Menbaka is famous for its signature dish, a literal fiery bowl of noodles (seriously, it’s on FIRE). A Kyoto ramen shop popular with the locals, they offer a fantastic variety of dishes catering to all kinds of ramen-lovers, including non-meat options for vegetarians! So, what exactly is “Kyoto fire ramen?” How does it taste? We set out to discover just that.

Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya is one of 27 Starbucks Regional Landmark Stores conveying local history, traditional crafts, and ancient culture. Instead of demolishing local buildings to make way, this Starbucks blends flawlessly into its quaint Kyoto surroundings.

Best of all, it’s situated on the beautiful Ninenzaka pathway leading to the world heritage Kiyomizu-dera Temple! So feel free to grab a guilt-free Starbucks during your Kyoto escapades!

Tecchiri is one of Osaka’s most famous (and controversial) specialty dishes. A hot-pot of boiled fugu (blowfish) in a broth flavored with ponzu vinegar, this dish is the reason behind Osaka’s exponential fugu consumption - the highest in all of Japan!

However, due to the common belief that fugu is poisonous and dangerous to eat, many are afraid to try this dish. Here to dispel misconceptions is Mai, a Spanish woman in Japan seeking to document her first fugu experience. Check out what she thought of this fascinating dish below!

Kyoto’s Gion area is full of sweet shops and cafés offering a quick escape from a busy day of sightseeing. Many of the most popular desserts here use Japanese matcha (green tea powder), often procured from Kyoto’s legendary green tea city of Uji. The resulting sweets are fragrant and delicate, perfectly encapsulating Kyoto’s elegance.

Here are five select Gion cafés you will definitely want to stop-by. While you may have to stand in line to enter, these delightful treats are well worth the wait!

One of the worst things about visiting Japan is the wait until your next trip! This melancholy can often be quelled by cooking Japanese food, practicing origami, or even learning the language.

In our case, despite living in Japan, the coronavirus outbreak means we can’t go anywhere! To prevent us from going stir crazy, we put together our own Nagashi Somen, the famous sliding bamboo noodles. We compiled our experiment into an easy-to-understand guide, so you too can enjoy this quirky creation from your backyard!

Honke Owariya, one of Kyoto's leading soba restaurants, was founded in 1465. Despite this unbelievably ancient history, it retains an unpretentious and casual atmosphere welcoming visitors from all walks of life. Step through its doors, and you'll find unique Kyoto soba dishes unavailable anywhere else! Learn more about this ancient culinary treasure here!

Cat lovers rejoice! Japan has one-upped itself again with a gorgeous Kyoto cat bread, and we got our paws on it!

After the success of their cat-shaped bread and sweets, the All Hearts Company has established a new bakery: Kyoto Neko Neko. The bakery opened in June 2020 and specializes in high-quality cat-shaped bread and other neko-related tasty treats! Get your daily dose of kawaii here!

Osaka sushi lover? Then make a beeline for Nipponbashi, also known as ‘Osaka's Kitchen!’

Matakoiya, one of Nipponbashi's most prominent tuna stores, is a particular highlight boasting legions of fans! With loads of mega-sized tuna dishes, this shop is ideal for fish-lovers looking to super-size. Get ready for your mouth to water as we introduce our favorite Matakoiya dishes!

The elegant Ura Namba is one of Osaka’s most popular gourmand hunting grounds. Despite its classy reputation, bargain-hunters can find ample joints offering cheap yet delicious meals to help balance the budget.

The highlight of these is the super-sized ramen shop, Handmade Futomen Dokamori Macho Namba Sennichimae. Fans of ramen have either already been or are dreaming of going, and lines of hungry patrons extend late into the night. If you're in Osaka and craving ramen, this is the place to check out!

Osakans are known for their uncanny ability to sniff out good food for a reasonable price! And in Osaka, the larger the portion, the better.

During our searches to find the best value in Osaka, we kept coming across Grill Ijinkan. Upon checking their website, we were shocked to see images of massive beef bowls for an unbelievably generous price! But is the real thing as large as the photos? We skipped lunch to save room for the beef bowl everyone’s been talking about!

While all of Japan brims with unique and delectable dishes, if you’re serious about getting the best food (and in the largest sizes), then Kansai should be on your itinerary! From lustrous seafood, gigantic beef bowls, and elegant matcha desserts, from Kobe to Kyoto, your gourmet adventure awaits in Kansai!