158 replies to this topic

[torakris]

I just ran across this site:

http://www.kyotoguid...ndex/index.html

there is a new article on wining and dining in Kyoto, you need to scroll down a bit on the main page. Also in the column on the left side there is a guide to restaurants in Kyoto.

[prasantrin]

And also, it's fun to walk Nishiki-koji-Dori in the central Kyoto. Nishiki-Koji is known for Kyoto's kitchen, therefore, there are many shops selling vegetables, seaweed, tsukemono, fish, etc.

I was once nominated to be the tour guide for some friends who had never been to Kyoto. One insisted that she needed to walk through Nishiki-koji since she had read about it. Without telling her where we were, I lead her down the street. She began wretching because of the smell of fish (she was "allergic") and she yelled, "Why the hell are you making us go through here?" I replied, "Because you wanted to go through Nishiki, and this is it!" I was annoyed, yet strangely pleased .

I always wanted to buy a knife from the knife shop on that street, but I could never afford to. I couldn't even afford to buy one of their onigiri molds!

[RindaRinda]

Hello,

Is there anyone who is knowledgeable about shoujin ryouri (vegetarian temple cuisine)? I have even asked Japanese friends if they know of any good places in Kyoto that serve this cuisine, but no one has any recommendations.

Although I live in the Kansai area, I don't get to Kyoto very often.

Any recommendations?

[skchai]

Have you tried looking at Tenzo.net?

Welcome to eGullet, RindaRinda. You wouldn't happen to be a Bluehearts fan, would you?

[sanfranciscotreat]

I will most likely be tended to during the week by my business counterpart, but don't want to waste a moment of my free time eating marginal food.

I found the following webpage outlining Nagoya Specialties, but where to dine?
I prefer restaurants that offer uniquely Japanese atmosphere (not necessarily foreigner-friendly) and the very best examples of the cuisine.

I will likely take the train to Kyoto and/or Osaka--any must eats there?

One little thing...I don't like sushi.

TIA

[prasantrin]

When will you be there? I don't know much about Nagoya but I might be able to find some information for you. I'll be landing in Kobe March 26th if you want some company in Kyoto or Osaka. I used to live in Kyoto and visited Osaka once a month or so, so I know some places in those areas.

[sanfranciscotreat]

I will be in Nagoya the week of April 12th.
I'll have Sunday the 11th and Saturday the 17th to sightsee.

I do really like Yakitori!

[kobykoby]

Not a high end food recommendation, but if yakitori is what you like...

The Nagoya chicken specialty is deep fried chicken wings (tebasaki). There is a great chain of tebasaki places in the Nagoya region called
Sekai no Yamachan
http://www.yamachan.co.jp/index.html (website is Japanese only)
Wings are deep fried, lots of pepper involved it seems, my visit also involved copious amounts of beer.

I remember being taught the Nagoya way of eating wings, which is to stick a whole wing in your mouth and suck the meat off of the bones...

I see that they've just opened a branch in Shin Okubo (Tokyo)

[RindaRinda]

We are leaving Japan in July. I set a goal of eating Kobe beef before leaving, but it's so expensive that we haven't got around to it.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a Kobe beef restaurant in Kobe that costs around 5000 to 10,000 yen per person?

Thanks.

[prasantrin]

I'll ask around at work (I'm in Nishinomiya) at see what I can find. Many of my co-workers live in Kobe and grew up there so they know a lot of really great restaurants.

If you're in Kobe, do you know of any place that serves Croque Monsieur? Real Croque Monsieur--not that crap Donq or other similar bakeries make. I had the Mariage Freres version but it was not up to par.

[RindaRinda]

Thanks, prasantrin. I could just buy some beef myself, but I want it cooked right.

Unfortunately, I don't live in Kobe, so I can't answer your question. I live about an hour west.

