Sean’s Online Guidebook to Kyoto
Scroll down for bakeries and cafes, nightlife and shopping,
services, and sightseeing.
Click on the address to go to your chosen location on google maps.
Restaurants
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Menami
Classic Japanese fare, everything from sashimi to tempura to obanzai to tofu dishes. No English menu but staff is very helpful.
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Tadka 2
Terrific Indian fare. All you can drink chai and wonderful lamb curry, dahl, and aloo-gobi dishes. Really authentic India-atmosphere too and the staff is very friendly. Owner frequently travels to India for inspiration. Tadka 2 is the dinner spot. The original Tadka is good for affordable lunch thalis.
〒604-0944 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Tachibanacho, 612 ２階北側 バインオークアイイナ
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Hafuu
Legendary wagyu (Japanese beef) place. A bit pricey, but worth the splurge. A classic experience in Japan is eating soft, delicious steak sizzling on a hot rock.
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Manmaru no Tsuki
Japanese fusion cuisine. Affordable considering the quality. Their okonomiyaki is famous. Magical sardines! And pork kimchi, yum. And for some reason they have one of the best Ceasar Salads I've ever had. Finish your meal with their french toast. A bit difficult to find: crossing the street from Starbucks, walking west down Sanjo-dori, about 30 meters you'll see a Cafe Jinta on the 2nd floor. Restaurant is upstairs behind cafe. There is a second Manmaru restaurant on Nishiki-dori as well— it’s a little bit bigger and they have private rooms.
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Kushikura Honten 炭火串焼き 串くら
The best place in the neighborhood for yakitori and other great Japanese food, in a beautiful old building (with English menu).
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Tsuneya Densuke 恒屋伝助
Classic Japanese restaurant with limited seating and a tad fancy. No English menu. They have blowfish sake if that’s on anyone’s bucket list.
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Mughal
Indian restaurant on Kiyamachi-dori with all the classic dishes. A bit quieter and more formal than Tadka, but great food, and often available if Tadka is full or you’re strolling in that area. It has my young son’s favorite meal (kid’s set with butter chicken curry and mango lassi)
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Felafel Garden
Nice lunch place if you're in the Demachiyanagi area hanging by the Kamo River and are craving Middle Eastern. Good felafel and kebobs. Mellow, relaxed environment.
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Neuf Creperie ヌフ クレープリーNEUF
A machiya remodeled into a friendly crepe restaurant. Probably my favorite breakfast place in Kyoto. Try the BLT & then a Nutella crepe for dessert (if sharing). Great atmosphere and value and staff quite friendly.
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Que Pasa
One of my favorite places when I don’t feel like cooking or feel a little nostalgic for California-style burritos. Friendly staff, laid-back restaurant, though I often order takeaway and eat by the river.
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Huong Viet フォーンヴィェット
Really delicious Vietnamese food. Now a course menu, but quite a good deal— I think the 6000 yen option has about 6-8 courses. You’ll be quite sated at the end. Convivial atmosphere and good lighting.
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Com Ngon
Probably my fave SE Asian restaurant these days. Really delicious pho soup and their meat dishes are excellent. I often come for lunch but it is very popular so don't aim for 11:30-1pm or you might be waiting in line.
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Pop Pizza
Love Pops Pizza. Run by a friendly American, it’s one of the only places in Kyoto for pizza by the slice. Lots of 1980s nostalgia vibes too with the atmosphere, movies & music selections.
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Stardust
Beautiful cafe/vegetarian restaurant in north Kyoto run by my good friend, Kana. You really should go if you are vegetarian. In a beautiful space with fresh salads, great tea selection, and desserts. Sometimes closed, so good to call Kana to make sure it's open (English fine). It’s a bit northwest, so it’s best to visit when you’re in the area for Ryoanji or Kinkakuji.
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Campo Su Ovest
Around the corner from the flat is Campo Su Ovest. A bit expensive (2000-4000 yen entrees) but cozy atmosphere and excellent presentation of various exotic meats with decent vegetarian options too. They make a mean margarita as well.
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Ottimo
Very good neighborhood Italian restaurant with classic Italian fare prepared with excellent Japanese ingredients. There is an English menu but you can also order "omakase" via the chef's suggestions. Good wine & elegant music and affordable prices make this a very nice dining experience.
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Awomb
Very popular and unique sushi restaurant. Hard to explain (kind of like sushi presented as art objects), so check the website.
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Icchan
This Jamaican jerk chicken ramen is my favorite. Somehow overlooked, but this is a supreme case of fusion cuisine winning. I love the coconut curry jerk chicken ramen best. Owner plays reggae radio with booming bass speakers. it’s in Gion so it’s a great meal when you’re in the area.
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Kousagisha
Some of the better vegan fare in Kyoto. It’s located near Ginkakuji and the Philosopher’s Path
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Osteria La Balena
A nice local spot for pizza and past with a huge oven. Friendly chef speaks English well.
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China Tongue
The closest restaurant to the flat with a strange name has one of the most delicious tantanmen noodle soups I've ever had (see the picture). There are also a number of very good lamb dishes. It also opens most mornings at 7AM if you're craving some Hong Kong-type fare to get an early start to your day.
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58 Diner
58 Diner is my go-to burger place with my son. It's in the Heian-Jingu neighborhood (near the big torii gate and the Tsutaya bookstore). They put herbs in their burgers that give them a lot of flavor and sometimes even have wagyu "burger-of-the-month" opportunities. Has classic American diner vibes with the music too.
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Vegan Raman Uzu
The famous Team Labs experience has a vegan ramen restaurant in Kyoto. Not only is the ramen healthy and delicious, but being sponsored by Team Labs it's a memorable dining experience. You'll need to book reservations online well in advance here.
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Toriyasu
Simple place with a small menu. Basically karaage-don (fried chicken over rice) and oyako-don (chicken and egg cooked in dashi served over rice. A great no-nonsense place for lunch.
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Goichi Panino
Simply the best sandwich you’ll eat in Kyoto, or more likely, in all of Japan. It’s just down the street from City Hall so if you’re Downtown and craving an authentic Italian sandwich (run by a chef from Verona), you know where to go. They also have a pizza place 15 minutes walk from the flat that’s popular too.
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Tantanmen
Tantanmen is my very favorite ramen and this shop is my favorite. Tantanmen has its origins in Szechwan province in China, so it is a spicy dish. This place only does tantanmen with four options: soup or no soup, hot or cold. That’s it. The place is small with only counter seating and plays good jazz music. I eat there almost once a week.
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Challe
If you’ve gone for a walk in the Imperial Palace gardens, this cafe is just outside the southeast corner in a narrow alley. They play the rock music a little loud but the donuts and coffee are both pretty good, and you can have quite decent tacos for about 1100 yen.
315-1 Shintomicho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-0875ption goes here
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Ebisu Second
It’s not my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood, but a number of guests have really enjoyed it. Menu is mostly Japanese comfort food in a lively, cozy space a few minutes walk from the flat.
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Jun
A really nice, if popular chicken ramen shop a short walk from the flat. What I love about this place, is they give you three different flavored vinegars to vary the tastes of your ramen. I go at least once or twice a month.
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Dragon Burger
Amazing wasabi burger. Located near the zoo in Okazaki (and there are diners near Furshimi and Tofukuji too.
Bakeries and Cafes