lunch itta — Restaurant in Atami

The specialty bowl (with salted pork, marinated chashu and tamago) was the best meal I've eaten in Japan so far. The pork was very tender and the fat was perfectly rendered. The taste of the marinade and the expertly runny egg mixed through the rice so the entire bowl was delicious. The creme brulee was also delicious -- they torch it by hand at the table!

The restaurant is small and quaint with a homely, family vibe. It feels very cozy and the decorations are personal to the family running the business. The chef was trained in Kyoto and brings that expected level of excellence to his cuisine. The restaurant previously had a mandarin farm and they still have a strong focus on showcasing local ingredients.

Whilst I think I forgot to ask their names, the lady and gentleman running the place were amazingly kind and charming. We only speak English and they went well out of their way to accommodate us by allowing us to use Google Translate and being very patient. They were extremely friendly and eventually we spent a long time chatting and laughing, despite the language barrier!

I really hope to visit Lunch Itta again if I visit Japan in the future. I know it's going to be a cherished memory of my trip. Can't recommend it more highly -- a must go if you visit Yugawara.

Thank you...

It is a lovely, cute, small restaurant that seats about 15 people. Appears to be operated by older couple and their son. Meals offered are traditional Japanese food, which I loved - had the chashu/pork over rice that they recommended. I heard the unagi over rice is also very tasty. My husband had the soba noodle, it was ok - he's had better. The dessert was unexpected (due to our communication issues, we ordered the coffee with creme brûlée set), but the creme brûlée was really good with a mandarin orange sauce to go with it. Overall, the price was decent, food was great and the owners were very nice. Would definitely...

Ordered Unagi Lunch box, I understand the price hike, but the lunch box Unagi was too soft, and not much of Tare, taste owful, and disappointed. I recommend if you want to have Unagi lunch, do not make Lunch box order, I'd rather eat it in...