Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Shinme Izakaya / しんめいざかや

Oh I'm well and truly in "Japan zone" right now.... we are about 9 days into shooting my new book with just 3 more to go (exhausting  - but it is looking amazing thanks to some very talented people) and its now   only 4 weeks until I'll be winging my way back to Kyoto.  Its only appropriate that I add a few pics here of one of my favourite izakaya's - Shinme (on Senbon Dori).  Excellent food - including some of the freshest seafood I have eaten in Kyoto. Delicate textures, very well balanced flavours, friendly family run business ( although they are a little wary of foreigners at first but if you speak a few words of Japanese you will get by), old school vibe. Oh, and the sake ain't bad either. 
A little starter of seafood, broad beans and seaweed simmered in dash
Yawaraka (tender, melt in the mouth i.e. not chewy) Sashimi and a rather large oyster..

Terrific tempura including fish spine

My friend nodoguro - "black throat" fish - best fish ever - flesh tastes as though it has been poached in butter!

Rice,  tsukemono (pickles) and chirimen jakko - tiny, teeny sardines with soy and sansho

**To find the restaurant - go the the Senbon Dori and Nakadachiuri dori intersection. Walk north on the left (west) side of the street for about a minute and its on your left - an older style building with stonework around the base and the upper half is painted white with black Kanji (Japanese characters) on the front. If at the Senbon Dori/Imadegawa dori intersection -  walk south and it will be on the right hand side of the street.


5 comments:

  1. Thank for inspiring review. We will be in Kyoto next week. How can we to get to this izakaya, please?

    nwa

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  2. Hello there - I am just checking the details for you! However,it is near the Nishijin area (N/W Kyoto city) - on Senbon Dori on the west side of the street only a few buildings north of a particular intersection.... which I could give you if I could remember the name of the street! Soon I promise. It is worth seeking out. Must get back there myself soon - thanks for reminding me!
    Cheers, J

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  3. Please see updated blog post - the details are at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you Jane
    I will be there next couple day!

    ReplyDelete