Shokudo Days

There’s such a thing as “white omelet rice” out there… “White pork cutlet” was once all the rage, but will this really be the next big thing? I don’t think everything has to be white to be good, but at least for now, there’s no denying that “white omelet rice” is still a rarity. I went to a restaurant called Shokudo Days in Shijo Kawaramachi, which has become famous for its “white omelet rice”…

A haven of relaxation opened by a chef who trained at luxury hotels… Shokudo Days is a store like this…

Shokudo Days is located on the second floor of a small building just a short walk south of the Shijo-Kawaramachi intersection. Founded on September 20, Reiwa 2, the restaurant was opened by a chef who honed his skills at the Kobe Kitano Hotel—famous for “the world’s best breakfast”—and the Kyoto Brighton Hotel, a luxury hotel near the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The space is cozy and has a very homey atmosphere. There are a total of 22 seats, including two at the counter. The restaurant is run by just two people—the chef and a female staff member—but the service is warm, and the chef often calls out to guests from the kitchen in the back. It’s the kind of place that offers a sense of comfort you just can’t get at a luxury hotel.

I visited right at opening time on a weekday, and it seemed like all the other customers had made reservations in advance. Reserved customers kept arriving one after another right after me, and before I knew it, all the table seats were filled. I see—this is the kind of place people are willing to make a reservation just to visit for lunch. Well, I think I can understand why…

It once took the local food magazines by storm! Shokudo Days’ signature lunch item—the (White) Omelette Rice—how did it actually turn out when I tried it?

So, let me introduce the signature lunch item I ordered that day at Shokudo Days: the (White) Omelette Rice (price: 1,760 yen, tax included). After I placed my order, the server…

The server brought me the plate for the omelette rice, but doesn’t this knife look distinctive? Apparently, this is a knife specifically for omelette rice. I’ve never seen a knife shaped like this before, but I guess they actually sell them somewhere. And then, about five minutes later…

The “White” Omelette Rice I ordered was brought right to my table. The omelet really is white. Aside from its unusual appearance, the omelet was actually wobbling slightly when the server brought it over. Just from the appearance alone, you can easily imagine what this omelet is like, right?

So, let’s go ahead and cut into this omelet with the special knife… and wouldn’t you know it, the egg yolk starts spilling out from the center of the omelet! This is another visually pleasing touch. It looks like it would be perfect for social media, and I bet little kids would be thrilled if you brought them here…

And here’s what it looks like after cutting open the omelet. The white omelet and the runny yolk blend together, creating a beautiful and appetizing visual. And let’s not forget the dark brown sauce. It’s precisely because of the black plate and this sauce that the pale-colored omelet rice really stands out.

Well then, I think it’s about time to dig in… You might think this white part of the omelet is “just egg whites,” but that’s not the case at all. Apparently, there really are “eggs with white yolks” from Hokkaido, and it seems they’re using those here—so even though the color is white, it still has that rich, deep egg flavor. Since there’s an additional layer of egg yolk on top, you could even say the richness of the egg is doubled. And just as it looks, it’s fluffy and melt-in-the-mouth soft… This omelet alone makes you think, “I’m so glad I came here to eat this…”

On the other hand, the ketchup rice underneath the omelet feels relatively understated—it contains almost no ingredients, and the seasoning is on the lighter side. Because of this, the umami of the egg really takes center stage, so the rice plays a completely supporting role—and in that sense, I think it pairs perfectly with this white omelet.

And then there’s the dark brown sauce drizzled around the omelet rice. I wonder if you could call this a demi-glace sauce? For a demi-glace sauce, it’s quite light in consistency, and the flavor is dominated by a fruity sweetness. Personally, I think it’s a bit different from a typical demi-glace sauce with its bitter depth, but it goes incredibly well with this omelet rice. It’s a “sophisticated sweetness,” if you will… It’s not just “fluffy and creamy”; I could really feel the added value unique to this restaurant—the sense that it was “made by a chef at a high-end restaurant.”

Lunch Menu at Shokudo Days (Prices include tax)

• Days Special Charcoal-Grilled Hamburger Steak Set (Reservations required by the day before) 2,400 yen
• Classic Omelet Rice 1,900 yen
• (White) Omelet Rice 1,760 yen
• Set A: Bite-sized potage, mini potato salad & mini macaroni salad 750 yen
• Set B: Bite-sized Potage, Soft Drink　650 yen

Open as a Western-style izakaya in the evenings… Shokudo Days is a 3-minute walk from the nearest station, Kyoto Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.

Shokudo Days operates as a Western-style izakaya in the evenings. The menu is densely written on a large blackboard inside the restaurant…

Price-wise, it feels like it’s a step above your typical izakaya. In addition to Western spirits like wine, they also seem to carry a selection of sake. If you’re in the mood for a relaxed, homey atmosphere paired with authentic cuisine, this place should be a great fit.

Here are the details about the restaurant…