01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked into a side street not far from Hachimanyama Station on the Keio Line, Kawashima-ya centers its menu on thoughtfully crafted fish dishes alongside a broad repertoire of Japanese cooking. Lunchtime during the week is particularly known for its set meals, where the spotlight falls on grilled fish meticulously cleared of bones or simmered cuts steeped in savory broth. Offerings such as medai (Japanese butterfish) or mackerel grilled until the skin is crisp and fragrant, or salmon accented with citrusy yuzu, arrive alongside small side dishes, salad, pickles, and miso soup, making for a genuinely wholesome midday meal.
Beyond fish, the kitchen provides plenty of meat-centered meal sets to suit different cravings, including karaage fried chicken, pork wrapped and deep-fried with cheese, and comforting pork simmered with egg in broth. Generosity is a hallmark here: the sashimi set, for instance, pairs thick cuts of raw seafood with a side of crispy fried chicken, letting diners enjoy both fresh ocean catch and hot fried fare in a single order.
Come evening, the quiet, relaxed dining room shifts to an enticing array of a la carte plates well worth lingering over. Notable specialties include deep-fried braised pork kakuni, seared Omi beef tataki sashimi, simmered beef tendon, Kirishima chicken grilled with aromatic yuzu kosho pepper, and assorted vegetable tempura. Enjoying seasonal vegetables and fresh sashimi bit by bit over draft beer, chilled sake, or a whisky highball makes for a restorative end to the day.
Fitted with both counter and table seating, the modern Japanese interior easily accommodates solo diners dropping in for a quiet bite as well as families or friends gathering by reservation. Whether you come for a nourishing lunch tray or drop by after dark for seasonal bites and a glass of sake, the restaurant reliably delivers a satisfying experience.
