Open since 2015, this modest shop on a busy city junction quickly established itself as a cult destination - and no wonder: Takashi Miyazaki's cooking is a revelation.
It's a tiny place with just a few seats, six stools in all, and a narrow shelf, part of which overlooks the busy junction. But whether eating in here, in this modest premises, or planning to take away, there is a surprising choice. The regular menu is extensive and there's a packed Daily Specials board too, also posted on Facebook.
From the Miyazaki treasure box to sushi rolls to Bento boxes, from noodle dishes to Donburi specials and a whole lot more, it's all cooked for you by chef-patron Takashi Miyazaki himself, a one-man culinary show who very quickly became a legend in Irish food circles.
To create his authentic traditional Japanese cuisine, Miyazaki uses the freshest of local ingredients, presented in a style that is neat and tidy and often colourful. Salmon features often in the specials - Salmon Tataki, for example (Seared Salmon with ikura, garlic chips, mixed seaweed and ponza), or a superb dish of Salmon Zuke Donburi (fresh Atlantic salmon marinated in soy based sauce on steamed rice), which is served in a bowl with slices of marinated salmon and ikura (salmon roe) on top and a little dollop of wasabi
The essential ingredient is Miyazaki's dashi broth, which brings the pleasant savoury 'fifth taste', Umami, to many of the dishes - and is the secret of his extraordinarily flavoursome soups. Start, perhaps, with Bamboo shoot and Shimeji Mushroom soup, which is not strongly flavoured yet complex and exceptionally delicious, as is the regular Miso Soup with tofu, wakame seaweed and dashi.
Many regular fans come especially for the ramen dishes such as Miso Butter Tonkotsu Ramen (Miso Butter Tonkotsu, pork stock noodles with corn and chashu), which may come with the option of a Nitamagu simmered egg - a wonderful meal in a bowl and not to be missed.
Whatever you choose here, you can take your pick from the real flavours of Japan - all served with traditional Japanese courtesy. A little treasure.
