Since its opening, it's been about three months. It feels like a long time since I last visited. It seems that this place has become quite familiar to the city, and every time I pass by here, I can see how bustling it is. That's why I really want to go there again.
Today is a Friday. As I was on my way home, I decided to drop by and try to find a place to sit. By nearly 9 p.m., the restaurant was almost full. I managed to get a table at the counter.
This time, I ordered the half-sized bonito fillet that I couldn’t get last time, priced at 1,280 yen. It’s grateful that there was still some left even at this hour. However, although the appearance is stunning and it looks delicious, the flesh is surprisingly sparse and difficult to remove and eat. So, perhaps it’s better to go for negi tororo instead.
Last time, I had sashimi, so this time I’ll have grilled fish and salt-baked salmon. Also, I ordered some heavier-style ham cutlets.
Last time, we had rice cooked in a earthen pot for dinner. But this time, I wasn’t that hungry, so I’ll just say “Gochisama” here.
Yukin is a chain of izakaya that originated in Shinbashi. It's a place where you can enjoy fresh fish. There are several stores in Tokyo, but none in Saitama. I hadn't had the chance to visit there before, but I got the news that there would be a store in Kawaguchi. So, I made a reservation for the opening day and went there right away.
The location is where the Tumbler used to be. Before 8 p.m., when I arrived at the restaurant, it was bustling with many customers. After waiting for a while, I was guided to a table seat. The interior of the restaurant consists of both table seats and counter seats. From the counter seats, you can easily see the kitchen, so if you want to enjoy your meal while watching the cooking process, the counter seats are a good choice.
On the day of opening, I was prepared to encounter some chaos, but the staff were all very calm and took care of handling customers and preparing the food. It's really grateful that they immediately came over when I asked for orders.
As part of the open campaign, from March 1 to March 9, the rice dishes and sashimi combos were offered at half price. So, I had no choice but to order them. After raising a toast with fresh beer, I immediately switched to sake. I ordered two servings of the sashimi combo (usually priced at 2,560 yen, now reduced to 1,280 yen).
The sashimi platter features salmon, octopus, shellfish, and oysters. It's available at a half-price of 1,280 yen—that's really a great deal. Moreover, the sashimi is extremely fresh and crisp. The salmon is from a good quality; it’s soft and sweet, with a creamy texture that makes it truly delicious. Just by looking at this platter, I feel like I want to drink more sake.
The tataki with shoulder meat recommended in the review was very tender, and it complemented the green onions perfectly. The ponzu sauce seemed a bit harsh to me at first, but its sourness was not too strong, making it a great taste combination. It’s really delicious, and it makes you want to eat rice. However, I had to endure eating plain rice in a clay pot until the meal was served.
The monjirō ajiro is crispy and fragrant on the outside, with a brownish crust. However, its flesh is tender. It’s best to eat it while mixing with Japanese sake. No amount of sake seems enough to fully enjoy this dish. By the way, there are a variety of types of Japanese sake available. On that day, I tried four different varieties: Yukino Bijin, Seika, Karekou, and Kōkinshi.
When my stomach felt a bit more settled, I ordered the boiled bonito and rice in a clay pot. The boiled bonito had a slightly sweet taste, with a rich sauce that was truly delicious. The shiitake mushrooms added a wonderful flavor, making me feel hungry for more rice. Just as I was thinking this, the rice in a clay pot arrived at the perfect timing. The clay pot rice came with nori dashi, salted tofu, raw eggs, and a little broth. I took a bite of the rice first—yes, cooking it in a clay pot really enhanced its sweetness. Then, I added the raw eggs to it, creating an absolutely delicious ending meal. I also kept the leftover boiled bonito with it, and enjoyed it while drinking the broth.
Delighted by the delicious food and excellent sake, thank you for the wonderful meal. It seems that due to the opening of Rala Terrace Kawaguchi, which is planned to take place in spring 2025 on the site of the Sogo Kawaguchi store, many new restaurants such as yakuzai, ramen shops, and onigiri stalls have been opened in the area around Kawaguchi Station recently.
