Tabelog ratingRefuge occupies a cramped former snack bar on the ground floor of an apartment building near the Sakaemachi market. The kitchen works in two directions at once. It makes proper French bistro charcuterie and also serves Sichuan dishes. One reviewer says the chef trained at Shisen Hanten (四川飯店), a well-known Sichuan restaurant group. The menu changes roughly every week.
Almost every review praises the appetiser platter (zensai moriawase): pâté de campagne, rillettes, liver mousse and house-smoked salmon. The vegetable platter is another favourite, with each vegetable dressed differently. Reviewers also single out the soupless tantanmen (shiru-nashi tantanmen), fat boiled sui-gyoza, Ezo deer roast and mizu-nasu salad. Portions are generous. The awamori list is long, and staff help guests choose drinks.
Most complaints concern the setting rather than the food. The place is hard to find, and the room is cramped and noisy. A few guests found the atmosphere tense or felt left out by the staff's banter with regulars. One guest was questioned sharply about whether they could finish their order. Only one reviewer criticised a dish, finding the gyoza sauce too strong.
Reviewers between 2022 and 2026 paid these prices:
- Small appetiser platter: around ¥700–800; large platter: ¥1,100
- Tantanmen: ¥500–700
- Sui-gyoza: ¥150
- Ezo deer roast (the priciest dish): ¥1,900–2,300
- Five-dish omakase: ¥3,000
- Awamori: from ¥300 a glass; wine: from ¥2,000 a bottle
The restaurant opens for dinner only, so there is no lunch service. Food typically costs ¥2,000–3,000 per person, or ¥3,000–5,000 with drinks. Reviewers call the value near-unbelievable. Staff often suggest ordering small sizes because the portions are so large.
- Getting there: a 3-minute walk (about 120 m) from Asato Station on the monorail. The restaurant is in the alley opposite the Asato police box. Turn beside 28,000 Koku, and the entrance is on the right. Google Maps often points down the wrong alley.
- Booking: walking in rarely works, so book by phone (098-911-4856) days or weeks ahead. If the restaurant is full, it may call you back when a seat opens. Walk-ins have better luck after 20:00. Early-evening bookings may have a time limit, for example 17:00–19:30.
- Payment: the listing says credit cards are not accepted, electronic money is accepted, and QR payments are not accepted. One 2025 review reports paying by card. Bring cash to be safe.
- Ordering: you order by scanning a QR code with your phone. Mobile signal inside is poor, so staff will give you the Wi-Fi password.
- Seats: 24 seats, including 9 at the counter. There are no private rooms. The whole venue can be hired for up to 20 people.
- Smoking: non-smoking throughout.
- Parking: no parking on site; coin parking nearby.
- Atmosphere: small and lively, so it does not suit quiet conversation. No service charge.
