https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/kyoto/best-local-restaurants/100900005361
Local Restaurants
Top 50 Local Restaurants in Kyoto [2025]
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Moritaya - Kiyamachi
4.6
/5
46 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 103.00
Sanjo | 365m from downtown
Address: Japan, 〒604-8001 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Kamiosakacho, 531
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Authentic Kyoto beef flavor
Kamo River view beautiful year-round
Saved by 226 users
Verified user reviews
Service was slow at first, we were left alone for 15 minutes, then after a few attempts finally got their attention and ordered drinks. The lady who cooked at the table was delightful and excellent. The beef was excellent. Overall a bit plain and expensive place for what was on offer. In good weather you can sit out back on the terrace and enjoy your meal.
A restaurant with a high rating on Ctrip.
[Location] At the intersection of Kamogawa and Sanjo. Don't follow the Google map, it will make you walk to the riverside under the bridge and you can't find the place. The correct way to enter is: enter from an east-west alley on a street on the west side parallel to the Kamogawa, and enter from the back of the row of restaurants facing the Kamogawa!
[Environment] The dining environment is great, all Japanese-style private rooms. Our room is not facing the Kamogawa, but there is a small Japanese courtyard outside the room, which is very delicate and the children like it very much.
[Dishes and tastes] All are set meals. The more expensive the price, the better the meat. There are three ways to cook: Sukiyaki, hot pot, and barbecue. We ate Sukiyaki. Unlike Sukiyaki, Sukiyaki is to put the ingredients in the pot and cook them, only adding a little seasoning, without adding water. There is an old aunt on the side to help you process and serve you. Wagyu is really good, it melts in your mouth, and the children ate a lot.
[Price] The price is a bit expensive. In addition to the 8% consumption tax, there is also a 10% service charge. We later found that the service charge was written in small print on the large menu, but it was not written on the single-page menu recommended to me by the Chinese waiter, and the waiter did not mention it when introducing it, which resulted in a long negotiation at the checkout.
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Nanzenji Junsei
4.6
/5
183 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 61.00
Okazaki | 1.5 km from downtown
Address: 60 Nanzenji Kusakawacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8437, Japan
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Simmered tofu dishes conveying Kyoto culture
Japanese garden views
Saved by 171 users100+ recent views
Verified user reviews
Nanchan Temple Shunzheng, didn't make a reservation, came here to try my luck, there are nice seats
Ordered the snow, moon, and flower set meal, and also ordered a few dishes and draft beer
In the set meal, you can choose tofu skin or soup tofu, I ordered both, and the tofu skin tasted better, you can scoop it yourself. I tried Kyoto cuisine tofu both times I came to Kyoto, and both were pretty good.
The courtyard is very beautiful, with fallen maple leaves on the ground. I suggest you take a walk around the courtyard after dinner.
If you want to eat tofu in Kyoto, you should go to Shunzheng near the entrance of Nanzenji Temple. Their signature soup tofu is too bland, and the tofu bowl is the best! In fact, the tofu itself is not that amazing, but it wins in the details. The fried tofu cooked in kelp is wrapped with ginkgo nuts, the yuzu tea soy milk is buried with candied fruit, the rice is full of the aroma of tofu and broth, and the courtyard is also beautiful!
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Hirokawa
4.6
/5
143 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 103.00
Arashiyama/Sagano/Takao | 8.8 km from downtown
Address: 44-1 Sagatenryuji Kitatsukurimichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8374, Japan
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Exquisite and delicious signature eel
Panoramic view of the Japanese garden
Saved by 172 users100+ recent views
Verified user reviews
I heard that the queue at the Hirokawa gate of Arashiyama in Kyoto lasted until 2 o'clock today. [Cool][Cool][Cool]
Come on, tell me if there are many people at Kiyomizu Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama, and Gion in Kyoto today? [Laugh without saying anything][Laugh without saying anything][Laugh without saying anything]
Anyway, I'm here today...
Guangchuan is a restaurant specializing in eel dishes! It has one Michelin star! Although it is famous, you will know it after you try it! We ordered two different grilled eels, juice grilled and salt grilled. The eels here are indeed very fishy.
No.
4
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Okabeya
4.6
/5
25 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 30.00
Gion | 1.8 km from downtown
Address: 2 Chome-239 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
A renowned Kaiseki restaurant specializing in tofu
A famous restaurant specializing in tofu dishes for over 40 years
Verified user reviews
This restaurant is located near Kiyomizu Temple. It is worth visiting this restaurant for lunch when visiting Kiyomizu Temple. The decoration of the restaurant is very nostalgic Japanese style, so it is very beautiful, and you can taste delicious soy products.
This restaurant, Shimizu Junzheng, is very well-known in Kyoto and is also a Japanese restaurant with particularly high online ratings. The salmon belly sashimi in this restaurant is simply extremely tender and smooth.
No.
