I had lunch in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City. The restaurant is located on Shimmachi Street, between Nakadachiuri Street and Kaminagashi-cho Street, on the west side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It is marked by a white sign that reads "Hoburo, Chuka Saikan." I visited a highly rated Chinese restaurant in Kyoto according to the popular food review site. The first floor has only a counter, while the second floor has tables as well. Recommended menu items include Plum and Green Shiso Fried Rice, Eel Kabayaki Fried Rice, as well as dishes like Yakibuta Soba, Tan Tan Men, Yakisoba, and Karashi Soba. They also offer dim sum such as Wonton, Shumai, and Spring Rolls, as well as individual dishes like Century Egg, Shrimp in Chili Sauce, Mapo Tofu, and Sweet and Sour Pork. Based on reviews on the food review site, I ordered the Karashi Soba, which seems to be a specialty. The Karashi Soba arrived on a square white plate. It looked like a yakisoba dish with a thick sauce, but the noodles were not crispy like Nagasaki's plate udon, instead, they were ordinary medium-thick noodles. The ingredients included shrimp, chicken, lettuce, and wood ear mushrooms, with a slightly tangy taste when eaten with the noodles. The sauce was similar to yakisoba sauce with a hint of vinegar and mustard, and it coated the noodles well. Overall, the dish was not too oily, had a refined flavor, and was lighter than it appeared. It was a delicious Karashi Soba that felt more upscale than your typical local Chinese restaurant. The clientele consisted mainly of office workers, with people in their 30s to 40s being the majority. When I visited during lunchtime, there were groups of four who had made reservations and were enjoying a business lunch on the second floor. The Karashi Soba was priced at 950 yen, while the recommended Plum and Green Shiso Fried Rice was 1,180 yen and the Eel Kabayaki Fried Rice was 1,250 yen, with the regular fried rice priced at 800 yen. Considering the ambiance of the restaurant and the quality of the food, I believe it offers good value for the cost. Kyoto has many students and a variety of inexpensive local Chinese restaurants like Gyoza no Ohsho, so the prices here are slightly higher but worth it for the quality. Next time I visit, I would like to try the Yakibuta Soba, Tan Tan Men, or other noodle dishes with soup, as well as dishes like Shrimp in Chili Sauce and Mapo Tofu.

This day I had a day trip to Hyogo for work. The next day, I was heading to Shizuoka for summer vacation, so I stayed in Kyoto where the hotel was cheaper. After finishing work, I was thinking about dinner. I didn't have a plan and was considering options like izakaya, pizza, curry, or Chinese food. The first choice izakaya was fully booked, so I decided on Chinese food and called the restaurant. They had space available, so I headed there. It had been a while since I last visited Hooburo. I usually go to Hoohi, so it must have been about 5 years. I was seated at the counter on the first floor, a counter specifically for solo diners. I ordered through a QR code, and the not-so-friendly lady wasn't there this time. I ordered a draft beer and two dishes: Moo Shu Pork and Gyoza. I also decided to add another dish, Moo Shu Pork, which turned out to be a great choice. It was delicious, with tender pork, crunchy wood ear mushrooms, and fluffy egg. It had a gentle flavor but rich umami, a true taste of Kyoto Chinese cuisine. The Gyoza arrived quickly, but I still prefer the ones at Hoohi. They were a bit lacking in meatiness. Lastly, the Mustard Soba arrived. It had a great presentation, with a nice aroma of mustard. The sauce coated the homemade noodles perfectly, and the combination of ingredients was delicious. The staff, except for the young male server, maintained their traditional artisan style, not showing much friendliness. Nevertheless, the meal was enjoyable.

The popular Chinese restaurant in Kyoto is not great without a reservation. You can't enter without a reservation. Must-try items include Karashi Soba for 1,100 yen and Gyoza for 700 yen. The Karashi Soba has a big difference between appearance and taste. The seasoning is lighter compared to Kanto region. Many female customers visit the restaurant.

