It is tough to go to Japan with out giving greater than only a passing thought to the nation’s culinary traditions. As a foodie’s paradise, yow will discover luxurious issues to eat in nearly each avenue nook, shopping center and practice station. Walking down these mazes and alleys makes me really feel like gulping down all the pieces in sight each single time. The meticulous preparation simply makes the meals arduous to disregard.
Like different main cities, Osaka and Kyoto has its share of specialties in addition to must-try eating places and eateries. If you might be visiting the Kansai area for round 5 days as I did throughout my collaboration with Hotels.com, it’s in all probability not possible to go to all the nice eating places. Here, I like to recommend a number of the greatest meals in Osaka and Kyoto that I attempted. Check these out in your subsequent journey and let me know what you assume!
AWOMB (Sushi)
While there is no such thing as a lack of sushi eating places round Japan and significantly in Kyoto, Awomb which has three areas round city is famous for its DIY sushi. The chain now has three retailers with every outlet specializing in several sorts of sushi preparation. I visited the Gion Yasaka outlet which was close to my resort. Here, you create your personal chirashizushi from an impossibly picturesque plate of uncooked fish and condiments. The complete plate prices 2,970 Yen and diners are free to combine and match nonetheless they need. End it with a refreshing bowl of tofu soup. The matcha and white sugar jelly dessert prices additional.
Address: 405 Nanbacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8027, Japan
Opening Hours: 11:30AM to three:00PM, 6PM to 8PM
Gion Uokeya U (Unagi)
supply: restaurant
Kyoto has quite a lot of Michelin-starred eating places specializing in unagi. The hottest appears to be Unagi Hirokawa situated in the principle vacationer avenue of Arashiyama. After studying the queue was going to take two hours, I made a decision to maneuver elsewhere. Gion Uokeya U can also be a Michelin-starred restaurant sans the outrageous queue. The Unaju (eel rice – I paid 4,250 Yen for a big sized bowl) is improbable however a bit totally different from the kind that one is used to exterior Japan. Instead of the everyday candy sauce, the eel right here is slathered in a savory sauce. This serves to reinforce the smoky taste led to by the charcoal-grill preparation.
Address: Gion Nishi Hanamikoji Shijo Sagaru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0074, Kyoto Prefecture
Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 11:30AM to 2PM; 5PM to 9PM
Phone:Â +81 75-551-9966
Otsuka (Steak)
Where to start? The beef at Otsuka was in all probability the perfect I’ve ever had. Otsuka is situated within the Arashiyama space which makes it well-liked amongst each locals and foreigners. While there are queues, it was not outrageous once I went and I waited for less than quarter-hour earlier than being proven to my seat. The restaurant is most well-known for its Murasawa sirloin steak which comes from Nagano. However, it was already bought out once I went so I opted for the Wagyu A5 Sirloin Steak which was so good and had a melt-in-your mouth high quality. Otsuka is unquestionably a must-try in Kyoto.
Address: 21-3 Sagatenryuji Wakamiyacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8371, Japan
Opening Hours: 11AM to 2:30PM every day besides Sunday
Phone: +81 75-864-7989
%Arabica (Coffee)
A visit to Kyoto will not be full with out having a cup of espresso at %Arabica. Founded by Kenneth Shoji – a Japanese who grew up within the United States – the café has turn out to be a must-try for espresso lovers when in Kyoto. In the shops, clients may purchase beans from a number of nations together with from the espresso farm in Hawaii that Shoji owns. The location additionally couldn’t be extra apt for vacationers. The unique espresso store is simply steps away from Hokanji Temple in Gion though two different retailers in Arashiyama and Shijo-dori have opened in recent times.
Address: 87-5 Hoshino-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0853 Japan
Opening Hours: 8AM to 6PM (Higashiyama outlet)
Nishiki Market (Street meals)
Nishiki Market is a standard meals market in Kyoto that’s situated one avenue north and parallel to Shijo-dori in downtown. The market is roughly six blocks lengthy and inside it, you’ll discover all types of Japanese snacks which are ready contemporary for the day. I might say it’s a problem to stroll from one finish to a different with out attempting one thing to eat! There are so many fantastic issues to have right here that I don’t even know the place to start. There are loads of contemporary seafood similar to oysters and sea urchins however what caught my eye are the grilled unagi on sticks. If you’ve missed out on Kyoto’s well-known unagi eating places, this isn’t a foul various. For of us with a candy tooth, you can too attempt the mochi round right here together with the matcha warabi mochi. Come hungry!
