The Restaurant Of Lost Recipes is the second book in the Kamogawa Food Detectives series by Japanese dentist and author, Hisashi Kashiwai. It is translated from Japanese by award-winning translator, Jesse Kirkwood. The audio version is narrated by Hanako Footman. Six new clients visit Kyoto’s Kamogawa Diner to request the help of the food detectives.

The format of each story follows the same lines: from a one line ad in Gourmet Monthly (“Kamagawa Diner and Detective Agency: We Find Your Food”) the client searches out the diner, a little surprised at how unimpressive it looks; former police detective, Nagare Kamogawa suggests he serve them a meal while they’re there, something that’s always incredibly delicious; his daughter Koishi , who is in charge of the food detective agency, takes down the information about the recipe they are after, and the story behind it.

The client returns after two weeks to find that Nagare has got it exactly right, and he explains how he tracked it down; the client usually also learns something interesting, surprising and/or moving about the original cook and/or the intended recipient, and perhaps about themselves as well; the client is invited to pay into an account what they feel their service and meals deserve.

Olympic swimmer Kyosuko Kitano wants the Nori Ben his father used to make for him after his parents split up. His father’s gambling addiction broke up the family, and Kyosuko hasn’t seen him for five years. Koishi wonders if her father will be disappointed by such a simple request, but Nagare tells her “The simplest dishes are always the hardest to get right.” The result, and the story behind it, has Kyosuko revising his choice of stroke for his swim, and considering making contact with his father.

At almost forty, and recently widowed, food writer Kana Takeda has never been to Kyoto but wants to reproduce a dish for her six-year-old son, Yusuke, something he lovingly described in his nursery school album, but she has never made. She suspects it was made by his grandfather, but doesn’t see her parents, who operate the Takeda Diner in Hirosaki. All is information that helps Nagare hunt down the recipe and ingredients. Her purpose seems a little underhand, but she gets a surprise, and learns a lesson: “Kids are happy eating anything, as long as they can tell it was made with love.”

Grieving parents Yoshie and Masayuki Sakamoto have come from their traditional Fushimi confectionery shop, Kogando, to find a Christmas Cake that the old lady at Cent Nuits cake shop brought to their son, Kakeru’s wake. Will it bring them closure? Will it help them to decide to whom they will pass on the 128-year-old confectionery tradition? Nagare doesn’t have a lot to go on, but still succeeds, and brings back a wonderful surprise as well. His advice about succession is sage: “What counts is passing on your art, in its every detail, to whoever picks up the baton.”

Top model, Hatsuko Shirusaki knows Koishi from school, but now she’s made a special trip to the Kamogawa Diner: she wants to be able to cook the fried rice her mother used to make for her new fiancé, the best way for him to know the real Hatsuko and understand her humble beginnings. But her mum died when she was ten. Nagare tells her “The tricky ones are always the most rewarding.”


Now the MD of a printing company, Katsuji Onodera was once a student in Kyoto where he spent every afternoon rehearsing with his drama club under a bridge. He believes that if he could once again taste the ramen from the long-gone yatai food stall nearby, he could decide how he feels about his son following an acting career instead of joining his company. Nagare understands: “You appreciate things differently when you’re older, don’t you? Food is never just about flavour. It’s something we feel – and in different ways, depending on where we are in life.”


When her first song was a hit, Keiko Fujikama’s manager took her for a meal at Tenfusa in Asakusa, and the ten-don she ate will always be the taste of success, a success she never repeated. Thirty years on, she wants to taste it just once more before she goes home to her ageing parents in Ishinomaki. When Nagare serves her exactly what she remembers, then a slight variation, he tells her “Nostalgia’s all well and good, but we shouldn’t be afraid to try something new.”


In each story, Drowsy the cat also makes an appearance, and Nagare and Koishi pay respect to Kikuko, Nagare’s late wife. Usually mention is made of their one-line ad in Gourmet Monthly, and sometimes, of the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Akane Daidoji. And even if the reader hasn’t a clue what all the foods are, the gorgeous descriptions of each dish are truly mouth-watering. Moving and wise, this is feel-good fiction at its best.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio

I loved the first book in the series, and if possible I enjoyed this one even more! The same premise is continued, with Koishi and Nagare recreating dishes from people’s pasts. The structure is the same as well, with each customer’s tale being told in a two-part short story.

What really stood out to me with this particular book was how much the different recipes provided each customer with something they were missing in their life. I really felt the emotion of their full-circle moments, as they reconnected with their pasts in different ways, and even though we weren’t with each of them for very long I got such a full and vivid picture of who they are, their life stories, and their hopes and dreams.

