Crazy Digest: Japan2012: Top 5 Favourite Restaurants in Kyoto

2. Akiyoshi Yakitori

We found this place by chance again. I had initially intended to locate the intersection of Sanjo and Kawaramachi, where there were many recommended restaurants in the area by the river. The views here were worth the hunt, we found cherry blossoms on both sides of the river which was lined with restaurants. After scouting around, we picked Akiyoshi because it was most inviting and it served Yakitori, which was on our To-Try list.

This is what the shop-front looks like

We got a counter seat, and got many stares of amusement at our photo-taking. They are so camera shy!

The English menu. We chose No.1, 2, 3, 5 and 42

L-R: Chewy Chicken, Sirloin Beef, Pig Intestines, Pig Liver. The liver was THE BESTTTTTTTTT !!

This is actually a chain yakitori restaurant, offering simple comfort food and beers all over Japan. It is a great and cheap place to hang out, since yakitori isn't exactly filling and you will soon be wolfing down dozens of sticks. HH and I shared 4 sets of 5 and 2 onigiri rice, and it didn't quite fill us up haha.

The view along the river at Sanjo-Kawaramachi

Akiyoshi Yakitori - Kawaramachi branch
Address in Japanese: 京都市中京区河原町通三条下る大黒町71番地
Tel: 075-213-3394
Opening hours: 5:00pm - midnight, closed on Tuesdays

After eating at the above restaurant, we walked back to Kawaramachi Road to locate the bus back, and that's when we saw another famous restaurant we had read about. OF COURSE we had to run over to try it out!

3. Marugamei Seimen
This restaurant serves the freshest udon you can find, as their noodles are made at this shop. No made-in-china and defrosted in Kyoto here. It is well known for being cheap, fast and delicious. Select your preferred udon, and you can choose from a selection of tempura to accompany your noodle with. The texture of the udon was truly unforgettable!

The shop front from across the road

Udon starts from 280¥ for basic. We chose to add an egg for an additional 50¥

Really yummy tempura for 70-100¥

This was for 2 persons to share, after having eaten Yakitori previously

Marugame Seimen
Address: 京都市中京区河原町通三条下る大黒町54-1 (Kawaramachi-dori, Sanjo-sagaru, Daikoku-cho 54-1)
Tel: 075-231-0700 (I think reservations wouldn't really be accepted)
Website: http://www.toridoll.com/shop/marugame/
Other reviews: http://openkyoto.com/dining/kyoto-cheap-eats-marugame-udon.html

4. Kaneyo Kyogoku
How do I describe the feeling of walking into a shop that has been there for over 100 years old, and tasting a bowl of rice with 2 measly pieces of unagi for ¥950? Heavenly unagi! I have tasted this Japanese eel many times before in Malaysia and Australia, but nothing prepared me for its taste here. Perfectly grilled over wood fire left a smoky flavour to the not-as-sweet-as-expected eel. Many people order their Unagi Kinshi Don which comes with a humongous omelette on top of the rice. Being curious with the egg, HH & I ordered just 1 portion of the egg for 2 of us to share for 600¥. I'm glad we shared the egg, eating one by ourselves would leave us feeling a bit overwhelmed and disgusted.

Note: Set Lunch is available daily from 11:30am - 2:00pm for an affordable price of 950¥. Dinner starts from 1600¥.

The 100-year-old shop front

Our set lunch menu for 950¥

Heavenly unagi!

The omelette for 600¥ to accompany the rice

Kaneyo Kyogoku
Address: Kyoto-shi Nakagyo-ku Shinkyogoku Rokkaku (京都市中京区新京極六角)
Tel: 075-221-0669
Website and map: http://www.kyogokukaneyo.co.jp/info/
Opening hours: 11:30am - 9:00pm, closed on Sundays

5. Ginza Hagaten -銀座ハゲ天
If it's a rainy day and you've nowhere else to go, head to Porta which is an underground shopping mall below the Kyoto main station. There are so many restaurants in here, you will be spoilt for choices. We wanted to try how a real tempura tastes like in Kyoto. When done nicely, it is not supposed to taste oily like most places do it. This restaurant is originally from Ginza in Tokyo, and has since opened branches around Japan. The taste was superb and I almost never eat deep fried foods, but I loved this one. They will bring each piece out for you as soon as it's done, and you get it piping hot over rice and miso.