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Sometimes there are restaurants you want to keep a secret all to yourself, and this is definitely one of them.

Located by the river in the famous Arashiyama region of Kyoto is Tempura Matsu, a beautiful, traditional building where some of the finest dishes in Japan are served. One of the most stunning items on the menu are the noodle dishes, which vary from season to season, and diners are so impressed with their meals they’ve been sharing photos of their amazing dishes online.

The inaniwa udon, made from mugwort and served with wasabi and a raw egg yolk, are a hit with diners, both for their delicious flavour and their visually stunning bowls.

Made from a huge block of ice, the tiny scooped out bowl at the top helps to impart the noodle broth with a small amount of icy water as it slowly melts.

A whole table of ice cubes makes for a cooling sight.

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* 毎朝手彫りで彫ってはるらしい 氷の器に入って出てきた〆は、 桜が練りこまれたもちもちのおうどん。 キンキンに冷えていて、 噛むほどに桜の香りがふわぁ〜🌸 満腹なはずのお腹につるつるはいりました。 嵐山に残った桜を見ながら、 史上最速でたいらげたご馳走。 美味しいものは、 ダッシュで食べても美味しいと知る2016春。 * #とはいえ今日の京都は激寒 #暴風 #看板飛びそう #愉快なメンバーと春の遠足 #わらび餅で窒息しそうになったのは初めて #はりきりやさん #天ぷら屋で天ぷらの写真みんな撮り忘れる #嵐山 #京都ランチ #桜 #お花見 #天ぷら松 #京都 #kyoto #japan #noodle #cherryblossom #うどん #氷 #天ぷら

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Seasonal flavours are an important element of Japanese cooking, and Tempura Matsu doesn’t disappoint, with sakura cherry blossom noodles in spring.

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桜うどん Sakura Udon @ 天ぷら松 Tempura Matsu, Kyoto. Now a closer look from the top, the al dente strands of udon made with yomogi (よもぎ Japanese mugwort) in my preferred Inaniwa udon 稲庭 うどん style (which is flat and thinner than the more common than the round and thicker Sanuki udon 讃岐うどん), yamakake (grated mountain yam) which was slimy and smooth, another of my favorite, then the beautiful salt pickled sakura flower. The broth was simple dashi and soy and light, and with the salt and ice 's chemical reaction the whole bowl was lower than 0 degree making it colder than usual cold udon. This is not a gimmicky play and it doesn't just look great but was incredibly refreshing and tasty. If it is something available at a restaurant that I can get to every day, I will go to that restaurant every day in the summer just like I will go to Kakigori every day….

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Thin somen noodles are perfect as an icy cold summer dish.

While everyone is blown away by the cold noodles, the restaurant serves up a host of other amazing theatrical specialities like smoked buri…

Dishes served on huge lotus leaves…

Japanese sake served from a bamboo container…

And a delicate crab rice, which looks beautiful enough on its own, yet takes on an incandescent beauty once cooked in front of diners in a small pot.

The chef takes special care in only using the highest quality ingredients and prepares every dish with amazing attention to detail.

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Box of uni at Tempura Matsu, Kyoto

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With a stunning view of the river alongside you as you dine on the sumptuous Japanese dishes, this is one of the best places to dine out in Kyoto.

Restaurant Information
Tempura Matsu/(天ぷら 松)
Address: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Ukyo-ku, Umezu Onawabacho 21-26
京都府 京都市右京区 梅津大縄場町 21-26
Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m./5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (closed Wednesdays)
Phone number: 075-881-9190

Source: Navitime
Top Image: Instagram/little_meg_siu_meg