Hiroshima Oyster Feast
by Kakiya, Mijajima, Japan
Miyajima, an island just off the coast of
Hiroshima at the southern end of Honshu in
Japan, is famous for its oyster dishes. Due to the island’s nutrient-rich waters and long tradition of
oyster farming, Miyajima has become one of the best places in the country to taste plump, sweet, freshly harvested oysters prepared in every imaginable way.
On a day trip to Miyajima, I found myself walking down Omotesando, the island's main shopping street. I decided to stop in at Kakiya for lunch, learning later that the restaurant has been recognized by the Michelin Guide as one of the best places to eat in all of Hiroshima.
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| Kakiya oyster feast set by Kakiya on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Japan |
Kakiya is a restaurant dedicated to preparing amazing Japanese oyster dishes, so naturally for lunch, I decided to order their signature Kakiya Set, which came with a huge number of oyster-based dishes.
We were seated at the bar, and as we passed the open kitchen, we were hit by the delicious smell of oysters being grilled over charcoal.
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| fresh oysters grilled over charcoal at Kakiya on Miyjima Island, Hiroshima, Japan |
Besides oysters, Hiroshima's other specialty is lemons, specifically Setouchi lemons, which grow very well in the mild coastal climate of the area around the Seto Inland Sea. I ordered a glass of the restaurant's house made lemon soda to drink, which was made with fresh local lemons and tasted like a lightly carbonated lemonade. The drink was really refreshing on a hot, tropical afternoon, and I sipped it while waiting for my lunch to arrive.
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| famous Hiroshima lemon soda at Kakiya |
Kaki meshi, or simmered oysters on rice, is one of the island’s signature comfort foods. The oysters are gently simmered in a savory-sweet broth, then piled over hot rice, creating a dish that’s warming, rich, and packed with briny flavor. The oysters and rice were served with crispy seaweed and fresh cilantro.
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| kaki meshi, or simmered oysters on rice at Kakiya, Miyajima, Japan |
The fried oysters were my favorite. Plump and juicy, and breaded in a hot, crispy breadcrumb batter, the fried oysters were served with a slice of lemon to complement the flavors.
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| panko battered and fried Japanese oysters with a slice of lemon |
The Kakiya Set also comes with an "oil oyster", one of the restaurant's specialties. The oyster is pickled and marinated in grapeseed oil. The result is a dense, chewy oyster with an incredible texture that is packed with flavor. The oil oyster was probably my favorite part of the whole set, and if you want more, you can buy a whole jar of them at the restaurant's on-site store.
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| Kakiya's famous "oiled oyster" pickled in grapeseed oil |
As we were finishing our meal, the staff served us our final course, plump and juicy charcoal-grilled oysters. The oysters were grilled in the shell and were hot off of the grill. These were Hiroshima oysters at their most simple and pure.
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| charcoal-grilled oysters at Kakiya, Miyajima, Japan |
The set was also served with a small bowl of oyster miso soup, a light but savory broth served with tender a tender local oyster. The sweetness of the miso blended with the briny richness of the oyster, giving the soup a warm, comforting depth. For me, it was the perfect way to finish off the huge feast.
Location
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| Kakiya is located in Miyjima's famous Omotesando Shopping Street Market |
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