伊勢力 Iseriki — Restaurant in Hakone

My wife and I absolutely loved this dinner experience. We chose it because of other Google reviews (thanks everyone!) and we were glad we did. This is a tiny hole in the wall place (1 table, 4-6 people max) operated by the sole proprietor Naoko. She is friendly and kind, but most importantly she is a professional who makes wonderful, delicious food. There is no menu; you eat whatever she has available. There were 3 courses. It cost us a total of 4000 yen each for my wife and I (plus the drinks ) and it was fair and reasonable.

Do not go here if you are looking for a fine dining experience (but then again, those fine dining prices are around 8000 to 10,000+ yen in Hakone. Go here in the morning and ask for a dinner reservation if you want an authentic experience with a wonderful local. She opens her place up to serve dinner not because she needs to (her main day job is fish seller for the local restaurants) but because she truly enjoys cooking, presenting her passion to others, and interacting with interesting foreign visitors. Be kind and respectful to her...and try to speak some French with her, not just English.

Naoko, c'est Grégoire et Allison de Vancouver, Canada. Merci...

This little one-table place served some of the best and freshest sashimi you can have. Basically a fish market by day, the owner then serves a few people each evening with the small community table that seats no more than 6 at a time. You'll want to pop in earlier in the day and set a reservation, my guess is to ensure that she has enough fresh ingredients for your part, so please don't make a reservation and not show up!

It could be described as omakase style, as she uses what ever is available to make for that day's menu. Even different parties on the same day might not receive the same items, and it's all good! The owner herself is kind-hearted and takes her craft to heart, delivering the best she has to offer and making everyone feel like they are eating at household table as her guests. Absolutely one of the best and fun dining experiences we've had in Japan.

Important note: CASH ONLY, and the closest ATM is a 10-15 minute walk away. We learned this...

When we visited, this restaurant was run by two wonderful people, who couldn't have given us a better experience. My partner and I were unable to make our reservation as I was quite sick the day of our scheduled dinner. However, after showing up with minimal English, my partner was able to explain I was sick and they kindly allowed us to do takeout. More than that, they specifically made dishes to help me while I was sick, even giving us some fruit for the health benefits. I felt taken care of and they were sweet and accommodating throughout.

The food was incredible, including the fresh sashimi and tempura (which they made gluten free especially for my allergy), but more importantly, the staff here were warm, welcoming and made us feel very supported in an...