Menya Takakura Nijo, Kyoto

Menya Takakura Nijo is a ramen restaurant off the beaten path in Kyoto. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the Karasuma Oike subway station. It is a cozy little eatery with 9 counter seats. Orders and payments are made through a ticket machine and are only available in Japanese. The staff is friendly; they will help translate. The inside is warm and clean, with atmospheric jazz lounge music playing in the background—a very common music genre played in many of the restaurants in Kyoto.

I ordered the ramen with egg for ¥ 800. Before preparing the noodles, you are given a choice of either regular or whole wheat noodles. Both pork pieces and leek were grilled over a small charcoal grill. The pork was flavorful with a distinctive smokey flavor. The soup was a combination of tonkatsu and fish broth. It was thin and intense with a tinge of sourness.

The ramen was good, but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea because of its unique flavor. My brother, who was with me, absolutely loved the ramen! He said it was one of his best meals in Kyoto.

If you are looking for a less touristy and more local place, this would be a good place.

Menya Takakura Nijo

Website: http://www.takakura-nijo.jp/

Opening hours: Weekdays 11:00AM – 10:00 PM, Weekends 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Telephone: +81 75-255-9575

Address: 64-1 Kannoncho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

Itoh Dining by Nobu, Hakone

Itoh Dining is a Teppanyaki restaurant in Gora, Hakone. The restaurant’s website states that it is in collaboration with chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, a Japanese celebrity chef and restaurateur.

From the reviews I read about the restaurant, it seemed like a popular one. I wanted a counter seat, so I made reservations two weeks before. Upon entering, I was greeted with a warm welcome by a lady staff member. The same lady also served my food and introduced each dish to me.

The only downside was that the room was smokey from the cooking. I’m unsure if it was usually like that or if the ventilation system was not working well that day.

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There are lunch and dinner sets and a la carte available. I decided on the Kuroge Wagyu Steak Lunch for ¥ 3,780, including tax. The set includes a soup, seasonal salad, A4 Kuroge Wagyu Steak, bread or rice, pasta, dessert, and coffee. For those unfamiliar with the Wagyu beef, A4 is the highest grade, with A5 being the highest.

My meal started off with a mushroom soup followed by a seasonal salad with sweet potato. Next was the much anticipated Kuroge beef. Sitting at the counter, I watched the chef prepare the dish on the iron plate. The young chef smeared the steak on both sides, then took it to the non-heated area of the iron plate, cut it into cubes, and placed it back onto the heated area to further cook the beef, as I requested my steak to be well done. The meat was served nestled in black pepper sauce and garnished with thin garlic chips, accompanied by a bowl of rice (rice or bread). I now understand the hype about Wagyu beef. The beef was juicy, tender, and melted in your mouth! There is no other beef like it! The garlic chips added a nice pungent and nutty flavor to the meat.

Next, I was served pasta with leek, beansprout, and tiny cubes of beef cooked on an iron plate. The taste kind of reminds me of Aglio e Olio. Lastly, I had matcha pudding for dessert, followed by a cup of Earl Grey tea.

If you are in the area, this restaurant is definitely worth visiting!

Itoh Dining by Nobu

Website: http://itoh-dining.co.jp/hakone/index.html

Opening hours: 11:30AM – 15:00PM (Lunch), 17:00PM- 21:30PM (Dinner)

Telephone:+81 460-83-8209

Address: 1300-64 Gōra, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa-ken 250-0408, Japan

Bakery & Table, Hakone

Lake Ashi

Bakery & Table

Bakery & Table is a cafe/ restaurant situated along the shores of the beautiful Lake Ashi. The ground floor is the take-out bakery. There are varieties of bread and cakes, jams, dips, sauces, and drinks. There are also chairs and tables both inside and outside available. The first floor is the cafe, where one can order drinks such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. The restaurant is located on the second floor. You can order fancy sandwiches, crepes, beef dishes, and desserts here.

All three floors offer a beautiful view of the lake. In addition, there building has an elevator, which is excellent for people with luggage.

First floor bakery

3rd floor restaurant

I arrived at the lake around 2 pm and decided to have lunch, then head to the hotel. I thought I’d have coffee and a simple sandwich at the cafe. When I got to the cafe, it was packed. So I made my way up to the restaurant and plenty of seats were available. I was able to get a counter seat facing the lake. The view was stunning!

I ordered the beef tendon and seasonal vegetable baked curry rice with cheese topping (¥ 2,600). It was my first time tasting Japanese curry in Japan, and I have to say, this dish blew me away. It was absolutely delicious! The curry had a lovely aroma. It tastes kind of like an English stew with curry. It was creamy, buttery, cheesy, and savory. I liked that this dish had a variety of vegetables, which is hard to come by in Japan. There was shitake mushroom, avocado, broccoli, carrot, and capsicum, and The portion was quite big; I savored every bite.

