Fermented foods and koji seasonings made with koji, such as shio-koji and amazake, are gaining attention.
Deliciously matured koji seasonings that harness the power of fermentation.
The charm of koji is not only that it makes ingredients delicious, but also it helps to balance the mind and body.
Using koji seasonings at home can be a bit challenging, but I want to try the dishes at least once.
There is actually a place that can make that happen in Shin-Kurashiki.
It is Koji Cafe Dining Yūkari (hereafter, Yūkari).
I will introduce Yūkari, which not only tastes good but also energizes the mind and body.
About Koji Cafe Dining Yūkari
Koji Cafe Dining Yūkari is a 5-minute walk from the north exit of Shin-Kurashiki Station.
There are 2 parking spaces next to the store and 4 spaces next to the building.
There are also 3 parking spaces for light vehicles a short walk away, with signs installed for easy identification.
Cozy interior with natural decor
The moment you step into the store, the stylish chalk art catches your eye.
Inside, there are five tables for two, two tables for four, and eight counter seats.
There are also chairs for children, so it's safe even if you have small children.
Popular daily lunch and seasonal parfait
At Yūkari, lunch, sweets, drinks, and during dining hours, a la carte and alcohol are also offered.
The lunch menu is as follows.
| Lunch Menu | Price (including tax) |
|---|---|
| Daily lunch | 1,080 yen |
| [Sun, Mon, Tue] Lu Rou Fan (supervised by Morimoto Shinmise, Yamaguchi Yuriko) | 1,200 yen |
| [Thu, Fri, Sat] Fermented Gapao Rice (supervised by C&kitchen, Shimohira Chie) | 1,200 yen |
| [1st and 3rd Fri, Sat, Sun] Garden Salad Plate | 1,080 yen |
| [2nd and 4th Fri, Sat, Sun] Koji Curry | 1,080 yen |
Everything looks delicious and it's hard to choose.
On the day of the interview, I ordered the popular daily lunch and seasonal parfait.
Vegetable-rich daily lunch
For lunch, you can choose the main dish from meat or fish.
On the day of the interview, the options were "Pork sauté with tomato sauce" and "Grilled Renko sea bream with sake lees."
Have you ever looked at the ingredients and thought, "Oh, I don't like that..."?
The option to choose was inspired by inquiries from customers about the menu.
From the voices saying "I can't eat that", the owner decided to change to the current style of allowing customers to choose between meat or fish for the main dish.
You can feel the owner's warm consideration.
I chose the "Grilled Renko sea bream with sake lees."
As I waited with excitement, a colorful meal set arrived!
It is so beautiful that I hesitate to pick up my chopsticks.
For an additional 100 yen (tax included), you can change from white rice to enzyme brown rice.
The main dish, the red sea bream, has a nicely roasted skin.
The rich aroma of salt sake lees gently tickles the nose.
The surface is crispy, while the flesh is moist.
The sake lees bring out the umami of the red sea bream to the fullest.
It's also nice that the side dishes and dessert are served in small bowls.
Seasonal Parfait Luxuriously Made with Shine Muscat
This is a limited-time parfait that can only be enjoyed during the season using seasonal fruits.
It contains homemade salt koji rare cheese, lemon soaked in enzyme syrup, and milk gelato.
The parfait is luxuriously finished with Shine Muscat.
It is beautiful from every angle, 360 degrees.
I thought, "It would be a waste to eat it."
Crunchy cookies with a fragrant aroma are hidden between the smooth rare cheese.
Accompanying the parfait is white koji amazake.
The refreshing acidity of the white koji amazake blends with the milk gelato. It is incredibly delicious.
You can also order yogurt raspberry parfaits, Japanese parfaits, shaved ice, cheesecake, and gateau chocolat.
Syrups and sauces use amazake and sake lees, and the dough incorporates rice flour and soy sauce koji as hidden flavors.
There are many sweets that can only be enjoyed at Eucalyptus.
Takeout
From the front of the store, the takeout-only window is located at the back right.
It's nice that you can purchase without entering the store.
You can quickly and easily buy something even when you're in a hurry.
You can purchase daily fermented bowls, frozen rice flour bread, sweets, and more.
You can enjoy healthy eucalyptus rice at home or on the go.
I spoke with the owner, Shinoaka Takuma, about the inspiration and thoughts behind starting Eucalyptus.
Koji Cafe Dining Eucalyptus Data
| Name | Koji Cafe Dining Eucalyptus |
|---|---|
| Address | 439-3 Tsuzaki, Tamashima, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 090-8606-0707 |
| Parking | Available 2 cars can park next to the store, and 4 cars can park next to the building. There is also space for 3 light vehicles a short walk away. |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Last order at 10:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Takeout: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Regular Holiday | Wednesday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 5 tables for 2 2 tables for 4 8 counter seats |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | Children's utensils available. High chairs available. Strollers allowed inside. |
| Barrier-Free | Wheelchair accessible. There are steps near the entrance and toilet. |
| Website | Koji Cafe Dining Eucalyptus: Instagram |
