Tatsumiya 辰巳屋 @ Uji Kyoto

As I was nursing a fractured wrist due to an accident while I was in Kyoto, my landlady Yuka took pity on me and offered to bring me around Kyoto via her car for a day. A chance to explore Kyoto with a local? Yes, please!

Uji is located at the outskirts, so the scenary changes from buildings to farmlands and river.

view from Yuka's car

look, Uji river~

We parked the car and strolled down to the restaurant. Tatsumiya is about 12 minutes walk from Keihan Uji Station or about 15 minutes walk from Uji JR Station. Nearby, is Byodoin, a World Heritage site.

Tatsumiya

The restaurant has wooden sliding doors and one sits on tatami flooring. Yes, one needs to take off shoes before being seated.

counter seats and this is the door where the hostess will enter

Tatsumiya serves traditional Kyoto cuisine and one could opt for Kaiseki as well. We took the lunch bento. I had mine with sashimi while Yuka opted for one with chawanmushi.

The bento was served with a brown leaf folded to cover the small dishes. Was pleasantly surprised by the colourful and pretty looking items. The bento was served with seven rolls of Akita rice that has Uji tea leaves on it. I understand that the small dishes in the bento changes in accordance to season.

宇治丸弁当 ¥3800

many many small items in here

There's mushrooms, chestnut, konyaku, fish paste, a slice of duck, juicy brinjal, quail's egg, gingko nut, shishito, snail etc. Interesting eats and one would get quite full at the end of the meal. Allocate at least an hour to an hour and a half to eat all of this.

The sashimi was slow to arrive but it was super fresh. The fish was fatty and firm.

sashimi of squid and hamachi

Very interestingly, there's a mochi wrapped in green leaf in there. This was one of the best mochi that I've eaten!

mochi

By then, I was seriously full. But, there's desserts! There was a grape, pear and matcha chocolate.

desserts

Had an enjoyable lunch and appreciate the company. Special thanks to Shinichi (for treating us lunch though he's not present to join us) and Yuka for introducing a slice of Kyoto.

Tatsumiya 辰巳屋

Location: Togawa-3-7 Uji, Kyoto Prefecture 611-0021, Japan
Website: http://www.uji-tatsumiya.co.jp/
Other websites:  
https://gurunavi.com/en/k010600/rst/
https://tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2607/A260701/26000038/
Contact: +81-50-5890-8703
Business Hours:
Lunch: 11:00 - 14:30 , Dinner: 16:30 - 20:00 

Kendonya 手打うどん けんどん屋 @ Fushimi Inari Station Kyoto

Again, our instinct of trying out the foodshops near our Inari House paid off well. This time round, we wandered into Kendonya, an udon noodle house. This shop was more spacious as compared to Ramen Hiwamatanoburo which is just a few doors away.

shopfront

counter seats and Chef

Most of the sets came with carb-on-carb, meaning you'll get a bowl of udon and a bowl of rice. Tourist friendly and English menu is available. The shop's bestseller seemed to be their pork cutlet sets. Bucking the norm, we decided to choose something else.

I went with my karaage set (minus the rice) and my friend opted for the udon and oyakodon set. Both are priced below ¥1000.

draft beer

It was rather late at night, close to 830pm when we dined there plus it was drizzling, so there were only one or two tables occupied.

favourite condiments in Kyoto

Mini chicken and egg rice bowl with hot udon @¥860+

Hot udon with karaage set @¥980+

The mini oyakodon here looked good, especially when eaten while it was still hot!

mini 親子丼

The owner had been making udon since his 20's and he ventured out and became his own boss in his thirties. Handmade udon, we loved! The udon served at Kendonya is of the plump and chewy variant. Slurpiliciously good! Because it was a cold day, we chose the hot broth version. Otherwise, one could also have it as chilled udon.

温麦

While the star is the udon, must mention that the karaage was very good too! The menu mentioned that this is different from American-styled fried chicken which made me thought of how to describe the taste of Japanese fried chicken to our foreign friends?

 から揚げ

The karaage was well-fried to a crisp skin and still moist and juicy on its insides. The meat was marinated adequately and each bite was thoroughly enjoyed. Though its size is not comparable to the one from its neighbour, I didn't regret ordering this. Plus, fried chicken and ice cold draft beer...need I say more?

Kendonya 手打うどん けんどん屋

Location: Japan, 〒612-0012 Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto, Fushimi Ward, Fukakusa Ichinotsubocho, 41, パールハイツイナリ1F
Website: https://tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260601/26003538/
Contact: +81 75-641-1330
Business Hours:
11:00～15:00 (lunch)
17:00～20:30 (dinner)
Close on Wednesdays and one extra day off a month.

[Media Invite] The Peranakan @ Claymore Connect

Have you tried The Peranakan Yee Sang Istimewa? Istimewa means special, so we asked Chef Raymond on how is the Yee Sang Istimewa differs from the usual. Found out that the secret is in the herbs.

Yee Sang Istimewa 娘惹捞起鱼生 @68 （for 8 pax)

Salmon toppings start from $38 while abalone starts from $88 onwards. Combo toppings are priced at $118 for medium plate.

closer view of the herbs

let the wealth starts pouring in~

huat ah!

As Chef Raymond explains it, the yee shang is still of a much familiar taste of sweet, tangy and appetising with a healthy dose of peranakan herbs. Likeable flavours! The large portion was good enough for 10 pax even!

yee sang istimewa

How about ushering the Year of the Rooster with a bottle of Aves Del Sur Reserva Merlot?

Aves del Sur Reserva Merlot Chile

There are many high tea options available in Singapore, but have you ever experienced a Peranakan High Tea? Best to allocate about 2 hours of leisurely chit-chat and makaning for this! About 12 dishes in total per pax that include both sweet and savoury items.

The Peranakan High Tea @$24/28 (weekday/weekend) per pax (min. 2 pax)

Loved the presentation. From the lace found on the serving tray to the tiffin carrier that housed our delicious mee siam, to the small containers with nanyang-styled motifs.

mee siam and red wine

The mee siam here has strong flavours that we loved. From the sambal that's so shioks, to the super tangy yet sweet sauce. Very appetising and yummy with the merlot.

satay babi pongteh bun

The other savouries that I liked was the satay babi pongteh bun ala kong bak bao. Fatty pork braised in sauce. Just that the bun had slightly hardened by the time we got to this dish.

ngoh hiong and hae bee hiam toast

"So much food!" That was the common exclamation that night.

pineapple tart sampling

loveletters, toast with durian puree

The high tea set comes with a pot of Malaccan coffee/tea. I'd recommend the tea to go along with the sweets like pulut inti kelapa/durian and the pandan chiffon cake.

The Peranakan also offers Lunar New Year cookies for sale (while stocks lasts!). My favourite was the kueh bangkit! CNY Cookies are priced from $18 to $28 per tin.

jemput makan

Many thanks to Chef Raymond Khoo and crew of The Peranakan for your hospitality and warm welcome. Thank you Hence for the invite and fellow foodies for the enjoyable company!

The Peranakan remains open throughout the Lunar New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

The Peranakan

Address: 442 Orchard Road, Level 2 Claymore Connect, 238879
Website: http://www.theperanakan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePeranakanSG/
Contact: 6262 4428