Sushi and Sashimi
Ganko Sanjo Honten がんこ三条本店 $$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FWDb6rHGHNAJrzQk9
URL: https://r.gnavi.co.jp/k026614/
TEL: 050-1720-2573
Open every day
Reservation: https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260301/26000949/
Casual Sushi and Japanese food restaurant. Two stations from Kiyomizu-Gojo and across the Kamo River. On the 1st floor, there is a Sushi counter, and there are private rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
Ganko Takasegawa Nijoen がんこ高瀬川二条苑 $$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rZD4mvTBszYw9Cp57
URL: https://www.gankofood.co.jp/en/shop/detail/ya-nijyoen/
TEL: 075-223-3456
Open every day
Reservation: https://www.gankofood.co.jp/reservation/?shop=ya-nijyoen
The same Ganko group, Sushi, Japanese food, and kaiseki restaurant. They renovated a national heritage house into a restaurant and have a beautiful garden the guests can walk around. It’s a family-oriented place, and they also have a kids menu.
Izujyu いづ重 $
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gnQPfLqUUvxJV3zS8
TEL: 075-561-0019
Close: Wednesday, Thursday
Reservation: No (take out available)
Compared to Tokyo’s “Edomae Sushi” (Nigiri sushi with fresh fish), Sushi in Kyoto is not raw. Because the old capital is far from the sea, they developed different kinds of sushi like “Saba Sushi (Mackerel roll sushi). The mackerel is treated with salt and is transferred to Kyoto by crossing the mountains. You’ve got to try once while you are in Kyoto.
AWOMB Karasuma Honten AWOMB アワンブ 烏丸本店 $$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/W4uda5KRVTmvfDra8
URL: https://awomb.com/karasuma/
TEL: 050-3134-3003
Open every day
Reservation: https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/awomb-karasuma/reserve
They have a set meal called “Teorisushi” in which you make your own sushi roll mainly with Kyoto vegetables. Many different kinds of ingredients are served on a plate and you decide on your own combination of sushi roll. It looks cute and tastes very good.
Sushitetsu Pontocho (すしてつ先斗町）$
Google: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fbRQ1muZavDGWKqK7
URL: https://sushitetsu.owst.jp/
TEL: 075-257-1285
Close: Wednesday
Reservation: from 4 pax
A very popular, casual, and amazingly good value (from yen 100/pce) Edomae sushi restaurant in Pontocho. The sushi chefs make the sushi you ordered in front of you. Usually, they don’t take reservations, so you’ve got to make a line to enter. Counter (18 pax), table (4 x 6 pax).
Tempura 天ぷら
Tempura is a typical Japanese dish that usually consists of seafood and vegetables coated in a thin battered, and deep fried. Tempura has its origin dating back to the 16th century, when Portuguese brought the Western-style cooking to Japan.
Tempura Endo Yasaka Honten 天ぷら圓堂八坂本店 $$$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/h11jtSJ6mPZ8PbVV7
URL: https://www.gion-endo.com/
TEL: 075-551-1488
Open every day
Reservation: https://mycon-jp.net/reservation/tempura-endo-yasaka/en
One of the largest Tempura restaurants in Kyoto. It’s a bit expensive but an amazingly good quality and great atmosphere. The tempura dishes are served right after cooking so I recommend you to get a counter (if possible private counter with your own chef cooking in front of you, 3-6 pax). It is interesting to see how they prepare the dishes.
Tempura Endo Okazakitei 天ぷら圓堂岡崎邸 $$$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6dWvdxN6S2bWmLYh8
URL: https://www.okazaki-endo.com/
TEL: 075-752-1488
Open every day
Reservation: https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/okazaki-endo/reserve
Tempra Endo Group restaurant, located near Heian Jingu shrine. They have Tempura counter seating for 8 pax and private rooms as well. Compared to other Endo restaurants, they have a cheaper line of tempura. Kids under 6 years old are accepted.
Tempura Endo Kawaramachi Garden 天ぷら圓堂河原町ガーデン $$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LL19GdtFaocgEvuv8
URL:https://kawaramachi.kadoq.com/
TEL: 075-255-3555
Open every day
Reservation: https://www.tablecheck.com/shops/endo-kawaramachi/reserve
This is a casual line of Tempura Endo restaurant, located in the department store EDION 8F, on the corner of Shijo and Kawaramachi Street. A convenience place and for someone who just wants to try Tempura. It’s a good choice.
Unagi eel 鰻
Unagi is the Japanese word for freshwater eel. It is a common ingredient in Japanese cooking, often as Kabayaki (dipped in a sweet soy sauce-based marinade and cooked on a grill). It is not to be confused with saltwater eel, which is known as Anago.
Uokeya U う桶やう $$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ci9myEMrTJuQWidH6
URL: https://www.yagenbori.co.jp/shop/u/
TEL: 075-551-9966, 050-5493-0496
Close: Monday
Reservation: Call
Eel restaurant in Gion. A very traditional place, authentic, nothing fancy, and has good eels. If you are a group of 3 to 5, order the eel in “Oke”, a wooden bucket. They accept reservations one month ahead of time. The ground floor is with tables, and the upper floor is only for seating on tatami mats.
Jisai Kyoman Gion 時菜今日萬祇園 $$$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YWJbeYGLRqC8MZoc6
URL: https://kiwa-group.co.jp/kyouman_gion/
TEL: 075-551-7337
Open every day
Reservation: https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260301/26031429/?cid=google_yoyaku
From Gion Shinbashi Street, there is a narrow passage to the restaurant. Unagi Kabayaki (Eel with sweet soja sauce) and Shiroyaki (no sauce) are both good. The outside is crispy and the inside is very soft.
Kyoto Gion Yondaime Kikukawa 京都祇園四代目菊川 $$$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YCpPyNS6t3swkvh79
URL: https://www.yondaimekikukawa.com/shop#%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E7%A5%87%E5%9C%92%E5%BA%97
TEL: 075-606-5670
Open every day
Reservation: https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260201/26039727/
Located on Shirakawa Street in Gion. They have terrace seating and you can order a set menu, Eel with Kobe beef. The price is reasonable and the quality is good.
Kani Crab 蟹
The northern part of the Kyoto Prefecture faces the Japan Sea and the crabs come directly to Kyoto. The best season is in winter but you can eat good crabs all year long.
Sapporo Kaniya 札幌カニや $$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LvGaB4Nuqk16Wt8D7
URL: https://www.kani-ya.co.jp/english/kani/kyoto/
TEL: 075-541-1110
Open every day
Reservation: https://booking.ebica.jp/webrsv/search/e021003501/17564?isfixshop=true&affiid=glb
Good crab food restaurant. Baked, boiled, tempura, raw, marinated, etc., you can enjoy all types of cooked crabs. They have beef as well. It’s quite a big restaurant, so large groups are not a problem.
Kanidoraku Kyoto Honten かに道楽京都本店 $$
Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fUdNADtdqcWHNJu87
URL: https://douraku.co.jp/kansai/kyotohonten/
TEL: 075-211-0671
Open every day
Reservation: https://r.gnavi.co.jp/plan/cb6j6xfy0000/plan-reserve/plan/plan_list/?sc_cid=google_kg_reserve
Famous crab restaurant chain. Their Kani Kaiseki courses are good value. From Shijo Street, you enter the Teramachi arcade, then you go straight up all the way and you will find a big crab on the wall on the left side.
