We had done some research and knew that the only place to eat in Senjojiki was Country Kitchen. It had some pretty good reviews on Google Maps, so we decided to give it a try. The restaurant was located in a small building near the top of Senjojiki hill. There was a nice observation deck on the roof that gave us panoramic views of the Sea of Japan.

The exterior of the restaurant resembled a seaside shack with its weather beaten wooden siding and large ground to ceiling windows. Fortunately, there was no line when we arrived and we were seated immediately.

We would have described the interior of the restaurant as rustic and homey. The wooden flooring showed areas of distress around its most trafficked areas. Wicker baskets were hung from the ceiling and numerous unique trinkets adorned the window sills and shelfs. The overall theme of the place seamed to be rustic Canadian with a number of Canadian related antiques. There were a couple of wooden tables in the middle with a variety of mismatched wooden chairs. The perimeter of the space was lined with a wrap around bar esque counter with chairs. Each of the seats had a tremendous view of the water. We were lucky as it was a really clear day. The water was so blue.

The menu consisted of café drinks, waffles with various toppings, and some entrees like curry, chicken, and hamburg steak. We decided to try an order of their cinnamon grilled apple waffles with soft serve and the herb-grilled chicken set.

Country Kitchen Food

We were surprised with how quickly the food came out. There were only a couple staff members and a couple parties came in right after we did. The waffles were the first to come out. The presentation was beautiful. Wow, what a treat. The waffle was topped with a half apple that had been baked to perfection. The outside had a sweet crunchy glaze and the inside was nice and tender. Combined with the caramel and the soft serve, each bite of the waffle was absolutely delicious. A short while later, our chicken set came out. The chicken with its balsamic drizzle was amazing. The skin was nice and crispy and the meat was moist and flavorful. The side salad with its tangy vinaigrette and the creamy mushroom soup added a nice variety of flavors. We would highly recommend both.

The restaurant also had an attached booth outside that served as the reception area for the Senjojiki Campground. We could imagine that this area was a very popular sightseeing and camping destination during the warmer months of the year. The size of the large parking lot was probably a good indication of that.

Note: If your interested in going, we recommend checking the availability and wait time when you first arrive. If there is no line, eating before exploring Senjojiki would be a smart option. If there is a line, then putting your name down and then exploring Senjojiki would be the best way to maximize your time. It was a popular lunch destination even during the winter season.

Final Thoughts

We really enjoyed the food at Country Kitchen in Senjojiki. For people not bringing in their own food, Country Kitchen had a monopoly as it was the only restaurant in the immediate area. The prices in general were a little on the higher end, but the food was absolutely delicious and the views were breathtaking. It made for a wonderful sightseeing stop that we would recommend to anyone travelling to the area.

More to Come…

Here is a link to their Facebook Page.