[prasantrin]

I asked one of my co-workers about restaurants. Were you looking specifically for the Sannomiya area? She said she hasn't gone for Kobe beef in a few years, but there used to be a restaurant called "Rokudan" that was quite good and reasonably priced. If you're willing to go to Okamoto, there's another place called Lupin that does Teppanyaki. She said there's a wide range of courses to choose from--the cheapest being about Y3000 or Y4000. She said the Y7000 course is a good value. It's in the same building as a handicraft shop called "Hand in Hand" (or something similar) but on the second floor. It's closer to Hankyu Okamoto Station, not JR (though it's still relatively close to JR Okamoto Station, too).

I just did a search on Rokudan and I believe they have moved to Harbourland. They're in Mosaic and you need reservations. Hours are 11-3, 5-10 and there was no phone number listed.

I'll try to find more information from others. My informant, however, loves food so I would generally trust her suggestions. But it's always good to have more choices!

[torakris]

I found a couple Kobe beef restaurants in Kobe listed here:
http://www.fodors.co...nation=kobe@184

some of them seem extremely reasonable.

[RindaRinda]

prasantrin, as long as the restaurant is within reasonable (no more than 20 minutes) walking distance from any train station, that's fine. We don't have a car, so we'll need to go by train. I appreciate your info so far. If you can squeeze more info from your source, that'd be great!

torakris, I'll check out your list as well.

thanks everyone!

[Sartain]

I am heading to Japan as part of a group of 10 for 10 days in late June. While I have found a lot of information on Tokyo restaurants, I haven't been able to find much information on Kyoto or Osaka. I therefore submit humbly to your guidance.

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance.

[prasantrin]

Here's some information I sent to someone else:

Unagi-restaurant name is Kaneyo.

It's  not on Sanjo-street, but It's on small street next to Sanjo-street.
and I suggest Japanese food restaurant Fumibunn It's on small street next to
Sanjo street between Ponto-chou and Kiyamachi.

I used to live in Kyoto and unfortunately, I never learned the names of restaurants. I just knew them by location. Having said that, there's a good katsu restaurant just around the corner from Daimaru department store. You grind your own sesame for the dipping sauce, and you get as much rice as you want. While I was in Kyoto a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that they had another branch on Sanjo Street (the west side, IIRC).

There's also a reasonably priced Japanese restaurant called "Mukade" just off Shijo Street. I recall getting a little kaiseki-style lunch for maybe Y5000? They have a nice gift shop, as well.

Along Shijo Street, between Shijo and Sanjo is an izakaya called Tengu. It's a chain, but the food is not bad. That was where I first had kabocha kurokke and fell in love .

In Gion I recently went to a restaurant that offered a fusion-style meal along with a chat with a geisha (a real one). I really enjoyed it, and it was interesting being able to talk with geisha and maiko. It wasn't expensive--I think about Y7000 for dinner. I know I have their brochure around somewhere, so I'll take a look for it and post again. If you'd like to see pictures of our dinner there, I have some up at my my webshots album.

I really wish I could give you better directions or be more specific with names but I just never paid much attention. I don't know as much about Osaka, as whenever I go there I tend to search out non-Japanese places. However, I do currently live in Nishinomiya (half-way between Kobe and Osaka) so if you're interested in meeting up just PM me. I usually have weekends free.

[chefwoody]

I don't know if you can make it to Hokkaido, but Michel Bras has a restaurant in the Windsor Hotel TOYA, in Toya which would DEFINITELY be worth the trip.

[torakris]

I don't know if you can make it to Hokkaido, but Michel Bras has a restaurant in the Windsor Hotel TOYA, in Toya which would DEFINITELY be worth the trip.

I just checked out the website fort his place:

http://www.windsor-h...glish/main.html

gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous!

[chefwoody]

His first shop just outside of Laguiole in France has a website that may explain his cuisine a bit more:

http://www.michel-bras.com

That's at the top of my list the next time I'm in France.

[smallworld]

I am heading to Japan as part of a group of 10 for 10 days in late June. While I have found a lot of information on Tokyo restaurants, I haven't been able to find much information on Kyoto or Osaka. I therefore submit humbly to your guidance.

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance.

I love the food of Osaka and consider the city to be a food lover's paradise. You'll eat very well there!

