Kyoto cuisine uses plenty of old Japanese ingredients, such as tofu, matcha, bracken starch, and kudzu. It also has plenty of preserved fish, such as dried herrings and salt-pickled mackerel, a fitting trait for a land-locked city.

As for sushi, there are mackerel and pickled sushi, enjoyable for their unusual appearances. Another classic dining style is kaiseki, which includes various foods that change with the season and truly has an air of Japanese tradition. The cuisine also makes use of kombu and dashi.

Though it costs more and takes longer than other foods, Kyoto cuisine is definitely worth experiencing. There are also tasty Japanese desserts out there, such as bracken starch mochi, kudzu noodles, and matcha parfaits.

Tofu is made from soy beans and water. Kyoto, with its high-quality groundwater, has been a popular site of tofu-making for over 150 years. That being the case, Yudofu, tofu warmed in kombu broth and eaten with soy sauce, is one of Kyoto's representational dishes. It's a classic dish in temples, where monks eat vegetables instead of meat, so there are plenty of yudofu restaurants around them.

Most establishments have sesame yudofu and tempura in a set, available for 3,000 to 4,000 yen. Many are also based in mansions with beautiful gardens, allowing you to truly experience Kyoto while you eat.

When it comes to Kyoto’s cuisine, nothing is more iconic than kaiseki. These elegant course meals feature sashimi, grilled, fried, and simmered dishes, along with soup, rice, and dessert, each served individually with great attention to presentation and seasonal ingredients.

Kaiseki is said to have originated as light meals served before tea ceremonies, but over time, the number of dishes grew and the visual artistry became even more refined.

At night, kaiseki courses typically start around 10,000 yen, while lunch courses are more accessible at around 3,000 to 5,000 yen. Most restaurants require reservations, so be sure to check with your hotel or an information desk before visiting.

Lunch usually takes about an hour and a half, while dinner stretches to about two hours—offering a graceful and unforgettable way to experience Japanese cuisine during your trip.

Nishin soba is a classic Kyoto dish featuring sweetly simmered herring served over warm soba noodles. It became popular because herring preserved well at a time when Kyoto, far inland, couldn't easily receive fresh seafood.

For over 150 years, Nishin soba has been a signature of Kyoto’s culinary scene. Many are surprised by the sheer size of the herring, and its tender meat and sweet flavor blend beautifully with the broth to create an unforgettable dish.

Much like Nishin soba, salted mackerel was once a valuable preserved food in Kyoto, leading to the creation of mackerel sushi. Without modern cooling or transportation, mackerel was carried in from Fukui along what is still known today as the Saba Kaido, or Mackerel Road.

Chefs would pickle the mackerel in vinegar and pair it with vinegar-seasoned rice to make this unique sushi. The rich, thick mackerel meat blends perfectly with the tangy rice, and topping it with kombu adds an even deeper layer of flavor.

Japan has long enjoyed tsukemono, vegetables pickled with salt, vinegar, and sometimes sugar. Kyoto is especially known for its wide variety, but since they need refrigeration, they can be difficult to buy while traveling.

That’s where tsukemono sushi comes in—replacing fish with pickled vegetables for a fresh take that's been gaining popularity. Many veteran pickling shops now offer it, delivering excellent flavor and colorful presentations that are perfect for social media.

Warabi mochi is a chewy, addictive treat. While cheap versions use tapioca or potato starch, Kyoto’s warabi mochi is made with real bracken starch flour, giving it a uniquely soft texture and flavor, topped with kinako or brown sugar syrup—and sometimes filled with red bean paste.

In summer, warabi mochi appears in convenience stores and supermarkets, but the ones crafted by Kyoto’s experts are on another level. If you want to experience the true taste, be sure to try it in Kyoto!

Kuzukiri, a popular Kyoto sweet, is made by dissolving kudzu root powder in water, molding it, heating it into a solid, and then cutting it into fine noodle-like strands. It's usually enjoyed with a drizzle of brown sugar syrup.

The transparent "noodles" give kuzukiri a cool, refreshing image that's perfect for summer, though you can find it year-round in Kyoto. With its smooth, refreshing texture as it slips through the mouth and throat, it’s definitely a treat worth trying.

If there’s one type of sweet that truly feels Japanese, it’s anything made with matcha. Among the many options, the increasingly popular matcha parfait stands out, with Kyoto’s Uji City supplying the region with plenty of high-quality matcha.

