Chilled Ice Brick Cold Noodles Hidden Menu at a Kaiseki Restaurant

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 
In the hot summer, cold noodles are the perfect choice—they’re appetizing and cooling. At the kaiseki restaurant "Tempura Matsu" in Arashiyama, Kyoto, there’s a special dish: ice brick cold noodles. The noodles are served in an ice block used as a container, with sauce and soba noodles inside. Not only does it look stunning, but it also feels incredibly refreshing to eat, offering a delightful sensory experience for both taste and sight.

Tempura Matsu is a well-known kaiseki restaurant in Arashiyama. It operates on a fully reservation-only basis, with no fixed menu—the chef decides the dishes based on the freshest daily ingredients. The ice brick cold noodles are part of the kaiseki set course and are not available every day, so you’ll need some luck to try them.

 To enjoy a full traditional kaiseki course at Tempura Matsu, the lunch set starts from 5,000 yen, while dinner is 10,000 yen per person. Reservations are required, and there is no fixed menu—the dishes are decided based on the day’s ingredients. The ice brick cold noodles are not a daily fixed item but are included based on the chef’s arrangement.
 
【Info】
Tempura Matsu
Address: 21-26 Umetsu Otsunawacho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Business hours: 11:30 am–1:30 pm; 5 pm–7:30 pm (Closed Wednesdays)

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