Update-date: Jan 12 2024
Planning a trip to Kyoto and Osaka area and looking for something specific to eat? There are plenty of restaurants to suit every tastes. Discover the best places to eat here, from traditional meal and quintessentially comfort food to western-style dishes and varied ethnic cuisine.
1. Samgyetang Niru Hanare
Kanmi-Ichi is a Korean restaurant opened by Ms. Samsoon Park, known for being the first woman to acquire a Rank 1 license in the Korean National Technical Cooking Exam. At this restaurant that has been beloved for over 40 years in Tsuruhashi, Osaka's Koreatown, Samgyetang Niru Hanare was created with the concept of delivering Samsoon Park's specialty samgyetang to the world. The food menu consists only of the Samgyetang Meal, a secret recipe passed down. Their samgyetang is a true masterpiece, carefully boiled for half a day.
Samgyetang Niru Hanare
Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays] 11:00 am - 6:10 pm *Start all at once with 70 minutes time limit (Start from 11:00 am/ 12:30 pm/2:00 pm/3:30 pm/5:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: After exiting the central ticket gate, cross the traffic light and go to the left. Turn right on the road between the flower shop and the curry shop, and a little further ahead is a restaurant with red walls.
Address: 16-9, Funahashi-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: After exiting the central ticket gate, cross the traffic light and go to the left. Turn right on the road between the flower shop and the curry shop, and a little further ahead is a restaurant with red walls.
Address: 16-9, Funahashi-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Map
2. Shuko Osaka Manpukudou
Shuko Osaka Manpukudo is located in the Tsuruhashi area of Osaka. The menu changes every month, and consists solely of Chef's Choice Courses by the restaurant head. Among these options, the Rod Shaped Pressed Sushi includes extremely fatty mackerel and horse mackerel, as well as sweetfish occasionally. Guests can enjoy masterpieces in which the skill of the restaurant head shines through, including the early summer specialty Shelled Sea Urchin, which can be eaten as sashimi or an appetizer. The restaurant has around 40 to 50 kinds of Japanese sake that go well with the food, and a variety of sake cups. The restaurant interior, in which guests must take off their shoes to enter, features table seats, mainly seats at a sunken kotatsu style table.
Shuko Osaka Manpukudou
Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday] 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm / [Sunday] 4:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY
Access: 2-minute walk from Exit 2 of Imazato Station on the Osaka Metro Sennichimae Line and Osaka Metro Imazatosuji Line
Address: 3-4-14, Oimazato Nishi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY
Access: 2-minute walk from Exit 2 of Imazato Station on the Osaka Metro Sennichimae Line and Osaka Metro Imazatosuji Line
Address: 3-4-14, Oimazato Nishi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Map
3. Setsugetsuka Hanare
Extra-large, meaty, wild [Abalone] from Sanriku. Silky [Foie Gras]. High-quality ingredients like these are exactingly selected and cooked right in front of diners on a griddle here for the perfect amount of time needed to bring the umami (Japanese savory taste) to its full potential, a feat that earned the restaurant a star in 2014. Setsugetsuka Hanare was opened in Sannomiya in 2014 with the goal of creating delicious dishes that would surpass the main location. The stunningly delicious [Kobe Beef Sirloin Steak] is made with Kobe beef that's been aged over a long period of time, resulting in superb umami and texture. This steak's exterior is seared with a high flame, creating a crisp outside texture, and the ingenious cooking process makes for a melt-in-your-mouth piece of meat. There are private rooms available for parties of 5 all the way to parties of 16. When you've finished eating, relax and enjoy the beautiful nighttime views from the restaurant.
Setsugetsuka Hanare
Open: [Weekdays, Day before National Holidays] 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)[Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY
Access: Exit JR [Sannomiya Station] West Exit and head north. Go straight towards the corner with the docomo store and turn left at the second Lawson store. Cross the road to the right at the next light, and it will be next to Nakahyogo Shinkin Bank.
Address: 8F, La Doll Ray Kobe Sannomiya Bldg., 1-25-6, Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo (Map)
More Details Reservation
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 20,000 JPY
Access: Exit JR [Sannomiya Station] West Exit and head north. Go straight towards the corner with the docomo store and turn left at the second Lawson store. Cross the road to the right at the next light, and it will be next to Nakahyogo Shinkin Bank.
