KAKURENBO CRAFT BEER CAFE is a quaint, cosy bar near Kanazawa-bunko Station whose one-story building blends into the surrounding residential neighborhood. Owner-chef Keisuke Ono and his wife value communicating with customers and will make you feel like you are truly at their home. Have a seat at a table or on tatami mats and chat with them or with friends over beers.
After an introduction to craft beer by one of his staff, Ono became fascinated by its diversity. He avidly researched different types of hops and beer producing regions and, of course, included beer sampling in his studies. He now offers a variety of personal favorites and interesting, new brews on six taps of craft (250ml ¥680, 360ml ¥800, 480ml ¥1200) at his bar.
The other main attraction of this shop is its South Asian-style curry. After sampling this type of curry, Ono was enamored. He again immersed himself in researching the exotic spices so he could add it to his menu. The aroma of the spices wafting out of the kitchen had my mouth watering in anticipation. The mildly spicy Chicken Curry (¥900) was Ono’s recommendation and it was a great one. It’s a popular item due to its appetizing aroma and complexity of flavors. It was a fine match for the hoppy craft beer I chose. Occasionally, recommended beer and food pairings appear on the menu, though experimenting is encouraged.
Ono is constantly educating himself about different cuisines and ingredients that he comes across. He keeps an open mind and his curiosity leads him to taking on new challenges in the kitchen. His personal, continuing evolution as a chef is definitely reflected in his establishment’s offerings. I am excited to return to see what he develops in the future.