These parfaits are often topped with extras like jelly, cream, castella, bavarois, and more alongside the ice cream. They’re a must-try treat you won’t want to miss when visiting Kyoto.

What exactly is "kyoyasai," a term you’ll often spot on restaurant signboards throughout Kyoto? Kyoyasai, meaning "Kyoto vegetables," refers to produce officially recognized by Kyoto’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as being grown and harvested within Kyoto itself.

There’s a bit of history behind it: in ancient times, eating animal meat was prohibited in Kyoto, and seafood was scarce since much of the prefecture is inland. Vegetables became a vital food source, a tradition that continues today.

Thanks to Kyoto’s ideal terrain, climate, and clean water, these vegetables are known for their exceptional freshness and nutrition.

Famous examples include Kamonasu eggplants, Mibuna greens, Kujo green onions, and Manganji peppers—local treasures you’ll want to seek out and savor during your visit to this historic city.

Kyoto is a battlefield of top-class noodle cuisine because of the excellent quality of the water here, which naturally results in the production of excellent noodles. These noodles are then used in tasty clear broth ramen like duck and chicken paitan (white soup) or rich and fragrant ones like tonkotsu (pork broth).

Familiar international brands such as Ichiran and Ippudo can also be easily found along the streets of Kyoto. If ramen's not your thing, there's always udon! Yamamoto Menzo and Hinode Udon are a couple of more well-known restaurants you can consider trying when visiting the city.

Just trying to cover the noodle shops here alone is more than enough to keep your tongue and tummy occupied for a few good days.

Of course, noodles aren't everything Kyoto has to offer in terms of local specialties, but the best way to experience the city's delicacies is still to make a trip down yourself.

In fact, here are a few must-try restaurants sorted by vicinity for easier planning, including popular areas like Kyoto Station, Kiyomizudera, Gion's Hanamikoji Street, and of course, tourist favorite Arashiyama. Let's see how we can "eat" our way through this vibrant and charming city!

The first stop most visitors make on their Kyoto trip is likely Kyoto Station. This major transport hub is a massive interchange served by Shinkansen bullet trains, JR lines, Kintetsu lines, Kyoto Municipal Subway, and multiple bus services that travel to and fro the city from various places of interest.

Needless to mention, access to other major cities like Osaka and Nara from this station is very convenient as well. There are so many restaurants in and around Kyoto Station that you never have to worry about running out of places to forage for tasty tidbits.

The station is also directly connected to Isetan, a popular department store. For meals, there are options like tonkatsu (pork cutlet rice), sukiyaki (hotpot), ramen, sushi, and Osaka okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter).

For dessert, definitely try any one of the matcha desserts or crepes available in one of the cafes here during your shopping breaks.

One plus point of the shops located here is that some of them open early and close late, all the way until after 10 p.m., making it especially easy to work an early morning or late-night snack into your itinerary without too much hassle.

Recommended Restaurants
・Yakiniku (Grilled Meat)

・Izakaya (Japanese-style pub)

・Soba / Udon

The latest and tastiest around Kyoto Station

・BAIKAL / Kyoto Station Underground Street Porta West Zone
Located in the west zone of Kyoto Station Underground Street Porta, BAIKAL is a branch of a long-established French confectionery shop that first made its name in Shimogamo, Kyoto in 1955. Signature treats include adorable cream puffs made with Kogyoku apples and special yogurt cheese tarts available only at this location—perfect for a tasty snack when you're feeling peckish!

Gion is home to many of Kyoto’s most famous attractions, including Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Yasui Konpiragu, and the Kamo River. Once an entertainment district where geisha and maiko hosted guests with food and performances, it's no surprise that Gion has a high concentration of premium traditional restaurants offering multi-course meals like kappo (prepared in an open kitchen) and kaiseki (prepared in a private kitchen), with many boasting Michelin stars.

Meals here are presented like art and continue to attract plenty of patrons despite their high price. For those on a budget, the eateries and cafés around Hanamikoji offer satisfying options too, including Kyoto’s famous tempura, udon, and matcha desserts.

