Blog①Table de Kudou (Mishima)

Even though my stomach felt off, I really wanted to finish this—Lunch that saved me at “Table de Kudou” in Mishima

My stomach was growling. Not because I was hungry—more like it was upset and a bit nauseous.

I tried to figure out why. Maybe it was because I ate tempura soba too fast yesterday in Hakone (my guest treated me). Or maybe it was that “all-you-can-eat” Hershey’s chocolate wafer ice cream at Dormy Inn after the bath. Skipping breakfast didn’t help at all. And my reservation at “Table de Kudou” was only an hour away.

Praying for a calm stomach at Mishima Taisha

To kill time, I went to Mishima Taisha Shrine to check it out. And I actually prayed:

“Please fix my stomach so I can enjoy lunch.”

The shrine was full of families celebrating Shichi-Go-San, praying for their kids’ health and growth. And there I was, seriously praying about my stomach. I felt a little embarrassed.

A kind pharmacist gave me a little push

Thinking, “This won’t magically get better,” I went to a nearby pharmacy. A gentle old man asked, “What’s wrong?”

I said, “I’m about to have a really good lunch, so I need a fast-acting stomach medicine.”

He smiled and asked, “Where are you going to eat?”

“Кudou,” I said.

His face lit up.
“That place is amazing—and it’s hard to get a reservation. You got one? Nice!”

He handed me the medicine. Honestly, just hearing that made me feel a bit calmer already.

A fully booked restaurant hidden behind an old house

I headed to the restaurant a bit early. “An old house with a garden,” the pharmacist said… Is this it?

At the front, there was a small shop selling cookies and drinks. I asked nervously, and they told me the restaurant was in the back. When they showed me in, it was completely full. I got the very last seat at the counter.

But it turned out to be the best seat. Right in front of me was a beautiful courtyard garden. The view instantly relaxed me.

A calm, elegant lady handed me the menu, and I studied it like a mission. Here’s what I chose:

• Starter: Snow crab and avocado tartare
• Main: Beef cheek braised in red wine
• Dessert: Tarte Tatin

They suggested drinks too, but I listened to my stomach and skipped alcohol today. Also: no video inside, but photos were OK.

Amuse-bouche: Light and fresh with sea bream and couscous

First came a small amuse-bouche: marinated black sea bream with couscous. It was fresh and light, and the portion was perfect.

“Please hold up, stomach,” I told myself.

One bite… and wow. It was really good. I can do this.

Starter: Crab and avocado—perfect with acidity and a little bitterness

Next was the snow crab and avocado tartare. Around it were chopped tomatoes with a nice sour kick, and on top was a carrot fritter with a slightly bitter edge.

The rich crab and creamy avocado were balanced beautifully by the acidity and bitterness. Everything worked together perfectly.

And the bread was amazing too: a slightly sweet brioche cube with a salty anchovy sauce. Sweet and salty—so good—and somehow it went down super smoothly.

Main: Simple aroma, deep flavor—Beef cheek in red wine

The main dish was beef cheek braised in red wine. The chef said they use only clove, thyme, black pepper, and red wine.

It had a clear, bright acidity, and the beef was so tender it basically fell apart. It wasn’t the heavy kind of red-wine stew—this one felt lighter and cleaner because of that acidity.

The mashed potatoes on the side were next-level. The chef explained: boil potatoes with the skin on, mash them through a sieve, then add lots of cream and butter. The moment he said that, I thought, “Yep, this is definitely delicious.”

Even the carrots—usually not my favorite—were gently simmered with cumin and tasted sweet, no weird smell. Before I knew it, I was eating properly. Like, really eating.

Dessert: Tarte Tatin—so glad I ordered it

For dessert I chose the tarte tatin, and it was the right choice.

Caramelized apples were slightly warm on a biscuit base, with vanilla ice cream on top. Warm and cold together—perfect. The sweet-bitter aftertaste was just right too.

Thanks to the stomach medicine, my stomach didn’t start hurting, and I finished everything. Since I was at the counter, I also got to chat with the chef and the lady a bit, which was really nice.

Final thoughts: Now I have another reason to come back to Mishima

I heard dinner is served as a special “Kudou Day” every month, on the 9th and 10th.

I found a wonderful restaurant that locals clearly love. And now I’ve got one more reason to come back to Mishima.