Osakans love food and love to indulge in "kuidaore" (pron. 'ku-ee-dah-oh-ray'). 'Kui' means eat, 'daore' means fall down, so the word literally means "eat 'till you drop"! 'Daore' also means to fall into debt, and there is a saying in Japan- "Kyoto kidaore, Osaka kuidaore". Which means that Kyotoites put themselves into debt by spending lavishly on clothes, whiles Osakans fall into debt by spending on food.

Basicly, to do kuidaore means to spend an evening (or entire night) with friends going from restaurant to street stall to restaurant- kind of like bar-hopping with but with food. This lets you try many different things, and is sure to leave you very full and very broke. The best place for kuidaore is the Minami area of Osaka, especially Dotonbori (you may have seen pictures of the area, with its neon and giant tacky attractions like a 6-metre long mechanical crab stuck on the side of a building).


Anyway, I know you asked for food info and not for a language lesson, but if you remember- and use- the word kuidaore you'll definitely increase your chances of finding good food.

So rather than recommend specific restaurants (Osakans are very picky about restaurants so places open and close really fast), I'll just advise you to tell your hotel staff or anyone else you mean that you want to do kuidaore and let them recommend you their favourite places.


Some foods to try in Osaka:

-Tako-yaki, little balls of octopus, cabbage and other stuff in batter, topped with bonito flakes and a special sauce. This is usually a street food.

-Okonomiyaki, sometimes compared to pancakes, sometimes to pizza, but unlike either. Batter with cabbage and other stuff is cooked on a griddle with pork and, like takoyaki, topped with bonito flakes and a sauce. Okonomiyaki shops usually feature tables with built-in griddles, and you cook it yourself- very fun!

-Ikayaki. Anywhere esle in Japan ikayaki is a grilled squid on a stick, here it's a thin okonomiyaki-like crepe with small chunks of squid, folded over a fried egg (I hope I'm describing this right, it's been ages since I've had it). A typical street food.

-Kushikatsu, which are small pork cutlets, skewered, breaded and deep-fried. Besides pork cutlests, kushikatsu places have a huge variety of things on sticks, like cheese, mochi, bacon-wrapped asparagus, shiitake, and dozens more. Most shops are tiny and all diners sit at the counter and watch the action. Diners share a dipping sauce, which is in a tup on the counter- there are usually signs all over the shop reminding you NOT to double-dip. Yow will also be served crispy pieces of raw cabbage to munch on between orders, which really are really refreshing amidst all the grease.
The drink of choice is draft beer, naturally.

-Yakiniku. Osaka is certainly not the only place in Japan with yakiniku (Korean BBQ), but there is a huge concentration of yakiniku shops in Osaka.

-Techiri, a nabe (hot-pot) with fugu (blowfish, pufferfish, globefish).

-Oshi-zushi, a kind of pressed sushi. Sushi rice is spread into a sheet, topped with shime-saba (marinated mackerel) or other fish, pressed together and cut into squares. 'Aburi-saba', lightly seared shime-sabe, seems to popular now- try it if you get the chance, it's my favourite!


I've likely forgotten lots so hopefully someone will jump in with more recommendations (or correct my explanations

[prasantrin]

Some of you may know Osho, a Japanese chain of Chinese restaurants. As I understand it Osho is quite unpopular in the Kanto area. It's cheap, divey and the food is very very greasy. However, in the Kansai area (where there are a number of universities and therefore poor university students) Osho thrives! A couple of weeks ago I noticed there was an Osho a train stop away from my apartment. Might I say, it's just as good as I remember Osho to be! The fried rice was suitably greasy, as was the fried chicken, and the gyoza was oh so good! Of course, with IBS I am now paying for eating all that grease. But it was worth the discomfort.

[Hiroyuki]

I just want to make sure:

Is is 王将 (Ohsho), ぎょうざの王将 (Gyoza No Ohsho), or something else?

[prasantrin]

I just want to make sure:

Is is 王将 (Ohsho), ぎょうざの王将 (Gyoza No Ohsho), or something else?

You're right with the kanji, and I would guess it's the gyoza no osho since IIRC they are supposed to be famous for their gyoza. My tummy is still bloated from all that grease.

