Cutlet Sankatsu
ã«ãã¬ãä¸æ´», tåri 4-3489-2 right at the north end of watarase bridge, tel. 0284-21-3855. open th-tu closed w 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, 5:00 to 9:00 pm. either choose your own samples from a variety of specialty cutlets filled with cheese to nori-wrapped mince to the more traditional slab of pork or chicken, at ¥400 per dish of two; or order the watarase set of six for ¥2550 with rice, soup, pickles. lunch specials, ¥650-750; cutlet bento, ¥1650.
KappÅ Kaiseki ChÅ-ya
å²ç¹ãä¼å¸ãè¶ã, tåri 2-2652 on the north side of main street near the hotel ashikaga-kan, tel. 0284-41-2456. open th-tu closed w 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, 5:00 to 10:00 pm. a nice, unpretentious place to indulge in a leisurely japanese kaiseki multicourse "tasting menu" dinner, or a fine teishoku one-tray set-menu meal. teishoku ¥1350–2000; kaiseki ¥4500, ¥5500; ¥6500.
Southwest Paradise
Shåhei-cho 2360 on the flagstone-paved sidestreet connecting the streets entering ashikaga gakkå and bannaji, tel. 0284-43-3484, (http://e-bcnet.com/swp1992/). open tu-su closed m 12:00 to 2:00 pm & 5:30 pm to 1:00 am weekdays; 12:00 pm to 2:00 am saturdays; 12:00 to 11:00 pm sundays. a little bit of new mexico in old ashikaga. various pasta or taco dinners ¥1280; drinks about ¥500; snacks about ¥400.
Kuwakanwatto Restaurant & Market
ã¯ã¯ã«ã³ã¯ãã, ietomi-cho 2264 on the street bordering the north side of bannaji, hence the thai name kuwa kitchen + kan near + wat temple, tel. 0284-43-1313, email [email protected], (http://www14.plala.or.jp/...). open tu-su closed m 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, 5:00 to 10:00 pm. run by a japanese family with thai connections who have hosted thai exchange students and redone their upstairs tatami rooms in thai decor, the restaurant offers rich thai flavors but with the spice toned down a bit for japanese tastes. choose from the picture menu book or wade through the katakana renditions of your favorites. most dishes range around ¥850-950. thai beers, ¥500.
Teuchi Ramen Maruyama
ææãããã丸山, tanaka-cho 957-7 one block west of tobu ashikaga-shi station on tanaka-dori, tel. 0284-71-5254. open w-m closed tu and 3rd w each month 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 5:00 to 8:30 pm. this local favorite makes its own high-quality ramen, gyoza, and char siu. a bowl of its highly recommended garlic ramen runs about ¥800.
Tonkatsu Sakae
ã¨ããã¤æ , ise-cho 2-chome head one block up grand avenue from jr ashikaga, cross main street, turn right, and stop a few doors down, tel. 0284-42-0541 memory-aid: o-i-shi-i. open f-w closed th 11:00 am to 2:00, 5:00 to 9:00 pm. this busy, family-run local favorite displays the ashikaga fine-dining club umaimono-kai seal of approval and serves up food that well deserves it. the chicken katsu is all breast meat, no skin, no fat. their fried oysters are great, too. set-menu dinners run from ¥950-1900.
Uoe
ããã, igusa-cho on the back street running parallel to main street, leading from the southwest corner of bannaji to the lower entrance to orihime shrine, tel. 0284-22-2200. open m-sa closed su 11:30 to 2:30 pm, 5:30 to 9:30 pm. hosted by a friendly sushi chef who trained in san francisco and maui and understands a lot more english than he speaks, this longtime seafood restaurant in fresh new digs features fine fresh fish and regional sake, all presented creatively and deliciously. lunch specials from ¥800; set-menu dinners from ¥1200; glasses of regional sake range from ¥450 to ¥950.
Suzu Okonomiyaki
ããã好ã¿ç¼ã, ise-cho 3-chome, 9-9 near the far-end, lefthand corner of the third block of grand avenue, which runs north from jr ashikaga station, tel. 0284-42-8020. open th-tu closed w 12:00 to 9:30 pm weekends, 1:00 to 9:30 pm weekdays. run by a friendly, well-traveled couple whose souvenirs decorate the small but spotless restaurant. you choose your ingredients and cook okonomiyaki, monja, yakisoba, or other items at teppan tables. typical menu items range between ¥400 and ¥800.
Italian Gelateria Romano
ããã, shåhei-cho 2366 on the flagstone-paved sidestreet connecting the streets entering ashikaga gakkå and bannaji, tel. 0284-44-6078, fax 0284-44-6079. open tu-su closed m 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. this pleasant shop offers a nice variety of refreshing, intensely flavored gelato, from italian vanilla and café mocha to black sesame and green tea, served in either cups or fresh-made waffle cones. single cup or cone ¥350, double ¥500. junior cup ¥250, junior special ¥300. crepes ¥350-400.
Santa Tori Maruyaki
ãã太ã¨ã丸ç¼, tanaka-cho 920-9 across the street from the tåbu ashikaga-shi station complex, tel. 0284-72-1825. open tu-su closed m 5:30 to 11:00 pm. this new izakaya-style restaurant specializes in rotisserie chicken and relatively healthy side dishes. the sage and thyme on the rotisserie chicken was a delightful surprise, and so were the fulsome salads. japanese-style seating except at the counter. drinks by the glass include local wine coco farms and a fine oyama sake é³³å°ç¾ç° hååbiden for about ¥500. full chicken ¥1000, half ¥650; quarter ¥400. other dishes range between ¥500 and ¥1300.
Tori-tsune
é³¥ã¤ã, midori-cho 1-3336 on the street leading to midori-bashi near ashikaga park and the western end of old ashikaga, tel. 0284-21-2202. open th-tu closed w 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, 5:00 to 8:30 pm. this local favorite for 70 years offers a range of specialties, from yakitori sticks at ¥500 to a full unagi eel dinner at ¥2700.