During this maple leaf season, I came to Arashiyama to enjoy the autumn leaves. The first stop was to go to the “HANANA” restaurant, which faces the opposite side of Arashiyama Street on the Bamboo Forest Path, to taste the food. After eating, I was really shocked by how delicious it was!!! I immediately messaged a new friend I met in Kyoto yesterday, who happened to be in Arashiyama today, and recommended him to go eat there. Even he praised it and said, “I didn’t expect to find such delicious sea bream rice in Arashiyama, and the three ways of eating it are so attractive!” Later, I found out that this HANANA restaurant has been featured in many food programs as a must-eat restaurant for enjoying the autumn leaves in Kyoto! Of course, I have to quickly share it with my online friends!
【Recommended Must-Try Food in Kyoto】Tai Cha-zuke Specialty Shop Tai-sho HANANA
- Address: 26-1 Setogawacho, Saga Tenryuji, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
- Business hours: 11:00~17:00, irregular holidays
- Phone: 075-862-8771
- Price: Taiyaki and tea rice set for JPY 2,000, credit cards accepted
- Official website of Taisho
Located on the north side of the Arashiyama shopping street, Hanana Taijya is where you turn left after coming out of the bamboo forest path. This time, Piaor chose to come to Hanana Taijya as soon as she opened the door, but she didn’t expect… Although it seemed empty outside, there was already a crowd inside the noren. Piaor waited for almost an hour! And when she left, the line was already overflowing outside the noren!
How to Explore Arashiyama Main Street: Strolling, Shopping, and Dining in Arashiyama Shopping Street
Dining Environment at Taiji HANANA
Today I was lucky enough to be seated in a spot with a garden view, but unfortunately the maple leaves have mostly fallen. Otherwise, it would have been so pleasant to enjoy delicious tea-soaked rice while admiring the maple leaves.
After being seated, the service staff brought a warm cup of tea with beautiful porcelain and garden views. Ah! I have indeed arrived in Kyoto~
The store is unusually spacious in Japan, allowing for a certain level of personal space between individuals.
Taiyaki Tea Rice (Tai Chazuke Set)
The dishes were not served very quickly, and we waited for about ten minutes before the set meal “Taiyaki Tea Rice (Taiyaki-zuke Gozen)” was served.
The dishes are served on rectangular lacquerware, and the vessels used to hold the food are “Tensho” porcelain, which has a history of over 400 years and is considered the earliest porcelain in Japanese history. Dining with such elegant tableware feels exquisite.
The meal includes sea bream sashimi, Kyoto-style vegetable dish, white rice, side dishes, and dessert.
Three ways to eat sea bream
One of the biggest features of HANANA, the sea bream master, is that the main dish “Sea Bream Tea Rice” can be enjoyed in three different ways:
- Paired with special sesame sauce
- Eaten with white rice
- Brewed with hot tea to make tea rice
▼ The red snapper used by HANANA is delivered directly from the market every day. The fish slices are so thin that they are transparent, and you can feel the freshness just by eating them. The fish meat is tender and elastic, super delicious and sweet!!!!
▼ Dip the slices of red snapper in the special sesame sauce, which is Flo’s favorite way to eat it. The combination of the two is just perfect.
▼ Next, we’ll serve steamed rice. Each group of guests will be provided with a large wooden bucket of rice, guaranteed to make you full.
▼Japanese rice is fragrant and Q, with the perfect level of moisture
▼ The second way to eat is to put the sea bream slices on top of the rice and eat them together. The Q texture of the rice matches well with the fish meat soaked in sesame sauce, making it very refreshing to eat.
▼ Finally, Kyoto green tea is poured over the fish, complementing the delicious rice and the refreshing aroma of green tea. The fish, coated with sesame sauce, is a perfect match for the local Kyoto cuisine and elegant tableware. It’s truly a great pleasure.
▼ Many restaurants in Kyoto will definitely offer pickles… but I still can’t get used to them because I’m too picky!
▼ As for desserts, my favorite is fern cake.
▼There’s also hot black bean tea after meals
鯛匠HANANA is currently Float’s favorite restaurant in Arashiyama. The sea bream tea rice (tai chazuke gozen) is really delicious and full of Kyoto style. It is also a rare restaurant that Float would like to visit again. The price of 2,000 yen is worth it!
More famous shops in Arashiyama: Yoshimura Soba, % Arabica Coffee, Gyatei All-You-Can-Eat Kyoto Cuisine