Opening Hours: 9AM to 6PM
Weekenders Coffee Roastery
This barely-labeled cafe off Kyoto’s Kawaramachi affords fantastic barista type espresso. Do check out their chilly brew if it occurs to be obtainable and calm down of their atmospheric courtyard house whereas having fun with your cup. This specific outlet is open solely throughout weekends however they’ve one other outlet (sans the courtyard) that’s open on weekdays.
Address: 682-7 Ishifudonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8047, Japan
Opening Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10AM to 5PMÂ
Gion Kirara
One of the few kaiseki eating places in Kyoto’s Gion district that permits walk-ins, Gion Kirara serves scrumptious set meals. Expect a mixture of sashimi, tempura in addition to wagyu beef for the higher-priced units.Â
Address: 570-232 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto 605-0074, Japan
Opening Hours: Daily, 11:30AM to 3PM / 5:30PM to 10:30PM
Takoyaki Wanaka (Takoyaki)
A Japanese snack that has made its means around the globe, the ball-shaped batter stuffed with octopus and topped with mayonnaise and bonito traces its origins to Osaka. This avenue meals is an ubiquitous sight in lots of avenue corners round city however most particularly within the areas round Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi. I’ve tried fairly quite a lot of retailers serving takoyaki and whereas the style does probably not deviate that a lot from retailer to retailer, Wanaka is mostly thought-about to be among the finest on the town.
Address:Â Â Chome-7-24 Nanba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0076, Japan
Opening Hours: 10AM to 10PM
Ajinoya (Okonomiyaki)
By now, you’ll have guessed that meals objects manufactured from batter and dough are a preferred factor in Osaka. Another one of many metropolis’s specialty, Okonomiyaki is a kind of savory pancake (some name it the Japanese pizza). Aside from having the egg batter as the bottom, there may be actually no pre-determined filling. Beef, octopus, prawns, oysters – it may be as you would like – are wantonly combined with sliced greens for an ideal serving. Top it with Ajinoya’s particular sauce and also you’ve obtained your self an unassuming-looking however addicting dish!
Address:Â 1 Chome-7-16 Nanba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0076, Japan
Opening Hours: 12NN to 10:45PM
Phone: +81 6-6211-0713
Sakunosaku (Ramen)
Ramen might be the nationwide dish in Japan. In each metropolis and in each city, yow will discover ramen outlets that function by way of merchandising machines and are frequented by salarymen who steadily eat alone. Sakunosaku is one such retailer but it surely stood out for me due to the additional pork toppings. It is so beneficiant that it actually lined my complete plate! Aside from that, the noodles had been chewy and the broth extremely savory. They have many forms of ramen together with a yuzu model however I like to recommend going for the Naniwa Tonkotsu Ramen.
Address: 1-1-1 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Opening Hours: 11AM to 8PM
Granknot (Coffee)
Said to be on the perfect cafes in Osaka, Granknot is situated within the metropolis’s hip Tachibana-dori (Orange Street) . I ordered a latte throughout my go to which was one of many frothiest I’ve ever had. If the latte artwork is something to go by, it is without doubt one of the most spectacular I’ve seen with the graphic staying unperturbed at the same time as I gulped down my espresso. The interiors are as engaging because the latte artwork. Copper pipes snake by the ceiling and the partitions whereas the chairs supposedly come from a church within the USA.
Address: 1 Chome-23-4 Kitahorie, Nishi Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 550-0014, Japan
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (besides Wednesday): 9AM to 6PM; Saturday and Sunday (11AM to 6PM)
New Light
This unassuming teishoku restaurant on the fringe of Osaka’s American Village appears to be like prefer it got here out of post-punk / CBGB period New York with its graffiti and poster-filled partitions and shopfront. The predominant draw right here is their Ceylon Curry which is among the many greatest Japanese curry rice that I’ve tried to this point. Prices are extremely reasonably priced however do observe that it’s cash-only right here and there’s no English menu.Â
Address: 2 Chome-16-13 Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0086, Japan
Opening Hours: Daily, 11AM to 7:30PM
Okonomiyaki Chitose
Located near the Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka’s Shinsekai space, one typically finds a snaking queue exterior Okonomiyaki Chitose. This small consuming joint is very well-liked amongst vacationers, significantly as a consequence of their okonomiyaki’s beneficiant meat and/or seafood filling. For a comparatively humble eatery, they surprisingly cater to vegan dietary necessities. For occasion, they can exchange with pretend meat for vegans.
Address: 1 Chome-11-10 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, 557-0002, Japan
Opening Hours: Daily, 12PM to three:3oPM / 5PM to 8PM
Where to remain in Osaka and Kyoto
For Osaka motels, you’ll be able to e book HERE.
For Kyoto motels, you’ll be able to e book HERE.
You may take a look at the coupon code HERE for added reductions for resort bookings.
