01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Salt-grilled ayu, nanbanzuke-marinated horse mackerel, eel rolled with burdock and rice with dried baby sardines and sansho pepper: one diner who ordered à la carte one evening chose these dishes, singling out the horse mackerel, ayu and an ankake dish—one served with a thickened sauce—as especially memorable. At Kappo Ichikawa, part of the pleasure is being able to shape the meal yourself rather than follow a set course. Diners have also praised the chance to order seasonal dishes as they please, and one left the choices to the chef after explaining their preferences. Instead of rushing through a fixed sequence, you might ask about a dish that catches your eye and take it from there.
On another occasion, a diner ordered a sashimi platter, deep-fried white shrimp, scallop shinjo, salt-grilled Lake Biwa ayu with roe, and dengaku-glazed kamo eggplant—a range that moved from seafood to vegetables. The sashimi included six kinds, among them saury, steamed abalone and red sea urchin. The white shrimp stood out for its light texture and sweetness, while the scallop shinjo was enjoyed in a clear broth.
For a satisfying finish, rice dishes such as rice with dried baby sardines and sansho, sea bream takikomi gohan, or a rice ball filled with salted salmon roe are among the options. One diner enjoyed sashimi, tender simmered octopus and rolled omelette with draft beer and red wine; another ended the meal with the salmon-roe rice ball. You can choose a few dishes and match your drinks and final course to your appetite that day. The drinks list includes sake, white and red wines by the glass, and half bottles. Sake options span different regions and styles, including the junmai daiginjo Misenmori from Gifu and Sora from Kyoto. It can be fun to start with a drink that appeals and choose dishes to go with it. The listed selection and prices may change, so check what is available at the restaurant on the day.
At the counter, diners can watch the cooking; at a table, they can settle in for conversation. Some diners have enjoyed sitting at the counter in a small group, while others have mentioned the tables as a comfortable place to talk at leisure. Reservations are recommended for dinner, so contact the restaurant in advance if you have a seating preference.
