Along with popular sightseeing attractions, there is a diversity of restaurants you will discover in Kyoto. Here's a selection of 15 dining establishments, including steak houses and teppanyaki (ingredients grilled on an iron griddle) restaurants, that offer delicious steak dishes around this former capital.
1. Roast Beef no Mise Watanabe
Higashiyama Garden is located along 'Matsubara-dori' in Higashiyama, the ancient capital of Kyoto, near Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The restaurant honors the clean and beautiful flavors of Kyoto's unique ingredients, such as Kyoto vegetables from Kamigamo, seafood from nearby fishing ports, and Japanese beef. It offers dishes prepared with a modern sensibility while paying attention to the beauty of color and presentation, delivering a sense of happiness in the face of deliciousness.
Roast Beef no Mise Watanabe
Open:
[Wednesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm *Last Entry 1:00 pm, [Tuesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm *Last Entry 7:30 pmClosed:
MondayAverage price:
[Dinner] 12,000 JPY / [Lunch] 12,000 JPYAccess:
Approximately 5-minute by taxi from Kokusaikaikan Station, 5-minute walk from Nishihataeda (Entsuji-mae) Bus Stop on the Kyoto BusAddress:
100-1, Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto MapMore Details Reservation 2. Kitano Tenmangu Niku to Niwa MATSUO
MATSUO is a restaurant run by a Kyoto-born couple, offering creative cuisine made with local ingredients. Its signature "Wagyu Don Set" features Japanese black beef with three portion choices, accompanied by Kyoto pickles and beef stew. The restaurant also offers seasonal local sake and Kyoto beer. With counter seating overlooking a garden, it’s ideal for anniversaries, business meetings, and other occasions. Located just a 3-minute walk from Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, MATSUO is perfect for locals and visitors alike.
Kitano Tenmangu Niku to Niwa MATSUO
Open:
[Monday, Thursday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / [Friday-Sunday] Dinner 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)Closed:
Tuesday, WednesdayAverage price:
[Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPYAccess:
3-minute walk east from the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine / Head north on Higashi-Imakoji street, and you'll find the restaurantAddress:
744-15, Higashi Imakoji-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto MapMore Details Reservation
3. Higashiyama Garden
Higashiyama Garden, located along Matsubara-dori in the historic Higashiyama area near Kiyomizu-dera Temple, celebrates the pure and beautiful flavors of Kyoto. It features local ingredients, such as vegetables from Kamigamo, fresh seafood from nearby fishing ports, and Japanese beef. The restaurant offers modern dishes crafted with an eye for color and presentation, providing an experience that blends visual delight with culinary satisfaction. It creates a sense of happiness through the enjoyment of exquisite, well-prepared meals.
Higashiyama Garden
Open:
[Wednesday-Sunday] Dinner from 4:00 pm (L.O. 7:30 pm)Closed:
Monday, TuesdayAverage price:
[Dinner] 6,000 JPYAccess:
20 minutes from JR Kyoto Station City Bus Terminal on Route D-1 #100 or Route D-2 #206 / 5 minutes walk from Kiyomizu-michi stopAddress:
4-166, Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto MapMore Details Reservation
4. Gion Kankanderi Rei
Gion Kankanderi Rei is a refined restaurant nestled in the elegant streets of Gion, Kyoto. With 30 years of experience in Japanese cuisine, the chef blends Japanese, teppanyaki, and Korean influences using local Kyoto ingredients such as Kyoto pork, Tamba chicken, Kyoto duck, and seasonal fish, all carefully prepared with a nutritionist’s touch. The restaurant offers a luxurious experience in a space unique to Gion, with counter, table, tatami room, and private room seating. Overlooking the scenic Tatsumi Bridge, guests can enjoy an unforgettable meal accompanied by the beauty of Gion’s traditional atmosphere.
Gion Kankanderi Rei
Open:
[Monday-Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / [Monday-Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm) / [Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)Closed:
NoneAverage price:
[Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPYAccess:
11-minute walk from Exit 1A of Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on Hankyu Kyoto Main Line / 6-minute walk form Exit 9 of Gion-shijo Station on Keihan Main LinAddress:
1-2F, Nikoto Bldg., 2-391, Hashimoto-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto MapMore Details Reservation
5. Niku Kappo Futago THE JUNEI HOTEL KYOTO
Niku Kappo Futago offers exquisite meat kappo courses that highlight the unique flavors of rare Kyoto beef and showcase the essence of Japanese cuisine. Combining various cuts of Kyoto beef with expert culinary techniques, the restaurant delivers the finest ingredients prepared by top chefs for a luxurious dining experience. With refined hospitality, guests are invited to savor Wagyu beef and seasonal ingredients at their best. For special occasions like weddings and anniversaries, customized menus are available to ensure a memorable and unforgettable experience.
