Kyoto Food Guide: Where and What to Eat in Kyoto

Find a comprehensive list of Kyoto food guide below from different parts of Kyoto. From local cuisines to dessert, the Kyoto food scene is surely not to miss. The list is recently updated in 2025 and will be updated accordingly if there's any future travels. Sharing with you some of my favourites of Kyoto food list since there's a surge of travel to Japan at the moment. There's no better time to visit Japan and all the different cities! Kyoto was a capital of Japan until around 500 years ago. Therefore, the local cuisines and the ingredients they offer are immaculate and each dishes is a work of art on its own.

Gion Duck Rice

If there's one food that I would definitely go back to, is this Gion Duck Rice. The restaurant is known for its emoji logo and is specialized in hitsumabushi. We ordered the ruck rice with uni and ikura (2850 yen) and the portion is quite generous. It comes with a set that looks like your chemistry class! It gives you hot water where you can make your own soup with the bonito flakes. They also gives various seasonings like yuzu and wasabi. The duck meat was so tender and juicy and the uni and ikura gives a complex texture in one spoonful. The shop is located at the heart of Gion area.

Kichi Kichi Omu Rice

A great show on its own, Kichi Kichi Omu Rice becomes famous because of the way the founder cook the dishes! Not your ordinary dining place, you will be entertained by the way the chef cooks the meal with all of its trciks and performances. Flavour wise, the blend of rice, fluffy egg, and the sauce will make you wonder of all the previous omu rice you've had before. Reservation can be hard to get, it's better to reserve through their site in advance. The shop is located near Pontocho Alley.

Kyoto Tonkatsu Katsuda Shijokarasuma

We found this place by accident as we were heading back to the downtown Kyoto, but the dish was surprisingly good! Offering various meat like pork and chicken set, the Gyukatsu is a hidden gem near Shijo station. The gyukatsu is served hot and crispy but has no oily feel and you can feel the umami taste as you dip it into the sauce. The set comes with rice and potato salad as well. The shop is tucked in a little lane near the main street, so don't miss it.

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

One of the more famous gyukatsu chain, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu serves hot stone Gyukatsu where you can grill it own your own depending on your preferred taste. For me i like it to be medium well. The meat is tender with crispy outer. The shop has chain in various part of Japan and overseas as well, but the main store is located at the Pontocho Alley.

Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market is located at downtown Tokyo and it is connected with the Shinkyogoku Shopping Street. To visit it, you can alight at Kyoto Kawaramachi station and take a short walk. Each city in Japan has its own market and it is a delightful experience to visit. You can find various vendors selling fresh produce, packaged goods, dried food, to snacks. See my full review of Nishiki Market here. Spend an afternoon here and indulge on various food sold here. You can find many street food like the tako tamago, mocha, dumplings, strawberries, okonomiyaki, and many more. It's really the perfect way to try all the Japanese street food on your list. The market closes at about 5.30 pm (4.30 pm on Saturdays).

Sushi no Musashi

A conveyor belt ramen located at the Kyoto station, Sushi no Musashi offers a no fuss dining experience with fresh ingredients. The variety of sushi are quite a lot and those melt in your mouth nigiri is definitely irresistible. I tried many dishes from fresh salmon to scallop. With good value for money, this sushi place is perfect if you're looking for a dining place while waiting for your train.

Teuchi Udon Kendonya

If you love Udon more than ramen, you can try this Teuchi Udon Kendonya. Located near the Fushimi Inari Shrine. The famous menu here is their beef curry udon noodle, beef udon, and tonkatsu (pork cutlet). The udon is made fresh daily and the soup is so think and rich.

Ichiran Ramen

First timer in Japan need to try this hype ramen chain. This chain ramen is very popular all over Japan and they even have several branches in other country. The queue in this restaurant is always long, so make sure to come before the exact lunch or dinner time. Upon entering the dining area, you'll order the menu through a machine where you can pick your order and insert the money to get the ticket. The store is located Kawaramachi area.

Koe Donut

It is located in the alley of Shinkyogoku Shopping Street and is designed by the well known architect Kengo Kuma. The brand has a commitment of using organic, natural, and locally produced products and you can see the process of making it in their open kitchen. Their donut is made with whole wheat flour and Miyama milk from Kyoto. They have around 30 kinds of donuts to choose from the glaze, to fruit toppings, to baked donuts. They also serves various drinks and their coffee is light and refreshing.

Eirakuya Main Shop

Eirakuya is a famous shop in Kawaramachi area, selling dessert, sweets, and confectionery for souvenir. The Japanese is well known for their crafts and food and I believe Eirakuya sums it all. You will swoon over fantastic packaging and dessert. I feel like I want to eat them all. Popular menu include Matcha shaved ice, mochi, pudding, dorayaki, green tea, and many more. You can eat your dessert at the cafe on the second floor and also bring some home for your loved ones. 

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tags:culinary,japan,kyoto,travel