Address: 8F, La Doll Ray Kobe Sannomiya Bldg., 1-25-6, Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo (Map)
More Details Reservation
4. Kodaiji Toyokawa
[Kodaiji Toyokawa] is located in the between Yasaka-jinja Shrine in the north, Higashiyama Kennin-ji Temple in the west, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple in the south. We offer delicious kaiseki (traditional Japanese cuisine) with a beautiful appearance, using various vegetables from Kyoto and Ohara. Our most recommended dish is exquisite [Sesami Tofu] which is indispensable to our kaiseki courses. Its pure white color comes from [Migaki Sesame]. Enjoy its aftertaste with a slight aroma of sesame after swallowing. In addition to traditional kaiseki cuisine, we also offer vegetarian courses without any animal ingredients with advanced reservations. Have fun at our counter seats, or enjoy a private moment in our private rooms. Our cheerful and gentle-mannered owner offers a satisfying service to many guests every day.
Kodaiji Toyokawa
Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch from 11:00 am (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner from 5:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: From [Gion Shijo Station], go towards the direction of Yasaka-jinja Shrine. Go south for approximately 4 minutes along the road with the south gate and stone torii gate of Yasaka-jinja Shrine, then on your right
Address: 427-2 Kamibenten-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: From [Gion Shijo Station], go towards the direction of Yasaka-jinja Shrine. Go south for approximately 4 minutes along the road with the south gate and stone torii gate of Yasaka-jinja Shrine, then on your right
Address: 427-2 Kamibenten-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
5. Menkiya Kawaramachi Branch
Just 5 minutes on foot from the Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line, you'll find Menkiya Kawaramachi Branch. The restaurant serves under the concept of "ramen you can eat every day." They make sure to use ingredients that are harvested from the prefecture of Kyoto in all their dishes. Their ramen has a taste of that you'll never be tired. It comes with a light shoyu tonkotsu (soy sauce and pork bones) base using top-quality ingredients. They also have karamen (spicy noodles), miso ramen, and not-your-ordinary curry noodles. Being able to enjoy quality ingredients at a reasonable price satisfactorily is what makes the restaurant appealing to diners. Adding to this is their after-meal treat, authentic Uji matcha (a type of high-quality powdered green tea from Uji, Kyoto), which is offered for free. The tea is from a matcha producer that has been in the business for around 120 years. Here, you will be able to experience the "tastes of Kyoto" from start to finish.
Menkiya Kawaramachi Branch
Open: 11:00 am - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 1,500 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from [Kawaramachi Station] on the Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line
Address: 595-11, Uradera-cho, Shinkyogoku Higashi-iru, Takoyakushi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 1,500 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from [Kawaramachi Station] on the Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line
Address: 595-11, Uradera-cho, Shinkyogoku Higashi-iru, Takoyakushi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
6. Gontaro Okazaki branch
[Gontaro Okazaki branch], in a cultural zone with the Heian-jingu Shrine and Kyoto Municipal of Museum of Art, is a renowned historical restaurant since the Meiji period, serving soba (buckwheat noodles) and udon (thick noodles). We currently have 3 branches in Kyoto city. The secret to our delicious dishes is our clear amber-colored [golden broth] which is made with carefully selected ingredients and carefully created by our skillful chef. Enjoy its delicate and deep taste. The most recommended dish is our specialty [Gontaro Nabe], a Kyoto-style hot pot with udon where you can fully enjoy various savory blessings from the mountains and the ocean in our proud broth. Also, enjoy our home-made udon served as a last hot pot ingredient to finish the dinner. Inside our restaurant is filled with Japanese atmosphere, with table seats, raised tatami-floored seating area, and a great hall. We also have a beautiful garden with a sense of the season. Fully enjoy having a beautiful moment with us.
Gontaro Okazaki branch
Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 11:00 am - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 15 minutes walk from [Higashiyama Station] on Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line / 5 minutes by Kyoto Municipal Bus, then 1 minute walk from [Dobutsuen-mae Bus Stop]
Address: 19 Okazaki Minamigosho-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 15 minutes walk from [Higashiyama Station] on Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line / 5 minutes by Kyoto Municipal Bus, then 1 minute walk from [Dobutsuen-mae Bus Stop]
Address: 19 Okazaki Minamigosho-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
7. Benvenuto
Our restaurant has a high ceiling, stone walls with a warm atmosphere, and wide tables. Old lumber from a 150-year-old bridge in the U.S. was installed for the wooden frame of the building and the wine rack. The restaurant is filled with the mild sunlight in the daytime, and illuminated at night, which creates another charm. We offer a wide variety of authentic Italian dishes created by our chef with a sense and tongue, who accumulated experiences in Italy. Our large-sized restaurant of approximately 1,980 m2, with spacious parking, faces the road. Even when we are very crowded, you do not have to worry about parking. Thoroughly enjoy a luxurious moment, forgetting your everyday life, with our cuisine at our spacious restaurant.
