Allergy-Friendly Dining: Enjoy Gatherings Near Hikone Station with Peace of Mind

So Everyone, Including Those with Allergies, Can Fully Enjoy Gatherings at Hikone Station

Hello to everyone planning a fun get-together near Hikone Station. When choosing an izakaya for a casual gathering with friends or a special meal with loved ones, you likely consider many factors. Besides delicious food, a relaxed atmosphere, and easy access, the most crucial point is whether you can dine with peace of mind. For those with food allergies, in particular, choosing a restaurant can be a struggle. You might worry, Will I be the only one with limited options at our Hikone Station get-together? or Will I be an inconvenience to the restaurant?

At our restaurant, we want to alleviate those anxieties and ensure that all our guests can enjoy their gathering at Hikone Station to the fullest. We would like to introduce our initiatives to help you savor our signature dishes—such as straw-seared bonito shipped directly from Kochi, local Shiga sake, and Omi beef—without worrying about allergies here in the city of Hikone.

Are Allergies Making You Hesitate to Plan a Get-Together at Hikone Station?

For customers with allergies, dining out can sometimes be a significant hurdle. It's often difficult to judge from menu descriptions alone, and you may hesitate to inquire directly with the staff. Especially in places like an izakaya that handle a wide variety of ingredients, the risk of unintentional cross-contamination is not zero. This situation can turn what should be a fun get-together at Hikone Station into a stressful experience.

We take these concerns seriously and aim to provide peace of mind and joy to all our customers by accommodating them as much as possible. As our responsibility as an izakaya in Asahimachi, we promise to spare no effort in providing detailed attention for the sake of each customer's happy smile.

Thorough Individual Consultations: Listening to Our Customers

What we value most in our allergy support is careful communication with our customers. To ensure that every guest can dine with peace of mind, we believe it is essential to first accurately understand what allergies they have and what specific considerations are necessary.

• We recommend checking in advance when booking: When you make a reservation, or before you visit, we highly recommend informing us of any allergies and specific ingredients. Letting us know beforehand allows our head chef and staff to propose the best menu for you and prepare accordingly.
• Detailed inquiry upon arrival: When you arrive, our staff will once again confirm your allergies. We strive to provide the most precise support by asking for details such as the severity of the allergy and the range of ingredients to avoid.
• Creating a welcoming atmosphere for consultation: We value creating an open and warm atmosphere where customers feel comfortable discussing their allergies. All our staff strive to be friendly and approachable, so you never have to feel like you're asking a silly question and can feel free to consult us about even the smallest concern.

Our commitment to your safety begins with listening to you.

Meticulous Ingredient Management and Careful Cooking Processes

The foundation of our allergy support lies in meticulous ingredient management and extreme care during cooking. Precisely because we handle premium ingredients like straw-seared bonito from Kochi, local Shiga sake, and Omi beef, we take our responsibility for quality control very seriously.

Detailed Understanding of Allergen Information

• Creating allergen lists for all menu items: We identify and list the major allergens (the 7 specified raw materials and 21 quasi-specified raw materials in Japan) for every dish we serve. This allows us to provide prompt and accurate information when customers inquire.
• Strengthening collaboration with suppliers: When sourcing ingredients, we work with trusted suppliers to confirm detailed information about the raw materials used. We are diligent in gathering information about allergens contained in processed foods as well.

Measures to Prevent Cross-Contamination During Cooking

• Use of dedicated cooking utensils: Depending on the type and severity of your allergy, we make efforts to prevent cross-contamination from other ingredients by using dedicated cooking utensils (knives, cutting boards, pans, etc.) whenever possible.
• Alerting the kitchen staff: When an allergy request is made, the information is shared among the kitchen staff, who then prepare the food with the utmost care. For example, for a customer with a wheat allergy, we can consider measures such as boiling noodles in a separate pot from the soba.
• Careful plating: We also take great care during plating to ensure that allergenic ingredients are not unintentionally mixed in.

We believe these efforts are essential for our customers to safely enjoy our signature dishes, like straw-seared bonito from Kochi and Omi beef.

Flexible Menu Modifications and Alternative Suggestions

Simply telling a customer they can't eat something isn't enough to ensure they have a wonderful time at their Hikone Station gathering. At our restaurant, we proactively offer flexible menu changes and alternative suggestions based on each customer's situation.

