旬菜 香音 — Restaurant in Nara

Small Japanese restaurant near the pond. At first I was hesitant if I should go for this one or foreigner-friendly restaurant with English menu next door. Well, I decided to try Japanese meal set for late lunch.

There are only 2 tables (4 seatings on each) and 4 seatings behind counter. Nice music on the background. I only noticed Japanese customers visiting and ordering set menu of the day.

Orders: • set menu: grilled fish, fresh soft tofu, salad, shrimp and vegetable tempura with matcha mixed with salt for dipping, rice, miso soup and pickles. • Beef fillets with salad, rice, miso soup and pickles.

I enjoyed my pick but if you are a big eater, this might not fulfill your happy tummy. Beef fillets are seasoned so no sauce is served.

Each serving takes time so be patient and enjoy...

A lovely little restaurant run by a couple (I assume) in the heart of Naramachi. There are only a few seats, so it’s best to arrive early or be ready to wait a bit—but it’s definitely worth it. After a long day of walking, we were quite hungry, but I tried to slow down and savor the meal because the flavors were beautifully balanced and truly satisfying. The owners cook everything themselves, and I didn’t want to disturb them while they worked so attentively, but I would have loved to learn more about the dishes. The meal was thoughtful and refined—I’m really glad...

Super great small restaurant just past the Nara park, it’s run by a lovely couple. Their lunch menu is perfect and reasonable, only 4 bento meals (grilled fish, beef, chicken, or sashimi), all come with salads, miso soup, rice, & radish. There are only two 4-person tables, and 5 seats at the chef bar. Highly recommend the beef steak (with onion sauce) and grill fish...