What and where to eat

Kyoto has a rich food culture. From some of the most refined restaurants to some of the most widely recognized chains in Japan, Kyoto pretty much has it all. 

Sashimi Moriawase at Kushimasa 

• Nishiki Market- Known as Kyoto's pantry, there is a wide array of edible items to purchase. Previously, for visitors without a kitchen or dining room, you were pretty much limited to purchasing food that can either be consumed while standing/walking (a slight local etiquette faux pas) or finding a place far outside of the market to make an ad hoc picnic. Now, through a local restaurant very close to the market, you can purchase items from the market and bring them to the restaurant where they will plate everything for you to eat at a table for a small charge. This restaurant, Kyomachiya Nishiki Agaru, also serves its own dishes and has cultural food programs for visitors hungry for Kyoto cuisine knowledge. Here are some recommendations for vendors at Nishiki
• Tanaka Keiran (egg dishes)- Specializing in dashimaki (rolled egg omelet), the traditional vendor also has started doing seasonal quiches using excellent Kyoto area ingredients
• Miki Keiran (egg dishes)- Besides doing dashimaki, the bean buns of this vendor are very popular
• Kyotofu Konna Monja (tofu items)- Along with a variety of tofu items, this establishment makes donuts and ice cream out of soy products
• Masugo (pickles)- The significance of Kyoto pickles is described below, but this establishment is one of the best in the market and is laid out well for exploring and sampling
• Ikemasa Tei (vegetables)- specializes specifically in the regional vegetables and preparations of such
• Kaiseki- A multi-course affair with the chef's selections of seasonal foods and their corresponding preparation. Consideration of color, texture, and taste combine for this fine dining experience. Kyoto (and Tokyo) have many places that fit this bill, but one recommendation is Kikunoi- One of Kyoto's premier restaurants helmed by world-acclaimed Chef Murata, this Michelin starred establishment remains one of the best expressions of Kaiseki cuisine. The experience of dining here is truly memorable and unique. However, this experience doesn't come easily or cheaply and it's recommended that reservations are placed well in advance and through the staff of the Japanese hotel/inn you will be staying at. The same could also be said regarding some of Kyoto's fine dining establishments: walk-ins don't normally happen. 
• Shojin Ryori- Buddhist cooking, which is inherently vegetarian, plays to the strengths of using vegetables as a focal point for fulfilling food. The thoughtful use of ingredients along with the settings to enjoy this food (normally a temple) are a worthwhile detour. Tenryu-Ji- Highlighted by the Bib Gourmand, this temple offers a great experience of zen vegetarian cuisine. 
• Tofu- Originating in China, Kyoto has developed a strong tofu tradition-- from local shops that sell handmade tofu products (tofu blocks, the soft skin known as yuba, soy milk), home-style restaurants and temples that incorporate tofu into their dishes, and sophisticated formal restaurants that feature tofu as a multi-course experience. 
• Hirano Tofu- strictly a tofu store with no seating, it is one of the most trusted tofu stores in Kyoto that sells a variety of soy based products throughout the day
• Morika Tofu- using a different coagulant for tofu than Hirano, this traditional tofu store was revolutionary in its heyday and is still relevant
• Kyotofu Fujino- with a couple of establishments around Kyoto, their location at Kyoto station uses tofu and soy through an excellent array of edibles
• Toyoukeya Yamamoto- sells yuba and other soy based products
• Toyouke Chaya- sells soy products but also serves excellent affordable soy based meals
• Yubanzai Komameya- is a restaurant specializing in yuba as the establishment is owned by a yuba producer
• Okutan- an establishment (two locations in Kyoto) featuring tofu as the main course, many visitors put this place or the objective of a yudofu meal on their list for Kyoto
• Junsei- has a solid reputation and is easily accessible (reservations can be made online) for a yudofu meal set in a scenic atmosphere
• Nakamura-ro- a Kaiseki restaurant known for their grilled course that features tofu with a miso glaze (dengaku tofu)
• Sushi- With Kyoto being inland enough during its heyday, having fresh fish was a rarity. A style of pressed sushi using prepared fish became a signature style of Kyoto and is something to try. Beyond that, Kyoto does maintain its share of kaiten sushi restaurants that cater to a variety of tastes 
• Izuju- possibly Kyoto's best restaurant at preserving the tradition of Kyoto-style sushi 
• Kura sushi (near Nijo castle)- it's cheap, it caters to a variety of tastes, you play a slot machine game with your empty plates for toys, there's an English ordering system and turbo conveyor belt... It's a good experience for people that have never been to Japan or love the kitsch
• Musashi sushi (multiple locations, but also train station south exit/Shinkansen side)- it's a pretty good kaiten sushi place and if you arrive hungry to Kyoto station or don't want to leave hungry, it's a great value. 
• Kansai Aiport Tip- There is a decent Kaiten sushi place at the airport for those that want their sushi fix right upon arrival or just before departure.. Especially if you didn't buy a meal on a low cost carrier...
• Pickles- The farms surrounding Kyoto contribute to the strong tradition of delicious and delicate pickles. Pickles from Kyoto even have the name of Kyozuke and vary in taste, color, and other characteristics. Many traditional restaurants feature Kyozuke, but shops throughout Kyoto, especially at Nishiki Market feature the dazzling array of great local pickles (see above). 
• Obanzai- Soul food, home-style cooking.. these are some of the ways of describing this style of cooking that Kyoto has developed. The ingredients start off as humble, but come together in fulfilling dishes that waste little and provide a window to tradition centuries old
• Tea- Tea in Kyoto is excellent. There may be other regions that grow tea in Japan, but the availability of the finest tea products in Kyoto is great. Before matcha became a latte at a chain coffee shop, Kyoto led the way with matcha in its purest form. The community of Uji, known for its fine tea south of Kyoto, has a whole street lined with tea shops en route to the famous Byodo-in temple. 
• Ippodo- a well established merchant with cafe showcases the craft of excellent matcha 
• Umezono- is a popular dessert cafe that has excellent matcha based items and Japanese delectables



Matcha Tea at Ippodo #thicc

• Coffee- some of the coffee houses of Kyoto date back to around the 50s and still retain an old school charm. The refined sensibilities of a proper Japanese coffee house are a far cry from the contemporary chain establishments that now dot Japan. 
• Bread- One would imagine that with Kyoto being Japan's center of culture and tradition, the locals wake up to the traditional breakfast of fish, miso soup, and rice. Surprisingly, this is not the case as many Kyoto locals have bread for breakfast with the city having one of the highest concentrations of bakeries in cities across Japan.  The local bakery chain Sizuya is well known to locals with even at least two franchises at Kyoto station alone (with one on the south side near Shinkansen entrance). Kyoto locals love the Carnet sandwich (a simple bread, ham, onion sandwich), but their katsu sandwich or combination (featuring egg salad) is very good along with their other baked goods. 
• Ramen- Kyoto has some very unique ramen places along with hosting chain restaurants of the country's most famous (e.g. Ippudo, Ichiran). Some unique Kyoto ramen includes the notorious "fire style"(try at your own risk) and dark styles of ramen. 
• "Everything else"
• Depachikas- are food halls the sell a variety of prepared food items. These food halls exist at the bottom of some department stores. Kyoto Station's Isetan definitely has one and can be a great place to browse or purchase anything from pastries to sushi
• Shakey's Shinkyogoku- for the kid in all of us... that's also an adult. All you can eat for about $6 and you can tack on an all you can drink plan (beer, wine, or mixed shochu beverages) for $6 (or something like that)