Zacoya — Restaurant in Kyoto

(Trip was made back then on 15 Nov 2022)

We were blessed to chance upon Zacoya, a Japanese seafood restaurant located just adjacent to our hotel, which served amazingly fresh seafood at affordable prices.

The meal included 1) shirako (cod milt) which was surprisingly fresh, creamy and delicately rich, 2) a flavourful yet light clam soup, highlighting the natural sweetness of the clams, 3) perfectly grilled fish and oysters, 4) tuna nakaochi, made from tuna scraped directly from the bones, 5) sashimi platter, 6) exceptionally fresh and sweet uni, and 7) a refreshing bottle of sake.

The highlight of the meal was definitely the sashimi platter with an entire box of uni that came in a generous mound. Initially we thought we’d break the bank when we saw the entire box of uni (on top of our bottle of sake) as such an indulgent serving found back home would typically cost exorbitant amounts.

However, we were astonished that the total cost for the meal was only around $130 SGD, given the premium ingredients ordered - especially the entire box of uni - and sake as well.

It’s definitely one of the exceptional meals with incredible value which we...

Found this little hidden gem izakaya on Tabelog, where you can make reservations online or just walk in (but it's better to make a reservation). It's a small place, with a counter downstairs and private rooms upstairs. I reserved the most expensive option, a 10,000 yen omakase that includes all-you-can-drink. The set menu has a dramatic name: 'Dream Course - Will it even appear in your dreams?!' I think it translates to 'Is this dream coming true?' For someone who doesn't speak Japanese like me, the omakase is very user-friendly, and if you can speak some Japanese, you can also order dishes when you get there.

The staff were very friendly and diligent, and the dishes like hamo (pike conger), lobster, and oysters were prepared fresh. The oysters were rock oysters, and they were huge! Just one could fill you up. I had two... I left the place holding my stomach...

For the final dish, unagi rice, remember to ask the staff not to add sauce. The unagi is mixed with rice, and I found that adding sauce made it too salty. Overall, I had a great time and highly...

Hands down my favourite place to eat fish in Kyoto for lunch. Usually due to work only able to eat there on Saturday lunch times but definitely worth getting there early to before the rush/queue forms. Depending on your appetite they usually have the choices of Zeitaku Meshi, Yori Zeitaku Meshi, Maji Zeitaku Meshi. Essentially small, medium and large sets. The pictures below are the Yori/medium set and a Maji/large set. The regular Zeitaku/smalls’ usually have a lot of vegetable side dishes rather than fish dishes (though I never asked but as this is Japan, it’s probably not vegetarian friendly using fish broth as the base). The Maji/large portion is a large portion of fish. Come with a big appetite if you order the Maji. During the weekdays they have a different...