Comments on: Gonpachi - Kushi Soba

By: Mishi Amoto

Mishi Amoto — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:53:16 +0000

I wined, I dined, I loved. I usually am a picky eater, but Gonpachi’s menu had something for everyone who went to the restaurant with me. I had a party of 8 people for my birthday and half of us are non-sushi eaters. Some of us had delicious dishes and skewers, while others ate rolls and sushi. We all got what we wanted, and I got a yummy special dessert platter with three kinds of dessert, my name on it, and beautifully cut fruit. My friends are great for picking out this restaurant. What a special 27th brithday I had.

By: brad

brad — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:08:38 +0000

I wish I was as detailed as the other reviews but not my style. I build high end homes Gonpachi is stunning and yes Kill Bill is a great comparison. You feel your in Kyoto. If you’re a sushi nut and want the gold treatment where you don’t order the chef Nobu does it for you which is the real treat ask for him by name and tell him Brad sent you. If you don’t want to eat at the sushi bar upstairs give you more privacy and if your bill will be over 500$ you can get the private shoes off authentic rooms which means a group of 6 or more unless you’re heavy drinkers. I’ve been there 6 times but it’s heavy on the wallet and well worth it.

By: MaxMillion

MaxMillion — Sat, 12 May 2007 00:05:20 +0000

Oh, and thanks for the surprising info on buckwheat. That’s fascinating!

HAIIIIIIIII!!!!

By: KT

KT — Fri, 11 May 2007 21:27:47 +0000

I don’t think we got the soba water with the soba, but we ordered the cold soba, so it may be different with a different dish? And it wasn’t my order so I may just not have noticed that part, but no one commented on it and I don’t remember seeing it.

The yelling was actually kind of fun, just really startling at first. It seemed so much louder than even the usual sushi restaurant boisterous greeting. Probably because the room was so much bigger.

I’m sure what they were yelling was the second thing, because the host would yell and then the cooks would yell back. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were saying “[X] customers coming!” and the cooks were all yelling back “Hai!” or something like it.

By: tokyoastrogirl

tokyoastrogirl — Fri, 11 May 2007 20:51:18 +0000

I’m pretty sure they yell “Irasahimase” or “Okyakusama (futari) hairimasu!” which is “Two customers coming!” It’s a trademark sign of a good izakaya (Japanese pub) and they do it at Musha as well. I actually miss that so much…..it just makes me feel at home. I’m excited to try the soba at Gonpachi since it’s hand made- the dipping sauce is actually bonito broth and soy- called “tsuyu.”

We went to Gonpachi in Tokyo twice and loved it, so I’m looking forward to it a lot!

By: lynrei

lynrei — Fri, 11 May 2007 20:11:06 +0000

when i went to gonpachi in tokyo, i was surprised at how packed it was. does gonpachi serve you the soba water with the soba?

By: KT

KT — Fri, 11 May 2007 19:30:20 +0000

Actually, I did get quite used to the “Irishaimasse!” but this is quite different. They say something else and it’s …. really LOUD and more intense, if you will.

And, I love Daichan. It’s not too far from where I work, so I’ve had lunch there a couple times. I love the staff and the crazy stuff on the walls, and I’ve liked everything I’ve had there, although the udon was GIGANTIC. I couldn’t even come close to finishing it. I like searching the walls while I eat for what I’m going to order next time. And I like how they have Hawaiian-Japanese dishes as well, like saimin.

PS - has anyone tried the “Korean Hawaiian” BBQ place across the street? It makes me curious every time.

By: MaxMillion

MaxMillion — Fri, 11 May 2007 19:07:53 +0000

Hahaha — at many Japanese places the staff unnervingly yell ”Irasshaimase!” as soon as you walk into the premises, which - I’m pretty sure - means “Welcome!” (predictably enough).

I would have thought you’d have heard that *a lot* when you were in Japan. I remember when I was there, there was even a 7-11 type store where an electronic female voice automatically sounded that greeting every time the doors opened. Those wacky Japanese folk!

Food sounded good. You guys ordered a lot! Thanks for the heads up, I’ll have to try it. For a taste of small village Japan, and izakaya-style grub, we like Daichan (which is only 5 mins walk away!) I loved Kristy’s review, which can be found in ‘related posts’.