The best restaurants Kyoto

This restaurant serves only one dish: the issen yoshoku, a kind of pancake which would be the ancestor of the okonomiyaki. The name means "Western meal for a penny", and it was an excellent street dish, copious and cheap. Today, one can enjoy here for less than ¥1000 a delicious pancake filled with multiple ingredients. This restaurant is a real institution in Gion. It is easily recognizable by the large plastic statue of a dog biting a man at the entrance, as well as by the tourists who crowd in front of the door.

Close to the Ginkaku-ji, this restaurant is one of Kyoto's must-sees. In a truly pleasant decor, we are served, as the name suggests, the o-men: udon (thick wheat flour pasta). The noodles are served in a basket, with sesame seeds and a julienne of vegetables. A good address when visiting the nearby pavilion. The place is immensely popular and in high season, the queue snakes in front of the entrance curtain. An English menu is available, and one can take a seat on tatami or chairs.

A small intimate robatayaki, which serves in season the sake of saké coquilles in their shell, various fish and vegetables. Good address throughout the year. Tōfu and sushi fans are not forgotten.

Good tempura (800 ¥ to 3 200 ¥) and sashimi in this traditional Japanese house. The address is very busy at noon.

While passing in front of this abandoned house, Chika, the boss, had the idea to create this bar-restaurant. After some renovation work, it quickly became the underground landmark of the city centre. Over time, the canteen has been transformed into a gourmet restaurant, serving delicious French-inspired dishes. Moreover, Chika speaks the language perfectly: she will be happy to tell you the history of her place and give you tips on how to visit the city. This is an authentic and original establishment not to be missed.

This address is located in the station area, convenient for all those who do not have the opportunity to go to the mother house, a lovely place in the grounds of Daitoku-ji temple. Here one can try the famous Buddhist vegetarian cuisine(shōjin-ryōri). The decor is not particularly original, but the food is delicious and less expensive than at the main branch, with teppachi (refers to a type of shōjin-ryōri cuisine, and takes its name from the teppachi iron bowl in which the monks receive the food). Menu in English.

This restaurant, lost in the hills of Arashiyama district and behind the Oi River, offers an idyllic setting for an uncommon meal. The kaiseki dishes are designed like seasonal paintings and also adapt to the occasions for which you come to eat. Wedding anniversaries, family celebrations, private rooms offer great privacy for all kinds of celebrations. The building blends in with nature. Sliding doors open onto the abundant gardens or stone gardens. The place redefines luxury.

When you ask a Kyoto resident where to eat good sushi, he will often mention this address. The sushi is good and affordable. The specialty of the house is kyo-zushi, a special kind of Kyoto. Instead of being eaten raw, the fish is cooked and dressed. It can then be presented in small rectangles or balls, or rolled in thin omelets with seasoned rice. You can also buy a small box of sushi to go. Try it to discover a less usual form of sushi.

The history of this restaurant in Maruyama Park dates back to the 18th century, when an ancestor of the present family brought back Chinese potatoes from a trip, which were planted there and called "shrimp potatoes. They were the basis for a new recipe based on the tuber and dried cod, which was once served at festivals. The dish has become emblematic of Kyoto and praised by artists and writers. If you take a trip to Maruyama Park, it is worth pushing the door of this ancient building.

The chef, Kenichi Hashimoto, renovated the house where he was born into a restaurant. Passing through the front porch, we find ourselves in a building with a warm and family atmosphere. Everything here is homemade, right down to the soy sauce, and even the water in the kitchen comes from a local spring. The cuisine on offer is fresh and seasonal, with fish specialities or kurogomadōfu (tōfu with black sesame). The beauty of the dishes and the service leaves you breathless. An excellent address for a sumptuous lunch or dinner.