The Restaurant of Lost Recipes

By: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood - translator

Narrated by: Hanako Footman

We all hold lost recipes in our hearts. A very special restaurant in Kyoto helps find them . . .

Tucked away down a Kyoto backstreet lies the extraordinary Kamogawa Diner, run by Chef Nagare and his daughter, Koishi. The father-daughter duo have reinvented themselves as “food detectives,” offering a service that goes beyond cooking mouth-watering meals. Through their culinary sleuthing, they revive lost recipes and rekindle forgotten memories.

From the Olympic swimmer who misses his estranged father’s bento lunchbox to the one-hit-wonder pop star who remembers the tempura she ate to celebrate her only successful record, each customer leaves the diner forever changed—though not always in the ways they expect . . .

The Kamogawa Diner doesn’t just serve meals—it’s a door to the past through the miracle of delicious food. A beloved bestseller in Japan, The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is a tender and healing novel for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

Critic reviews

An Apple Books Best Book of October
A Book Riot Best Book of the Week
An Electric Literature Heartwarming Japanese Book Perfect for Cozy Nights

“Delicious and delectable.” —NPR

“This cozy book delights in Japanese cuisine.” —Kirkus

“In addition to tantalizing recipes, the narrative is driven by the desire to recapture lost love, reconcile with a parent, or relive one’s youth. Ingredients and items are lovingly detailed. . . The equivalent of delightful comfort food.” —Library Journal

“Kashiwai is telling simple, meaningful human stories about people whose voyage through life has been interrupted.” —BookReporter

“Kashiwai is among a certain coterie of Japanese writers to have perfected a globally successful literary formula: create a café-esque setting with beloved staff who deliver plenty of empathic kindness to customers whose visits inspire stand-alone narratives. . . Deliciousness lingers.” —Booklist

“Succinct and heartwarming.” —Marie Claire

“Thought-provoking and will leave you hungry for more.” —BookRiot

“Author Hisashi Kashiwai shows a tremendous amount of empathy for his characters as well as a gentle humor. Plus, sensuous descriptions of homespun meals like a hamburger steak or a bowl of fried rice make The Restaurant of Lost Recipes such a memorable delight. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll open a delivery app.” —Apple Books

“Kashiwai’s heartwarming sequel to The Kamogawa Food Detectives entices listeners with exceptional sounding Japanese food while reminding them that hope and healing are always on the menu. Each chapter features a different person in need. The customers occasionally know why they’re seeking a lost flavor—to remember or honor someone long gone, for instance—but other times, it’s wise chef Nagare who ascertains their true need. If there’s an overarching plot throughout the novels, it’s the subtle changes in Nagare and Koishi’s relationship, which [the narrator’s] warmth and good humor subtly highlight. More centered are the ever-changing clients, whom she imbues with quiet yet urgent needs that the detectives must ascertain and assuage.” —Library Journal, Audio In Depth

“What an absolute gem of a book!” —It’s All About the Book

Can’t wait for the next

This book is like a warm cup of tea on a snowy day as you sit, wrapped in a warm blanket, to watch the snow fall

thoroughly enjoyable!

Having recently visited Japan, I enjoyed this novel knowing some of the places and foods that were in it. As an audible, i liked how each story was two chapters long and thus could be stopped at the end of each story and picked up later.I also liked how each story was sentimental, a mystery solved, a happy ending. The narrator was also good - added a nice additional dimension with his British accent.

Uplifting tales

Love this series. Wholesome feel good story. Recommend to anyone needing a story to help you feel warm and cozy.

Endearing and Enchanting

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is the second installment of the Food Detectives series. It exceeded my expectations I liked this one even more than the first. I found it equally endearing and enchanting.

I love stories that pack an emotional punch and this one did just that. Many of the stories involve grieving loved ones. I absolutely love the banter between Nagare (a widower) and his daughter, Koishi. I also love how they talk to and include Nagare’s wife/Koishi’s mother in their conversations and investigations.

Christmas Cake pulled at my heartstrings and was my favorite in the collection. I cannot recommend the audio book enough. Absolutely perfect narration. My trips to my local Japanese restaurants have greatly increased during my listening experience. Eating the food discusses in the stories always adds to the experience.

Easy, Pleasant, Foody story

I loved the calm
Pace of the story and the rhythm of each chapter. Food and experience were elegant, simple, endearing and appetizing.