5 MUST TRY Kyoto Food Spots | Kyoto Food Guide | Kyoto Japan Food Tour

@Maz - Where To Find Me

5 MUST TRY Kyoto Food Spots | Kyoto Food Guide | Kyoto Japan Food Tour | Maz - Where To Find Me

Maz - Where To Find Meyoutubethe post

Join me on a delicious journey through Kyoto's culinary scene, from flowing nagashi somen noodles in a riverside setting to rich wagyu bowls, lively izakayas, and exquisite matcha desserts.

5 places · 2 experiences

1
Men-ya Sanda
Ramen restaurant · Kyoto
4.1 (917)Open · until 3 PM
Creator's voice
A local favorite in Kyoto, famous for its chicken tsukemen, a ramen-style dish where noodles are dipped into a rich, decadent sauce. Orders are placed via a ticket machine, and every counter seat offers a front-row view of the chefs preparing each bowl.
Men-ya Sanda, 7-4 Saiinoiwakecho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 615-0035, Japan
- Chicken Tsukemen — The signature chicken tsukemen features an incredibly rich and creamy dipping sauce, slow-simmered for hours using just chicken and water to extract deep umami. The velvety sauce coats each in-house crafted, medium-thick noodle, delivering a deep roasted chicken essence with a lingering natural sweetness. Topped with succulent roasted chicken breast chashu and a perfectly marinated ajitama egg.
- Tantanmen — This tantanmen is rich, spicy, and intensely aromatic, with a creamy sesame-infused broth that has just the right amount of heat. The nutty, slightly sweet base is balanced by a deep umami richness, and the spice level builds gradually without overpowering. It's bold, warming, and packed with flavor, ideal for those who love a little kick in their ramen. The noodles are slightly thinner but still satisfyingly chewy.
Experience · 1 place
Catching Nagashi Somen Noodles
day
Head to the tranquil mountain village of Kibune in Northern Kyoto to catch your own nagashi somen noodles at Hirobun. This is one of Kyoto's most sought-after summer experiences, so expect a wait of up to 2 hours. Once seated on the riverside platform, cool mountain water rushes through a bamboo flume, carrying delicate strands of somen noodles towards you. You have to catch them with chopsticks as they rush down, then dip them into a chilled tsuyu sauce—a flavorful blend of soy sauce, dashi, and mirin, often with a touch of wasabi. The noodles are light, delicate, and slightly chewy, with the real depth of flavor coming from the savory, slightly sweet, and umami-rich tsuyu.
- Nagashi Somen Noodles — Delicate strands of somen noodles that you catch as they flow down a bamboo flume, then dip into a chilled tsuyu sauce. The noodles are light and slightly chewy, perfectly complemented by the savory, slightly sweet, and umami-rich tsuyu, often with a hint of wasabi.
- Green Tea Warabi Mochi — As a nice little dessert to finish your nagashi somen experience, you get a refreshing green tea warabi mochi. Both the noodles and this dessert are incredibly refreshing on a hot summer's day.
2
Hirobun
Kaiseki restaurant · Kyoto
4.1 (209)
Creator's voice
Located in the tranquil mountain village of Kibune, Hirobun is famous for serving nagashi somen, or flowing noodles, which you catch with chopsticks as they rush down a bamboo flume. It's a highly sought-after summer experience, so be prepared for a wait of up to 2 hours. The dining area is perched directly above the Kibune River, making it a perfect escape from Kyoto's summer heat. The dining experience itself lasts about 15 minutes. Nagashi somen is only available in summer, and the restaurant may close on rainy days.
Hirobun, 87 Kuramakibunecho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 601-1112, Japan
3
Nikuju Hokusai
Meat dish restaurant · Kyoto
4.6 (1,512)Open · until 10 PM
Creator's voice
Open since 1915, Nikuju Hokusai specializes in wagyu beef bowls, blending fast-food convenience with the luxury of premium wagyu. They use their very own Shiwa Casa beef, rice grains from Kyoto, and a secret sauce also from Kyoto.
Wagyu Hokusai, 234-5 Yamazakicho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8032, Japan
- Rare Wagyu Steak Bowl — This set comes with miso soup, tsukemono (pickles), wasabi, and salt for seasoning. The main affair is rare wagyu beef topped with a raw egg yolk on a bed of rice, drizzled with their specialty sauce. Cracking the egg yolk adds a creamy richness to the melt-in-your-mouth beef. The sauce is a thick, sweet soy that elevates the dish, making the rice wonderfully saucy.
