Kyoto Restaurants(331)
COURSE MENUTendan Gion Honten
One of the last bastions of Kyoto-style yakiniku, Tendan’s original Gion outlet near Gion-shijo Station has been serving perfectly grilled cuts of meat in Kyoto’s characteristic dashi-like sauce for almost 60 years.
SEAT RESERVATIONAsperge Blanche
Guests at this Kyoto restaurant will be surprised to find no oven or stove in the kitchen: all the traditional French fare here is grilled over kishu-binchotan charcoal, in accordance with its back-to-basics philosophy.
SEAT RESERVATIONGombei
Originally a soba restaurant, Michelin-listed Gombei serves comforting flavors of noodles and donburi inside a traditional townhouse in the charming Gion District.
SEAT RESERVATIONTeuchisoba Kanei
Along the stretch near Kenkun Shrine in Kyoto, find the self-taught owner milling his own buckwheat to make two types of soba: juwari and arabiki.
SEAT RESERVATIONEitaroya
In this kappo izakaya, savor Kyoto-style drinking snacks and traditional sake under the convivial service of the owner.
SEAT RESERVATIONSobashubo Ichii
In a nondescript traditional townhouse, find the perfect pairing between buckwheat soba and Kawachi duck — as beloved by Kyoto locals.
SEAT RESERVATIONMendokoro Janomeya
A gourmet stop of a lifetime — savor heavenly chicken-centric ramen in Kyoto with a seal of approval from the Michelin Guide.
SEAT RESERVATIONAkihana
Michelin-approved Akihana specializes in the type of unpretentious Sichuan cooking food that you’d find in the province itself.
SEAT RESERVATIONJukuseibuta Kawamura
The best introduction to tonkatsu in town — juicy breaded pork cutlets, double-fried with lard and oil, and served with house-special condiments.
SEAT RESERVATIONFuyacho 103
The name is the literal address of one of the best oden joints, hidden in plain sight behind a nondescript door in Kyoto.
SEAT RESERVATIONBistro Cerisier
Tucked away in Demachiyanagi district where the Kamo and Takano rivers meet, this bistro is a pocket of neighborhood France in Kyoto.
SEAT RESERVATIONSanbongi Shoten
Preservation of the old ways is a surprising theme at this Michelin Bib Gourmand eatery, which prides itself on rustic grilled game meat and organic wines.
SEAT RESERVATIONDeux Filles
In Kyoto, Chef Iwata's approach to modern French cuisine celebrates two things in particular: people and produce.
SEAT RESERVATIONHiiragitei
Father opens the shop, mother handles the service and son helms the yakitori — Kyoto obanzai is carried with honor and tradition in this Michelin-featured shop near Kyoto’s Chionin Temple.
SEAT RESERVATIONKashiwai
Sushi that’s both adorable and delicious. The traditional, round temari-zushi at this Kitaoji shop in Kyoto have earned themselves a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
SEAT RESERVATIONSushi Miki
In a tiled-floor store in Kyoto’s urban fringe, the team behind Sushi Miki is as vigilant about the local and seasonal as it is on the delicious to serve “casual” sushi.
SEAT RESERVATIONSushi Kappo Sushi Gen
In-the-know locals visit this family-run sushi joint in Kyoto for another taste of its soft-shelled turtle hotpot and in-season sushi.
SEAT RESERVATIONSushi Iwa
The ultra-fatty kamatoro sushi takes center stage at this media-sensation sushi joint, prepared by the very chef Steve Jobs once hailed for serving the “best sushi he’s ever eaten.”
SEAT RESERVATIONGion Senryu
Wrapped in a crisp blanket of barely-there batter, Chef Yamada Aki’s a-la-carte-meets-omakase tempura shines with Gion gold in her Michelin-featured venue.
SEAT RESERVATIONKiyama
Enjoy the perfectionism and dedication of Japan’s foremost dashi master at Kiyama.
SEAT RESERVATIONGion Owatari
Indulge in authentic Kyoto cuisine with immaculate service.
SEAT RESERVATIONKyokaiseki Kichisen
A Kyoto dining experience inspired by the wisdom of the ages — this is Japanese tradition at its finest.
SEAT RESERVATIONSumibi Kappou Ifuki
Traditional Kyoto dining meets top quality charcoal grilling for a unique kappo experience.
SEAT RESERVATIONHassun
True fidelity to tradition is on show at this long-running Gion favorite — come see for yourself.
SEAT RESERVATIONMiyamasou
The picturesque valleys north of Kyoto house one of the best restaurants in the region.
SEAT RESERVATIONIwasaki
A true family affair, this Kyoto restaurant has been recongized for their traditional kaiseki.
SEAT RESERVATIONTagawa
Michelin-starred kaiseki dining which focuses on appreciating the simple beauty of all-natural ingredients.
SEAT RESERVATIONMOTOÏ
Paris by way of Kyoto, with a brief stop in Shanghai: this Kyoto bistro combines the best of both worlds.
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Reserve Restaurants in Kyoto
Unprecedented in quality, every Kyoto restaurant incorporates the best of local produce and seasonal offerings into fresh, immersive Japanese food menus. Culinary creativity runs through the city like its waters. In fact, you can dine in the open air over Kyoto’s rivers in summer or lose yourself for a night dining in the converted wooden machiya buildings of downtown Pontocho. Somewhere tucked away in the grid of Kyoto’s backstreets, family-run restaurants greet strangers and regulars alike, offering unique dining experiences. Side street shop fronts steam with ramen broth and specialty tofu dishes. High-caliber kaiseki dining experiences await in Kyoto’s many Michelin-starred restaurants, serving experiential feasts celebrating ingredients of the season. Even Kyoto's most well-known geisha district, Gion, is home to restaurants with some of the best fares in town.
Holding tradition and craftsmanship at the city’s core, restaurants in Kyoto always offer an unforgettable atmosphere and high-quality Japanese cuisine to match, whether that's seasonal produce or beautifully marbled wagyu beef. Marvel at the exquisite textures and stunning aesthetics evident in even the finest culinary details. Kyoto restaurants arrange their food on their plates just so; beautifully and crafted with skill like edible art. Discover some of the best food in Kyoto when exploring this cultural hub, bursting with its own regional food. Feast upon local cuisine known as Kyo-ryori, made from the freshest seasonal produce, or taste vegetarian Buddhist cuisine when you sit down to an authentic shojin ryori meal.
Fine Kyoto cuisine can be found at its beautiful restaurants, and there are wonderful culinary surprises in every bite. Exploring Kyoto’s backstreets and buzzing markets mean that you might stumble upon the city’s best restaurants.
Don’t miss a thing; see more of the city’s best restaurants during a Kyoto food tour, or settle in for a memorable dining experience in Kyoto by booking ahead of time on byFood.