01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Some diners come to Ryosen for its lunchtime simmered mackerel set meal. People who have tried it say the mackerel, simmered for three days, was not as strongly flavoured as it looked and went well with rice. One diner also reported that the set came with salad, obanzai (small home-style side dishes), miso soup and pickles. It makes a substantial lunch with the simmered mackerel at its centre. Other diners have tried the daily set meal, a chicken-harami oyakodon set, and the day’s curry rice set, so there are different lunch options to compare on the day.
In the evening, diners can choose a dish to enjoy with a drink, perhaps the signature stew, whose broth has reportedly been replenished since the restaurant opened, or the signature fresh fish namerō. The namerō combines fresh fish with house-aged miso. Both are worth considering if you would like to order a few dishes with different flavours. One diner praised the depth of flavour in the daikon and deep-fried tofu in the stew; another found the simmered mackerel salty. Experiences vary, though some diners have enjoyed the mackerel’s cooking liquid over rice. Trying the dish at lunch could be a way to see how it suits your taste.
For a meal shared across several small plates, options include the signature duck loin, slow-cooked and served with a sweet-and-savoury sauce, and the house-made signature Ryosen cheese, which is said to pair especially well with sake. The meat dishes include wagyu, Tamba chicken and Uji duck. More unexpected choices include beef tendon and Camembert in a mapo-style sauce, offering a change from the classics. The drinks list features sake from across Japan, including Shoutoku from Fushimi in Kyoto and Shichihonyari from Shiga. There is also craft beer described as a good match for Japanese food. Choose signature dishes one by one, or opt for the seven- or nine-dish chef’s choice course, which can include seasonal cooking. Dinner reservations are recommended, so it may be worth enquiring in advance, particularly if you are considering a course.