- Simmered Wagyu Set · ¥2600 — The restaurant's specialty, this simmered wagyu set features an amazing balance of fat and tender beef. The sauce is a rich, decadent sweet soy that melts into the bottom of the lacquerware box, making the rice incredibly saucy. Green onions add a nice fresh touch with each bite. The extra-large size is priced at ¥2,600, offering incredible quality. The beautiful Kyoto lacquerware box, made by a manufacturer with 150 years of legacy, adds to the refined experience.
Experience · 1 place
Watching the Chefs at Gion Yuki
evening
My favorite part of Gion Yuki is getting a front-row seat to all the action. You can watch the chefs skillfully chopping, frying, and plating each dish right in front of you. There's something mesmerizing about the rhythm of this kitchen—the sizzle of the grill, the careful balance of flavors, and the effortless craftsmanship that goes into every plate. It's an intimate, immersive, and atmospheric experience.
4
Gion Yuki Izakaya
Izakaya restaurant · Kyoto
4.1 (912)Closed · opens 4 PM
Creator's voice
A real local gem tucked away in a cozy alley of Kyoto's historic Gion district. With its traditional wooden decor and cozy interiors, Gion Yuki is reminiscent of retro Japan, serving authentic Japanese flavors with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It's owned by the Okamura Hon Brewery, offering an incredible sake selection.
Gion Yuki, 111-1 Tominagacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0078, Japan
Tamagoyaki — Japanese rolled omelette, marinated in dashi sauce, giving it a unique, slightly sweet taste. It's incredibly fluffy and served hot.
Fresh Tuna Sashimi — Thick slices of deep red tuna, incredibly fresh and buttery smooth.
Miso Obanzai — The miso sauce is incredibly rich, and the obanzai (Kyoto-style home cooking) is so soft it's almost silky.
Vegetable Tempura — Each piece is delicately crispy without feeling greasy, allowing the natural sweetness of the vegetables to shine through.
Duck Loin · £5 — The duck loin is incredibly juicy, with the fat on the outside rendered to give it a salty and almost crispy texture. The whole plate is only about £5, offering insane value for the quality.
Grilled Salmon — This grilled salmon tastes like something homemade, offering a healthy and comforting flavor.
Chicken Karaage — I love karaage because it's flowery and a little bit crispy on the outside, but the inside is incredibly moist. It's marinated before deep-frying, ensuring the flavor is locked in.
Mori Sake (Jet Black Sake) — Gion Yuki, owned by Okamura Hon Brewery, offers an incredible sake selection. They practice mori sake, where sake is overpoured to the brim and overflows into a saucer, a gesture of hospitality. The jet black sake is intriguing, smooth, and not too strong, making it surprisingly enjoyable.
5
Nakamura Tokichi Honten
Traditional teahouse · Uji
4.4Open · until 5:30 PM
Creator's voice
Located in Uji, the birthplace of premium matcha in the southern part of Kyoto prefecture, Nakamura Tokichi Honten is one of the most prestigious tea establishments. With a legacy spanning over two centuries, it's known for its high-quality Uji teas and matcha-infused delicacies. There's also a shop outside where you can buy their premium matcha powder and other matcha delights to take home.
Nakamura Tokichi Main Branch, Ichiban-10 Uji, Kyoto 611-0021, Japan
- Chicken Matcha Soba with Kyoto-style White Miso — My first time trying matcha-flavored noodles! The broth is nice and chickeny, but not too rich, almost silky. Yuzu-marinated chicken adds a bright citrusy note, cutting through the miso's creaminess and enhancing the dish's refreshing yet comforting balance. The noodles are chewy and soak up all the broth.
- Matcha Milk Shiratama Zenzai — One of my favorite Japanese desserts, this dish consists of matcha milk, shiratama (little rice flour dumplings), and azuki bean paste on top. It offers a perfect balance of textures and flavors: the matcha provides a slight bitterness, balanced by the sweetness of the azuki bean paste, and the mochi is soft and chewy, soaking up the matcha milk goodness.
- Maruto Matcha Parfait — The grand finale! This parfait has 11 different flavors, six of which are matcha-based. It's a journey of crunchy, sweet, tangy, creamy, and crackly textures. The base is matcha jelly, layered with matcha chiffon cake and rich matcha ice cream, topped with whipped cream, shiratama mochi, sweet red bean paste, and a dusting of matcha powder. Lemon jam and fresh berries add a refreshing contrast, while crispy, lightly salted rice crackers provide the perfect crunch. It's like a lucky dip of matcha flavors, a creative modern twist on a traditional dessert.

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