• 5
• Traditional Buddhist Cuisine

I must confess that I've not been in Japan long and this is the only Shoujin Ryouri (精進料理, the name for traditional Buddhist cuisine) I've had. So I'm not in a position to compare it to Shoujin Ryouri from other places. Having said that, the food is excellent and I've visited this restaurant three times now. As per tradition, strong spices are avoided with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients. The resulting flavors are often subtle, yet full of character. The cook and hostess (mother and daughter) are very kind and passionate about their work. The hostess explains the history and medicinal effects of each dish with great zeal. Before my first visit, and worried about the language barrier, she looked up some English words for ingredients and was able to explain quite a bit to me through a combination of English, Japanese, body-language and drawings. There's no English menu either, but that's not really a con. This is Japan after all. The location is quiet, in Kakuouzan, a traditional district of Nagoya where the Nitaiji (Thai/Japanese Buddhist temple) is also situated At all three visits, I had the 3000 yen course, which requires a reservation (as do the more expensive courses). There is a smaller set for 1200 yen which does not require a reservation. They also serve tea. Updated from previous review on Saturday February 13, 2016