Tabelog ratingNICON (NICON) is a culinary stage set for just six guests. Here, in the Hatchobori district of Hiroshima, a single chef orchestrates an intimate, four-to-five-hour Italian tasting menu where the cooking is the main event. The experience is consistently described by visitors as a 'theatre', justifying a special trip to the city.
The menu is built on exceptional ingredients, and reviewers repeatedly praise the results. Signature moments include a focaccia painted with bone marrow from Sakakiyama beef, and freshly baked ciabatta served with house-fermented butter. The hand-rolled pastas, such as tayarin or tagliolini, are a highlight, often finished with generous shavings of fresh truffle. Other lauded elements are the fish, sourced from Imabari and prepared using the ikejime technique, and a memorable slow-cooked milk gelato.
The few criticisms are directed at the format, not the food. The slow, deliberate pace of a one-man operation and the four-to-five-hour duration can be tiring for some diners or difficult to fit into a tight schedule. For those seeking a destination dining experience, however, reviewers agree the price is justified by the craft and quality.
The omakase tasting menu was recently quoted by reviewers at ¥18,000 or ¥22,000. With drinks, final bills ranged from ¥26,600 to nearly ¥40,000, with prices varying by season, especially during white truffle season.
- Booking: Reservations are essential and must be made well in advance; walk-ins are not possible.
- Getting There: The restaurant is on the 3rd floor of the Dai 2 City Building, a 3-minute walk from Hatchobori Station.
- Seating: Seating is for six guests at a single counter. There are no private rooms.
- Payment: Credit cards are accepted. Electronic money and QR code payments are not. Some visitors noted being asked for cash, so it is wise to bring some as a backup.
- Duration: Dinner is a single seating that starts together for all guests and lasts between four and five hours. Be sure to plan your evening and subsequent travel accordingly.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
- Parking: There is no dedicated parking, but paid coin parking is available nearby.
