To make sure I have room for the saba sando, I pace myself on everything that comes before it. At Gion Rohan, this little battle starts every single time. Somehow I made it to the saba sando once again, and yes, today was the best.
What Kind of Restaurant is Gion Rohan?
Gion Rohan is a Japanese restaurant near Gion-Shijo Station, with counter seating plus one private room. The à la carte style makes it easy to choose what I feel like. Seats are limited, so I book ahead. On this evening, laughter from the private room became part of the night at the counter.
A Tabletop Journey: Gion Rohan
From fig shiraae to the signature saba sando. A dish-by-dish record of dinner at Gion Rohan in Kyoto.
5 items
Fig Shiraae
The first dish was figs in a gentle shiraae tofu dressing. It felt like early autumn.
Grilled Fish
Grilled fish with a charcoal aroma. Crisp fish bones, grated daikon, plus sudachi made it bright and clean.
Hamo Matsutake Hot Pot
Late-season hamo met early matsutake in a small hot pot. The aroma felt like autumn in Kyoto.
Karasumi Mochi
Soft mochi covered generously with karasumi, dried cured mullet roe. I wanted to fill up on this alone, but the saba sando was still waiting.
Saba Sando★The Finish
The famous saba sando: charcoal-grilled bread with cured mackerel, shiso, plus takuan. This is the finish I always hope to reach.
Wrapping Up
Picking dishes here and there à la carte, then closing with the saba sando. An evening at Gion Rohan might just be perfect in this flow.
Next time, I have a feeling I will be fighting the very same battle. I am already planning a strategy so I can keep both the karasumi mochi and the saba sando.