[Hiroyuki]

Just to make sure, here is the website of Gyoza No Ohsho 餃子の王将:

http://www.ohsho.co.jp/contents.html

Gyoza No Ohsho reminds me of my university student years (early 1980s). I lived in Tokyo then, and Gyoza No Ohsho was attempting to extend their business to the Kanto area. I found their gyoza good and inexpensive. If I remember right, they were not so greasy, but that was more than two decades ago, and I can never be sure.

[prasantrin]

If you're willing to go to Okamoto, there's another place called Lupin that does Teppanyaki. She said there's a wide range of courses to choose from--the cheapest being about Y3000 or Y4000. She said the Y7000 course is a good value. It's in the same building as a handicraft shop called "Hand in Hand" (or something similar) but on the second floor. It's closer to Hankyu Okamoto Station, not JR (though it's still relatively close to JR Okamoto Station, too).

I haven't yet received any additional information from my sources, but I wanted to mention that I ate at Lapin today. It is a relatively small teppanyaki place--seats maybe 18-20. I had the Y2000 lunch, which included a tiny cup of pumpkin soup (a beautiful tiny cup, that is), small salad, 80 g beef filet with two dipping sauces, tiny serving of grilled yamaimo, carrot, peas, and bean sprouts, rice, tsukemono, tiny miso soup, wine jelly for dessert, and tea. While all the servings seemed small, I was quite full by the end of the meal (even before I finished, actually) and they were so beautifully presented that the smallness seemed appropriate. The beef I had was not wagyu, but I got a copy of the menu and they do have wagyu at dinnertime.

The wagyu set choices are:

Y4400 for 100g sirloin steak--70g for Y3550 (all sets include everything I mentioned I had in my lunch set)

Y4950 for 100 g filet steak (70g for Y3950)

Y5450 for 100g sirloin plus some kind of shellfish or some kind of grilled fish (maybe--my kanji reading is not so great) in addition to the rest of the set (70g for Y4650)

Y7000 for 100g filet steak plus shellfish and grilled fish in addition to the rest of the set (70g for Y6000)

Personally, I think with all the other food served the 70g portion would be fine.

They have a website here . I can also fax you the menu I have (which includes a map) if you're interested. Just pm me with your fax number. The restaurant is also very close to both Hankyu Okamoto and JR ...tsumotoyama (I don't remember the name and I can't read the first kanji). Maybe 5 minutes from either, at the most. They also had a couple of toddler-chairs for little ones so I'm guessing they're child friendly there. The staff (all three of them, including the owner/chef) were all quite nice, actually.

If I were to go again (which I'm certain I will--I liked it that much ) I would get matcha instead of tea, though. You have a choice--kocha, matcha, coffee, or iced tea. The matcha comes with a tiny okashi. Yum!

Oh, and I loved the washroom. It was beautiful!

I'll try out that place in the Oriental Hotel someone else mentioned, next. Not sure when I'll get to it, but it sure it fun trying!

BTW, this may not be the right place for this, but could this particular thread be pulled back out? I understand why all the Kansai stuff was merged, but I sort of feel this particular topic is a bit different because it asks about a specific type of food. Might be easier for people (including the original poster) to find replies.

[Yuki]

It seems like many of the restaurants mentioned in this thread are close on Monday...... better plan my schedule according to that.

Is the legal drinking age in Japan 18?

What should I eat in Kobe other than the beef? What restaurant or cafe(I love pastry) would you recommend in Kobe or Osaka.

[torakris]

It seems like many of the restaurants mentioned in this thread are close on Monday...... better plan my schedule according to that.

Is the legal drinking age in Japan 18?

What should I eat in Kobe other than the beef? What restaurant or cafe(I love pastry) would you recommend in Kobe or Osaka.

legal drinking age is 20

Many restaurants are closed one day of the week, normally on a weekday, it is always best to check before you go.

[prasantrin]

It seems like many of the restaurants mentioned in this thread are close on Monday...... better plan my schedule according to that.

Is the legal drinking age in Japan 18?

