How do you find out about the best places to eat? Back in Oregon, my first plan of action is usually to check with Yelp and read the reviews. Then, after looking over the reviews, I like to ask friends if they have tried a place out and get their take on it.
Well, that works well for me, but my wife, Mika, is truly a “foodie,” and my recommendations have been known to come as disappointments despite the high star ratings.
Is "Fumi-chan" a Yelper?
My Yelp app seems to work here in Japan, but I often still question whether it will meet the high standards of my “foodie” wife. So instead of deferring to my Yelp app, I asked Mika about her recommendations for good restaurants.
She started telling me about “Fumi-chan.” Fumi is a Japanese woman who Mika has befriended. Fumi is also a foodie, a local with insider knowledge if you will, and she recommended a couple restaurants for us to try.
Kiku Zen
On this particular morning when we were thinking about having lunch at KikuZen, a local restaurant that Fumi had recommended, Mika was moving around earlier than usual. It seemed a little strange to me until I found out that this local restaurant has a lunch special called “Kiku Gozen” that is available only for the first 10 customers. Once these 10 specials are served, anyone else would have to settle for whatever else was available on the menu (which also looked pretty good to me).
When we stuck our heads into the small dining area just after 11:00 in the morning, I noticed that we were the 3rd and 4th customers. SAFE! We sat down at the bar and ordered the Kiku Gozen. (Watch the video below!)
There are definitely places like this that are well-worth finding if and when you are able to visit Japan. I highly recommend this restaurant and give it my 5 stars. But don’t take my word for it, know that this recommendation came from an “insider.”
Thank you for your kind words, Jerry! That Kiku Gozen looks amazing and I would be delighted to try it!
Yes, it looks and tastes amazing! I would love for you to try it!