Your Guide to Safe Dining: Allergy Policies at Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu

Savor Every Bite at Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu! Your Guide to Safe, Allergy-Friendly Dining

We want our guests to enjoy delicious food with peace of mind. — With this commitment in our hearts, Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu welcomes customers every day. While we proudly serve our special Minami-Kusatsu yakitori and heartwarming chicken dishes, we recognize that awareness of food safety has grown in recent years. For our guests, policies regarding food allergies are a matter of significant concern. We are sincerely committed to our allergy-friendly practices so that all our guests can fully enjoy their dining experience without worry.

In this article, we will detail the specific allergy-friendly measures in place at Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu and explain how our guests can make use of our services. If you are looking for delicious chicken dishes in Minami-Kusatsu, and especially if you have food allergies and feel anxious about dining out, we hope you will read on to learn about our commitment to your safety.

A Growing Concern: The Challenges of Dining Out with Food Allergies

In recent years, the number of people with food allergies has been on the rise, and more customers are feeling anxious when dining out, wondering, What can I eat? or Is there a risk of allergen cross-contamination? At establishments like izakayas near Minami-Kusatsu Station, which handle a wide variety of ingredients, there is a demand for an environment where customers can order with confidence, free from concerns about unintentional allergen mixing or undeclared ingredients in seasonings.

Even at typical yakitori shops or specialty chicken restaurants, which may seem to use simple cooking methods, allergens can be present in many forms, such as in sauces, marinades, or shared frying oil. For example, attention is needed for hidden ingredients like soy sauce containing wheat, tsukune (chicken meatballs) using egg as a binder, or sauces containing dairy products. This situation can be a major hurdle for customers with allergies who wish to enjoy dining out. Even if you want to relax in a private room in Minami-Kusatsu, you cannot fully enjoy the moment if allergy concerns linger. Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu takes this challenge seriously and strives to create an environment where customers can dine with confidence.

Our Allergy-Friendly Practices: Transparency in Ingredient Information

Full Disclosure and Detailed Understanding of All Menu Ingredients

To ensure our guests can dine with complete peace of mind, we thoroughly manage the ingredient information for our entire menu. For customers with allergies, knowing what is in their food is of the utmost importance. At Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu, we understand that even a simple skewer of yakitori or a single chicken dish can contain hidden seasonings or complex ingredients, and we have meticulously listed them all.

Specifically, we strive to collect and provide information not only on the 7 major allergens specified by Japan's Food Labeling Act (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab) but also on the 21 other items recommended for labeling whenever possible. This allows our customers to confidently make choices that suit their dietary needs.

• Up-to-Date Ingredient Lists: We work to provide accurate information at all times, promptly updating our lists when seasonings or suppliers change.
• Detailed Ingredient Breakdowns: For complex seasonings, we verify the constituent components as much as possible to identify the presence of allergens.
• Multiple Information Channels: In addition to verbal explanations, we can provide allergen information sheets or other documents as needed.

Our Allergy-Friendly Practices: Careful Preparation and Individualized Support

Modifying Preparation Methods to Accommodate Individual Needs

We understand that simply disclosing ingredient information is sometimes not enough to address allergy concerns. Therefore, at Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu, we strive to be as flexible as possible in our food preparation, responding to each customer's specific allergies. As a restaurant specializing in yakitori and chicken dishes, we are constantly exploring cooking methods that prioritize customer safety while still highlighting the natural flavors of our ingredients.

For example, for a guest with a wheat allergy, we can serve our yakitori with salt instead of our soy-based tare sauce, or use an alternative allergen-free seasoning. For a guest with a dairy allergy, we can omit cheese or sauces from a dish. In the case of fried foods, we can consider using a separate pot or thoroughly cleaning the frying oil to avoid cooking with the same oil as an allergen-containing ingredient. While we cannot accommodate every request, we will listen to your needs and work with you to find the best possible solution.

If you are using one of our private rooms and have special dietary restrictions, please inform us of the details when you make your reservation. This allows us to consult with our kitchen staff in advance and prepare for a smooth service on the day of your visit. We spare no effort and value meticulous attention to detail to ensure our customers' safety and satisfaction.

