01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked into a residential pocket of Katsura Minamitatsumi-cho in Kyoto's Nishikyo Ward, Tsuhako is an izakaya run by a chef from Miyako Island, offering home-style Okinawan cooking alongside a wide range of drinks pairings. A natural place to begin is with the island-inspired appetisers: rich, creamy peanut-based jimami tofu, popping fresh sea grapes, and fragrant island shallot tempura. Settle in with an Orion beer or a citrusy shikuwasa chuhai while dipping into tender rafute simmered until it pulls apart at the touch of a chopstick, or hearty braised pork stewed alongside daikon radish.
Beyond its Okinawan repertoire, the kitchen distinguishes itself with a substantial selection of poultry dishes. Firm, mature hen with deep, chewy flavour is served simply grilled with salt, seasoned with soy sauce, or dressed as hinepon with citrus ponzu. By contrast, tender young chicken from Okayama features in fried thigh karaage, steamed thigh with ponzu, and crisp fried wing sticks. The menu extends further to Kyoto duck—showcased in charcoal-grilled thigh cuts and simmered duck loin—along with warming winter chicken hot pots that finish with a rich egg and rice porridge, letting you tailor the meal to whatever texture or cut suits your mood.
To round out the meal, diners gravitate toward noodles or rice: Miyako soba or soki soba bathed in a savoury, restorative broth, or a hearty plate of taco rice. The dessert list leans toward refreshing chilled sweets, including traditional Okinawan zenzai and shaved ice flavoured with tart shikuwasa lime or vibrant purple sweet potato.
The interior offers counter and table seating, accommodating both solo guests stopping by for a quiet glass of awamori and small groups gathering over shared dishes. Tsuhako opens from 18:00 in the evening until 0:00 late at night, and is closed on Mondays. Reservations are accepted, and payment can be made in cash or via PayPay and Rakuten Pay.