Bakery & Table

Website: http://www.bthjapan.com/hakone.php

Opening hours: 8:30 am to 6 pm

Telephone: +81 460-85-1530

Address: Japan, 〒250-0522 Kanagawa-ken, Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone-machi, 箱根町Motohakone, Goten−9−1

Katsukura, Kyoto

Katsura is a restaurant specializing in tonkatsu. There are multiple branches in Kyoto. I went to the Shijo Teramachi branch. There is counter seating on the top floor and table seating on the lower floor.

Katsukura prides itself on using high-quality pork and ingredients.

There are three categories of zen sets (Sangen pork tonkatsu, tonkatsu, and assorted) and an a la carte option on the menu. All pork zen sets come in 3 sizes (80g, 120g, and 160g), and each zen set comes with barley rice and miso soup.

There are 3 pots of sauce on each table. I was given a bowl of white sesame seeds, which I had to grind with the given wooden pestle before adding the desired sauce, and an information sheet of each sauce. One pot contains the yuzu (citrus) dressing for the shredded cabbage, and the other two pots contain two kinds of tonkatsu sauce, one milder and the other stronger.

I ordered the Sangen pork premium loin cutlet zen-set. It cost 1,300 yen for the 80g cutlet. The pork was crispy and fluffy on the outside and succulent on the inside. The pork itself had a natural sweetness to it, and it did not have the so-called “pork” taste. The tonkatsu sauce accentuated the taste of the pork, giving it a lovely, sweet flavor. It was delicious! The 80g size was perfect for me.

The shredded cabbage with the yuzu dressing was refreshing and perfect for the deep-fried dish.

The rice, cabbage, and soup are unlimited, so you can ask for as many refills.

If you are looking for a good Tonkatsu place with good quality pork in Kyoto, I highly recommend this place.

Katsukura Shijo Teramachi

Website: http://www.katsukura.jp/

Opening hours: 11am to 10pm (Monday to Sunday)

Telephone: +81 75-221-5261

Address: 604-8042 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Nakagyō-ku, Higashidaimonjichō, 寺町通四条上ル

Zen Cafe, Kyoto

I was looking for a cafe near my hotel in the Gion district to have Japanese dessert and tea. I was browsing through Google Maps, and this cafe caught my eye. The cafe is under the long-running confectionery shop “Kagizen Yoshimura,” established during the Edo period. I missed the chance to try the dessert at the Kagizen main store the last time I was in Kyoto. I’m not about to miss that chance again. The café was located just behind my hotel (Kyoto Granbell Hotel). From the pictures, the atmosphere looked serene, an ideal place to relax.

The cafe is located in a modern minimalist building in one of the alleyways in Gion. The interior was modernly decorated with some Japanese touches. There is a small Japanese garden inside the cafe, with counter-seats available facing the garden. There are two spaces with shelves stocked with books for those who want to have some alone time to read and enjoy the food. There is also a semi-private space that can accommodate 4 people.

It’s a good place to have a break from the crowd. Definitely what I needed after spending days with crowds of people.

I ordered the café’s signature dessert, “Kuzu Mochi,” and hojicha (1200 yen). Kuzumochi is a mochi made from arrowroot powder. The staff was warm and friendly. There is an English menu available with pictures of each dessert. The menu is limited; it only had 4 types of desserts available. Apparently, the confectioneries on the menu change according to the season.

The Kuzu Mochi is served with kinako (soybean flour) and kuromitsu (black sugar syrup). I like that the black sugar syrup and soybean flour came separately, allowing me to add them to my liking. The mochi was soft with a jelly-like texture. The sweetness of the syrup and the subtle nutty flavor of the soybean flour complemented the mochi well. The hojicha and mochi were a great pairing.

I would recommend this cafe to enjoy good Japanese confectionery and for those who need some ‘zen.’ 🙂

Zen Cafe

Website: http://www.kagizen.co.jp/store/#zenCafe

Opening hours: 11am to 6pm (except Monday, if Monday is a national holiday, the store will be closed the following day)

Telephone: +81(0)75-533-8686

Address: 570-210 Gion-machi Minami-gawa Hana-machi, Higashi-yama-ku, Kyoto

Arabica, Arashiyama

Arabica has been dubbed one of the best coffee shops in Kyoto. I visited their Arashiyama store. This is a hipster coffee shop on the banks of the Hozu-gawa River. The only available seating in the store is a cubicle which can accommodate 4 adults but with a charge of 1000yen/ 30mins. There are seats outside the store where you can enjoy the view of the river. It’s a great place to get a pick-me-up while exploring the area. I would recommend going early in the morning as there are fewer people. I got there around 9am.

I got myself a medium-sized cappuccino for 500 yen. There are 3 sizes available – small, medium, and large. The coffee was smooth, creamy, and milky, different from the ones bought at more popular chain stores such as Starbucks, Tully’s, and Costa. I really liked it!