Customizing Menus for Each Customer

• Removing or changing certain ingredients: For example, if you have an allergy to a specific vegetable, we can make adjustments by not using it or substituting it with another vegetable where possible. For customers with seafood allergies, we can propose dishes featuring Omi beef, and for those with egg allergies, we can suggest egg-free desserts.
• Using alternative cooking methods: It is sometimes possible to avoid allergens by changing the cooking method. For instance, we can fry items in a different type of oil than we normally use.
• Considering allergen-free seasonings: Common seasonings like soy sauce and miso can contain allergens. We can consider using allergen-free alternatives or suggest other seasonings where possible.

Alternatives That Don't Compromise the Flavors of Hikone

It's meaningless if our allergy support compromises the deliciousness of the food. We use creativity and ingenuity to provide exquisite dishes that accommodate allergies while still pairing perfectly with Shiga's local sake and maximizing the flavor of our straw-seared bonito from Kochi.

We will continue to work hard to make your get-together at Hikone Station a wonderful and memorable experience by creating a special dish tailored to each and every customer.

Staff Training and Atmosphere to Support Peace of Mind

To provide genuine peace of mind, not only are physical measures important, but so are the people who implement them and the environment. At our restaurant, we ensure that all staff members are conscious of allergy support and strive to provide comprehensive safety, including through our private tatami rooms in Hikone.

Allergy Support Training for All Staff

• Acquiring basic knowledge: All staff, from new hires to veterans, regularly participate in training to learn the fundamentals of food allergies (symptoms, major allergens, risks of cross-contamination, etc.).
• Thorough information sharing: Allergy information received from customers is reliably shared among staff, establishing a system where everyone from the kitchen to the service staff can provide consistent support.
• Emergency response simulations: We also conduct simulations for how to respond in the unlikely event that an allergic reaction occurs, ensuring we are prepared to take prompt and appropriate action.

A More Relaxing Space in Our Private Tatami Rooms

Dining while worried about allergies can be more mentally taxing than one might imagine. By using our private tatami rooms in Hikone, you can maintain a distance from other customers and enjoy your meal in a more relaxed state.

• Consult in a private space: In a private room, you can discuss sensitive allergy-related concerns without worrying about being overheard. Our staff can also listen calmly and propose the best options for you.
• Focus on your meal: Away from the hustle and bustle, you can concentrate on your meal in your own private space, freeing you from excessive worry about allergies and allowing you to savor the food to the fullest.
• A hygienic environment: Our private rooms are meticulously cleaned, and we strive to provide your meal in a more hygienic environment.

To make your Hikone Station get-together the best memory possible, we support your peace of mind from both the people and space aspects.

Practical Steps for Requesting Allergy Support for Your Hikone Station Gathering

Here are the specific steps for customers who wish to request allergy support at our restaurant. Following these procedures allows us to make the best preparations for you.

Step 1: Share Information When Booking

• Please let us know you have an allergy: When booking by phone or in the notes section of an online reservation, please be sure to mention that you have a food allergy.
• Be specific about your allergens: In addition to the seven specified raw materials like eggs, dairy, wheat, buckwheat, peanuts, shrimp, and crab, please also inform us of any other ingredients you are avoiding (e.g., nuts, specific seafood, meats, or vegetables) in as much detail as possible.
• Inform us of the severity: Letting us know the severity of your allergy—such as a small amount is okay, cannot ingest even trace amounts, or reacts to touch—allows us to take even greater care.

Step 2: Final Confirmation Upon Arrival

• Please inform the staff again upon entry: Reminding the staff of the information you provided during your reservation helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures a reliable response.
• Feel free to ask any questions: If you have any questions or concerns when looking at the menu, please do not hesitate to ask our staff. We will be happy to answer your questions thoroughly.

Step 3: Final Check When Your Food is Served

• Confirmation before serving: When we bring out a dish prepared with allergy considerations, our staff will reconfirm the details with you.
• If anything seems amiss: If you have any concerns about a dish that has been served, please do not hesitate to speak with a staff member before you begin eating.

By following these steps, you can enjoy your get-together at Hikone Station with peace of mind, and we can provide you with the best possible service. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Making Gatherings at Hikone Station a Place to Enjoy Without Allergy Worries

We hope this information has been helpful for those with allergies who are considering a gathering near Hikone Station. As an izakaya in Asahimachi, we sincerely hope that all our customers can fully enjoy the deliciousness of our straw-seared bonito from Kochi, the depth of local Shiga sake, and the rich flavor of Omi beef.

You don't have to give up on fun get-togethers at Hikone Station just because of an allergy. While you relax in our private tatami rooms, our entire staff is dedicated to providing meticulous service tailored to each customer, ensuring you can dine with peace of mind.

Our wish is to be a warm and safe place that makes you think, I want to come back, and Next time, I'll bring that friend along. We sincerely look forward to your reservation and your visit. We can't wait to see your smiling faces here in Hikone.