ei=4rEbTtaQEs74mAWS4eW4Cg

アルバーチョチャイナ | 京都河原町の本格中華料理 (Chinese restaurant)

Japan, 〒600-8018 京都府京都市下京区西木屋町通松原上ル市之町240-1

075-361-8039 ‎

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=2343948260491232726&q=油そば京都&hl=en&ved=0CHEQ-gswAg&sa=X&ei=4rEbTtaQEs74mAWS4eW4Cg

July 12, 2011 at 2:22 am in reply to: Donabe Seasoning #4711

Michael
Participant

Hello blkprnc, According to my info, that should definitely be cleaned out.

March 10, 2011 at 7:58 am in reply to: Food tours in Kyoto? #4710

Michael
Participant

Hello Slobin,

Foodie tours are a pretty specialized niche, so I don’t think there are ‘off the shelf’ tours available. There might be some touristy and gimmicky things, but if you are a foodie, you might not like them. Anyway, there is nothing that I have heard of.

At the link below is Mie Tamada’s profile. She is a tour guide in Kyoto and someone that I can highly recommend.

Kyoto Tour

While I am not a tour guide, I sometimes give guide and translate for hardcore foodies and chefs. You can get in contact with me at the link below.

Contact

The articles on KyotoFoodie should be very helpful to you, I think. That is what I made them for!!

Best,

Michael

December 9, 2010 at 1:55 pm in reply to: Handmade Ice Cream in Kyoto #4707

Michael
Participant

(Much) More Cream than Ice

I have reviewed a ice cream maker in Gion that has the best fresh ice cream that I have ever tasted!

Kinana (きなな)

Gion Kinana’s fresh-made kinako ice cream, more cream than ice, is the best Japanese ice cream that I have had. Their parfaits are completely amazing too. Kinana is located in Gion, just off of Hanamikoji Street, one of Kyoto’s most scenic and historic neighborhoods.

Recent KyotoFoodie Articles:

Kyoto Ice Cream: Gion Kinana – Kinako Ice Cream

location: Kinana is located a bit to the west of Hanami-koji Street in Gion, see map below.

business hours: 11am – 7pm (6:30 pm last order)

website (no English): http://www.kyo-kinana.com

tel: 075-525-8300

Kyoto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Gion-machi Minami-gawa 570-119 (京都市東山区祇園町南側570-119)

Map

Kinana – KyotoFoodie Map

October 20, 2010 at 6:29 pm in reply to: Sake Bars in Kyoto: Nihonshu Bar Asakura, Jizake Bar Zen, Sake Bar Yoramu #4705

Michael
Participant

Jizake Bar Zen

I finally made it to Jizake Bar Zen. I visit with Sake Samurai Timothy Sullivan of http://www.urbansake.com.

Jizake Bar Zen serves ‘aged’, ‘fresh’ sake (熟成した生酒). We had one sake that had been refrigerated for 13 years!! This is true Japanese ‘mania’.

Overall I really enjoyed Zen and owner ‘Punch’. You won’t easily find a line-up of sake, a collection, like Punch has.

Reasonably Priced

A very pleasantly surprising thing about Zen is that it was really cheap, relatively speaking, for Kyoto. We had about 8 kinds of sake, several aged a long, long time, and that bill was about 7,000 yen in total. I was rather fearful when we asked for the check after downing the 13 year old, ‘fresh’ sake. In Kyoto, this could have easily been 2 or 3 times the cost.

Location

Jizake Bar Zen has moved from Gion. It is now located on the corner of Sanjo and Muromachi Streets, on the 5th floor of a very old and shabby building, circa 1970’s Japan. Zen itself, has a very nice, new, Japanese Zen garden meets aged/fresh sake bar interior. Inside and out, Zen is a very paradoxical place!

Map

Jizake Bar Zen@KyotoFoodie/OpenKyoto Map
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