japanese ice ouca doesn’t have the creamiest ice cream but their flavours are pretty interesting. tried the karinto (japanese deep fried cookies, brown), the strawberry milk (seasonal flavour, pink) and the kinako (soybean flour, beige). the karinto reminded me of a less oily version of youtiao, while the strawberry milk wowed with its simultaneous milky sweetness and tart sourness.
freshly breaded fish from tsukiji that is pressed between kelp to remove moisture, tofu dressing, housemade slaw, this is a fish burger at the next level. the fish is firm and the panko gives a good crunch. the tofu dressing tastes like a less creamy mayo and the slaw is light and refreshing. surprisingly tasty for such a healthy burger!
for my bullet train ride from kyoto to tokyo, i had to try a train bento, or ekiben! it looks quite cute in its packaging but taste-wise, it was sadly average. the beef was tender and the croquettes were still crunchy but i feel it would have been tastier if it were warm.
what is kyoto if you don’t overload on matcha? one of the many matcha-based concoctions i had in kyoto, this matcha milk tea is rich, sweet and nicely bitter. matcha just tastes better in japan.
the star of this restaurant is the tsukemen (japanese dipping noodles.) taking a seat at the counter, you see the chef blending the broth with a hand mixer, cooking your noodles and assembling your bowl with care. when it arrives, you pick up some noodles, dip it into the broth, slurp it up, and get transported to noodle heaven. the broth is a mix of chicken with dried prawn and fish powder. it is velvety smooth after being blended and contains an insane amount of umami. i would go to kyoto again just to eat this!
kyoto is known for its saba sushi - salted mackerel pressed with sushi rice. the slightly sour rice is a good bedfellow for the salty, oily mackerel, and you can find it in most sushi counters in kyoto!
i went ahead to put my name down at this steakhouse 2 hours before it opened. all in hopes of tasting the legendary murasawa beef that i have seen in countless instagram pictures. each bite of the beef is a juicy, fatty explosion that no words can really describe - it is a sensory overload that tastes so good. drooling over it as i am posting this now 🤤🤤🤤
smooth, refreshing and with the slightest hint of bitterness, it is a treat to take your coffee and sit by the katsura river as you watch the world go by.
believe me when i say these pancakes wobble like jelly. soft, fluffy, pillowy, and really tasty when paired with butter and whipped cream.
the omurice at this joint comes with a surprise - there’s a soft boiled egg within! the combination of omelette + tomato fried rice + oozy yolk makes for the ultimate comfort food ☺️
kyoto-style ramen consists of a shoyu broth with pork bones and chicken bones. Add thick, straight noodles and sliced pork and you have a hearty meal. the version at honke daiichiasahi is done really well - there is a perpetual queue and it opens from 5am til 2am!
the burnt miso ramen at gogyo in kyoto is located a stone’s throw from nishiki market. rich, salty and heart warming, it is the perfect dish to eat on a cold night. remember to drink plenty of water after, though! It can get quite heaty.
