Aenokoto — Restaurant in Kanazawa

Overrated and disappointing.

Visiting Kanazawa for the first time, I planned to try specialty restaurants, especially blackthroat fish, a rare species. I made a reservation for 1:00 PM for the sashimi rice bowl, which is said to serve five bowls daily.

I arrived ten minutes early, but only a few customers were inside. I was seated next to a customer whose suitcase blocked my assigned seat. After the customer yielded, the staff asked me to place my backpack on a wall shelf across that customer. This made me uncomfortable, as I don’t like my belongings removed from my body. I felt sorry for the customer, but I also felt that her suitcase was disturbing other diners.

After reseating myself, the restaurant informed me I had to wait until 1:00 PM, but I actually waited for 40 minutes. During this time, I saw the staff methodically prepare the food, wash utensils, scrape fish, weigh it, sear it, serve it with rice, and arrange it on plates. Some diners requested additional seasoning, and the staff would interrupt the preparation, returning the half-prepared fish to the freezer until they prepared the food for the diners before resuming.

When the food arrived, but it was different from my order. I was starving and considered accepting it, but the restaurant staff gave it to another customer who arrived later. The meal preparation resumed, and I felt the staff was in a rush this time, resulting in a less meticulous and measured process. Despite not scolding or complaining, I was initially disappointed. I felt the restaurant staff should be more attentive when handling sashimi, and complaining wouldn’t speed up my meal or improve its taste. In the middle of my meal, two customers who had requested more toppings again interrupted my preparation, making me furious.

The resulting meal looked okay but not enjoyable. Almost every piece of raw fish had scales or bones, which was unusual for me. The texture wasn’t as sweet or melt-in-your-mouth as claimed in the reservation system. I wondered if other customers had the same experience.

Despite my polite demeanor and attempts to convey my frustration using translation software, the restaurant staff accidentally splashed water in my face while tidying. I reiterated my disappointment in a warm and thoughtful manner. While they offered to waive the cost of my alcoholic tea and apologized, I wondered if they could have announced the free tea earlier. This way I would not have to order a beverage. The staff apologized again when I left.

I did pay the full price for the disappointing raw fish bowl. The invitation email asking me to leave a feedback reminded me the disappointment again.

Travel inevitably involves unhappy moments, but I found delicious blackthroat fish...

After eating breakfast at the hotel for three days straight, I started to get a little bored with it. So, I decided to venture out and find something different. I stumbled upon a restaurant called Ae no Koto that specialized in Nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) rice bowls. It sounded intriguing, so I decided to give it a try.

There were so many interesting and impressive things about the restaurant. Trying ochazuke (rice with dashi poured over it) and the fresh Nodoguro was a fantastic way to start the day.

The staff also provided information about the food and ingredients, explaining about the Nodoguro, a famous Kanazawa fish, the Jodan charcoal grilling method, and the various toppings, which were specialties from different prefectures across Japan.

The bowls and dishes were also beautiful and colorful. I learned they were called Yamanaka lacquerware, one of Japan's three major lacquerware styles, and Kutani ware, known for its vibrant colors.

It was truly the perfect...

As you may know, eating in Japan is sublime, from the tiny izakaya to the fancy sushi establishment, the offerings are the best food offerings you can get in the world. My family has been travelling Japan for two weeks now, from Tokyo to Kyoto and now Kanazawa and every meal has been amazing, and we’ve tried every type of Japanese cuisine. But we must tell you Aenokoto has been the best!

They specialize a very special fish, Notoguro - described as the king of Japanese fish. It’s true!

Kim and Sakura, our hosts, served us with a kindness and expertise about this most special delicacy that has also surpassed all of our foodie experiences this trip to Japan. You must come! It will take you the pinnacle of culinary experience of your life.

Thank you Aenokoto for...