Restaurants in Kyoto

Taking a more contemporary approach to kaiseki cuisine, Gion Karyo is situated in a stunning old Gion building with sleek interiors. The menu changes daily, but its ten-course dinner tasting option is highly recommended. English menus make ordering a breeze, although be quick with reservations to ensure you get to try all the amazing food on offer.

This legendary restaurant near Nanzenji Temple is one of Kyoto’s Michelin three-star restaurants and serves the finest kaiseki (multi-course dinner) imaginable. Over four centuries old, Hyotei was originally a teahouse serving pilgrims on their way to prayer before becoming a restaurant and its kaiseki remains instilled with ceremonial aesthetics. The rustic setting, gracious staff and sense of timelessness conspire to create a truly extraordinary dining experience.

This tiny one-Michelin-starred kappo (meaning to cut and cook) is hidden away down a nondescript street in the Gion district overlooking the Shirakawa River. The family-owned outfit is helmed by chef Ryuta Sakamoto, who prepares exquisite dishes with seasonal ingredients for a handful of well-heeled guests. Seating is at the wooden counter or at the two lower tables.

Kushikura specialises in top-quality yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and other skewered dishes using seasonal ingredients and local vegetables. Set in a beautifully restored machiya, a Kyoto-style townhouse, the best seat is at the restaurant counter, where you can watch meals being grilled to perfection over smouldering charcoal. The service is always friendly and efficient.

This elegant izakaya (Japanese-style pub) occupies a townhouse along the Pontocho alleyway and offers casual table seating downstairs and a traditional dining room upstairs. The menu features fresh seafood, sushi and other local delicacies such as tofu and yuba (tofu skin) complimented by locally brewed beer, sake and shochu - a potent Japanese spirit.

Tranquil Tempura Yoshikawa is located in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) near the Imperial Palace and boasts a mouth-watering tempura counter where guests can watch chefs expertly prepare dishes from scratch. Its tatami-strewn dining room serves eight-course kaiseki banquets at Western-style seating overlooking an ornate Japanese garden.

This homely little restaurant found near the Heian Shrine serves teishoku (set meals) for under 1,000 yen, making it a must for big appetites and small budgets. Bustling Japanese mama-sans (women managers) cook and serve the set menus that include one rice, fish or meat dish, four side plates, and a miso soup for good measure. English-language menus and a foreigner-friendly vibe add to the appeal.

Many agree that Omen makes Kyoto’s best udon (thick wheat) noodles, renowned for being served in a tasty broth and topped with lashings of fresh ginger, roasted sesame seeds and pickled daikon radish. The menu also boasts excellent side dishes such as tempura vegetables, tofu and grilled hamo (conger eel). There are three locations in Kyoto, but the best is near Ginkakuji Temple.

Japan’s ultimate comfort food comes in the form of ramen - a slurping noodle broth usually served with meat or fish and various toppings. It’s worth waiting in the out-the-door queue at Ramen Sen no Kaze for one of their hearty bowl-loads, well-matched by a side of gyoza dumplings. The menu also offers plenty of vegetarian and vegan ramen variations.