Velrosier

In spite of its decidedly French-sounding name, Velrosier is a Chinese restaurant. But Chef Iwasaki Yuji is clear about his intentions: if anything, the eclectic nomenclature of the restaurant reflects his culinary philosophy, which can be summed up as “addition”. Unlike many of his peers, who prefer to strip ingredients down to their essences, Chef Iwasaki is very much a fan of the more-is-more school of thought. He prefers to combine ingredients together to make flavor profiles that others might find bizarre in concept, but perfect in execution. To that end, he experiments rigorously with a number of different ingredients from both within Japan and outside of it, leading to eclectic menu items like foie gras ensconced in crunchy monaka wafers, or choux pastries filled with a mixture of salmon and strawberry. Strange? Yes. Delicious? Also yes. The Michelin Guide would be inclined to agree, with its inspectors awarding him a star in 2022 and a second just a year after in 2023. Located on the second floor of the Good Nature Station shopping complex in Kawaramachi, Velrosier’s decor is sleek and stylish, all black and grey with dramatic use of light and shadow. The open kitchen lets guests have an unobstructed view of the care and attention to detail that goes into the preparation of their food. Michelin Guide: 2022 - 1 Michelin Star 2023 - 2 Michelin Stars