Nochika

If you are deciding what to have for lunch, the single-tier bento is a good option for trying a little of everything: it includes sashimi, tempura and simmered dishes. One diner who had the two-tier bento said it was substantial and left them full. Another was pleased to find yuba, or tofu skin, in the single-tier box—a welcome Kyoto touch at lunchtime. One visitor also enjoyed a two-tier bento and kiwi sorbet while dining alone.

In the evening, you can build a meal by choosing several small dishes. One review singled out the dashi in the bamboo shoots simmered with wakame, a dish that also appears on the menu alongside bamboo shoots grilled with kinome, the aromatic leaves of the Japanese pepper tree. A diner mentioned considering the seasonal recommendations; seafood choices on the menu include clams steamed with sake and natural sea bream in a yuba sauce.

For a meal centred on fish, one diner’s memorable order was the simmered sea bream collar. They recalled that the fish was cooked until firm and ordered it again on a return visit. A diner who chose the sashimi platter enjoyed generous slices of hamo, sweet shrimp and amberjack, and also ordered yuba sashimi. The menu lists sashimi such as swordtip squid, tuna and scallop, as well as a mixed platter, making it easy to focus on raw fish for the evening.

For something lighter, consider nama-fu dengaku, deep-fried assorted nama-fu in broth, or a vinegared dish of Kujo spring onion and firefly squid. One diner who ordered three kinds of nama-fu noted that each came with a different sauce, making it a dish to savour by comparing the flavours. Tempura options range from individual items such as scallop, firefly squid and spring vegetables to seafood and vegetable assortments.

Sake choices include Kyoto labels Jurakudai and Kento, and one diner said they had selected sake to go with the food. To finish, there is ochazuke—rice in tea or broth, with salmon or plum—as well as rice with raw egg and soba or somen, available hot or cold. At lunchtime, a bento offers a varied meal; in the evening, you can choose fish dishes or small plates to enjoy with a drink.