Recommended Restaurants
・Kaiseki

・Traditional Cuisine / Kappo

・Yakiniku / Steak

・Fugu / Crab / Seafood

Covering the area around Karasuma Station and Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Railway, as well as Shijo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway, this highly accessible district is served by multiple railway lines and public buses. As one of Kyoto’s hottest downtown hubs, it’s packed with hotels, department stores, restaurants, and countless other shops of interest.

The fierce competition among eateries here means the food quality is consistently top-notch. Big-name spots for sit-down meals include Men-ya Inoichi, Ichiran Ramen, Sushizanmai, and Nadai Katsukura, while takeout options like Qu'il Fait Bon and BAKE CHEESE TART satisfy sweet cravings.

Nishiki Market, famous for its fabulous food and food-related goods, is also located here, making it a paradise for adventurous foodies with a keen sense of smell.

Recommended Restaurants
・Yakiniku / Steak

・Kyoto / Kaiseki Cuisine

・Crab / Seafood

・Others

The Latest and Tastiest Around Shijo / Karasuma / Kawaramachi

・The City Bakery - Kyoto Nishikikoji
This New York bakery sits in an alleyway next to Nishiki Market, operating from a beautifully renovated old Japanese warehouse that preserves the building’s historic charm while offering a comfortable, refined atmosphere.

The menu is just as inviting, featuring Kyoto-style coffee, desserts, and other goodies. One highlight exclusive to the Nishikikoji branch is the Marshmallow Monaka—a crispy monaka wafer stuffed with fluffy cotton candy, available in matcha lemon or dark chocolate with nuts.

This unique blend of Japanese and Western confectionery is definitely worth a bite or two!

Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, near Kiyomizudera, are historic streets lined with old townhouses and restaurants set in renovated homes from a bygone era. Culinary treasures here include Japanese-style desserts like zenzai (sweet red bean soup) and matcha sundaes.

You’ll also find charming cafés with a view, such as Starbucks Coffee at Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya, a typical Starbucks in an atypical, beautifully preserved Japanese-style setting. Hidden in side alleys and along the old buildings by the Kamo River are established eateries and kaiseki restaurants offering premium dining experiences if you feel like indulging.

Slip into a kimono and stroll these historic streets—you’ll blend right in while searching for the perfect teahouse or restaurant, fully immersing yourself in Kyoto’s rich cultural atmosphere.

Recommended Restaurants
・Yakiniku

・Sweets

The Latest and Tastiest in Kiyomizudera

・Kumonocha / Sannenzaka
This traditional Japanese café on Sannenzaka features a warm, modern Japanese design, accented with beautiful wooden touches.

Be sure to try their matcha latte topped with a cloud-shaped mousse—it looks just as good as it tastes! The shop also sells tea bag packs wrapped in colorful furoshiki (traditional Japanese cloth), making for distinctive souvenirs that capture the spirit of Kyoto.

Attractions in Arashiyama include the beautiful Arashiyama bamboo forest, the impressive Togetsu-kyo Bridge, and the Sagano Romantic Train. Plenty of kimono experience shops here allow visitors to rent a beautiful traditional Japanese garb for photo-taking sessions with Arashiyama's amazing sceneries. This popular tourist attraction is easily accessible on three train lines, namely: Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Lines, Hankyu Arashiyama Station on the Hankyu Railway, and Arashiyama Station on the Keifuku Electric Railroad. There is a wide selection of sumptuous food in the area as well. Everywhere you turn, there will be a restaurant or two serving signature Kyoto food such as tofu cuisine. Drop by Yojiya Cafe, % Arabica, or other cafes with equally trendy decors to enjoy a relaxing cup of your favorite beverage in glamorous pleasure. Look out for shops selling soft-serve matcha ice cream or other Japanese confectionery as well! Whether you're trying to find a place for a proper meal, an after-meal dessert, or high tea, the streets of Arashiyama have got you covered and then some!

Recommended Restaurants
・Kaiseki cuisine

・Desserts / Cafes

The Latest and Tastiest in Arashiyama

・kyocafe chacha Arashiyama
You may know kyocafe chacha as the creator of the waffle popsicle that once took social media by storm. Their café in Arashiyama remains a popular spot, drawing visitors eager to snap photos of its beautifully presented dishes.

Alongside the famous waffle popsicle, the Arashiyama location also offers a shop-exclusive Uji matcha ice cream waffle. It’s the perfect place to take a break between sightseeing stops—and to capture some unforgettable photos.