The variety show "Human Gourmet Entry: Surprisingly Delicious Restaurants" (Chukyo TV/Nippon TV Network, Tuesdays at 7 PM) introduces restaurants that defy expectations. On May 5th, the show will revisit an Italian restaurant in Kyoto that, after airing last October, attracted customers from far away and has been fully booked for a month in advance.
Oogi Shokudo is an Italian restaurant in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City. Their popular A Lunch (2800 yen, with drink) boasts an overwhelming variety and volume, including a 20-item appetizer platter, 5 types of homemade bread, a main spaghetti dish, and 12 dessert options. They also offer a B Lunch (5000 yen, with drink) which includes an additional meat dish and salad.
On the other hand, since the owner, Mr. Okita, basically handles customer service, cooking, and serving all by himself, he is often so busy that he can't help but mutter "Mamma mia!" (What the heck!). Also, as regular customers have pointed out, "He's always angry, but the food is incredibly delicious," and "He should stop showing it on his face," his lack of composure and angry expression are his only flaw.
The day after the program aired in October 2025, the film crew revisited the restaurant. The owner's reaction to watching the show was, "I'm not that angry. I'm just taking my cooking seriously." However, the phone has been ringing non-stop since early morning with reservations and inquiries from people who watched the program, and he seems to have resigned himself to the situation, saying, "This is crazy. I have to enjoy it." In fact, customers have been coming to the restaurant not only from the Kansai region but also from Tokyo and other areas, surprising even the woman who volunteers to help out at the restaurant.
Furthermore, the latest footage from March 2026, five months after the initial broadcast, will also be aired. Reservations are booked up a month in advance, and calls come in even on days off and during preparation times. Despite this, his dedication to cooking remains unchanged: "I want to make something good. I want to get closer to my ideal." He has also refined his bread-making skills, which he learned on his own, by referring to online videos, resulting in focaccia that is softer and chewier than before.
Furthermore, no matter how busy he is, he spends at least two hours cleaning every day, keeping the cooking utensils, kitchen, and tables sparkling clean at all times. A part-time worker who has recently started helping out at the shop and is an old acquaintance of the owner is also very impressed by his stoic attitude, saying things like, "He has a great spirit of inquiry," and "I should learn from him."
This time, we'll take a closer look at the meticulous and "Mamma Mia!"-worthy work ethic of the shop owner.
The show's MC is entertainer Hiromi, and the host is Eiji Kotoge from the comedy trio "Viking". Guests include entertainer Kazutoyo Koyabu, and MOMONA and TSUZUMI from the popular group "ME:I".
