Michelin Bib Gourmand Award-Winning Mizutaki at Daidai

Daidai, a restaurant awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand, specializes in mizutaki (chicken hot pot). Operated by the neighboring yakitori restaurant 'Yakitori Toriji,' the establishment is run by chicken experts who skillfully prepare a whole chicken, offering the freshest cuts in their most delicious state. This popular restaurant requires reservations, and during the online booking process, I selected the mizutaki set (including appetizers) for ¥4,150. On the day of the visit, I also ordered some drinks and karaage (fried chicken) as additional items. The meal begins with soup and chicken. The chicken is served with thigh meat on the left and drumstick meat on the right. Following the staff's advice, I started with the thigh meat—it was incredibly tender! The soup has a mild flavor, and while they recommended adding salt or yuzu pepper to taste, it was delicious as is. The chicken pairs wonderfully with yuzu pepper. Next came the chicken wings, followed by tsukune (chicken meatballs) expertly prepared by the professionals. When the tsukune was ready, they served the second round of soup. The flavor of the soup had completely transformed—it became richer and more flavorful. The tsukune, which included large chunks of onion, was absolutely delicious! For the third round, vegetables were added to the soup, making it visibly more appetizing. The vegetables included komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach), cabbage, tofu, enoki mushrooms, and more. The karaage (¥160 per piece) I ordered was piping hot and incredibly juicy. Truly a delightful experience!