Open from 8AM to 6PM

*On a side note, I recommend that anyone visiting Kyoto visit Arashiyama. It’s a really beautiful and serene place. Do go early to avoid crowds of tourists. I also recommend exploring sites that are further away from the more popular destinations, such as the bamboo forest and the Tenryu ji temple. My brother and I visited the Gio-ji temple, which was a 30min walk from the randen arashiyama station. We took the richshaw from the bamboo forest to the temple and then returned to the station. There was hardly anyone there. It was perfect! I was able to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the temple without the interference of a crowd. The walk back to the station was peaceful also.

Here are some pictures that were taken during my trip 🙂

Italiannies @ The Gardens (permanently closed)

On our last day in the city (Kuala Lumpur), after shopping at The Gardens Mall, my siblings and I wanted to have a good western lunch. So we looked at the directory and decided on the Italian restaurant – Italiannies. The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor, on the same side as Robinsons. At first glance, the restaurant has a modern rustic yet inviting atmosphere.

There were only two waiters, and we had to wait quite some time for someone to take our orders. One was more professional and friendlier than the other. As we were hungry, it seemed like an eternity for our food to be served.

We ordered the Sicilian Chicken salad, which was marinated diced chicken breast, mango, red grapes, and walnuts, tossed in a Sicilian dressing on crisp romaine lettuce. The croutons could be more buttery and crispy; however, I liked that it had a light dressing as it allowed me to savor the sweetness of the fruits and lettuce. A refreshing salad dish.

The baked orecchiette with chicken sausage was amazing. The first mouthful I took instantly made me wanting more. The taste reminded me of Carbonara except less thick and more savory. And the baked cheese on top, mmm, love it!

What I liked about this dish was the fish. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I did not fancy the cioppino sauce; it tasted like store-bought pasta sauce. The rice had a nice Italian seasoning flavor to it.

The salmon took a really long time to be served. The mashed potatoes were palatable, it had a thicker and chewier consistency with a lovely coating of some kind of chicken gravy. I was disappointed to find that the salmon was overcooked, so I requested another. When I went over to the counter to pay, the “friendlier” waiter apologized again for the overcooked salmon.

All in all, this was not a great dining experience. The food was mediocre except for the baked orecchiette. The service was poor and there was even a 10 percent service charge. The food did not justify the price.

I don’t think I will dine at this restaurant again, neither would I recommend it.

Bala’s Banana Leaf

The restaurant is very clean compared to many banana leaf places I have been to.

The basic banana leaf meal is RM 7.5 ( about 1.8 USD), consisting of white rice, 4 different types of vegetables, fried chili, papadom, and a choice of dhal, chicken curry, fish curry, and mutton curry. If one prefers a different type of rice, there is a choice of Indian rice or biryani (extra charge). There are also other types of curries, varuval, kurma, and masala, that one can order (extra charge).

The waiters were friendly. We were spoiled for choices, so one of the waiters recommended some of their popular dishes, and they were all flavorful. Overall, the dishes were good. My family and I enjoyed our meal.

Banana leaf meals are usually eaten by hand. However, if you don’t mind digging your hands into gravies, do give it a try; it’ll definitely be an interesting eating experience.

Certain etiquettes would be good to observe and be aware of. Banana leaf is folded inwards after the meal as a sign of gratitude; folding outwards is considered rude.

Bala’s banana leaf

Opening hours: 8a.m to midnight

Telephone number: +60 3-2201 7107

Address: Lucky Garden Bangsar, 21, Lorong Ara Kiri 1, Lucky Garden, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Night Markets in KL

Night Market SS2

The Malaysian night market, or as the locals call it Pasar Malam, can be considered a quintessential local cultural practice that has been around for a long time. It is basically a street market that is opened at night in certain residential neighborhoods. Here you can find a wide range of local food, electronics, clothing, household item and etc. The night market is a great place to taste various local delicacies all in one place.
As the night markets in KL are not commercialized, one is still able to get an authentic experience.

Below are the addresses of two of the more popular night markets in KL.

SS2 Pasar Malam

Opening hours: Monday, 4pm-12midnight

Taman Connaught Pasar Malam (one of the longest night markets in Malaysia, spanning over 2 kilometers long)

Opening hours: Wednesdays, 5:00 pm to 1:00 am

Inside scoop ice cream

A friend took me to an up-and-coming local ice cream parlor call Inside Scoop. We went to the Damansara Jaya branch.

Inside scoop started off as one store in Bangsar. Now it has expanded and they have 17 outlets throughout Selangor and in other states. I liked that they created unique local flavors such as durian, teh tarik, and cendol using local ingredients such as local tea and gula melaka (palm sugar) to the ice cream.

We ordered the peanut butter cup, strawberry, and durian. It cost 18.50 ringgit for a triple scoop. The ice cream was smooth, creamy, and rich in flavor. It exceeded my expectations.

Inside scoop can definitely compete with international ice cream chains.

Inside scoop ice cream (Damansara Jaya)

Website: https://www.insidescoop.com.my/

Opening hours: Daily 11:30 a.m. – 19:30 p.m.

Address: 57, Jalan SS 22/19, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia