Restaurants in Kyoto
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Kyō-hayashiya
If you need a change from large American coffee chains and want to try some good Japanese green tea – and enjoy a nice view over the mountains while you’re at it – this is the place for it. Kyō-hayashiya also has a handy picture menu.
reviewed
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Inoda Coffee
This chain is a Kyoto institution and has branches throughout the city. Though slightly overrated for the price, the old-Japan atmosphere at this, Inoda’s main shop, is worth a try, especially if you want something Japanese rather than international.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Ponto-Chō Uan
Ponto-chō Uan (formerly Uzuki) is an elegant kaiseki restaurant with a great platform for riverside dining in the summer. We recommend that you have a Japanese speaker call to reserve and choose your meal. Look for the rabbit on the sign.
reviewed
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Uontana
This upscale izakaya is a good spot to try a range of sake and elegantly presented Japanese fare (sashimi, fried dishes, salads). The design is sleek, modern and more Tokyo than Kyoto. There is an English menu and a tiny lantern out the front.
reviewed
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Yudōfu Sagano
This is a popular place to sample yudōfu. It’s fairly casual, with a spacious dining room. You can usually eat here without having to wait and there‘s both indoor and outdoor seating. Look for the old cartwheels outside.
reviewed
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Kibune Club
The exposed wooden beams and open, airy feel of this rustic cafe make it a great spot to stop for a cuppa while exploring Kibune. In the winter, it sometimes cranks up the wood stove, which makes the place rather cosy. It's easy to spot.
reviewed
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Morita-Ya
This is Kyoto's most famous beef restaurant. It serves excellent sukiyaki and shabu-shabu in traditional tatami rooms, some overlooking the Kamo-gawa. The meat comes from the restaurant's own farm. Reservations are essential.
reviewed
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SShizenha Restaurant Obanzai
A little out of the way but good value, Obanzai serves a good buffet-style lunch/dinner of mostly organic vegetarian food. It's northwest of the Karasuma-Oike crossing, set back from the street a bit. Lunch on weekends is ¥1050.
reviewed
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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.
reviewed
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Lugol
For a quick cuppa or a snack in groovy surroundings, this cosy coffee shop on the west side of Downtown Kyoto is a very nice choice. We go there for decorating ideas as much as for the drinks.
reviewed
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Nakayoshi
One of the more reasonably priced restaurants in the area, Nakayoshi serves a lunch bentō for ¥3500. It has dining platforms over the river and the food is well prepared.
reviewed
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Beniya
This elegant riverside restaurant serves kaiseki sets for ¥6000, ¥8000 or ¥10,000, depending on size. There is a wooden sign with white lettering out the front.
reviewed
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Tochigiku
Try this lovely riverside restaurant for chicken and beef sukiyaki, wild boar stew and kaiseki sets. There is a small English sign. Last orders are at 7.30pm.
reviewed
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Warai
This Nishiki-dōri restaurant is a great place to try okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes) in casual surroundings. It can get a little smoky, but it's a fun spot to eat. It's got sets from as little as ¥650 at lunch. It's about 20m west of the west end of Nishiki Market; look for the English sign in the window.
reviewed
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Tagoto Honten
Across the street from Takashimaya department store, this long-standing Kyoto restaurant serves approachable kaiseki fare in a variety of rooms, both private and common. The kiku set (¥1600) includes some sashimi, a bit of tempura and a variety of other nibblies. Kaiseki dinner courses start at ¥6300 and you must reserve in advance. This is a good spot for those who want a civilised meal downtown in relaxing surroundings. At present, there's no English sign: look for pictures of the food and the stone and wooden front; the entrance is down the narrow alley.
reviewed
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Shibazaki
For excellent soba noodles and well-presented tempura sets (among other things) in the area of Kiyomizu- dera, try this comfortable and spacious restaurant. After your meal, head upstairs to check out the sublime collection of Japanese lacquerware – it's the best we've seen anywhere. Look for the low stone wall and the noren curtains hanging in the entryway.
reviewed
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Rāmen Kairikiya
Not far from the Sanjō-Kawaramachi intersection, this popular rāmen specialist welcomes foreigners with friendly staff. It's got several types of rāmen to choose from and tasty sets that include things like fried rice, fried chicken or gyōza, all for about ¥800. It's pretty easy to spot: look for the red and white sign and the words 'There is an English menu.'
reviewed
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Ootoya
Ootoya is a clean, modern Japanese restaurant that serves a range of standard Japanese dishes at bargain-basement prices. It's popular with Kyoto students and young office workers. The large picture menu makes ordering a breeze. Look for the English sign just west of Ganko Sushi.
reviewed
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Kyō Kurabu
This restaurant in Nishiki Market is a great spot to take a break from exploring the market. The menu is pan-Asian and meals can be had for about ¥1000. You can also just have a drink. It's up the stairs two doors down (west) from Aritsugu knife shop; look for the signs that read 'Café Dining' and 'kyo club'.
reviewed
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Karafuneya Coffee Honten
Japan is famous for its plastic food models, but this place takes them to a whole new level – it's like some futuristic dessert museum. We like the centrepiece of the display: the mother of all sundaes that goes for ¥10,000-18,000 and requires advance reservation to order. Lesser mortals can try the tasty matcha parfait for ¥780 or any of the cafe drinks and light meals on offer.
reviewed
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Ippūdō
There's a reason that there's usually a line outside this rāmen joint at lunchtime: the rāmen is awesome and the bite-sized gyōza (Chinese dumplings) are to die for. We recommend the gyōza set meal, which costs ¥750 or ¥850, depending on your choice of rāmen. It's on Nishiki-dōri, next to a post office and diagonally across from a Starbucks. There's a big English sign.
reviewed
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Ike Tsuru
We love this fruit juice specialist in Nishiki Market. In addition to all the usual favourites, it sometimes has durian on hand and can whip up a very unusual durian juice. Look for the fruit on display – it's on the south side of the market, a little east of Yanaginobanba-dōri.
reviewed
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Honke Tagoto
One of Kyoto's oldest soba restaurants makes a good break for those who have overdosed on rāmen. It's in the Sanjō covered arcade and you can see inside to the tables.
reviewed
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Hisago
If you need a quick meal while in the main southern Higashiyama sightseeing district, this simple noodle and rice restaurant is a good bet. It's within easy walking distance of Kiyomizu-dera and Maruyama-kōen. Oyako-donburi (chicken and egg over rice; ¥980) is the speciality of the house. There is no English sign; look for the traditional front and the small collection of food models on display. In the busy seasons, there's almost always a queue outside.
reviewed