Oito

About halfway between Gion Shijo station and Maruyama Park, Oito managed to retain its exclusivity despite a Michelin-approved reputation. In the evenings, the restaurant’s somewhat cloistered owner keeps to tradition by limiting seatings to his patrons. However, during the lunch service, a few guests are invited inside to try the only thing on the menu: lunch oden. Diners report that classic oden dishes, such as eggs, pork and cabbage rolls, tofu, and beef tendon, make an appearance. The menu’s legendary nature keeps eager guests lining up long before the lunch rush for a chance to try Oito’s storied oden. Occupying a townhouse-style building, Oito’s interior is decorated with artifacts from the neighborhood, bringing pieces of the surrounding Geisha district into the store. Echoing the secretive world of geiko and maiko, what goes on inside Oito stays inside. Michelin Guide accolade: 2024 - Bib Gourmand