Kyoto guide

Best Restaurants in Kyoto

A curated guide to the best restaurants in Kyoto — from iconic local institutions to under-the-radar spots worth crossing the city for.

Top picks

Where to eat in Kyoto

Kikunoi Honten

Three-Michelin-star kaiseki in a serene setting overlooking a private garden. Chef Murata's seasonal courses are edible art. Book months ahead and prepare for the most beautiful meal of your life.

Nishiki Warai

A tiny okonomiyaki shop in the Nishiki Market area. The Kyoto-style okonomiyaki with green onions is crispy-edged and custardy inside. Cash only, six seats, and always a queue at lunch.

Omen Kodaiji

Famous for their signature udon in a clean dashi broth with seasonal vegetable tempura. The noodles are handmade and perfectly chewy. The traditional wooden building near Kodaiji Temple is atmospheric.

Gion Namba

A hidden kaiseki restaurant in a Gion machiya with a counter facing the chef. The multi-course meal changes daily based on what's at the market. The attention to detail in every dish is staggering.

Honke Owariya

A soba noodle shop that's been in the same family since 1465 — one of the oldest restaurants in the world. The seasonal soba set with tempura is simple and perfect. The building itself is a treasure.

Kyoto Gogyo

The best ramen in Kyoto, famous for their burnt miso broth — intentionally charred for a smoky, complex flavour. The noodles are firm and the chashu is melt-in-your-mouth. Open late.

Izuju

Near Yasaka Shrine, this sushi shop specializes in Kyoto-style pressed mackerel sushi (sabazushi). The vinegared rice and cured mackerel are a revelation if you only know nigiri. Simple, elegant, perfect.

Yoshikawa

A tempura restaurant in a beautiful ryokan-style building where the chef fries each piece to order at the counter. The prawn tempura shatters when you bite into it. Lunch is more affordable than dinner.

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Photo credits

Hero — Su San Lee / Unsplash · Kikunoi Honten — Takeshi Kuboki from Amagasaki, Japan / CC BY 2.0 · Nishiki Warai — Takeshi Kuboki from Amagasaki, Japan / CC BY 2.0 · Omen Kodaiji — James Disley from Okonomiyaki restaurant in Pontocho street, / CC BY-SA 2.0 · Gion Namba — MaedaAkihiko / CC0 · Honke Owariya — Jonashtand / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kyoto Gogyo — yajico from Kyoto / CC BY 2.0 · Izuju — Kykk wiki / CC0 · Yoshikawa — 京浜にけ (Keihin Nike) / CC BY-SA 3.0