Benvenuto
Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 1,210 meters from Gakuenmae Station by car
Address: 1-2-14 Tomigaoka, Nara city, Nara
Closed: Wednesday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 1,210 meters from Gakuenmae Station by car
Address: 1-2-14 Tomigaoka, Nara city, Nara
8. Mahoroba
Enjoy a variety of innards at [Mahoroba], located in Shinsaibashi, Osaka. A wide range of innards is stocked here, from the classic tecchan (large intestine), teppo (rectum), and senmai (omasum), to rare cuts that are hard to find elsewhere like the lungs and pancreas. What's more, the portion sizes are smaller than average, allowing customers to taste and compare an even wider range of cuts. Not only offal cuisine is served here - there is also an extensive grilled cuisine menu, such as the hearty on-the-bone kalbi (Korean-style barbecued ribs). A variety of pork offal is also available, including donatsu (cartilage around the larynx) and the uterus. This restaurant has a range of seating available, making it ideal for a number of different occasions. For example, there are counter seat ideal for those who wish to eat alone, as well as rooms with tatami flooring that are great for large groups to kick back and relax in.
Mahoroba
Open: Dinner 5:00 pm - 3:00 am (L.O. 2:30 am)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Nagahoribashi Station, 7-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station.
Address: 1F, Chusei Bldg., 1-8-5, Higashi Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Nagahoribashi Station, 7-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station.
Address: 1F, Chusei Bldg., 1-8-5, Higashi Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
9. Kyoto Ayanokoji Mangetu-no-Hana
Enjoy a relaxing moment at our [Kyoto Ayanokoji Mangetsu-no-Hana] with a nostalgic space in an old machiya (Japanese townhouse) in Kyoto. We serve a wide variety of dishes, such as local dishes using the ingredients from or around Kyoto prefecture, healthy vegetable dishes using an abundance of vegetables, and savory meat and fish dishes which go well with alcohol. Set meals are offered during lunchtime. At night, we serve courses mainly with meals or one that goes well with alcohol, banquet cuisine, and a-la-carte dishes, so that you can visit us for various occasions. We also offer various tasty sake (Japanese alcohol) from all over Japan, including many rare ones which can be seldom found, and sake sets to compare different tastes. Alcohols other than sake are also available, of course.
Kyoto Ayanokoji Mangetu-no-Hana
Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 1F Japanese Cafe; 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Lunch; 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Alcohol and Side Dishes; 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (Food L.O. 10:00 pm, Drink L.O. 10:30 pm) / 2F Rental Space 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from [Karasuma Station] on Hankyu Kyoto Line / 5 minutes walk from [Shijo Station] on Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line
Address: 206-1 Ayanokoji-dori Sakaimachi Higashi-iru Ayazaimoku-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from [Karasuma Station] on Hankyu Kyoto Line / 5 minutes walk from [Shijo Station] on Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line
Address: 206-1 Ayanokoji-dori Sakaimachi Higashi-iru Ayazaimoku-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto
10. Kobe Beef Hamburger Steak & Steak Ichi
[Kobe Beef Hamburger Steak and Steak Ichi] is on Tenjimbashi-suji Shopping Street, near to [The Osaka Museum of Housing and Living]. We serve high-quality Kobe Beef at a reasonable price. Gorgeously enjoy various exquisite Kobe Beef dishes, such as [Combination of Hand-Kneaded Kobe Beef Hamburger Steak and Steak] to enjoy two of our specialties at one time, [Steak of Carefully-Selected Rare Cuts] to fully enjoy several different kinds of rare cuts, and [Bolognese], a hidden menu popular among our fans. We also offer a wide variety of wines to enjoy the ultimate pairing with them. We are fully-equipped with English menus, as many foreign tourists also. Visit this influential restaurant which is spreading Kobe Beef to the world.
Kobe Beef Hamburger Steak & Steak Ichi
Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 3:30 pm / Dinner 3:25 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: A 7-minute walk from [Tenma Station] on JR Osaka Loop Line
Address: 6-6-19 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka city, Osaka
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: A 7-minute walk from [Tenma Station] on JR Osaka Loop Line
Address: 6-6-19 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka city, Osaka
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
