Apart from its breathtaking scenery, Kyoto is also famous for its Kaiseki.
For those who are going like wtf? wtf is kaiseki?! It's a traditional Japanese multi course meal. I love Kaiseki because the meal is presented to you so exquisitely. Apart from being very aesthetically please, very ingredient of a course blends in so well with each other. Each course is so well thought its almost like eating thru a story.
Kyoto being so famous for Kaiseki naturally has many michelin starred kaiseki restaurants. I was seriously debating whether to dine at a starred one or to dine at a reputable one but without any michelin stars.
I settled for the latter. This place I chose, has the prettiest surroundings. It was even used as a filming set for a Japanese movie Koto, released in 2016.
It's nestled in Arashiyama - a very popular tourist spot.
It was perfect for us because we started our day in arashiyama dressed in our rented kimonos from Akahime ( click to visit website) They were so professional and their kimono choice selections were amazing. It didn't look cheap like some of what the other tourists were wearing. I guess partially because the cost is slightly higher as well haha. But I definitely recommend Akahime to anyone who wishes to rent a kimono. They are so conveniently located as well, very near the touristy Togetsu-kyo bridge
We don't look too bad right !
We made a booking at 5.30pm for Shoraian. Okay, actually, I got my Japanese friend Morita San to book it for me, and we will go into details later of why I was grateful because he booked it for me but also SIGHHHHH about him booking for me haha.
The journey to the restaurant.
Very long walk. Had to climb this long flight of stairs
Finally reached !
Yes, hardly any meat apart from the wagyu Beef because Shorai-an is a specialty Tofu Kaiseki restaurant. I thought it was a good idea for us to eat tofu based dishes as a cleanser after bingeing on so much good food prior and the days to come.
I absolutely adored ALL the dishes. The tofu gratin was the winner of the night. It was D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S. I have NEVER had anything like that. Sure I had many gratins before but this gratin was just... cheesy but light. The perfect balance.
Now we come to the fun part of the story.
If you have been reading my blog, you'll know that I'm a person of excess. I feel that if you have taken time off to come to a restaurant, you should have the BEST.
Hence, I always go for the most expensive and I always go for their degustation.
I did not know that Morita San had to pre-order the course, neither did he consult me on that.
He chose.. the...
CHEAPEST COURSE - 6300 yen.
Nick was so thankful and full of praise for Morita San because he helped him save 7500yen haha.
Okay, I am still very very very grateful to Morita San for helping me make the reservation. I am SO grateful I would buy him a meal except that he's so busy with work in hospital ): But I would really have loved to try their 10000yen course.....
Anyway,
REALLY RECOMMEND this place if you want to dine around Arashiyama region.
Shoraian 松籟庵 ( click to website)
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