Honboh: modern Japanese works well in this setting

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Area:  about a 3 min walk northeast of Kokusai Center Station 国際センター駅
Restaurant:  Honboh ホンボウ
Map and Info:  http://tabelog.com/aichi/A2301/A230101/23046662/dtlmap/

Hours:  Lunch 11am-2:30pm (closed Sun), Dinner 6pm-1am (closed Wed)


This little restaurant is just off the main Endoji 円頓寺　arcade shopping street.  It's based in a building that looks like an old house, and it does not have a big sign, so it is easy to miss. I think it might be associated with a tiny gallery shop closeby.

The inside furniture and decor are very simple, with the natural color of light wood and white as its theme.  It almost reminds me of a basement reno, but more stylish.

I went for the higawari lunch B (todays's special lunch).  The plate with the salad included an eggplant that was soaked in an ume (pickled plum) flavored sauce.  Shishito (like tiny green peppers) had a dashi/bonito flake seasoning, a standard flavor, as was the soboro.  Soboro is basically ground meat simmered in a Japanese style sauce that gets concentrated into the meat.  

Iwashi  (a type of fish, strong on the fish smell), simmered in an ume sauce had an interesting flavor.  It was basically a sweet soy sauce-based teriyaki flavor, but with the sweetness and sourness of a green ume plum.  It was sweet and salty at the same time, but it worked well to lessen the smell of the fish.  The cucumbers and daikon were slightly pickled with salt. 

The dishes come on a wooden tray fitting with restaurant's decor.  The music was a jazz piano medley.  

I would definitely make a return when I feel like light Japanese food with a twist!