Restaurant picks by area

Kyoto · Nishiki · Kyoto street food

Kyoto’s kitchen — graze morning to afternoon before stalls close.

Breakfast · Lunch · Snack

Kyoto · Kawaramachi · Ramen

Tonkotsu ramen in the old city — late meal after Gion.

Lunch · Dinner · Late night

Kyoto · Kawaramachi · Okonomiyaki

Hiroshima/Kansai-style okonomiyaki in town — group dinner.

Lunch · Dinner

Kyoto · Nanzenji · Yudofu

Hot tofu in a temple garden — calm lunch after sightseeing.

Lunch

Kyoto · Pontocho · Omurice

Famous chef omurice show — reservations only.

Lunch · Dinner

Kyoto · Uji · Matcha sweets

Matcha parfaits and Uji green tea — half-day snack outside the city.

Snack · Lunch

Kyoto · Pontocho · Kaiseki

Kaiseki by the Kamo River — special meal; book ahead.

Dinner

Kyoto · Near Kyoto Station · Fire ramen

Flaming ramen show — fun but very hot; queue online.

Lunch · Dinner

Kyoto · Gion · Sweets

Dango and sweets in Gion — rest stop on Hanamikoji.

Snack

Kyoto · Arashiyama · Yudofu

Lunch near the bamboo grove — go before noon to skip queues.

Lunch

Kyoto · Muromachi · Sushi

Kyoto-style sushi (sometimes saba) — midday meal downtown.

Lunch · Dinner

Kyoto · Shichijo · Yakiniku

Yakiniku near the station — dinner on arrival day.

Dinner

Kyoto · Gion · Saba sushi

Classic Kyoto saba sushi — local pick unlike Tokyo nigiri.

Lunch

Kyoto · Near Imperial Palace · Soba

Century-old soba shop — light lunch in the city.

Lunch · Dinner

Kyoto · Nishiki · Unagi

Eel rice after the market stroll — special midday meal.

Lunch · Dinner

Kyoto · Kyoto Station · Ramen

Ramen floor in the station — quick meal before the train.

Lunch · Dinner

Kyoto · Gion · Izakaya

Izakaya after an evening Gion walk — old-town atmosphere.

Dinner · Late night

Kyoto · Arashiyama · Shojin ryori

Temple vegetarian at Tenryu-ji — lunch after the bamboo grove.

Lunch

Kyoto · Imadegawa · Yakitori

Student-priced yakitori — budget dinner on the north side.

Dinner · Late night

Kyoto · Kyoto Station · Department-store bento

Station basement food floor — bento for shinkansen or temple picnic.

Lunch · Snack · Dinner

Kyoto · Gion · Kaiseki

Course dinner in the geisha district — reserve ahead.

Dinner

Kyoto · Kawaramachi · Ramen

Ramen and udon on the shopping strip — quick downtown meal.

Lunch · Dinner · Late night

Kyoto · Pontocho · Izakaya

Kamo riverside alley — lantern-lit dinner.

Dinner · Late night

Kyoto · Fushimi · Sake / snacks

Sake brewery district — afternoon tasting and snacks.

Lunch · Snack

Kyoto · Higashiyama · Matcha / sweets

Green tea and parfaits after the temple climb — classic snack.

Snack

Kyoto · Demachi · Local market

Market and local shops up north — Kyoto-style breakfast.

Breakfast · Lunch · Snack

Kyoto · Uji · Matcha

Green-tea day trip — parfaits and tea ceremonies.

Lunch · Snack

Kyoto · Kyoto Station · Ramen

Station ramen floor — quick meal before the shinkansen.

Lunch · Dinner · Late night

Kyoto · Philosophers’ Path · Café

Coffee and sweets after walking sakura or autumn leaves.

Snack · Lunch

Kyoto · Kibune · Summer kaiseki

Meal on platforms over the stream — summer only; book ahead.

Lunch · Dinner

Kyoto · Ohara · Shojin ryori

Temple vegetarian outside the city — calm day trip from Kyoto.

Lunch