Niku Kappo Futago THE JUNEI HOTEL KYOTO
Open:
[Weekdays, Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Last Entry 8:00 pm, Drink L.O. 9:30 pm) *Please note that business hours and service content (alcoholic beverages, etc.) may be temporarily changed or suspended under Kyoto Prefecture's request for shorter work hours.Closed:
NoneAverage price:
[Dinner] 16,000 JPYAccess:
3-minute walk from Shichijo StationAddress:
1F, THE JUNEI HOTEL KYOTO, 4-139, Honmachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto MapMore Details Reservation
6. Le Steak Frites Gaspard zinzin (Karasuma)
This restaurant resembles a Parisian bistro with its brick walls and wooden chairs. Enjoy the French style steaks at this restaurant. The meats are cooked when they are in their best condition, and after being grilled over wire grills, they are left to rest to achieve the perfect temperature. As a result, the moment you take a bite of your steak, the meat juices will explode into your mouth! Dishes not to be missed are the [Steak Fries], made with organic potatoes, and their [Premium Dinner], a meat platter.
Le Steak Frites Gaspard zinzin
Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm ( L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner: 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk to north from Hankyu Karasuma Station, or from the exit 21 of Subway Shijo Station.
Address: B1F, Shijo Karasuma Star Bldg., 650, Karasuma-dori Takoyakushi Sagaru Tearaimizu-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
7. Plancha Ken (Gion-shijo)
Plancha Ken is a teppanyaki restaurant managed by the former head chef of the long-established Kyoto Hotel Okura. It is a hidden spot in Gion where you can taste top-quality steak made only with Wagyu beef that’s been expertly selected by the chef, regardless of its grade. The chic and calm space allows you to leisurely savor the restaurant’s course meals, such as the [Higashiyama Course] that features Kuroge Wagyu sirloin steak or the [Gion Course] that comes with Wagyu steak as the main dish, as well as fresh lobster that is kept alive until it is to be cooked.
Plancha Ken
Open:
[Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) We open also on Monday when it is a holiday.Closed:
MondayAverage price:
[Dinner] 8,000 JPYAccess:
5 minutes walk from Exit 7 of Gion Shijo Station. Enter the corner of No.16-koji, Hanami-koji Tominaga-cho Higashi-iru, immediately after entering the small alley at a tobacco shop Address:
1F, Ota Bldg., 282-3, Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto MapMore Details 8. Gion Hana Usagi (Gion-shijo)
Here, you can enjoy teppanyaki and other Japanese dishes. The sophisticated interior is resplendent and gorgeous, with a Japanese design that perfectly reflects Kyoto. For their [Kuroge Wagyu Sirloin], they make sure to get the best-quality beef, regardless of where it had been raised. This dish get full marks both for the portion size and taste. The top-selling [Gion Course] consists of Kuroge Wagyu fillet steak, Wagyu nigiri sushi, soup made with seasonal vegetables, and grilled vegetables. If you're lucky, you may even be able to meet a genuine maiko (apprentice geisha) there!
Gion Hana Usagi
Open:
[Weekdays, Saturday, Day Before Holidays] 5:30 pm - 3:00 amClosed:
IrregularAverage price:
[Dinner] 6,000 JPYAccess:
From Yasaka Shrine, take the street south of Gion Kaikan and head west for 20m. It's a 2-minute walk.Address:
1F, Dojo Bldg., 290-6, Gion-machi Kitagawa, Hanamikoji Tominaga Higashi-iru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
9. TENTATION (Sanjo Keihan)
This hidden bistro is known to be frequented even by top-class chefs. It lets you enjoy authentic dishes, created by a chef who had worked in a famous French restaurant, in a casual, cafe-like setting. Aside from the regular meat varieties, which are beef, pork, and chicken, they also offer duck, lamb, and at times, wild boar and venison. Their must-try [Kyoto A5 Rank Sirloin Steak], made with domestic beef, is a wonderful culinary treat for the superior quality of its fat. While exploring their rich selection of meat, you can also delight in their wines from various parts of the world.
TENTATION
Open:
[Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm) Open at year-end and new year periods (Closed at 11:00 pm)Closed:
WednesdayAverage price:
[Dinner] 4,000 JPYAccess:
Go 2 blocks north from the intersection at Sanjyo Kiyamachi and pass the small bridge over Takasegawa river. Located on the 3rd floor of the building at the south end. Address:
3F, 534-31, Ebisu-cho, Nakagyoy-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
10. Wine and Meat Daisen (Kyoto)
Just a 7-minute walk from Kyoto Station, this relaxing bar on the first floor of a hotel will make you forget the city hustle and bustle. They whip up Italian dishes that make full use of the ingredients’ flavors. Their bestseller is the [Char-Grilled Kyoto Hime Beef Rump]. Diners will get to enjoy the tender lean meat and the tastiness of the fat. The dish is a culinary masterpiece; the beef is served with a sauce of red wine, soy sauce, Maldon sea salt from France, and Ikkuji natto (fermented soybeans) from Uji City. In addition to the rump, they also use the other parts of this Kyoto breed of cow, such as the ribeye, top sirloin cap, and top blade.
