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Kyoto

Nishiki Warai

There are few foods more fun to eat than okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes cooked on a griddle at your table) and Nishiki Warai is a great place to enjoy this treat. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese dis

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No Name Ramen

This ramen shop may be nameless, but it's made a name for itself in Kyoto. ![Ramen makes a seriously delicious and quick dinner.](https://photos.smugmug.com/Kyoto/No-Name-Ramen/i-RRPJGdt/0/b1c5540c/L

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Oagari

Located a hop and skip south of Yasaka Shrine, Oagari in the Gion district might seem touristy, but it's no run-of-the-mill okonomiyaki restaurant. Top-notch cooking at incredibly reasonable prices, a

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Okaru

Okaru is a low-key udon restaurant in Gion popular with local geiko and maiko (geisha). Their famous curry udon bowl makes a perfect cheap n' cheerful meal in between your wanderings in the area. ![R

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Omen Restaurant Kyoto

Just down the hill from Ginkaku-ji Temple, Omen is one of our favorite restaurants in Kyoto. They serve some of Kyoto's best udon noodles. Few restaurants manage to maintain high standards once they

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Ootoya Gohan Dokoro

October 2022: Please note Ootoya Gohan-dokoro has now permanently closed, however there is another branch at 601 Nishiuoyacho, Nakagyo Ward, 604-8142. Please see our [Best Restaurants In Kyoto](be

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Oshokuji Dokoro Asuka

A homey shokudo (think Japanese diner) on the main Higashiyama tourist trail, with an English menu and a friendly staff, this is a great spot for a bowl or rice or noodles while exploring the east sid

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Otafuku

For a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Kyoto, drop by Otafuku in Kawaramachi. Though it's right in the heart of the city, you'll be whisked away to another world in this retro kissa

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Pontocho Izumoya

Located along the Kamogawa River, Pontocho Izumoya has been serving up deliciously tender and smoky eel for over a century now. As a bonus, it's pretty tourist-friendly, too. Winding parallel to the

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Porta Kyoto

Porta is a shopping and dining complex spread around the Kyoto Station building. It's one of the best places to eat in the Kyoto Station area, with an amazing variety of Japanese and international cui

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Ramen Muraji Kyoto

Looking for a brilliant bowl of ramen while exploring Gion? Then head to Muraji for some chicken broth ramen served in surprisingly elegant surroundings. ![The classic Muraji paitan ramen with all th

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Renkon Ya

Centrally located, friendly, and serves delicious homestyle food -- what's not to like about Renkon-ya? This izakaya in downtown Kyoto near Sanjo Station is a cozy little restaurant that's popular wit

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Restaurant Den Shichi Central Kyoto

One of the best and most approachable sushi bars in Kyoto, Den Shichi serves mouth-watering sushi in a classic sushi-bar atmosphere. Saiin, a rather non-descript neighborhood on the west side of Kyot

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Restaurant Eat Paradise Kyoto Station Area

Note that Eat Paradise is now part of the Porta Kyoto complex. For details see our Porta Kyoto page. The best collection of restaurants in Kyoto Station, Eat Paradise is our favori

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Restaurant Kane Yo Kyoto

Kane-yo is one the best places in Kyoto to sample unagi (eel). The place positively oozes "old Kyoto" charm and the unagi is delicious. Even if you're not a big fan of eel back home, you owe it to yo

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Restaurant Karako Northern Higashiyama

For a hearty bowl of ramen noodles in the Kyoto museum district (Okazaki-koen Park and Heian-jingu area), Karako is the obvious choice. Karako wins zero points for ambience and few points for a smile

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Sakamaruyama

Sakamaruyama is a quiet little tea house tucked away in a corner of Maruyama-koen Park. Here you can enjoy specialty teas and traditional Japanese sweets, in a tranquil but friendly atmosphere. ![Sak

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Sarasa Nishijin

An old sento (public bath) decorated with tile mosaics that has been turned into a café, Sarasa Nishijin is one of Kyoto's most interesting restaurants. We always feel conflicted when we go into Sara

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Saryo Housen

You'd have to know where to go to find Saryo Housen. One of the city's finest shops for tea and sweets is located in the suburbs of Central Kyoto, and it's well worth seeking out. Kyoto has hundreds

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Senmonten Southern Higashiyama

This hole-in-the-wall shop in Gion sells only two things: gyoza (Chinese friend dumplings) and beer. The gyoza are the best in town. The name of this shop -- Senmonten -- means specialty shop in Japa

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Shigetsu Restaurant Arashiyama

Inside the grounds of Tenryu-ji Temple, Shigetsu is a great place to try traditional Japanese Buddhist cuisines, also known as shojin-ryori. While no one would describe the fare here as "stick to you

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Smart Coffee

Retro kissaten Smart Coffee in Teramachi Shopping Arcade not only serves fantastic coffee, their egg sandwiches are also killer. Sparing some time for breakfast or tea here is a no-brainer! The spect

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Suiba Shijo Karawamachiten

For a fun, inexpensive night out with friends, try a standing izakaya like Suiba in Shijo Kawaramachi. Good, cheap food and drink -- what more could you ask for from dinner? ![Suiba's mentaiko omelet

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Sumibi Kushiyaki Torito

This is "haute yakitori" -- dynamite yakitori (various bits of chicken cooked on skewers) in fashionable surroundings. Yakitori restaurants are usually smoky joints filled with half-drunk salarymen p

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Sushisei

Sushisei is one of the best moderately priced sushi restaurants in Kyoto. They're relatively comfortable with foreigners and its right downtown. ![Sushisei - Downtown Kyoto](https://photos.smugmug.co

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Takashimaya Basement Food Floor Kyoto

Takashimaya Basement Food Floor is one of the most impressive food markets you'll find anywhere. Takashimaya Department Store's basement flood floor vies with [Daimaru Department Store's basement foo

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Takashimaya Resutoran Gai

The Takashimiya Resutoran-gai (restaurant floor) is a great place to eat while exploring downtown Kyoto. While both of Kyoto's main downtown department stores (Daimaru and Takashimaya) offer excellen

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Takashiyama Kyoto

Perhaps the most elegant department store in Kyoto, Takashimaya is the place to go to see just how opulent a Japanese department store can be. Kyotoites and foreign residents love to debate which is

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Tavelt Food Floor

Located in the basement of Fujii-Daimaru Department Store, Tavelt is a small but excellent food floor. The takeaway sushi and sashimi is especially strong. ![Tavelt sign](https://photos.smugmug.com/K

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Tempura Endo Yasaka

How many tempura places can you name that have been in business for more than 100 years? Tempura Endo Yasaka has been deep-frying food with flair for the last century -- with tempura this good, it's n

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Tenyu

Fresh ingredients superbly deep-fried in crisp batter -- what's not to like about tempura? Tenyu near Kyotoshiyakushomae Station has some of the best in Kyoto. Head over there to have your idea of tem

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The Cube Food Court Kyoto

Note that The Cube is now part of the Porta Kyoto complex. For details see our Porta Kyoto page. The Cube Food Court, a collection of excellent restaurants on the 11th floor of the

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