01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Opening the menu at Monaka reveals an intriguing mix of familiar izakaya staples alongside uncommon seafood catches and distinctive seasonal ingredients. Situated in Kyoto's Katsura Chiyoharacho neighborhood, this welcoming establishment makes an immediate impression with its daily sashimi platter. Diners might encounter luscious, fatty skilletfish (aburabouzu) or other rare market finds seldom seen on ordinary dinner tables, alongside seasonal delicacies like Kawachi duck sashimi.
Beyond pristine raw selections, the kitchen excels at hot cooked plates and simmering hot pots. A standout house specialty is the charcoal-charred Satsuma jidori chicken (kuroyaki), cloaked in smoky aroma while showcasing the deep, concentrated umami of each cut. Warm, comforting pots are equally inviting, from tender offal cooked in a mellow soymilk broth (motsunabe) to a winter staple of simmering beef tendon in a petite tabletop pot. The supporting menu keeps pace with inventive fried bites and small dishes well suited to drinks, including shrimp and baby taro crisped in brown-rice batter, alongside nori-wrapped lotus root stuffed with natto.
Paired with draft beer or other drinks, the meal unfolds at an unhurried tempo within a tranquil, traditional Japanese-style interior. Open for dinner service with reservations accepted, Monaka works just as comfortably for a convivial gathering with friends as it does for a quiet evening enjoying good food solo.
