The Japanese dishes you're probably most familiar with, like sushi, ramen, and yakisoba, are of course available in Kyoto, and there are plenty of good places to get them. If you're wanting to try something different, though, there are plenty of local delicacies to sample that you may never have even heard of! One of the most fun local food traditions is the kaiseki-style restaurant, where seasonal ingredients are incorporated into a many-course meal. From the miso soup starter to a fruity dessert, this is a great way to try a variety of food and get a taste of local flavors.
Hyotei and Kikunoi are the best-known kaiseki restaurants in town, and each has its own special flair. Hyotei serves each dish to your party in your own private teahouse set amid their spectacular grounds, and Kikunoi is proud of its celebrity chef who finds creative ways to integrate surprising ingredients into traditional Japanese dishes. Try to get into one if there's room - they're both always busy!
Another fun activity is to visit a sake bar like Yoramu, where you can learn all about the fermentation process and try a variety of sakes. Whether you're new to sake or already a connoisseur, it's always fun to see how its made and try some new flavors. Sweets and pastries are another Japanese specialty, and are best sampled at a local confectioner. Kagizen Yoshifusa is one of the oldest and most famous sweet shops in town, and you can also enjoy noodles upstairs in the cafe or sit down for a tea tasting in the garden behind the store. Meat eaters should not leave town without trying the Kobe beef, but there are plenty of vegetarian options for non-carnivores, too.
Zen temples such as Tenryu-ji Shigetsu serve delicious set menus with fresh tofu and vegetables at lunchtime in their lovely garden settings. If you're craving something Western, though, there's some good options for you, too. Le Bouchon, for instance, serves delectable French cuisine that won't empty your wallet - and it's one of the best places in town to get some decent wine.
35 Kusakawa-cho
Nanzenji
Kyoto's Number One Restaurant?...
Makuzugahara
Kikunoi Inn
Kaiseki Specialist...
71-1 Enokicho
Nijo-Teramachi
Good value victuals...
9F takase building,karawamachi higashi-iru,sanjo dori,nakagyo-ku
Great food ,best view french restaurant at kyoto...
4 Daitoku-ji-cho
Murasakino
Vegetarian food alfresco...
322 Kurumaya-cho Street
540 Year Old Soba Restaurant...
Kawaramachi-Sanjo agaru
Hitosujime higashi-iru
Informal and central...
642-4 Shokokuji Monzen Karasuma
Kamidachiuri Higashi-iru
Smoke-free Papa's...
Japan, 京都府京都市中京区上大阪町521エンパイアビル8階
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
日本, 京都府京都市中京区桝屋町67 ネオス三条堺町
644-2 Sanjusangendo-mawari
Hyatt Regency Kyoto, Higashiyama-ku