Kyoto

Il Pappalardo

One of Kyoto's best Italian restaurants. Dishes tend to be pricey, but the food tastes delicious. Pizzas are sold at more affordable prices.

Lunch 11:30-15:00, dinner 17:30-22:00 · Pizzas range from ¥1500–2400.

Siam

シャム

A tiny but wonderful Thai curry restaurant. The food is delicious, reasonably priced and spice levels are indicated on the menu. Relax in a soft-lit room decorated with exotic paintings from Bali, while the friendly staff prepare your meal right in front of you. An English menu available.

Thu-Tue 11:30-15:30, 18:00-21:00

Apollo

If hipster izakaya didn't exist before, Apollo has invented it. Izakaya style with a clean, laid back environment consisting more of hip and arty locals instead of an older "regulars" crowd. Beautiful interior with a center garden and private dining rooms, or you can sit at the bar or in the more casual tables upstairs. Chefs prepare a mix of salads, grilled foods and fried foods from seasonal regional ingredients. House speciality is a pork gyoza. Affordable, cool and laid back.

17:00-00:00 (last order 23:00) · ¥150-3200 (latter is set plate)

Nijiya

虹屋

Cozy vegan izakaya with only counter 7 seats. As of March 2024, they had to temporarily stop taking reservations due to popularity, and serve customers in order of arrival.

17:30-20:30 · Vegan options

Musashi Sushi

One of the oldest kaitenzushiya (conveyor belt sushi) restaurants in Kyoto. All of the sushi is handmade, though it may take a while to see something new float by. Fortunately, the seats surround the chefs, so you can request whatever you want if you don't see something you like.

Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 · ¥137 per plate (usually 2 pieces per plate)

Kikunoi (main restaurant)

菊乃井本店

One of Japan's most famous ryotei, serving kaiseki using the finest regional seasonal ingredients. Very expensive for dinner, but lunches are much more reasonable. Bookings essential well in advance. Staff don't speak much English, but the restaurant does publish English books with descriptions of some of their dishes.

11:30-13:00, 17:00-20:00 · ¥4,000 (lunch), ¥15,000 (dinner)

Pontochō

先斗町

One of Kyoto's most traditional nightlife districts, the restaurants here run the gamut for super-exclusive geisha houses to common yakitori bars. Many have pleasant open-air riverside terraces. Rule of thumb is, any establishment with a menu and prices outside is OK, but others are best skipped.

Fuka

麩嘉

This old shop makes the best nama-fu manju (wheat gluten filled with sweet bean paste) in Kyoto and supplies many sweet shops and restaurants throughout the city. There might not be enough supplies to sell over the counter, so it is best to arrive early.

Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00

Saryou Tsuriji

茶寮都路里

Famous for its matcha (grean tea) parfait, this restaurant is quite popular among Japanese tourists. It is not uncommon to wait 30 minutes just to get inside. Mainly ice cream is served, and most of it is grean tea flavored, as it is a Kyoto specialty. It's a nice experience for those who like to make eating part of their travel experience, but for those on a budget, there are plenty of vendors selling cheap macha ice cream cones. A branch is also at Kodaiji in Higashiyama and other regions in Kyoto.

Mon-Fri 10:00-21:00, Sat Sun national holidays 10:00-20:30 · Dishes typically range from ¥1000–1400

Shintogetsu

新渡月

Serves a variety of meal set, with soba and the famous Yodofu (tofu) being among the most popular.

11:00-17:00 · ¥650-1300

Sweets Paradise

スイーツパラダイス

Sweets Paradise is the famed all-you-can-eat cake and dessert restaurant. While they do offer some main dishes, no one comes here for anything but the sweets! After you pay, you can eat as much as you want for 90 minutes.

10:30-21:30 · ¥1480

Bistro Cerisier

ビストロ スリージェ bisutoro suriije

A French restaurant decorated with a variety of French posters. They claim to have the approval of the French themselves.

Lunch 11:30-14:30, dinner 18:00-21:30 (closed Wed) · Expect to pay ¥1,000-3,000

Tuzuri

綴

Quiet Japanese place specialising in traditional home cooking dishes (called obanzai).

Toryanse

通りゃんせ

A restaurant with vegan options. The interior features photos of cat that roam around the Philosopher’s Path. Cash only.

Ramen Factory Kyoto

Ramen Factory

Ramen Factory Kyoto consists of the Ramen Restaurant (for eating - tabemasu) which offers different types of ramen such as Miso, Shoyu (Soy sauce), Shio (Salt) and Ramen Experience (for experience - taiken) which is the only restaurant in Japan where you are able to make original ramen from scratch by your hand and enjoy its deliciousness. Ramen Factory has the root from “Menbakaichidai” which is famous as Fire Ramen with more than 30-year history. This place contains lots of information about ramen culture from the beginning, offers lots of types of experience for customers with its wide range of diversity.