Wine and Meat Daisen
Open:
[Weekdays, Saturday] 5:30 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)Closed:
SundayAverage price:
[Dinner] 4,000 JPYAccess:
7 minutes walk from Kyoto station no.1 exit on JR Tokaido Main Line. Located at the west of Nishi-Honganji temple. Address:
58, Shokuya-cho, Akezu-dori Shomen-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
11. Bunrin Steak House (Fujinomori)
Bunrin stands in Okamedani, a quiet and sophisticated part of Fushimi Ward in Kyoto. Not only do guests get to enjoy Japan’s unique culture through things like taking off their shoes at the entrance of the restaurant, but they also get to savor steaks made from carefully selected Wagyu and French dishes made with seasonal vegetables grown by the restaurant staff. Aside from the Wagyu steak, another popular dish is the [Bunrin Beef Curry] that brings out the deliciousness of the beef. Make sure not to miss this place when you visit Kyoto!
Bunrin Steak House
Open:
17:00 - 22:00 (last order 22:00) / Lunch 12:00 - 14:00 (last order 14:00)Closed:
Every Monday (except holidays)Average price:
[Dinner] 7,500 JPYAccess: 8 minutes walk from Fujimori Station on the Nara Line
Address: 85 Oyama-cho, Daikamedani, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
MapMore Details 12. Citron Ble (Karasuma)
The charming appearance of Citron Ble will remind you of a French bistro. The different kinds of chairs are antique European pieces that were brought by the chef from France. The chef, who had trained in a long-established restaurant specializing in aged meat from France, uses his expertise in creating his steak made with aged meat. The dish is a culinary delight that will satiate meat lovers. Their [Rump Steak] is made only with carefully selected aged meat, so you get to taste the natural, delicious flavor of the meat. They also have 70 kinds of wines, focusing on those that are produced locally and made only from domestically grown grapes.
Citron Ble
Open: Lunch 12:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 2F North, 285, Misayama-cho, Higashi Notoin-agaru, Takoyakushi, Nagakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
13. Kyoto FOOD HUB & LABO (Jujo)
This bar provides a stylish space like those in New York. It is a new hangout where you can taste Italian cuisine filled with the chef’s innovative ideas that are prepared with carefully chosen ingredients and cooking methods. Their [US Beef T-Bone Steak] is splendidly grilled over firewood, a rarity in most restaurants. With this simple method, the great flavor and fragrance of the meat are released. It is voluminous, so it is good for sharing with others.
Kyoto FOOD HUB & LABO
Open: [Tuesday - Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
[Sunday] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Monday, 3rd Tuesday of the month
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 57-3, Minami Kawabe-cho, Higashi Kujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
14. Lodgepole (Nagitsuji)
Lodgepole is an American restaurant and coffee shop that stands in a residential area of Kyoto. Its chef, who has lived in the USA, faithfully reproduces authentic American flavors. The interior looks exactly like the bistros you’d find in America. If there's something you have to try in Lodgepole, it's got to be their original [Bourbon Steak], which comes highly recommended by the chef. Using meat from the U.S., they take the lean part from the strip loin and stew it with bourbon, giving it a sweet flavor. When you're done with your meal, have an aromatic cup of coffee made with their espresso machine from Italy.
Lodgepole
Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, and National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 3:30 pm), Tea Time 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
[Weekends, National Holidays] Breakfast 9:00 am - 11:00 am (L.O. 11:00 am)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 9-1, Kusakaido-cho, Nagitsuji, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
15. YOSHIYA (Karasuma Oike)
YOSHIYA is a teppanyaki restaurant offering Kuroge Wagyu and Kyo-Yasai (traditional vegetables from Kyoto) dishes that you can enjoy with all your senses. The head chef himself carefully chooses these ingredients. Once you pass through its impressive entranceway, a quiet and tranquil space welcomes you. It has horigotatsu (sunken kotatsu tables) seating so that you can spend a relaxing time with your family and friends. From tender and delicate fillet to juicy grilled sirloin, enjoy the original cuisine prepared by the chef whose expertise is on seafood and Italian dishes.
YOSHIYA
Open:
[Sunday - Tuesday,Thursday - Saturday,Holidays,Day Before Holidays] Dinner 17:30 - 22:30 (last order 21:30)[Monday,Tuesday,Thursday - Saturday,Holidays] Lunch 11:30 - 14:30 (last order 13:30)Closed:
* Temporary closure * Opens only for dinner on 4/3, 10 and 5/1. * Closed from 5/7 to 10.Average price:
[Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPYAccess: 5 minutes wak from Karasuma Oike Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line
Address: 1F-A, Charmeuse Nijo Takakura, 59 Matsuya-cho, Nijo-dori Takakura-nishiiru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
From steak houses that are on par with the best ones to elegant Japanese-style teppanyaki restaurants, Kyoto has many well-known dining places that offer different kinds of cuisine. Pick a couple of restaurants in this article and visit them in-between your sightseeing in Kyoto!
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.