Top 10 Must-Try Local Restaurants in Kyoto
Trying to figure out where to eat in Kyoto gives you a look into the city’s vast cultural legacy. The top restaurants in Kyoto offer everything from high-end kaiseki food to ramen, tempura, and contemporary cocktail bars, all with a focus on providing you with the greatest ingredients and service. From the geisha area of Gion to the Imperial Palace’s residence, Kamigyo, these are 10 Must-Try Local Restaurants in Kyoto.
1. Sou
Sou provides a fantastic culinary experience. This modest yet elegant restaurant, located in Gion’s vibrant area yet away from the city’s noise and bustle, serves high-quality meals. The Wagyu A5 is one of the most popular meals. Only the highest-quality beef may receive the renowned A5 grade in Japan. Sou’s owner and chief chef has mastered the technique of preparing this traditional Japanese delicacy. The restaurant boasts an exceptional wine list and a team of knowledgeable sommeliers on hand to recommend the best choices.
2. Chihana
Chihana, a restaurant in the Gion neighborhood of Tokyo, first opened its doors in 1946 and has since become a popular destination for Japanese foodies. This little restaurant, founded by Motoo Nagata and currently run by his son Katsuyoshi Nagata, is tucked away on a side street in one of Kyoto’s busiest areas. Chihana is known for its kaiseki, or Japanese haute cuisine. Each meal is more delectable than the previous, thanks to a menu that highlights the chef’s creativity. Guests can relax at the bar or book a tatami mat to appreciate the chef’s culinary expertise. Chihana takes pleasure in preparing modest yet tasty dishes using only the finest ingredients and tools. The meals are given to guests on an unfinished wood counter, which should highlight the inherent beauty of both the food and the dishware.
3. Hafuu
Hafuu, located in one of Kyoto’s most exclusive residential neighbourhoods, mixes traditional Japanese food with a contemporary environment. The restaurant serves delectable wagyu steak alongside exquisite seafood for an amazing dining experience. The wagyu offered at Hafuu is sourced entirely from Kyushu, notably the Kumamoto area. This area is noted for being one of the few in Japan where cows may graze freely, resulting in some of the world’s most luscious beef. Hafuu’s wagyu is renowned for its strong buttery flavor and softness. Hafuu is an unmissable visit on Kyoto’s cuisine path for meat lovers.
4. Sfera Bar Satonaka
Sfera Bar Satonaka delivers an excellent mixology experience thanks to bartender and owner Michito Satonaka’s competence and professionalism. This bar was built to celebrate the Sfera Building’s 10-year anniversary and was recognized in Wallpaper* magazine for its spectacular design. The service is excellent, and the cocktail selection is diverse and innovative. There’s a wide selection of Japanese whiskies and champagne cocktails, as well as other drinks. With black lacquered walls and a magnificent oak bar as the room’s main point, the interior is stylish and modern. Sfera Bar Satonaka is the best place in Kyoto to have a drink.
5. Hatakaku
Hatakaku, just a short walk from the Imperial Palace, is the birthplace of one of rural Japan’s most popular foods. Botan nabe is a boar-based traditional meal. It was modestly developed more than 100 years ago by Hatakaku’s prior owner, and is today enormously popular throughout Japan. This restaurant not only serves the original cuisine, but it also allows visitors to dine while sitting around a traditional Japanese hearth. The slices of pig that make up this one-of-a-kind delicacy are placed in a floral form. Hatakaku is a must-see for anybody visiting Kyoto in the winter.
6. Nishiki Warai
Nishiki Market is a tiny lane lined with over a hundred food stalls and eateries. It’s a great spot to try a variety of Kyoto’s cuisine delights. Nishiki Warai is one of the top places to visit at the market. This little eatery has some of Kyoto’s greatest okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a classic Japanese savory pancake cooked right at the table. Unlike many restaurants that provide raw batter, Nishiki Warai delivers freshly cooked okonomiyaki with a variety of toppings. Nishiki Warai is most renowned for its unique dish, although it also serves superb yaki-soba (fried noodles).
7. Kagizen
Kagizen, despite its location among Gion’s multinational chain restaurants and coffee shops, delivers a classic Japanese tearoom experience. It’s known for its exquisite wagashi, which are traditional Japanese sweets eaten with tea, and for its wonderful mochi, which are rice cakes filled with red or white bean paste. The tea is flavorful and thick, and it is made according to ancient traditions. This charming tearoom is a local favorite for its delectable pastries and tea, as well as the quiet environment that provides a welcome respite from Gion’s busy activities. Kagizen is a must-try for anyone looking for an authentic Japanese tea experience.
8. Ain Soph Journey
Look no further than Ain Soph Journey if you’re looking for a vegan restaurant in Kyoto. It opened in 2018 and has long-standing sister businesses around Japan, serving vegan meals that even the most skeptic meat-lovers may enjoy. There’s something for everyone with scrumptious vegan-beef and -chicken burgers, fluffy pancakes topped with fresh fruit, and fusion meals like taco rice. Large gatherings and even wedding parties can be handled in the old-fashioned area.
9. Yoshikawa Tempura
What was formerly a tearoom is now a magnificent guesthouse and one of Kyoto’s best kaiseki tempura restaurants. The restaurant at Yoshikawa Tempura is designed in the traditional sukiya-zukuri style. From the traditional Japanese furniture and artwork to the exquisite futons and wooden tables, the design is just stunning. In reality, the location offers the feeling of being teleported to ancient Kyoto. Each meal is made using premium ingredients that have been artfully assembled. There are several packages to pick from, each of which includes a variety of sushi, tempura, and other Japanese specialties. If you don’t like sushi, the chef can gladly create a delectable roasted duck as an alternative.
10. Sumibi Torito
Yakitori is one of traditional Japanese cuisine’s numerous basic meals. Because of the dish’s simplicity (it’s just a form of skewered chicken), the eateries that offer it are usually fairly simple (and very smoky). Sumibi Torito, with its modern atmosphere, offers a unique dining experience, converting a classic meal into a haute-cuisine delicacy. The meat selection is rigorous, since the restaurant’s proprietor visits a poultry farm in the neighboring hilly area on a weekly basis to choose the tastiest chicken. However, the cooking procedure is the key to making great yakitori. Each dish is roasted over a charcoal fire to lock in the juices and retain the flavor.
