Feel at home with tasty washoku dishes near Hardy Barracks

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Since Japanese washoku was designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013, the popularity of these dishes is increasing worldwide.

Although you may associate “washoku” traditional Japanese cuisine with only sushi, sashimi, tempura or wagyu beef sukiyaki and shabushabu, it has much wider variations.

A typical washoku meal is a set meal made up of “ichiju sansai” (rice, soup, and three side dishes). The side dishes can be any food (fish, meat or vegetables) using local, seasonal, natural ingredients, and that are often prepared according to the Japanese sense of aesthetic by keeping a good balance of colors and flavors.

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

While you are in Japan, you may want to sample a washoku meal and a good option is Samurai’s Kitchen Yozan near Hardy Barracks.

Disconnect from the hustle and bustle of busy Roppongi District for a hearty meal inside the warm wooden-hued interior of Samurai’s Kitchen Yozan.

The restaurant is named after Lord Uesugi Yozan (1751 – 1822), known as one of the wise feudal lords throughout Japan history and the restaurant interior is decorated with several samurai-related items, such as a replica sword and a short samurai coat. The owner loves the feudal lord and names after the lord to serve the guests, just as the wise lord served his people, according to the wife of the owner.

While there are seven lunch sets available, including grilled mackerel and salmon, karaage fried chicken and hambaagu hamburger steak sets, on my most recent visit, I chose to order “chicken nanban” (marinated fried chicken with tartar sauce) set for 1,300 yen.

Within a 10-minute wait, piping hot fried chicken on shredded cabbage topped with tartar sauce came with rice, miso soup, along with three small plates of okra with salted rice malt, dried bamboo shoots and boiled beans were served before me.

The marinated fried chicken was exceptional. Tartar sauce enhanced the rich flavor of full-bodied, chewy yet tender and crisp chicken pieces. The entrée paired nicely with the rice, miso soup and the three small plates. For me, a delicious lunch set in a cozy atmosphere was a perfect way to enjoy a short break on a busy day of work.

As always, I was content with my meal at Samurai’s Kitchen Yozan. As I left to go back to the office, the friendly staff smiled and shouted “arigato gozaimashita” making me feel at home and ready to come back again the next time.

There are wonderful sake line-ups and plenty of izakaya menus, so you can enjoy the restaurant in the evening, as well.

Enjoy tasty washoku dishes in a warm atmosphere at Samurai’s Kitchen Yozan, when you are near Hardy Barracks!

Samurai’s Kitchen Yozan

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)