Godan Miyazawa
Godan Miyazawa opened following its predecessor Jiki Miyazawa. Both restaurants have been awarded a Michelin star, offering a dining experience which captivates all five senses. Be sure to savor the charm of Miyazawa’s cuisine.
Located about a 10-minute walk from Gojo Station in Kyoto, the discreet sign of Godan Miyazawa quietly emerges within a residential neighborhood.
When you step inside, you’ll see a private room at the front and a counter seating area in the back.
This time, we sat at the counter, where we could watch the chefs carefully prepare each dish, making us even more excited for the meal.
The staff took our drink orders first, offering a great selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
The photo shows a refreshing non-alcoholic yuzu soda.
If you order sake, you can pick your own ochoko (sake cup), which adds a fun touch to the experience.
We visited in June, during early summer.
Here are some of the most memorable dishes from the course.
First, the sashimi. This dish featured golden eye snapper, lightly seared with olive oil and topped with coarse-grated daikon, sea urchin, and fugu green onions.
Sashimi is usually eaten with soy sauce and wasabi, but this dish offered a unique and exciting twist.
It looked beautiful and had layers of flavors that spread in the mouth, bringing out the natural sweetness of the fish. It was truly delicious.
Next was their signature grilled sesame tofu.
This version had sweet corn mixed in, but the vegetable changes with the seasons. I’d love to come back and try a different one during another season.
It had a smooth, cheese-like texture with the sweetness and roasted flavor of corn. The soy-based sauce on top, infused with sansho pepper, added a little spicy kick.
The dish looked beautiful, and every bite was a treat for the senses. I didn’t want it to end!
If I could have had more, I definitely would have…
Next was Hamo Kiyamachi-age, a unique fried pike conger dish.
They sandwiched the fish meat between its crispy skins, coated it in brown rice breadcrumbs, and deep-fried it to perfection.
This dish is a modern take on Kyoto’s traditional hamo cuisine, and it has been gaining popularity as a new specialty. The texture and flavor was completely different from any hamo dish I’ve had before, making it a fresh and exciting experience.
The hint of sansho pepper inside added a nice kick, bringing out the flavors even more.
It was served with Yoron taro and Snow Fungus, all topped with toasted miso.
Although the ingredients were all white, each had a different texture, making every bite interesting. The toasted miso added a rich, savory flavor that tied everything together.
For the final rice dish, we had something special: “Niebana”, the moment when rice is just starting to become fully cooked.
They served us a small scoop to taste first.
It was fresh, slightly firm in the center, and full of natural sweetness.
The experience felt like pure luxury, and the taste still lingers in my memory.
The more we chewed, the sweeter it tasted.
It was so delicious that we all kept getting refills until the pot was completely empty!
For the final tea service, the chef personally selected tea bowls for each of us.
Each bowl had a rich history, including antiques from Korea and China, reflecting different time periods and regions. Using such rare pieces felt like an honor, and I even felt a little nervous.
All the tableware throughout the meal was carefully chosen by the chef and owner and hearing the stories behind each of them made the experience even more interesting!
For dessert, we had green plum jelly and sorbet, along with Minazuki, a traditional confectionary.
Each had a light, refreshing sweetness which paired perfectly with the tea—just right for early summer.
The chef chatted with us as we sat at the counter throughout the entire meal, making the experience even more special. With such delicious food and a relaxing atmosphere, we left feeling completely satisfied, both in body and heart.
Seasonal Omakase like this make you want to come back again and again to enjoy the flavors of each season!
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