Kyoto Restaurants

  1. Aburaya-Shokudō

    Just down the steps from the main gate of Kurama-dera, this classic old-style shokudō reminds us of what Japan was like before it got rich. The sansai teishoku is a delightful selection of vegetables, rice and soba topped with grated yam. Simpler noodle and rice dishes are cheaper. It's on the corner.

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  2. Amazon

    This typical Japanese coffee shop, near Sanjūsangen-dō, turns out some surprisingly good sandwiches and coffee; it's one of the few decent options in this area.

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  3. Anji

    This smoky izakaya -style fish specialist is a great place to sample a wide variety of sashimi, cooked fish and standard izakaya dishes. You can sit on the tatami mats in the zashiki (communal room), but you'll have to have a high tolerance for cigarette smoke. If you don't smoke, and don't want to be smoked, we recommend the counter. There is no English menu, so you'll have to bring a Japanese-speaking friend or point at what your neighbours are eating.

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  4. Ask A Giraffe

    This casual cafe is our favourite of the six restaurants in the new Shin-Puh-Kan shopping complex. They offer light meals (sandwiches, pastas, salads) and all the standard coffee and drinks, which make a nice pick-me-up while shopping here. As for the name, well, your guess is as good as ours!

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  5. Asuka

    With an English menu, and a staff of friendly Kyoto mama-sans who are at home with foreign customers, this is a great place for a cheap lunch or dinner while sightseeing in the Higashiyama area. The tempura mori-awase (assorted tempura set) is a big pile of tempura for around ¥1000 . Look for the red lantern and pictures of the set meals.

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  7. Aunbo J

    Aunbo serves elegant, creative Japanese cooking in traditional Gion surroundings. The last time we were here we started with sublime sashimi, went on to fried yuba pockets and went from there. We recommend asking for the set and leaving the difficult decisions to the master. Aunbo takes reservations in the evening. There is an English menu but no English sign; look for the traditional Japanese façade.

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  8. Ayatori

    Very close to the Hyakumamben intersection, this place is your classic shokudō . It's a friendly spot that is popular with local workers, resident foreigners and university students. A variety of standard fish and meat set dishes are served, which average around ¥800 . In winter, the kaki furai teishoku (fried oyster set meal; around ¥1100 ) is lovely. Strangely, considering this is a Japanese restaurant, Ayatori also serves a wonderful potato salad. English menus are available.

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  9. Azami

    Located in the Museum of Kyoto, on the northeast side of the building, this chicken specialist serves a wide variety of excellent dishes in a fairly traditional Japanese atmosphere. Choices range from yakitori to tsukune (chicken meatballs) to a healthy chicken salad. If you don't mind sitting on tatami, the downstairs rooms are highly recommended.

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  10. Bamboo

    Bamboo is one of Kyoto's more approachable izakaya . It's on Sanjō-dōri, near the mouth of a traditional, old shopping arcade. You can sit at the counter here and order a variety of typical izakaya dishes, watching as the chefs do their thing.

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  11. Beniya

    This elegant riverside restaurant serves kaiseki sets for around ¥6000 , ¥8000 or ¥10,000 , depending on size. There is a wooden sign with white lettering out the front.

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  13. Biotei

    Located diagonally across from the Nakagyō post office, this is a favourite of Kyoto vegetarians and has an English menu. It serves daily sets of Japanese vegetarian food (the occasional bit of meat is offered as an option, but you'll be asked your preference). The seating is rather cramped but the food is very good and carefully made from quality ingredients. It's up the metal spiral steps.

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  14. Bon Bon Café

    If you find yourself in need of a light meal or drink while you're in the Demachiyanagi area, this casual open-air café is an excellent choice. There are a variety of cakes and light meals on offer. While there is no English menu, much of the ordering can be done by pointing, and the young staff can help you figure out what's not on display. It's on the west bank of the Kamo-gawa and outdoor seats here are very pleasant on warm evenings.

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  15. Bouchon Cayenne

    We always feel a little guilty eating at this intimate French place, especially at lunch. It just doesn't seem right to be getting this kind of food for these prices. The chef does a brilliant egg tart and is a good hand with lamb dishes. The menu is in French and Japanese. It's near the corner; look for the grey front and the English sign.

