If You Come to Kyoto, Check Them Out! 5 of the Hottest Spots in Kyoto Known for their Cuisine

Located just about 10 minutes from Karasuma Station by foot, AWOMB is a popular spot that is known for having the longest line of customers in all of Kyoto. Its specialty is the Teori Sushi (hand-rolled sushi) (prices start at 1,680 JPY (incl. tax)), which is sushi rolled by hand under the concept of “oru” (a term that means interweaving different items). When you order this special, you will be get to choose from a variety of ingredients, such as obanzai (Kyoto-style side dishes) that centers on fish and Kyoto vegetables in season. You can make your own sushi combination by putting any topping over the sushi rice and then wrapping it in nori seaweed. The obanzai and condiments/spices that are neatly arranged in rows on a black tray look really so colorful and beautiful that you’d almost feel bad about eating something that looks like a work of art! Aside from the gorgeous setting and the delicate flavors, the fun you get in making your own original sushi is truly exceptional. There is no doubt if you dine at this place, you will be able to create a memory from your journey that you will never forget.

Gion MAVO is a French restaurant that is tucked in one corner of Kyoto’s Gion district, which is home to rows of high-class restaurants. It has become a hot topic of conversation among gourmands in Kyoto as soon as it opened, catapulting it into becoming a famous spot that is visited by customers from all around Japan these days. Here, there is only one item on the menu: the Omakase Course (a course in which the dishes served are chosen by the chef) (6,000 JPY (excl. tax and service charge) for lunch and 12,000 JPY (excl. tax and service charge) for dinner) that is available strictly by advanced reservation. This course is created according to the changing seasons in Japan, so it is filled with exquisite dishes that are overflowing with the sense of the seasons. Together with your food, you must try the Tea Pairing (Sai (3,500 JPY (excl. tax and service charge) for lunch and 4,000 JPY (excl. tax and service charge) for dinner. The teas in this course are specialty teas that are particular about the tea leaves used, the extraction temperature/time, extraction method and serving temperature, so when they are paired with the dishes in the same way as wine, they will draw out the delicious flavors of the dishes. MAVO is a place that is definitely recommended to those who want to spend a little special time to commemorate their trip.

Pincho-style assorted appetizers

Tea served in a wineglass

Obase is a standalone elegant restaurant that is housed in a renovated machiya (traditional townhouse) that is more than 100 years old. Here, you can enjoy Italian dishes that lavishly use seasonal ingredients, centering on vegetables found in Kyoto, so they have a distinct Japanese feel. The only thing that customers can order here is the Omakase Course, which is priced at 4,000 JPY (incl. tax and service charge) for lunch and 8,000 JPY (incl. tax and service charge) for dinner. The dishes that are made through simple cooking techniques using Japanese ingredients and capitalizing on the rich flavors of those ingredients are actually closer to the taste of Japanese cuisine than Italian food. When you dine here, you will be provided with a knife and fork, along with chopsticks. Try this restaurant to taste creative Italian dishes with Japanese flavors that you can only have in Japan.