A Hawaiian-inspired cafe has opened in Goma, Hiyoshicho, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture. It's only open on Saturdays and Sundays during the day, but its "Loco Moco Plate" (980 yen), featuring a colorful hamburger steak and locally grown vegetables, is hearty. The cafe was opened in a renovated home where the owner's 92-year-old mother lives, and her two daughters are looking after her. They also stock baked goods, and the mother-daughter trio serves food.
Hiyomori Kitchen is run by Akemi Fujiwara (64 years old) from Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture, and Yoko Harada (59 years old) from Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture.
Harada Yoko is worried about her mother, Kazue Morimoto (92 years old), who lives in Goma, Hiyoshicho, Nantan City, but says, "It's getting to be a pain for her to come and see us. I'll try to make something that makes her want to come back."
For the past five years, she has been returning to her hometown on weekends to sell her specialty baked goods for takeout. Her "Kyoto Dina," a traditional Swiss dessert with walnuts, has become a hit. Fujiwara Akemi, who has worked in restaurants, also joined the family, saying, "I want to open a shop with my sister," and in May they opened the cafe "Hiyomori Kitchen." The living room was boldly renovated, and seating was added with large windows offering a lush green landscape.
For lunch, they offer a plate of Hawaiian fried chicken coated in mochi flour. The crispy and chewy texture is a delight. They also offer pancakes filled with cream and acai bowls.
Her mother, Morimoto Kazue, is also active in the kitchen, frying heart-shaped fried eggs and peeling and julienned vegetables. In fact, she obtained a chef's license after graduating from high school, but was unable to use it in her work during the "era when I had to get married quickly."
"When I was a girl, I wanted to open a cafe. It's more lively than being alone," she said. Now her 70-year-old dream has come true, and she's in the kitchen with her daughter. Harada Yoko laughs and says, "We sometimes argue, but we have fun as a family."
The restaurant is located in a new town, a 15-minute drive from Hiyoshi Dam. It's a somewhat secluded location, but Akemi Fujiwara says, "Please stop by while sightseeing."
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[Hiyomori Kitchen] 84-31 Goma Miroku, Hiyoshi-cho, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture. Open only on Saturdays and Sundays. 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. For more information, check out their Instagram or call 080-1418-8225.
