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Geishas walking down a Kyoto street

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Restaurants in Kyoto

The Kyoto restaurants below have been grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over ¥12,000)
Moderate (¥4,000 to ¥12,000)
Cheap (up to ¥4,000)
These Kyoto restaurant prices are based on the cost of a three-course meal for one including a half bottle of house wine (where available).

Omen

Price: Cheap

Just off bustling Shijo-dori you can find the best udon (thick wheat) noodles in Kyoto. Omen’s noodles are renowned for being served with a delicious combination of fresh ginger, roasted sesame seeds and pickled daikon radish. There are also some excellent side dishes on the menu such as tempura vegetables, tofu and grilled hamo (conger eel). There is another branch of Omen near Ginkakuji Temple.

Address: Gokomachi-dori, Shijo agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 255 2125.
www.omen.co.jp

Obanzai

Price: Cheap

Taking its name from traditional Kyoto home-style cooking, this vegetarian buffet is very popular with locals and offers good value for money. Dishes are mostly organically grown vegetables, tofu, gluten and soy meat. Tables are shared so there’s a chance to meet locals. It’s a great place for lunch if visiting the Kyoto International Manga Museum or Nijo Castle.

Address: Koromodana-dori, Oike agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 223 6623.

Kushikura

Price: Moderate

Kushikura offers top quality yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) in a beautifully restored old Kyoto-style house. Other skewered dishes using seasonal ingredients and local vegetables are also on the menu. If you sit at the counter you can watch your meal grilled to perfection over high-grade charcoal. The service is always friendly and efficient.

Address: 584 Hiiragi-cho, Takakura-dori, Oike agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 213 2211.
www.fukunaga-tf.com/kushikura (Japanese only)

Hisago Zushi

Price: Cheap

A Kyoto classic, Hisago Zushi is a very good Kansai-style sushi restaurant located in the heart of town, just a short walk north of Shijo-dori and on the west side of Kawaramachi-dori. Lovingly prepared and presented, the sushi is a delight. Reasonable prices and top quality have long made this restaurant a popular choice among locals and visitors alike.

Address: Kawaramachi-dori Shijo-agaru, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 221 5409.
www.hisagozusi.co.jp

Hyotei

Price: Expensive

This legendary restaurant offers the finest kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese dinner) imaginable. Over 300 years old, Hyotei was originally a tea house before it became a restaurant 170 years ago, and the kaiseki served here is the real deal - the cuisine of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. A welcoming atmosphere and the most elegant service combine with perfectly cooked and beautifully presented multi-course meals to make a visit to Hyotei an extraordinary experience.

Address: 35 Nanzenji, Sakyo-ku, Japan
Telephone: (075) 771 4116.
http://hyotei.co.jp

Manzaratei Pontocho

Price: Moderate

Located in a machiya (traditional wooden townhouse) halfway down the lane that is the Pontocho geisha district, Manzaratei is a very elegant izakaya (Japanese-style pub) with a welcoming atmosphere. Downstairs there is table seating, whilst upstairs are traditional-style dining rooms for small or large groups. Manzaratei stocks locally brewed beer, sake and shochu which perfectly compliment the ever-changing menu of fresh seafood and other seasonal delicacies. The friendly staff will be happy to advise on what to order.

Address: 1-198 Higashisawaragi-cho, Pontocho-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 212 0028.
www.manzara.co.jp/pont

Yoshikawa

Price: Moderate

Yoshikawa is located in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) just to the south of Oike, and serves the best tempura in Kyoto. Guests can dine at the counter or in Japanese-style rooms, and while it may be more comfortable and relaxing to sit by a table, it is more fun to sit at the counter and watch the chefs expertly prepare the dishes. If you have ever wondered what tempura really should be like, you can experience it here.

Address: Tominokoji Dori, Kyoto, Japan
Telephone: (075) 221 5544.
www.kyoto-yoshikawa.co.jp
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