Leaving the lakeside café near Golden Scale Lake, we strolled toward the pre-booked Traditional Steamed Basket Set Meal. The rain started early today, so we braved the downpour, using our umbrellas to navigate the wet streets.
Originally, I planned to have lunch directly at a lakeside café, La Ruche. However, my travel companion expressed a preference for a vegetarian meal. So, I inquired about this charming seasonal restaurant. Interestingly, its second floor serves traditional local steamed dishes.
The restaurant’s location is incredibly convenient—it’s situated very close to Lake Kinrin and right by the side of a major road. To help everyone get their bearings, here’s the restaurant’s address: 1520-1-2F, Kawakami, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan. You can also directly access it on Google Maps by clicking the image above.
The restaurant is located on the second floor and the name is ”Kagura” in Yufuin.
Steaming food using steam exclusively is a time-honored traditional cooking method in Japan. However, the choice of steamer material, precise timing, and heat intensity must be tailored to the unique characteristics of the ingredients. These factors significantly impact the final taste and texture of the dish.
The steamer at Kagura is crafted from walnut wood, which effectively seals in the temperature and preserves the true essence of the food. This is the table we’ve pre-booked.
Before the meal, the staff carefully extract each dish from the steamer, arranging them meticulously on the table. It’s reminiscent of the experience of dining on a kaiseki (traditional Japanese multi-course) meal—delicately stacked portions—but with the twist that all the dishes are predominantly vegetarian and prepared using steam.
If you’re dining with children, I recommend that one portion should suffice for two people, as the accompanying noodles are quite generous.
Additionally, there’s a bowl of white rice and miso soup, further enhancing the feeling of satisfaction.
The entire meal arrangement consists of mainly root vegetables, with just a few tender and juicy pieces of pork.
The vegetables and meat juices have been steamed into the noodles at high heat.
Isn’t it intriguing why the natural flavors of food become especially pronounced when steamed? Shiitake mushrooms turn extra juicy, and taro carries a delightful earthy aroma.
Today’s lunch, with its healthy and refreshing dishes, truly left my stomach feeling comfortable. Despite being light, it was delicious!
Although there are only a few pieces of pork, they are incredibly tender and juicy when you take a bite. You can pair them with two different dipping sauces.
Both sauces have a similar slightly salty taste. The one on top offers a refreshing saltiness, while the bottom one is Japanese soy sauce with a hint of mild vinegar.
This isn’t just steamed egg; it’s a post-meal dessert—steamed egg pudding made from fresh eggs. And it comes as part of the set menu.
This is the “Komatsuna and Shiitake Mushroom Sauce Steamed Egg.”
The ground floor of this establishment serves as a place to sell local specialties. Here, you’ll find an array of snacks, souvenirs, and renowned regional sake from Kyushu.
And there’s a variety of beckoning cat figurines for sale!
Cat lovers dining here can also indulge in a bit of treasure hunting.
Seeing those adorable feline smiles, worries instantly dissipate! My heart couldn’t help but join them in a smile.