Our Allergy-Friendly Practices: Staff Training and Strong Communication

Improving Allergy Awareness and Ensuring Reliable Information Sharing Among All Staff

For our guests to dine safely at Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu, it is essential that our entire team, including both kitchen and front-of-house staff, is knowledgeable about food allergies. Through regular training, we provide thorough education on the basics of food allergies, the types of specified allergens and their symptoms, and fundamental procedures for preventing accidental ingestion.

When a guest informs us of an allergy at the time of ordering, that information is relayed to the kitchen promptly and accurately. To prevent miscommunication or errors, we use dedicated order sheets and an information-sharing system, implementing a multi-layered check system involving several staff members. As an izakaya near Minami-Kusatsu Station with frequent customer interaction, we ensure that every staff member understands the seriousness of allergies and approaches their duties with a sense of responsibility. If a staff member is unsure about something, they are instructed to never make assumptions and always confirm with a manager or head chef, preventing inaccurate information from reaching our guests.

Our Allergy-Friendly Practices: Preparation Through Advance Consultation

Thorough and Detailed Inquiries When You Book in Advance

To serve you the best possible meal and minimize any allergy-related anxiety, Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu places great importance on inquiries about allergies during the reservation process. Advance preparation is key to enjoying our chicken dishes to the fullest. By asking about allergies via phone or in the notes section of our online reservation form, we can secure enough time to prepare before your visit, allowing us to provide a safer and more satisfying service.

By providing us with detailed information—such as the specific allergen and the severity of your reaction (e.g., whether trace amounts can cause a severe reaction or if avoiding direct contact is sufficient)—we can consider more appropriate alternative preparation methods and countermeasures in advance. This ensures a smooth and worry-free ordering process for you on the day of your visit, and allows our staff to respond calmly and effectively. We especially encourage guests using our private rooms or planning special events to share detailed information with us beforehand. Through this collaboration between our guests and staff, we can create a safer and more pleasant dining experience.

A Request to Our Guests: Practical Steps for a Safe Dining Experience

While Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu is fully prepared to help you safely enjoy our yakitori and chicken dishes, we also ask for your cooperation with a few practical steps. Your assistance with these steps enables us to provide more reliable and secure allergy-friendly service.

Step 1: Contact Us in Advance When Booking or Before Your Visit

• Inform Us When Booking: When making a reservation by phone or through our website's booking form, please specify your allergies in the notes section.
• Share Detailed Information: Please provide as much detail as possible, including not only the specific ingredient but also the type of symptoms and whether trace amounts can trigger a reaction.
• Allow Ample Time: For complex allergies, contacting us a few days before your visit gives us sufficient time for confirmation and preparation.

Step 2: Reconfirm and Clearly Communicate Upon Arrival

• Notify Staff on Arrival: When you arrive and are seated, or when you place your order, please inform the staff again that you have an allergy.
• Confirm Communication: If necessary, please confirm that your allergy information has been communicated not only to the server taking your order but also to the staff who will be serving your food.
• Use an Allergy Card: If you carry an allergy card, presenting it can help ensure more accurate information sharing.

Step 3: Don't Hesitate to Ask If You Have Questions

• Clarify Menu Items: As you look at the menu, if you have any questions about ingredients, no matter how small, please do not hesitate to ask our staff.
• Inquire About Preparation: If you have concerns about a specific cooking method, feel free to ask our staff. We will explain it to the best of our ability.
• Make a Final Check: When your food is served, please make a final confirmation that the allergy accommodations have been correctly implemented. If you have any concerns, please notify a staff member immediately.

Enjoy Your Evening in Minami-Kusatsu with Peace of Mind: A Message from Us

At Circle Counter Minami-Kusatsu, our goal is to provide delicious food and a comfortable space to bring a smile to every guest's face. We approach the delicate issue of food allergies with sincerity and spare no effort in our daily work to ensure our guests can dine safely and with true enjoyment. We want you to savor the signature flavors of our restaurant, from our fresh Omi chicken dishes to our yakitori carefully grilled over Binchotan charcoal, without any worries.

Whether you are seeking out local yakitori or wish to spend a special moment with loved ones in one of our private rooms, we will continue to do our utmost so that concerns about allergies do not limit your choices. If you have any anxieties regarding allergies, please feel free to consult with us. All of us here eagerly await your visit.