Daily 11:00-20:00

Shishin Samurai Cafe & Bar

The place proclaims that an increase of food production, food self-sufficiency, and the decrease of food waste can prevent war. This cafe serves local Japanese foods as much as possible to increase food self-sufficiency and sustainability. In addition this cafe uses 5% of its gross sales to aid homeless people and orphans who are suffering from a lack of food. Furthermore, this cafe aims to reintroduce declining Japanese traditional customs and keep these traditions alive. Also, this cafe plans to hold lectures, discussions and forums concerning peace and food sustainability (please, note different menu items during cafe and bar times).

Wed-Mon 12:00-23:00

Torikizoku

鳥貴族

Torikizoku is the most popular yakitori chain in Kansai. There are several locations in Kyoto - most convenient for travellers is in Kawaramachi/Shijo, just before the bridge, or between sanjo and shijo, on kiyachou-dori. The yakitori is delicious, comes in generous serves and is very cheap. It's very popular with both locals and expats, and is always busy. Try to come before 19:30 to secure seats. Look for the Japanese characters on the distinctive yellow and red sign.

18:00-late · All food/drink ¥300 each

Torikizoku

鳥貴族

Torikizoku is the most popular yakitori chain in Kansai. There are several locations in Kyoto - most convenient for travellers is in Kawaramachi/Shijo, just before the bridge, or between sanjo and shijo, on kiyachou-dori. The yakitori is delicious, comes in generous serves and is very cheap. It's very popular with both locals and expats, and is always busy. Try to come before 19:30 to secure seats. Look for the Japanese characters on the distinctive yellow and red sign.

17:00 or 18:00 to late · All food/drink ¥360 each (tax included)

Tengu

A chain izakaya offering their own beer and good shared food with occasional seasonal specials.

Gion TAC

祇園TAC

Not the cheapest, but really great Italian food in a very hospitable environment, with friendly staff, nice music and great dessert.

06:00-15:00 · ¥4000 p.p

Uosaburo

魚三楼

A pricey restaurant serving local Kyoto cuisine with a variety of set options.

Daily 11:00-23:00 · From ¥7000-25000

Mishima-tei

If you have a yearning for sukiyaki, and your pockets are deep, you must visit Mishima-tei at the junction of Teramachi-dori and Sanjo-dori. Here you will be bowed in and shown to your own private tatami room by your personal kimono-clad hostess. There, having helped you to order, she will prepare your sukiyaki feast on the hotplate set between you. Order the "premium beef", and the richly marbled meat will just melt in your mouth, and require almost no chewing whatsoever: it is delectable – and it should be since two of you will spend around ¥25,000 in less than an hour on 360 grams of beef and a few vegetables! (For the cost-shy, there is a 'tourist set' on the menu which results in a bill of about ¥13,600 for 2.

Falafel Garden

An Israeli restaurant serving a variety of falafel pockets, as well as meal sets.

11:30-21:30, closed Wed in April and May · Medium-sized falafels range in price from ¥860-1100, large sizes available

Hirokawa

廣川

A great restaurant for those who enjoy eating eel. Reservations may be made one month in advance.

Tue-Sun 11:00-15:00, 17:00-21:00 · ¥1575-13,000

Kurazushi

A cheap and fun way to dine. For every five plates you finish, put the down the shoot to play a game on the screen above the sushi. Each game is different, but you'll typically be asked to choose one of three options and then watch the animation to see if you win. If you win, you get a prize. It's entertaining, and the sushi tastes good.

Daily 11:00-23:00 · ¥100 per dish

Shinpachi Tea House

新八茶屋

Despite being called a teahouse, Shinpachi is popular for its gelatto ice cream. They also have ice cream cones and parfaits. It is also a souvenir shop, so visitors often enjoy eating their gelatto while browsing the shop.

Daily 09:00-18:00 · Gelatto single ¥350, double ¥400

Anil

A nice Nepalese restaurant with a great atmosphere and awesome food. The dahl, cheese nan and momo dumplings are highly recommended.

Kappa Sushi (on Pontocho)

A reasonably-priced (for fresh sushi) restaurant. They have an English menu which is, unfortunately, inferior to the Japanese menu. Specials change daily, but are generally on the pricey side. Sit at the sushi bar, and eat well-apportioned nigiri off of banana leaves with your fingers. Not a bad place to try real o-toro for ¥800 a plate.

Shofukutei

昭福亭

One person udon nabe for ¥1,100. Green soba or udon noodles for as cheap as ¥400.

Torisei

鳥せい

Serves a variety of chicken and meat dishes.

Daily 11:30-23:00, closed Mon · Individual portions from ¥500-730