Koishi and Nagare are still a joy as two main characters, in many ways functioning as a framing device rather than characters in their own rights, but still bringing through those lovely moments between them.

Once again there is excellent narration from Hanako Footman, who brought exactly the right atmosphere to the audiobook.

This is a wonderful follow-up to an excellent book, and I loved having the chance to return to the Kamogawa Diner a second time.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

Best enjoyed with a steaming bowl of ramen and a side helping of hojicha, this is the perfect series for any lover of Japanese food. With the same mouth-watering food descriptions and loveable characters as the first book, this was more of the same things that made me love the first book.

Though the short stories were written in much the same style as the first ones, with many of the same repeating elements, I found that the repetition didn’t bother me as much as they did in the first one. I don’t know whether it was because they were familiar enough for me to find them comforting or whether it was because they were referenced ever so slightly less than in the first book, I was relieved to find it different.

With the same comforting voice of the narrator and warm heart to each of the stories, these were honestly just perfect. Many Western books feel they need to one up the last book, but this book is honestly proof that more of the same can sometimes be just the thing.

I hope this is a series to go on and on because honestly I could listen to these stories forever.

3.5 stars
Very similar to the first one, I found it more chaotic.
Although the stories are interesting and show curious aspects of mourning, it still lack depth or something to provoke thought and reflection, they remain very much on the surface of the problem.

A captivating and touching story. I love the story plot which had lots of inspiring stories behind and the relationship between the characters was just amazing. The narrator brought us into the book immediately. Great voice and tones.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my copy.

Kashiwai Hisashi's “The Restaurant of Lost Recipes” is a heartwarming and nostalgic culinary journey. Set in Kyoto, the novel follows the story of a father-daughter duo, Koishi and Nagare Kamogawa, who run the extraordinary Kamogawa Diner.

More than just a restaurant, the diner serves as a portal to the past. Through their "food detective" service, the duo recreates beloved dishes from their customers' memories, evoking cherished moments and emotions. From a one-hit wonder pop star seeking her lucky tempura to an aspiring Olympic swimmer yearning for his father's bento box, each story is a poignant reminder of the power of food to connect us to our past.

What impressed me in Hisashi's narrative was both the heartwarming and captivating writing style. Thanks to the vivid descriptions of the dishes present through the story and the emotional depth of the characters, the story is set to leave its readers / listeners craving for more. For me, the audiobook format just added an extra layer of enjoyment, instilling life to the story with each word.

Overall, “The Restaurant of Lost Recipes” is a delightful escape into a world of food, memory, and human connection. It's a perfect story for anyone who appreciates good food, heartwarming stories, and a touch of nostalgia.

Macmillan UK Audio | Mantle, NetGalley, and the editorial team - thanks for giving me the opportunity to review an audiobook ARC of this publication!

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There is something to the conversations about food that makes it much more impactful in an audio format. I am not Japanese so a lot of local names of people and dishes were difficult to read, but since I paired it up with the audiobook, the book glided like butter.

The pacing of the book is versatile so you can either enjoy this bookcase by case or binge-read them all together. It was good to see Drowsy 🐈‍⬛️🐾 reappear after every case, and the dishes mentioned in the story are explored in an incredible way. For any food fanatic, this would be a great treat.

One thing I do feel that the book could do more of would be the elaborating on the mystery angle. Right now we only get the case and the final version of rediscovering the dish 2 weeks after, explaining the aftermath.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the Audio ARC.

I loved this second instalment even more than the first. The food descriptions alongside the story really bring Japan to life. One I would recommend for any one who loves cosy crime.

I love the way Hisashi Kashiwai writes. Each story brought comfort in different ways. I will never get tired of Stories from the The Kamogawa Food Detectives

Warning! This book will make you hungry.

A cute and sweet novel, I liked how food was used as a way for people to handle their emotions, memories, difficult events in life, etc. It's very reminiscent of Before the Coffee Gets Cold in the structure (each chapter is a short story) and even just the idea of coming to terms with things through food/coffee. I'm glad it wasn't longer because it would've become very redundant after a while. You can read it as a standalone novel, I haven't read book 1 and did just fine so. 3.25 stars

A cosy read that is a foodies dream, with lots of descriptions of food. This book follows a retired detective Nagare and his daughter Koishi. Nagare has a talent in recreating meals that patrons request, these meals dredge up memories of significant events to them. I would recommend to readers who enjoy great descriptions of food. In addition, the translation by Jesse Kirkwood was well done with a wonderful narration by Hanako Footman

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio | Mantle in exchange for a free and honest review

Kashiwai Hisashi offers a delicious set of stories, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, that will warm your heart!

