Dec. 20, 2022 UPDATE
Story & Recommendation
Traditional Japanese izakaya with delicious home-style cooking
In a street where many people are seen looking for a place to drink, Renkon-ya opens its doors at 5pm to welcome those in desire of some good, home-style dishes along with some drinks.
Many customers enjoy the fun concept of this izakaya, or Japanese style bar, with its traditional ambiance that’ll feel nostalgic to any Japanese person.
Renkon-ya is a compact izakaya with a warm at-home feeling. The close-knit atmosphere brings customers closer to each other and to the cook. This izakaya has an open kitchen, so you can have fun watching the cook skillfully whip up all your favorite dishes in a flash.
1Recommended
Yaki Nasu (Grilled Eggplant)
/ ￥500
Renkon-ya’s Yaki Nasu are egg plants simply grilled, then served with the skin peeled. The dish comes with a mixture of ginger and soy sauce that you can dip the eggplants in or just pour over them. The ginger gives it a refreshing kick over the slightly smoky flavor of the eggplants. Simply dishes are one key aspect of Kyoto cuisine.
2Recommended
Niku-jaga (meat and potato stew)
/ ￥800
Niku-jaga is a typical home-cooked dish that most Japanese people are familiar with. It’s definitely a Japanese “comfort food” made from soy sauce and dashi, and has a slightly sweet flavor. Try ordering it by saying the Japanese name, “niku-jaga,” it literately means “meat potato”.
3Let's Try!
Karashi Renkon (mustard lotus root)
/ ￥700 for two pieces, ￥1,000 for three pieces
Lotus root is a common root vegetable eaten in Japan. Originally a regional food of Kumamoto Prefecture, located in the south of Japan, Karashi Renkon is made by filling the lotus root with mustard. It’s Renkon-ya’s specialty and is made in-house. Many people love the spiciness of the mustard with the excellent crunch of the vegetable. This dish also goes down perfectly with drinks too, like Japanese sake.
4Let's Try!
Sake (Kyo Chitose –Sakyo-ku,Kyoto)
/ ￥700 for tokkuri bottle
This cold sake is perfect for the summer time! Ask to get it in a “tokkuri” bottle like shown in the picture and share it with friends. You can, of course, get room temperature sake instead, if you prefer.
Besides sake, there are also beer, shochu, ume-shu (plum wine), whiskey, and wine.
How to Order
The English menu contains the transliteration of the Japanese menu items in English letters, so give pronouncing the Japanese when you order, it will really help the staff give you the best service possible.
- Order Tips -
On the English menu, the menu items are also written in Japanese romaji letters. Please try to order in Japanese as it will be a big help to the staff for them to give a smooth service.
