Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
奥丹
; 771-8709; Sakyō-ku, Nanzen-ji, Fukuchi-chō 86-30; set meals ¥3150; 11am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, to
5pm Sat & Sun, closed Thu; ; 10min walk from Keage Station, Tōzai subway line)
Just outside the pre-
ous garden of Chōshō-in. This is a popular place that has specialised in vegetarian temple
food for hundreds of years. Try a course of
yudōfu
(bean curd cooked in an iron pot) to-
gether with vegetable side dishes (¥3150). But be warned: it can get crowded here in the
cherry-blossom and autumn-foliage seasons.
GROTTO¥¥
OFFLINE MAP
(
ぐろっと
; 771-0606; 114 Jōdo-ji Nishida-chō, Sakyō-ku; dinner course ¥4750; 6pm-midnight Mon-Sat;
; 5min walk from Ginkaku-ji-michi bus stop, bus 5 or 17 from Kyoto Station)
This stylish little place
on Imadegawa-dōri serves a fine dinner set menu that will take you through the major
tastes in the Japanese gastronomy. The atmosphere is slick and subdued. Reservations are
highly recommended and last orders are at 10pm.
| JAPANESE
OKARIBA¥¥
OFFLINE MAP
(
お狩り場
; 751-7790; Sakyō-ku, Okazaki, Higashitenno-chō 43-3; 5-10.30pm Tue-Sun; dinner ¥4000;
1min walk from Higashitenno-chō bus stop, bus 203 from Kyoto Station)
For an experience you won't
soon forget, try Okariba. If it crawls, walks or swims, it's probably on the menu. The
in-
oshishi
(wild boar) barbecue is a good start. Those who don't eat meat can try the fresh
ayu
(Japanese trout). Look for the sign of the hunting pig out the front.
| WILD GAME
TORITO¥¥
OFFLINE MAP
(
とりと
; 752-4144; Sakyō-ku, Higashi Marutamachi 9-5; 5.30pm-midnight, closed Tue; dinner
¥3500-4000; 2min walk from Marutamachi Station, Keihan line)
This is part of the new wave of
yakitori
(skewers of grilled chicken and vegetable) restaurants in Kyoto that are updating
the old standards in interesting and tasty ways. It's a crowded spot, with a counter and a
few small tables. The food is very good and will likely appeal to non-Japanese palates.
Dishes include
negima
(long onions and chicken; ¥315 for two sticks) and
tsukune
(chick-
en meatballs; ¥462). It's near the corner of Marutamachi and Kawabata-dōri; you can see
inside to the counter.
| YAKITORI
KAILASH¥
OFFLINE MAP
(
カイラス
;
| ORGANIC
752-3127; Sakyō-ku, Shōgoin Sannō-chō 19-2;
10.30am-7pm Fri-Tue; lunch sets ¥880;
;
10min walk from Marutamachi Station, Keihan line)
In an atmospheric old Japanese town house,
this new organic restaurant is a very welcome addition to the Kyoto restaurant scene. The
