Top 7 Restaurants In Kyoto You Need To Visit For Authentic Japanese Cuisine

Apart from being witness to a significant environment protocol (Kyoto Protocol)  in 1997 and being the former capital of Japan, Kyoto continues to be the cultural capital of the land of the rising sun. Home to shrines, Buddhist temples, the Imperial Palaces, gardens, and many great Michelin-starred restaurants, Kyoto will entice you with everything it has to offer.

The city offers a great gastronomic experience at authentic Japanese restaurants serving delectable dishes with premium quality ingredients. Also experience the Sakura (cherry blossom) in Kyoto from the tail end of March to the first two weeks of April. 

In his novel Praise of Shadows, Japanese novelist, Junichiro Tanizaki wrote how Japanese cuisine needs to be looked at, rather than eaten. “I would go further and say that it is to be meditated upon, a kind of silent music evoked by the combination of lacquerware and the light of a candle flickering in the dark,” Tanizaki added. 

Are you ready to meditate upon this cuisine? Here’s a list of seven restaurants serving authentic Japanese cuisine in Kyoto:

Sumibi Torito

Yakitori restaurants are always smoke-filled spots. Sumibi Torito is a small narrow hallway of a restaurant, classy with its stylish decor. It serves the country’s traditional Yakitori, which is basically a type of skewered and grilled chicken. The selection of meats at the restaurant is given much attention by the owner of the restaurant. Thus, what you get is cooked with premium ingredients.

 It serves the staple Yakitori along with many other related dishes. The restaurant has a beautiful grill and each dish is cooked over a charcoal fire to retain the flavour and juices. Being a small space, you might have to wait and get your name added to a list, to get your spot in the restaurant. 

Address: 1F Kamihara Building, 9-5 Higashimaruta-cho, Kawabata-higashi-iru, Marutamachi-dori, Sakyo-ku

Hatakaku

Located north of the Imperial Palace is the 100-year-old Hatakuku. The owner of the restaurant invented Botan nabe, which is a traditional boar-based dish. He employed his knowledge of the indigenous foods of the country to bring this nutritious dish to the elite kyotoites. The winter dish is now available all over Japan now. 

The meat of the wild boar is thinly sliced and arranged to form a beautiful flower. The soup is made from ‘Saikyo’ white miso and dashi. Dining at Hatakaku is an experience. Diners sit around a traditional Japanese hearth or irori to see the dish simmer in front of them. come to life in front of them. If visiting Kyoto, a visit to Hatakaku, the ‘ganso’ (originator) of Botan nabe is a must! 

Address: Kyoto-shi, Kamigyo-ku, Goryomae Karasuma-dori, Nishi-iru, Uchikamae-cho 430

Kyoto Sen

Along with exquisite flavours, the artistry of plating, curated tableware and the profound sense of tradition at Kyoto Sen will draw you into the place. Located near the iconic Gojo bridge, the kaiseki menu curated by Chef Takeshi Sugisawa is a must try! You will be warmly greeted by flowers and traditional artefacts at Kyoto Sen. 

Sen’s omakase menu is a quintessential kaiseki journey, flowing from appetizers to soup, sashimi, grilled dishes, simmered courses, rice and dessert. Deeply rooted in tradition, the dishes are inspired from arts and festivals. Also available is Japanese sake to elevate your meal. The ingredients are selectively chosen from all over Japan.

Address: 379, Agaru-Motoshiogama-cho, Gojō-Yanaginobanba, Shimogyoku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu

Hafuu Honten

Located in a quiet residential area away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The space offers a harmonious blend of the traditional Japanese style of dining with a modern atmosphere. While dining at Hufuu, you can see the chefs preparing your meal.

The restaurant pairs delicious wagyu steak with succulent seafood to deliver an unforgettable culinary experience. Their steak bowl, beef cutlet sandwich, and Chef’s beef dish are must-tries. Their ingredients are sourced from a region where cows are allowed to graze freely and thus make for great meat. Hafuu is thus an unmissable stop while on a culinary trail in Kyoto.

Address: 471-1 Sasayacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0983, Japan

Kagizen

Kagizen offers a traditional Japanese tea room experience. The standout dishes at the Bakery include its delicate wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets usually served with tea) and mochi, which are rice cakes filled with red or white bean paste. The teas and pastries at the tearoom are worth trying too. You should not miss Oshiruko (a smooth red bean soup) that is only served during winters and Warabi-mochi at the tearoom. 

Kagizen, a Kyoto favorite, is the people’s escape from the hubbub that surrounds Gion. You should not miss it too! 

Address: 264 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073, Japan

Sushi Hayashi

Using seasonal delicacies from across Japan, Sushi Hayashi’s omakase (I leave the details up to you) brings together the best of Edomae and Kyoto-style sushi. Located to the north of the Imperial Palace, the restaurant’s menu offers guests a chance to savor the best of Japan’s seasonal flavours.

The menu has been curated by Yoshio Hayashi, the chef at Sushi Hayashi. Along with authentically curated Japanese dishes, the restaurant also offers a selection of Swiss wines that you are unlikely to find anywhere else in the city. Grilled sea bream with grated daikon radish and desnuke conger eel drizzled with citrus ponzu and garnished with chives and black shichimi are some of the best dishes at Sushi Hayashi! Don’t you already want to be at the restaurant table enjoying all of this? I certainly want to! 

Address: Grancosmo Gosho 101, 31-1, Omotecho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

Ain Soph Journey

Looking for a vegan restaurant in Kyoto? The dainty looking Ain Soph Journey (Ain Soph means infinity in Hebrew) should be your stop! The space will cater to you with vegan-beef, fluffy pancakes topped with fruits, and taco rice, among many other gluten free and oriental vegan options. Be rest assured that you will find your meal at the restaurant.

Address: 3-8-9 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-0022