Rinya

Mentaiko pasta with Kyoto-style nama-fu and mushrooms makes for a distinctly Kyoto-inspired combination. Rinya’s Hakata Mentaiko, Kyoto Nama-fu and Shimoshi Hiratake Mushroom Pasta is described as a mentaiko pasta featuring chewy nama-fu and the savoury stock-like flavour of shimoshi hiratake mushrooms. One diner also chose pasta with mentaiko, nama-fu and mushrooms, and enjoyed the springy texture of the noodles. For a cleaner, simpler take on mentaiko, there is also a lemon version.

The pasta menu goes well beyond mentaiko. For a spicy option, try rosé pasta with salmon yukhoe seasoned with gochujang and sesame oil, alongside courgette and okra. Those after seafood flavours can choose tomato sauce with baby scallops, tuna, clams and prawns, or peperoncino with the addition of salmon roe. One diner recalled the salmon pasta as spicy and memorable.

Lunch sets make it easy to choose what to have alongside your pasta. Options range from a simple set with soy milk soup and salad to sets with a drink, a larger pasta portion or dessert, so you can pick according to your appetite and plans afterwards. Some diners have described the set’s soy milk soup as gentle in flavour, while others counted the soup and salad among the pleasures of the meal. It’s a good fit for lunch when you want something alongside your pasta.

There is also the pleasure of pairing a dessert with a drink and taking your time over the end of the meal. One customer chose chilled matcha shiruko and hot coffee, recalling that the range of drinks and sweets made it hard to decide. The menu includes chilled matcha shiruko topped with matcha ice cream and azuki beans, Double Cheesecake, described as smooth and creamy, and house-made warabi mochi. Whether pasta is the focus or you want to finish with dessert, you can put together a meal to suit.