Hard Rock Cafe opens in Kyoto, features unique exclusive menu items and merchandise

New Hard Rock Cafe location in the ancient Japanese capital offers unique food items including this “raindrop cake” made from Kyoto water. 

As we reported to you last month, the Hard Rock Cafe has a new branch in Kyoto, incorporating elements of ancient Japan with modern casual dining  (and rock and roll, of course), and we’ve just found out even more about the exclusive menu items and and merchandise they’re offering.

The new branch is located in the Gion Shirakawa area, where traditional machiya-style houses are not uncommon.

▼ Hard Rock Cafe’s new Kyoto location blends in perfectly with the surroundings:

So, let’s take a look at the unique menu items you can enjoy only at the cafe’s Kyoto branch.

●  Miso Wasabi Burger (2,180 yen [US$20]

This variation on Hard Rock Cafe’s classic burger includes seasonal Japanese pickled vegetables, tomatoes, lettuce and a special miso-based sauce spiced with wasabi. The zest of the wasabi should combine extremely well with the juicy flavor of the hamburger patty.

● Yakitori Chicken Wings (1,280 yen)

These chicken wings flavored with teriyaki sauce are served with grilled Kujo green onions in a skewered yakitori style. They should be particularly tasty with traditional Kyoto pepper seasoning that you can add on as you like.

● Vegetable Sushi Rolls (1,380 yen)

Fresh and colorful Kyoto grown vegetables and pickles, along with Kujo green onions and Hard Rock Cafe’s original guacamole complete the ingredients for this sushi roll. The Kyo-yasai, as vegetables from Kyoto are called, make this a truly local dish.

● Raindrop Cake with Ice Cream (980 yen)

This translucent raindrop cake is made with local Kyoto water and served with kinako soybean powder made from Tanba black soybeans as well as sweet Tanba black soybeans stewed in syrup and also a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The dessert is reminiscent of another popular “water cake” that we covered here on SoraNews24 some years ago, but that doesn’t make it look any less beautiful and delectable.

And of course, we can’t forget the merchandise! The following four items are Japan-exclusive products that can only be purchased at the Kyoto location.

● Tenugui Hand Towel (3,000 yen)

These hand towels (tenugui), available in two designs featuring geisha and maiko playing band instruments, are hand-crafted by Kyoto-based Eirakuya , the oldest cotton/cloth merchant in Japan, with a 400 year history.

● Japanese Lacquer mini-plate (4,200 yen each)

These wooden mini-plates coated with Japanese lacquer (urushi) are available in six vivid colors and decorated with characters from the popular Choju Giga scrolls posing as rock band players. The plates are created by specialty urushi merchant Isuke Shoten, which has been dealing in lacquerware for roughly 180 years.

● Traditional Folding Fan (38,000 yen)

Folding fans have a long history in Kyoto, and this fan which again features characters from the Choju Giga illustrated scrolls, is created by Miyawaki Baisennan, a fan manufacturer with over 190 years of history. The fan comes in two colors, navy and brown.

● Furoshiki Wrapping Cloth (3,800 yen)

These wrapping cloths (furoshiki), created by 164-year-old dye specialists Okaju, are decorated with various patterns including guitar and record illustrations, using the unique Kyoto Yuzen method of dyeing. The pop design looks good in both of the colors the cloth comes in, red and purple.

And here are the items available only at the Kyoto Hard rock Cafe branch.

● Kyoto Branch Opening Commemorative Pin (1,800 yen)

This special pin commemorating the opening of the Kyoto Branch is limited to 800 pieces, so if you’re in Kyoto, you may want to grab one before they’re gone.

● Kyoto Branch Opening Commemorative T-shirt (3,800 yen)

The commemorative T-shirt is decorated with the same design as the pin and is available in sizes S~XXL.

● Kyoto Exclusive T-shirt with kimono-style pattern (4,000 yen)

This T-shirt features a lovely kimono-like print in stylized flower, pine and Japanese maple leaf patterns and is available in sizes S~XL.

And naturally, since this is Hard rock Cafe, they also house music-related memorabilia as well, and in the case of the new Kyoto location, the collection includes a Taylor Swift stage outfit, a tambourine used by Prince, Madonna’s jewelry, Bon Jovi’s guitar, and Eminem’s bandanna, among others.

For visitors to Kyoto looking for dining options other than traditional Japanese fare, the increasing number of casual and western choices in Kyoto from coffee chains to hamburger joints should be welcome news, and we’re sure the cool Japanese souvenirs in this instance can only add to the appeal. If you ever make your way to Hard Rock Cafe Kyoto, we hope you have a banging, rocking time!

Restaurant information
Hard Rock Café Kyoto / ハードロックカフェ京都
Address: Kyoto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Nakanocho, Shinmonzendori Yamato Oji Higashi Iri Motoyoshicho 67
京都市東山区新橋通大和大路東入元吉町 67番地
Open: 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. (Last order: 10 p.m. for foods, 10:30 p.m for drinks)
Website

Source, images: PR Times 
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