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Meitei

Go for sake beginners!Meitei is an izakaya in Kawaramachi that you'll want to visit even by yourself.

Meitei
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Editorial staff member T has newly joined the Sake World editorial department.
In fact, he is still a beginner when it comes to sake, and is trying to catch up with the other veteran club members by frequenting izakaya every day.

This time, it's finally time to try "drinking alone" for the first time!I decided to go through Meitei's noren at the recommendation of a senior club member.

You can also have lunch there, and the atmosphere is appealing.

The owner, Mr. Ota, came from the famous Japanese restaurant Chika, and he deliberately chose the izakaya format because he wanted people to enjoy the restaurant casually.

Meitei

The interior of the restaurant, which only has 11 seats at the counter, has an old-fashioned atmosphere, and I was told that the current owner, Mr. Ota, has taken over the restaurant, which has been popular for many years.

The reason why it is popular is that it is easy to use even when you are alone and it is easy to use for lunch.

Click here for the person introducing this article

Meitei
Owner Mitsutoshi Ota
Profile
Born in Hokkaido.She became interested in Japanese food, and after graduating from a culinary school in Kyoto, she went to Chika, a famous Japanese restaurant. She became independent after 12 years of training.

These three bottles are recommended for sake beginners!

Meitei

From left: Uonuma Junmai Sake, Skunk Basho Junmai Daiginjo, Kamigura Unfiltered/Unhydrated/Namashu

Why do you recommend it to beginners of sake?

Mr. Ota's advice for beginners is, ``Start with a light drink and gradually choose a strong drink to get a better sense of the taste of the alcohol.''

Meitei

At first, you don't need to know anything about it; once you get to know it, you'll start imagining the taste based on the specs, so we want people to enjoy drinking it without any preconceived notions.In addition, if you are a solo customer, it is OK to serve from half a cup.

Meitei

First of all, he recommended"Uonuma".

Mr. Ota"Start with a light drink. It's a tanrei dry sake that's typical of Niigata. It's refreshing and doesn't have any taste."

Editorial staff T"It's really refreshing and easy to drink. It doesn't feel too harsh. It seems like it would go well with any of the dishes you prepared today."

Meitei

■Uonuma pure rice sake 1 yen per cup
Shirataki Sake Brewery (Niigata Prefecture) Alcohol content: 15% or more, less than 16%, Rice polishing ratio: 65%

Meitei

Next appeared"Misk Basho".

Mr. Ota"This is Daiginjo, but it's not too aromatic. It has the gorgeous aroma and flavor typical of Japanese sake, and is the most popular among our women."

Editorial staff T"It's completely different from the previous drink! The previous one was simple and easy to drink, and this one is also easy to drink, but it's very glamorous."

Meitei

■Misk Basho Junmai Daiginjo 1 cup 1200 yen
Nagai Sake Brewery (Gunma Prefecture) Alcohol content: 15% Rice polishing ratio: 50%

Meitei

In the end, Mr. Ota chose``Kamizo''.

Mr. Ota``Unlike Daiginjo, the rice is polished to 70%, so the flavor is strong. Once you're good at drinking it, you'll find it interesting.''

Editorial staff T"Ah, it has a sour taste! It's hard to describe, but it feels a little fizzing. It's completely different and delicious."

Meitei

■Kamizo unfiltered, unwatered, raw sake 1 yen per cup
Matsui Sake Brewery (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) Alcohol content 15% Rice polishing ratio 70%

``If you're not sure which one to choose, you can try drinking it because it has a cute, shiny label like the one we introduced this time, Kamizou, or just buy the jacket,'' says Ota.

Meitei

The price of a dish is that of an izakaya, but the taste is that of a kappo restaurant.

Most dishes change daily and start at 300 yen each.Even though the prices are just for an izakaya, the workmanship is amazing, with every detail showing that he came from a top-class kappo restaurant.

The combination of seasonal vegetables makes the best use of the soup stock, and is sure to make you want to drink sake.

Meitei

Chicken fillet and okra with plum dressing 400 yen
Tender sake-steamed chicken breasts and okra soaked in dashi stock.Enjoy it with the refreshing umeboshi (pickled plums).

Meitei

Chicken wings and pumpkin stew 500 yen
A combination of lightly cooked chicken wings and sweet and delicious seasonal pumpkin.The flavor of the chicken soaks into the pumpkin for a relaxing taste.

Meitei

Boiled eggplant 500 yen
A slightly luxurious Tosa-ni cooked with loosened bonito meat.The eggplant is melt-in-the-mouth, and the quality of the soup is good, avoiding unnecessary seasoning and making the most of the stock.

I want you to enjoy sake without being formal.

When I asked him if he had any etiquette rules when drinking, he kindly replied, ``I'd be happy if you could just be careful not to drink too much without being so formal (lol).''

Meitei

Editorial Department T's solo drinking debut was a huge success, as we met the owner who was warm to sake beginners.Feeling tipsy, I said, ``I'll be back!''

Meitei

Meitei

Address
277 Enpukujimae-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto PrefectureOpen with Googlemap
TEL
075-221-2750
Opening hours
15:00-23:00 (LO/22:00)
Closing days
Irregular holidays, smoking allowed

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