What should I eat in Kobe other than the beef? What restaurant or cafe(I love pastry) would you recommend in Kobe or Osaka.

In Kobe I would also eat Akashiyaki. It's different from Takoyaki in that the batter part is lighter and seems more eggy to me. You put sauce on yourself, and you dip it in dashi. For some reason, I prefer Akashiyaki to Takoyaki, though I have no particular reason why.

Also, there is a great cake shop called Heidi. The main shop is in Oji, but they have branches around Kobe. I know in Sannomiya they have an outlet at Sogo Department store, but I think you can only buy the cakes there, not eat in.

In Sannomiya, my favourite tea shop is Mariage Freres. Sure it's a French tea shop (the oldest in France, if I remember correctly) but I just love going there. Their tarts are OK (beautiful, but I don't think the flavour is as good as some other places) but the tea is out of this world. I love Bolero--it's my favourite iced.

If you're in the Sannomiya/Motomachi area, head for the BAL building (where Virgin Records Megastore is). Mariage Freres is on the 2nd floor of that building, and my favourite akashiyaki place is just across the covered street (and a little further down, I think). I can't remember its name, but it has blue noren (those cloth hanging things--what are they called?).

If you're up to the company of strangers, you can always PM me and I'd be happy to take you around! I'm not as familiar with Sannomiya as I used to be, but I can usually find a few things.

[Yuki]

It seems like many of the restaurants mentioned in this thread are close on Monday...... better plan my schedule according to that.

Is the legal drinking age in Japan 18?

What should I eat in Kobe other than the beef? What restaurant or cafe(I love pastry) would you recommend in Kobe or Osaka.

In Kobe I would also eat Akashiyaki. It's different from Takoyaki in that the batter part is lighter and seems more eggy to me. You put sauce on yourself, and you dip it in dashi. For some reason, I prefer Akashiyaki to Takoyaki, though I have no particular reason why.

Also, there is a great cake shop called Heidi. The main shop is in Oji, but they have branches around Kobe. I know in Sannomiya they have an outlet at Sogo Department store, but I think you can only buy the cakes there, not eat in.

In Sannomiya, my favourite tea shop is Mariage Freres. Sure it's a French tea shop (the oldest in France, if I remember correctly) but I just love going there. Their tarts are OK (beautiful, but I don't think the flavour is as good as some other places) but the tea is out of this world. I love Bolero--it's my favourite iced.

If you're in the Sannomiya/Motomachi area, head for the BAL building (where Virgin Records Megastore is). Mariage Freres is on the 2nd floor of that building, and my favourite akashiyaki place is just across the covered street (and a little further down, I think). I can't remember its name, but it has blue noren (those cloth hanging things--what are they called?).

If you're up to the company of strangers, you can always PM me and I'd be happy to take you around! I'm not as familiar with Sannomiya as I used to be, but I can usually find a few things.

Thanks for the suggestion and offer!! I will be going with my sister and she is planing most of the trip, the only input I get is where to go eat.

Even if it is just take out cake, I could always use some fat in my midnight snack. Going to gain so much weight this summer. I love going to Japan department store at night to look for midnight snack.......

[Muffin210]

Houseberg and I are headed to Japan next month -- Oct 10-18, to be exact -- staying in the Kansai region. I saw this thread and noticed it hadn't had any action recently...any new recommendations for travellers in this area?

We will be in Osaka for two nights (10/10 and 10/11) and hope to try the local udon and okonomiyaki that seems to be so highly recommended...

One night up on Koya-san (10/12) -- (guess we'll eat whatever vegetarian food the temple provides us -- what should we expect as far as Buddhist temple meals?)...

Four nights in Kyoto (10/13-10/16) -- the first in a traditional ryokan that serves meals, but the other three nights we're on our own and up for anything...

The last night (10/17) who knows where...maybe Kobe or Nara? -- something not too far from KIX, since we have to catch a flight the next day.

Would love any further food/restaurant recommendations, and of course, if anyone in the area wants to get together for a mini eGullet dinner in Kyoto when we're there, that would be a lot of fun for us!