5
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Kyoto Kaiseki Yakiniku (BBQ) HIRO Kyoto Station
4.3
/5
78 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 63.00
Kyoto City Centre | 2.8 km from downtown
Address: 510-1 Shiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8212
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Authentic Kyoto-style wagyu barbecue
Popular restaurant in business for over 10 years
Saved by 154 users100+ recent views
Verified user reviews
Really enjoyed the whole experience! This restaurant offers excellent, low-key service in a true "old Japan" atmosphere. We were particularly impressed by the quality of the beef, but the food in general was excellent. We recommend Yakiniku Hiro without reservation!
One of the most satisfying Wagyu BBQ restaurants during my trip to Japan. Make a reservation for this branch on the official website in advance, choose a time, and go there on time to eat. Moreover, the official website actually has Chinese and English together and is still understandable. . Hong has several branches in Kyoto, with different types. This one seems to have more locations and less people. It is recommended to choose an earlier time to eat, because some parts are sold out and they are no longer available. I resented that I did not eat raw beef.
Basically, we scrolled through the menu for all the parts we like to eat, and the grill grill of this restaurant is much cleaner than Wanliang, and it will not burn so easily. I really think every one of them is delicious. If I had to recommend a cut, I think the beef cut that comes in a crock pot is the most delicious. Actually, I forgot the name, but you can still order it if you look at the menu picture. A store that is not expensive per person, very satisfying.
No.
6
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Sushi no Musashi - Kyoto Station Hachijo Entrance
4.7
/5
8 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 15.00
Kyoto City Centre | 3.2 km from downtown
Address: Japan, 〒600-8215 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Higashishiokoji Takakuracho, 8-3 京都駅八条口構内 アスティロード京都おもてなし小路
Highlights:
Fresh hand-pressed sushi with a unique flavor
Opened in 1977 with a long history
Verified user reviews
There is a wide variety. The sushi is well prepared. Every sushi looks appetizing! There are two types of sushi, depending on the ingredients used: premium and normal I think. Then the normal type is divided into two types: one with wasabi and one without. All the food is brought up on a conveyor belt that goes around the dining area. There are also locals eating here, and they accept credit cards.
The first day after arriving in Kyoto (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
Due to the long journey and work, I was too tired. I gave up my original plan to queue for the 100-year-old Sukiyaki pot.
Searching for nearby restaurants, I found this restaurant with good reviews and came to taste it.
The sushi is really fresh, all made by the chef inside, and it took us about ten minutes to queue.
The grilled corn sushi is surprisingly delicious, great! The shrimp and fish are also very fresh~ Some sashimi sushi went into my stomach before I could take pictures, haha
No.
7
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Gion Uokeya U
4.9
/5
41 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 73.00
Gion | 1 km from downtown
Address: 570-120 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0074
No.7 of Must-Visit Restaurants in Kyoto
Highlights:
Authentic Kyoto cuisine
Specializing in Edo-style grilled eel for 34 years
Verified user reviews
We decided to have unagi for lunch and this restaurant is the best place to have it. Remember there are no traditional tables with chairs, it's a Japanese restaurant so after 10 minutes we felt very uncomfortable. The waiter didn't speak English
After enjoying the beautiful scenery, I went to the gion uokeya U restaurant with my friends for dinner. The eel rice here is really famous in Kyoto. The big eel looks so appetizing.
No.
8
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Kyogoku Kaneyo
4.6
/5
55 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 51.00
Karasuma | 679m from downtown
Address: 456 Matsugaecho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8034
Highlights:
Authentic Kyoto cuisine
A century-old shop with time-honored techniques
Verified user reviews
I really like eating eel rice. The eel is cooked to order. The eel is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It is definitely a first-class experience. Although the price is not cheap, it is definitely a delicacy worth trying.
You can order eel rice a la carte, which is divided into four types: large, medium, small and children, or you can order a set meal (there are three types of set meals, A, B and C, depending on the amount of food). It has a strong flavor, moderate saltiness, and is a great match for rice. I queued for three hours and finished it in less than a quarter of an hour.
No.
9
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Wabiya Korekido
4.8
/5
9 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 105.00
Gion | 1 km from downtown
Address: 日本〒605-0074 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Gionmachi Minamigawa, 歌舞練 場北側
Highlights:
Authentic Japanese grilled skewers
A decade-old shop serving delicious grilled food
Verified user reviews
Oyakodon, first of all, was left as is. The aroma of the melted egg and mitsuba, as well as the texture and sweetness of the onion were good.
The Oyakodon (Oyakodon) at this restaurant is a must-try. It uses fresh red eggs, a specialty of Kyoto, and has a delicate texture that is sure to leave you with an unforgettable aftertaste!
No.
10
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Kijurou
4.4
/5
9 reviews
Japanese
From AU$ 36.00
Arashiyama/Sagano/Takao | 8.8 km from downtown
Address: 18-27 Sagatenryuji Kitatsukurimichicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8374
Featured in Must-Visit Restaurants
Highlights:
The courtyard design is picturesque, and beef paired with plum wine creates a delicious flavor.
100+ recent views
Verified user reviews
Kijurou's wagyu tenderloin lunch box is an absolute treat! The beef is very tender and pairs perfectly with the delicious umami sauce.
The meal I had here, with its melt-in-your-mouth beef, was mind-blowing and I will definitely think of this place.
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