JPN: Sakura (さくら)

Nishin soba - a popular Kyoto dish!

After an hour of leisurely walk, along with buying all those snacks and tidbits along Matsubara Street, we finally reached Kiyomizu Temple. As the area is pretty big, we didn't have to jostle with the crowds coming for hatsumode (first shrine or temple visit during the new year). Afterwards, we went for a simple lunch at Sakura which is also situated at Matsubara Street.


Nishin Soba (にしんそば) ¥945 (~S$11.80)
Taste: 8/10

Nishin soba is Japanese buckwheat noodle topped with dried Pacific herring, which seems to be very popular in Kyoto as it's being offered by lots of eateries there. The noodle that I tried the other day could be chewier, but I enjoyed the lightly-seasoned broth which were made aromatic by the smoked fish.


Oyako Don (親子丼) ¥945 (~S$11.80)
Taste: 8.5/10

Adequately seasoned with soy sauce with a dash of pepper on top, the dish (which literally means 'parent-and-child rice bowl' in English) was sumptuous. The chicken meat was tender, bound well with the rice by the runny eggs. More finely chopped spring onions would be welcome though. The clear soup was average in terms of taste, but I really enjoyed the pickles with enough piquancy which went well with the rice.


Una Don (うな丼) ¥1,365 (~S$17.10)
Taste: 8/10

The medium-sized eel was pretty fresh. My only gripe would be the lack of the essential sweet sauce on top of it and the rice. The soup and the pickles were the same as the ones that came with the oyako don.

Melon's Rating
Taste: 8/10
Ambience: 7.5/10
Service: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.5/10

Pika's advice: You may want to give the udon (Japanese wheat-flour noodle) a try! There are quite a few varieties to choose from, and the one that the customer sitting next to us ordered looked really yummy. Anyway, special for today, below are two pictures of myself with my BFF each in front of Kiyomizu Temple! :D



Sakura
(さくら)

Matsubara Dori
Higashiyama, Kyoto
Japan
(Opening hours unknown - Anyone knows?)

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)

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