Fermented foods and koji seasonings made using koji, such as shio koji and amazake, are attracting attention.
Koji seasonings use the power of koji fermentation to mature deliciously.
Koji is appealing not only because it makes ingredients taste better, but also because it helps bring the mind and body into balance.
Using koji seasonings at home can feel like a bit of a hurdle, but you may want to try a dish made with them at least once.
There’s a restaurant in Shin-Kurashiki that makes that possible.
Koji Cafe Dining Yukari (hereafter, Yukari).
Here’s a look at Yukari, where the food is delicious and the dishes also help energize your mind and body.
The information presented was current when this article was published in November 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Koji Cafe Dining Yukari
Koji Cafe Dining Yukari is a five-minute walk from the north exit of Shin-Kurashiki Station.
There are two parking spaces beside the shop and four beside the building.
A little farther away, there is also parking for three kei cars, with a sign to help you find it.
A comfortable interior with natural decor
As soon as you step inside, the first thing you notice is the stylish chalk art.
The restaurant has five tables for two, two tables for four, and eight counter seats.
High chairs are also available, so families with small children can feel at ease.
Popular daily lunch and seasonal parfaits
Yukari serves lunch, sweets, and drinks, as well as a la carte dishes and alcoholic beverages during dinner hours.
The lunch menu is as follows.
| Lunch menu | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Daily lunch | ¥1,080 |
| 【Sun, Mon, Tue】 Lu rou fan (supervised by Yuriko Yamamoto of Morimoto Shinmise) | ¥1,200 |
| 【Thu, Fri, Sat】 Fermented gapao rice (supervised by Chie Shimodaira of C&kitchen) | ¥1,200 |
| 【1st and 3rd Fri, Sat, Sun】 Garden salad plate | ¥1,080 |
| 【2nd and 4th Fri, Sat, Sun】 Koji curry | ¥1,080 |
Everything looks so delicious, it’s hard to choose.
On the day of our visit, we ordered the popular daily lunch and a seasonal parfait.
Daily lunch packed with vegetables
For lunch, you can choose between a meat or fish main dish.
On the day of our visit, the choices were “pork sautéed with tomato sauce” and “salted sake-lees grilled renko sea bream.”
Have you ever looked at an ingredient and thought, “Oh, I don’t like that…”?
Apparently, the option to choose came about after customers asked about the menu.
After hearing customers say, “I can’t eat that,” the owner decided to change the menu to its current style: “Then let’s let people choose a meat or fish main dish.”
You can feel the owner’s thoughtful kindness.
I chose the “sake-lees grilled renko sea bream.”
As I waited excitedly, a colorful set meal arrived!
It looked so beautiful that I hesitated to pick up my chopsticks.
For an additional ¥100 (tax included), you can switch from white rice to enzyme-rich brown rice.
The skin of the main dish, renko sea bream, is beautifully browned and fragrant.
The rich aroma of salted sake lees wafts up and tickles your nose.
Crisp on the outside and moist inside.
The sake lees bring out the full flavor of the renko sea bream.
It’s also nice that the side dishes and dessert are served in small bowls.
A seasonal parfait lavishly made with Shine Muscat grapes
This limited-time parfait, available only during the season, is made with seasonal fruit.
It contains homemade shio-koji rare cheesecake, lemon soaked in enzyme syrup, and milk gelato.
The parfait is finished with a generous helping of Shine Muscat grapes.
It’s beautiful from every angle—360 degrees around.
It looked so good, I almost felt it was “too beautiful to eat.”
Crunchy, fragrant cookies are tucked between the smooth, silky rare cheesecake.
Served alongside the parfait is white koji amazake.
The refreshing tartness of the white koji amazake blends with the milk gelato. Absolutely delicious.
You can also order yogurt raspberry parfaits, Japanese-style parfaits, shaved ice, cheesecake, and gateau chocolat.
Koji is used as a secret ingredient, with amazake and sake lees in the syrups and sauces, and rice flour and soy sauce koji in the batter.
There are plenty of sweets here that you can only enjoy at Yukari.
Takeout
Viewed from the front of the restaurant, the takeout-only window is at the back on the right.
It’s nice that you can make a purchase without going inside.
You can quickly and easily pick something up, even when you’re in a hurry.
Items available include daily fermented bowls, frozen rice-flour bread, and sweets.
You can enjoy Yukari’s healthy meals at home or on the go.
We spoke with owner Shinoka Takuma about what inspired him to start Yukari and the ideas behind it.
Koji Cafe Dining Yukari details
| Name | Koji Cafe Dining Yukari |
|---|---|
| Address | 439-3 Tamashima Tsumazaki, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 090-8606-0707 |
| Parking | Available 2 spaces beside the shop and 4 beside the building. There is also space for 3 kei cars a short walk away. |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Last order at 10:00 p.m. Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Takeout: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Wednesday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 5 tables for two 2 tables for four 8 counter seats |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Families with children | Children’s tableware and chairs available. Strollers welcome. |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair access available. Steps near the entrance and restroom. |
| Website | Koji Cafe Dining Yukari: Instagram |
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