The Chinese restaurant Zensho Hanpochi opened in 2003 in the city center of Kyoto, marked by the curtain hanging at the entrance of the atmospheric Western-style building. The restaurant is housed in the renovated store and residence of a former kimono merchant, with the atmospheric Kyoto machiya (traditional townhouse) spread out behind. The restaurant's name comes from "Omono no Tokoro," which was once the capital's kitchen in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, and was named Zeze. The restaurant serves Chinese court cuisine, including the famous Peking duck and braised shark's fin.

The popular shimidare tonomann (pork buns with smeared sauce), which are always mentioned when talking about Gions Festival, are sold only during the four days before and after Yoiyama, and over 20,000 of them are sold each year. The large pork buns are filled with a large amount of filling and topped with a special soy sauce-based sauce, making a big impact both in appearance and taste! The chunky skin is filled with red bean paste. The filling of a meat bun is usually said to be about 100 grams, but the shimidare pork bun weighs 235 grams, which is sure to satisfy!

The popular smeared pork buns are carefully handmade one by one with a wish to eliminate bad luck. ［At Leaf KYOTO mall, they are available all year round, making them No. 1 in sales. Orders placed during the Gion Festival sometimes have to wait one to two months for delivery, so it is recommended to place your order a little later!

Since its establishment by the owner's grandmother in Jujo, Minami-ku, Yakiniku Hayashi has been attracting fans for many years with its unique style of yakiniku, in which red meat and hormone are rubbed with a sweet and rich miso-based sauce and then mixed and grilled. Just smelling the aroma of the meat as it is being grilled makes you want to drink more beer, and one bite of the freshly grilled meat will make you swoon with the deliciousness of the meat soaked in the sauce.

The key to the addictive taste of this dish is miso, which has been imported from the Kyoto Central Market since the establishment of the restaurant. The owner, Mr. Hayashi, uses his expert eye to determine the miso content, and mixes the viscous part with the hormone and the dry part with the lean meat. This meticulous and careful work is what creates the delicious flavor of the meat that soaks up the rich sauce.

Leaf KYOTO mall was the exclusive e-commerce site for this product, but it has been regrettably decided to discontinue its sales in December. The resumption of sales has not yet been decided, so this is the last chance to purchase the product. The sales period ends at noon on December 17, 2024 (Tuesday), so hurry up if you are not sure about purchasing one!

TREEE'S KYOTO's sweets, created by pastry chef SIN, who holds a top-level wine qualification, Sommelier Excellence, are made with organic matcha green tea, using several types of tea leaves delicately and combining them with carefully selected ingredients. The sweets, which are made to maximize the natural taste of matcha, have quickly become a hot topic since they were introduced on a TV program, and there is now a waiting list of several months for the popular sweets brand.

［Since TREEE'S KYOTO does not have a physical store, its products can only be purchased at pop-ups at events and through its online store. ［Leaf KYOTO mall will start selling their products in 2022, and in 2023, they will start selling Ono-cha truffle chocolates in a package collaborated with Leaf.

Among the diverse lineup of matcha sweets, such as matcha cheesecake modeled after a moss ball terrarium and richly flavored matcha terrine, the most popular is the botanical cookie tin. When you open the simple yet stylish black tin decorated with leaves, you will be enchanted by the cookies in the shape of leaves, flowers, and other botanicals.

Not only the bright colors and cute shapes, but also the delicious aroma of tea wafting through the air will surprise you. Each of the nine varieties has its own authentic tea flavor. These cookies, with their distinctive tea leaves, are sure to be a welcome gift for adults.

Misonobashi Sakai, located not far from Kamigamo Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Kyoto, celebrates its 42nd year in 2024 as an independent restaurant from Chinese Restaurant Sakai. Its signature dish is chilled noodles (chilled noodles are called chilled chuka in the Kansai region). The restaurant is known for its cold noodles, and so many customers order cold noodles when they hear the name "Sakai. The restaurant has been featured frequently on TV programs and has many celebrity fans.

The sauce, which has remained unchanged since the establishment of the restaurant, is made slowly over a period of two to three days. The sesame sauce, which is made from chicken stock and blended with soy sauce and a variety of other seasonings, is thick and mild, rich and sour, and goes well with the thick, chewy noodles. The juicy roasted pork and cucumber are simple ingredients, but the deep flavor of the dish will make you want to try it again. The chopped nori (seaweed) also adds a nice accent.

［The products sold at Leaf KYOTO mall come with a set of ingredients, so all you have to do is boil the noodles, put them in ice water, serve them, and pour the sauce over the noodles. You can easily enjoy the taste of "Sakai cold noodles" at home. You can enjoy the taste of "Sakai cold noodles! The best-before date is 4 days from the date of manufacture, so please enjoy it as soon as possible after it arrives.

Since its opening in 2006, the restaurant has been a hot topic of conversation as a popular restaurant with a long line of customers. The current system is to make a reservation by phone at 9:00 a.m. on the day you wish to visit the restaurant, and arrive at the restaurant when the time is right.

The unforgettable feature of Yamamoto Menzo's noodles is their firmness. The noodles have a beautiful luster after boiling, and their smooth and firm texture is impressive and pleasant to the touch. The delicious flavor of the carefully prepared broth will soak into your body and leave a lasting impression.

Leaf KYOTO mall offers a set of three types of udon noodles: kake udon, kitsune udon, and nikko miso udon, all of which are Yamamoto Menzou's specialty. Kake udon" is a simple udon that allows you to fully enjoy the flavor of the broth, and "kitsune udon" is a popular dish that you must try at least once. The meat miso udon, with its spicy meat miso accenting the flavor, is a mouthwatering dish.
They have conducted extensive research on the mixing of flour, aging process, and water ratio so that they can offer udon noodles of the same quality as those served at the restaurant. Check out Yamamoto Menzo's udon noodles, which are a perfect harmony of their signature noodles and strong-flavored broth.

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