This is an absolute gem so i’m gonna keep the venue hush for a bit. You can tell not only from the restaurant’s funky name, which sounded modern but actually coined in the Taisho era in Japan (1920s!). Their well concealed exterior, literally ‘a hole in the wall’ , makes it easy to miss even if your Google Map indicates you’ve arrived.

The immediate next challenge is the “door”, which opens into a not so small interior with a fully open kitchen right in the middle of the hall. The wall lights and pendant lights has the aura of stage lighting cast onto the chef and his team of 3 as they perform their well orchestrated preparation of hot and cold izakaya dishes and more.

The chef immediately reminds me of an art or movie director, perhaps his black barret, olive green kimono and dark frame specs exude that artist vibe more than a chef. He works with his team almost without verbal comms - I don’t know how they do it. It’s an exhibition of their tacit understanding to do everything in such coordinated fashion and yet never failing to give attention to its guests. He came round a couple of times despite a full crowd that evening. Yes the chef is certainly an artist! That’s what he is and his food is certainly a glorious work of art.