It is my first time reading something written by Kashiwai Hisashi, and I've enjoyed reading this novel. The story is set in Kyoto, in a remote restaurant, where Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare work together to bring lost recipes to their clients. They come from Tokyo or elsewhere in the country to ask them to investigate and recreate a dish they vaguely remember but cannot find again. Their clients are from every age and background and come from various reasons that make readers navigate human relations and family issues.

I haven't read the first book of this series, The Kamogawa Food Detectives, but I don't think it is necessary to have read it to enjoy this one. I often define this kind of novel as episodic, like a collection of short stories that are part of a larger story but could be read individually, without impeding on your general comprehension. Also, it could be considered healing fiction, since each story is meant to identify an individual's wound and, if not heal it, appease the pain that comes along. That was very nicely translated by Jesse Kirkwood; although I know nothing about Japanese, I thought the text read well and was perfectly narrated.

I will surely recommend this book to my fellow readers, especially those eager to read about Japanese cuisine in a soothing environment.
Thank you Netgalley and Mantle for giving me access to this early audiobook copy of The Restaurant of Lost Recipes!

This was such a refreshing read. I love the way it is beautifully penned by the author and how nicely the different elements are out together in this book.
Right from the cover I was attracted to this book, then the blurb and I am glad that I requested for it. It is a total gem 🤌💎

I love this concept!! Food is always something we connect with our fondest memories, people, places. I have always felt the special tastes and palates are always unique and it is difficult to replicate the same one which satisfies our special needs. A detective who gets clues from customers and replicates the special and unique one the same as their requirements- a food detective !! That's one incredibly skilled talent and a service!

So this book has Koishi and her dad - the detective is trying to do the same for the customers who come seeking for their special talent. Their approach to the customers is so welcoming. In all these 6 short stories, the thread that connects everything is the detective - daughter pair and the different customers who come seeking a special dish that has some intimate connection to them.

The mouthwatering food descriptions and the heartwarming conversations about their intimate people is skillfully done. Seeing the effect that the final product has on the customers in itself is so satisfying.

The amount of work being done by the detective in searching for the dish through the clues given by the clients and the amount of work being done on replicating or developing the dishes is all given as a small behind the scenes description, but it's interesting to find out how it was done and their thought process.

Food is not just for survival, it's an emotion awakening nostalgic feelings, giving us courage to take the next step, reminding us of our days of happiness, of our favourite people who cared about us even without us knowing it.

It gets a bit repetitive by the end, but I still enjoyed it. The narration was good, also as a side note: made me realise how badly I was pronouncing some of the place and ingredient names. 😅


‘You hate something as a kid, then grow up to love it. The human palate is a mysterious thing'

I really loved the first book in the series so I was excited to read this & it did not disappoint.
The story follows a father daughter duo who run a small restaurant & food detective agency.

People come from all over to ask them to recreate a food that means so much to them & in doing so help them find the closure or reminder they need for whatever they are going through in life.

Like the first book we meet several people throughout the book that come for help. From grieving parents to a young woman struggling to make a decision on her future.

The stories are heartwarming & sweet & make you think about what is truly important in life.

I also recommend the audiobook as the narrator does such a great job at pulling you into the story & making you feel all the emotions.

Very wholesome story. Really nicely narrated. I feel the voice really set the atmosphere for the book

What a fantastic follow up! It’s very rarely that a squeal can live up to the first book in a duology, especially when the plot and themes are relative similar. But this just has that wow factor. Fantastic narrator again who does such a good job of bringing to life the characters and the restaurant itself! I really enjoyed my time back at the restaurant which I could listen to it for the first time again

This book was a joy to read and finished it in one sitting. I love the how we learn about Nagare and Koishi's relationship through their customers and I loved hearing the motivations for wanting a recipe. The narrator made the book come alive for me and I can't wait to read the first installment of this series and future books in it. 


Thank you to Macmillan UK Audio and Netgalley for the ALC

This was an unexpected listen for me. I wasn’t sure what I did expect with it, maybe a more cutsie listen because of the cover. But I wasn’t sure drawn in and really enjoyed the premise, which I think was the strongest part of this book. The plot complimented and I enjoyed the characters equally as much. I haven’t read anything by this author before so I cont compare paper and audio but I very much enjoyed listening to this audio so would look for audiobooks from them in the future

I enjoyed the narration of this audiobook but found the stories to be very repetitive. I would have enjoyed more description about the investigation into the dishes or what in particular made the dish taste so unique.

The story has a cosy, nostagic feel to it and it was easy to listen to but I wouldn't pick up another book from this series as I don't think there's enough differentiation between the stories.