Iroriya Rice Bowl — Restaurant in Hakone

This is the best steak bowl I’ve ever had.

I can’t speak to the people who have had a bad experience here with the staff, but we had an amazing service and our situation was less than desirable.

First of all, we got there around 8:45pm, last call is at 9pm and it closes at 10:30pm. Not a great look.

Second of all, it’s cash only (or QR payment which we don’t have) so we had cash, but knew we wouldn’t have enough. So while my sister and I order and sit down, we sent my dad to get more cash.

This restaurant sits atop a big hill and the stairs you need to take from our accommodation were literally a death trap (see picture: during the night and during the day). Now, my dad can’t see very well in general, but add on these stairs, during the night and Google Map is acting up? Absolutely not. Mans got lost.

I’m sitting there with my sister, promising this nice waitress by Google Translate that my dad is coming with cash while she is serving us food that we seem like we might just dine and dash.

I tell her he got lost and missed the stairs, proceed to show her a picture of the stairs and she goes “Oooh” as if these were notoriously known for something. I send my sister to fetch my father, another waitress FOLLOWS her through the darkness to get my dad, unbeknownst to my sister’s knowledge. She escorts them back safely to the restaurant and all is well.

Mind you while all of this is happening, the waitress is asking me about my tattoos and saying how cool and cute they are and making conversation.

All in all, the staff ladies were all very lovely. We went back another time right before we left Hakone because the food...

The staff lady is rude and not friendly at all. The dishes are overpriced for what they are but I guess they hike up the prices as no other restaurants are open as late as them. It's also funny that the lunch and dinner menu consist of the two same dishes however it is more expensive for dinner. They also charge a service fee of 500 yen per person - I wasn't sure what kind of service I actually received? My partner and I had the steak rice and also their abalone rice. For just the two dishes, it cost us over 5,000 yen. Should have gone to Nobu around the area for the same price and better tasting dishes.

I would not be coming back here again. Was very...

I was cautious from the other reviews, but was pleasantly surprised by my experience, I thought I should give it some balance.

The location is a bit hidden, but the food was great and the staff/owner were friendly. I don't know much Japanese, but they welcomed me and even saw me off the front door after I finished.

The place is a simple, quaint diner that fits three tables of four people - that's it. They seated me on one of the tables even though I was dining alone.

Hakone diners are usually closed by 4pm. This is one of the few gems that remain open until 10.30pm. I'm glad I made the trip instead of just onigiri in the hotel...