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  16. Buttercups

    Buttercups is a favourite of the local expat community and a great place for lunch, dinner or a cup of coffee. The menu (available in English) is international and the vibe is chilled and arty. There are usually pictures, paintings or photos on display. Dishes include Mexican rice, fish and chips, salads and tacos. Look for the plants and whiteboard menu outside.

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  17. Café Bibliotec Hello!

    As the name suggests, books line the walls of this cool café located in a converted machiya . You can get the usual range of coffee and tea drinks here, as well as light café lunches. It's popular with young ladies who work nearby and it's a great place to relax with a book or magazine. Look for the plants out front.

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  19. Café Carinho

    This excellent little café near Ginkaku-ji is one of the only places in town where you can find proper bagel sandwiches. It also serves daily specials, light meals and excellent tea and coffee (from around ¥400 ). There is wi-fi for those with laptops. The owner speaks English and Portuguese, which makes ordering a breeze. All told, this is one of the best spots in the neighbourhood for a drink or meal.

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  20. Café Independants

    Located beneath a gallery, this cool subterranean café offers a range of light meals and café drinks in a bohemian atmosphere (after you eat, you can check out the gallery space upstairs). A lot of the food offerings are laid out on display for you to choose from. The emphasis is on healthy sandwiches and salads. Take the stairs on your left before the gallery.

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  21. Café Peace

    This is a pleasant spot for a cuppa or a light organic vegetarian meal. It's a little cramped but the soothing décor makes up for this. Lunch sets include green curry, sandwiches and Japanese fare. The English menu will help with ordering. Café Peace is on the 3rd floor but there's a small sign on street level.

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  22. Capricciosa

    For heaped portions of pasta at rock-bottom prices you won't do much better than this longtime student favourite. Pasta dishes start at around ¥800 and you can choose from pizzas, salads, and various meat and fish dishes. It will definitely not be the best Italian you've ever had, but you'll probably leave full and happy. It's near the Sanjō-Kawaramachi crossing; look for the red-brick steps and the green awning. There's an English menu and an English sign.

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  23. Cocohana

    This place is one of a kind: a Korean café in a converted old Japanese house. Dishes here include bibimbap (a Korean rice dish) and kimchi (Korean pickles). A full range of coffee and tea is also available. It's a woody rustic place with both table and tatami seating. There is no English menu but the friendly young staff will help with ordering. This makes a great stop while exploring southeastern Kyoto.

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  25. Daikichi

    This is a good yakitori restaurant with a friendly owner. The place is a little brightly lit for our taste, but it's easy to enter and the yakitori is tasty. Daikichi is on Sanjō-dōri; look for the red lanterns outside.

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  26. Den Shichi

    This is our favourite sushi restaurant in Kyoto. It's a classic - long counter, bellowing sushi chefs and great fresh fish. The lunch sets are unbelievable value and the glass sushi cases make ordering a little easier than at some other places. It's almost always hopping and doesn't take reservations, so you may have to give your name and wait - but it will definitely be worth it. Look for the black-and-white sign about 100m west of Saiin Station on Shijō-dōri.

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  27. Didi

    A cosy little spot in the north of town past Hyakumamben and Kyoto University, this friendly smoke-free restaurant serves passable Indian lunch and dinner sets. There are plenty of vegetarian choices on the menu, which is available in English. Didi is easy to spot from the street.

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  28. Doutor Coffee

    A lot of Western travellers have discovered the joys of Doutor Coffee, which has branches all over Kyoto. The coffee itself is dirt cheap but the real draw here are the surprisingly tasty sandwiches - just the thing when you need a break from the usual insipid things they call sandwiches in Japan. The picture menu makes ordering easy.

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  29. Earth Kitchen Company

    Located on Marutamachi-dōri near the Kamo-gawa, this is a tiny spot that seats just two people but does a bustling business serving tasty takeaway lunch bentō . If you fancy a picnic lunch for your temple-hopping, and the ease of an English menu, this is the place.

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