Hokiboshi

“We will have grilled vegetables for dinner,” said our local friend. We had just arrived in Kyoto for the first time, and eating grilled vegetables wasn’t the first thing that came to mind for our first dinner in the ancient city known for its culinary art. After a subway ride, a short bus ride, a...nd a short walk, we arrived at a cozy, casual, friendly neighborhood restaurant that served delicious grilled vegetables, among other things. Even if you don’t like vegetables, you might still want to try them. We went on a Thursday evening after 8 PM. We had the place to ourselves, and the reservation that our friend made was not necessary. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Our server spoke some English, which was very helpful since the menu was in Japanese and we had limited knowledge of the language. The menu did have several pictures, which helped with the ordering. The food was primarily Japanese although several dishes had modern twists or Western touches, in a good way. The fresh ingredients were the star of the show. The cooking was simple, and the seasoning was done just right to create complex flavors without hiding the freshness of the ingredients. This, I think, was why the simple grilled vegetables were so delicious. I could taste, smell, feel and see the different colors, flavors and textures of each vegetable on the plate. Aside from the grilled vegetables, I enjoyed the grilled fish cheek, so fresh and meaty. And, the wagyu stake with a slide salad with crunchy roasted slivers of garlic, which added a garlicky kick and a crispy texture to contrast the melt-in-your-mouth beef morsels and a refreshing light salad. My other favorite dish was the rice (perfectly cooked that you could feel each soft grain in your mouth) mixed with the fragrant shiso leaf and salty tiny fish. We didn’t order any alcohols, but there was a selection of sake and wine. The restaurant is located in a less-touristy part of town, so while it is off the beaten path, you get to experience a quiet Kyoto that many tourists don’t get to experience. If you are already exploring tourist sites like Kinkaku-ji or Daitoku-ji, you are already a short bus ride from the restaurant, so it may be a relaxing way to end your day. Yes, get off the beaten path and eat your vegetables while doing it!

Visited October 2016