Kumano-no-mezame — Restaurant in Nachikatsuura

Food great value for money and very tasty. The tuna set meal especially so, offering great variety of cuts of tuna and a variety of side dishes. Tempura set was less good value- the quality of the tempura batter was crispy, and the shiitake mushroom was delicious. However, the ebi tempura was one of the least flavorful I’ve had in Japan and the texture was quite unpleasant. Moreover there was a hair found in the tofu side dish. The drink was nice, but it is advertised as plum juice while being plum soda.

Service is nice, although confused as to why some customers (frequently solo customers) are asked to stand out in the rain and are spoken to harshly. While others get preferential treatment. Equally, I wonder why the menus are not taken off the tables. They get snatched off like it’s an inconvenience when you put them on the neighbouring empty table, it’s very odd.

The atmosphere is nice, it’s lovely interior design, and is a cozy temperature. Music is pleasant. However, I had two flies buzzing around my food which severely impacted my enjoyment. I understand this is hard to control but this was unfortunately my experience in the restaurant. Also, other customers speaking loudly on the phone really doesn’t help. Once again, hardly helped by the staff but something to be considered.

To reiterate, the flavour of the food was delicious and good value for money. I focused on the negatives but the food was tasty and I finished it all. However, certain staff behaviours and disturbances to the atmosphere should be...

Tiday I Just trekked the Kumano Kodo… and refueled with one of the freshest tuna meals of my life.

I had their Today’s Tuna Set Meal featuring Albacore, Bigeye, and Bluefin Tuna, I definitely can taste that their tuna all caught just 5 minutes away at Katsuura Fishing Port and served never frozen. Because its so freesh

The flavor? Unreal. The texture? Melt-in-your-mouth perfection. And the best part? They guide you on how to enjoy each bite: • Wrap it in seaweed, • Dip it zuke-style in their special soy sauce, • Or pour it over rice with grated yam for a dreamy Yamakake Don.

Oh—and yes, they have menu in english, so don’t worry about not knowing which one to order. give free rice refills.

They service was top notch, I was ordering a rice refill, but they said it its on the house 🥹 This extra service is Just what I needed after hiking all day!

If you’re in Wakayama, Kii-Katsura to be exact…… don’t miss this spot.

highly...

Truly the best meal that we’ve had since coming to Japan a week ago! After days hiking the Kumano Kodo we wanted some good fish and tempura and this place delivered! The staff are super friendly and welcoming and the food was to die for! We had the special tuna set meal, the veggie tempura, and the kumano beef yakiniku donburi. Each thing we ate was better than the last! The tempura was excellent with a wide variety of veggies included. The fish was certainly the freshest I’ve ever eaten and a great value! And the yakiniku donburi absolutely melted in your mouth. It might be the best beef I’ve ever had, I’m already trying to figure out how I could possibly make it when we go home! They also have a great selection of drinks including beer, shochu, and sake. Overall 10/10, I wish we were staying another night in Kii-Katsuura just so we could...