Beans

Walking through the door in Nagaokakyo, the first thing that catches the eye is an inviting notice for the "Bean's Set." Kicking off with a choice of 1 drinks paired with a homemade dish of the day, diners often ease into the evening before exploring the fish specials chalked on the daily blackboard. Sashimi covers standard fresh catches alongside seasonal selections, with platters tailored to group size or personal taste. Small plates that celebrate the pure flavors of fish and produce soon crowd the table, from daily grilled fish collars and simmered fish sourced fresh each day to vibrant vegetable sticks served with homemade miso mayonnaise.

Beyond seafood, the kitchen prepares plenty of hearty, warming plates to round out a meal. Tender chicken nanban topped with sweet vinegar and a generous blanket of tartar sauce, juicy deep-fried chicken thigh karaage, and crisp fried root vegetables like burdock and lotus root serve equally well as drinking snacks or satisfying mains. Choosing a pour to match the food adds to the fun, whether sharing wine casually poured from a sake carafe into small ochoko cups, sipping local sake, or sticking to classic beer.

For a comforting finish, options range from a rice bowl topped with boiled baby sardines, fragrant sesame oil, and Kujo scallions, to the gentle Bean's Gohan combining broth and tofu over rice, or a fluffy egg zosui rice porridge. Dessert rounds things off with sweets like matcha ice cream accompanied by sweet bean paste and roasted soybean flour. Children are well looked after with kid-friendly lunches that include a drink, small rice balls, and mini parfaits. Up on the 2nd floor, spacious tatami seating and booster seats make it just as accommodating for families and groups as it is for solo diners looking for a relaxed drink.