Oryori Honjo

Located in a serene residential area of Nara, Ryori Honjo is the latest venture of a former independent Tokyo restaurant owner, who also served as a chef at the Japanese embassy in Paris. After a career spanning culinary capitals worldwide, they returned to their Kansai roots to establish Ryori Honjo. Opened in late 2023, Ryori Honjo swiftly earned recognition in the Michelin Guide. Local Nara beef, foraged wild vegetables from nearby mountains and regional products such as narazuke and kudzu appear in Ryori Honjo’s omakase kaiseki course. The philosophy behind its cooking breaks down the barriers typically associated with Kyo-ryori — or traditional Kyoto cuisine — by making the kaiseki both approachable and reasonable. The daytime course features dishes with light, well-balanced flavors — takiawase (assortment of simmered items), hyper-seasonal appetizers and pickles. The evening shifts to something more opulent: fresh seasonal fish sashimi, yakimono (grilled dishes) and fried items. The restaurant’s space is elegant but compact, designed to invite guests to enjoy. Five guests can sit at the counter, and up to eight can sit at window-side tables to enjoy the chef’s signature dishes alongside locally produced sake. Michelin Guide: 2024 Michelin Guide Selection