03/07/2026
KOMB in July
This year, the rainy season has truly arrived.
As the rain falls, we quietly wait for the arrival of summer.
It reminds us how precious the changing of the seasons really is—something we once took for granted.
June marks the opening of the ayu fishing season.
The star of this month’s menu is salt-grilled ayu (sweetfish).
Each ayu is carefully butterflied.
The bones and head are fried until crisp, while the bitter innards are gently simmered with miso, puréed, and returned to the fish before being grilled over Kishu Binchotan charcoal.
Served with grated cucumber and a fresh sansho pepper relish, every part of the fish is enjoyed—nothing goes to waste.
To finish the meal, we serve Ayu Rice.
The rice is cooked in a broth made from the fish’s bones and head, then folded together with the grilled ayu and finely chopped Japanese water pepper (tade).
It isn’t a flashy dish.
But with every bite, the aroma of ayu and the quiet depth of the broth gently unfold.
It’s one of my favorite rice dishes we prepare each year.
For dessert, we serve Warabi Mochi with Raspberry and Cherry.
At KOMB, we always encourage our guests to pick up our warabi mochi with their fingers.
Feel its delicate, trembling softness before taking the first bite.
It’s a small part of the experience that makes this sweet so special.
July has begun.
We look forward to welcoming you with a menu that celebrates the flavors of summer.
Annabelle Harada
Chef / Owner, KOMB