■Order Summary - Mustard Soba (tax included 1,100 yen) Rating = ◎ - Leek Spring Rolls (tax included 1,350 yen) Rating = ◎ - Shumai (tax included 700 yen) Rating = ○ - Fried Rice (tax included 900 yen) Rating = ◎ - Asahi Super Dry x2 (tax included 600 yen x2) Rating = ○ ■Comments I visited the restaurant on a Sunday around 5:30 pm for dinner and drinks. The first floor was full, but there was still plenty of space on the second and third floors. We were seated on the second floor and ordered the items listed above. Here is my review for each dish: - Mustard Soba (tax included 1,100 yen) Rating = ◎ The soba noodles with shrimp, chicken, lettuce, wood ear mushrooms, and green onions had a unique spicy kick from the mustard that I really enjoyed. The crunchy texture of the lettuce and wood ear mushrooms added to the overall experience. - Leek Spring Rolls (tax included 1,350 yen) Rating = ◎ The crispy skin of the spring rolls filled with finely chopped bamboo shoots had a surprising crunch. The filling also included leeks and shiitake mushrooms, providing a delightful texture. - Shumai (tax included 700 yen) Rating = ○ The shumai was generously filled with meat, and the steamed skin had absorbed the flavors well. The meaty taste was prominent, and it paired well with just a touch of mustard. - Fried Rice (tax included 900 yen) Rating = ◎ The fried rice with lettuce, char siu, green onions, and egg was perfectly cooked with a fluffy texture. The combination of crispy lettuce and flavorful char siu was exceptional. - Asahi Super Dry x2 (tax included 600 yen x2) Rating = ○ The beer was served in a chilled mug with a fine foam, making it a refreshing choice on a hot day.

Today, after finishing my errands, I enjoyed Chinese cuisine at Kyoto Machiya. It was a hot day, but the second floor seating with well-functioning air conditioning and sunken kotatsu seats made it very comfortable. I had a cold beer with my meal, which was delicious with plenty of wood ear mushrooms.

There is a picky old man, an unflappable old man, and a very polite older brother at this restaurant. The dishes that came out were freshly made, hot, light and delicious with plenty of umami. We received the dishes from the seemingly picky owner, who apologized for the wait. Watching him cook so seriously increased my appetite. It's a great restaurant! Please don't get angry! Thank you for the meal!

I went to a popular restaurant in Kyoto known for its Phoenix Dance style Chinese cuisine, which always has long lines whenever it is featured on TV. I made a reservation and finally got to go. The classic spicy ramen and spring rolls were delicious as always. The mapo tofu that my companion ordered had a surprising kick of Sichuan pepper that made it even more delicious. We had to make a mobile order for up to 10 items within 90 minutes due to the new system, which felt a bit strange, but the staff was still kind and the food was just as good as before, which was reassuring.

Karashi soba for 1100 yen. I had been curious about this restaurant as there was always a line outside. A friend recommended it, so I decided to visit on a Saturday afternoon. I chose the karashi soba, which was the only option available. I wanted to try a side dish as well, but the prices were a bit high for a solo diner. I'm not a fan of spicy food, but the level of spiciness in this dish was just right, making it enjoyable. I finished it quickly because it was so delicious. I heard there is another famous karashi soba restaurant called Hamura nearby, so I plan to compare the two someday.

I visited because I wanted to eat spicy soba, and it was delicious. The perfect spiciness makes it addictive. The crispy lettuce was a surprise, and the sauce clung to the noodles, so I finished it in one go. The accompanying shumai was juicy and delicious. The prices are reasonable, so I want to visit again.

I was surprised when I entered the restaurant, as it looked like a traditional Chinese restaurant but we had to order using a QR code on our phones! There was a sign looking for employees, so they must be short-staffed. They asked us to avoid adding dishes to our order, and we ended up waiting about 40 minutes for our first dish to arrive at 6 pm. But the beer and Shaoxing wine were delicious! The restaurant pays attention to the drinks, which is nice. I originally went for the spicy mustard ramen, but everything we ordered was delicious! The dumplings with chives were crunchy, the spring rolls with chives, pickled vegetables, Chinese-style edamame, fluffy shrimp chili, tender meat and vegetable stir-fry, almond tofu, and candied sweet potatoes were all great! The famous spicy mustard ramen had the perfect amount of mustard and the noodles were well-coated in the sauce, making me very happy! If you can eat the staff meals here, I feel like it would be a good place to work. To the locals, please consider working here!

I had delicious Chinese food after a long time. The exterior looks like a regular home, but once you step inside, it's a typical neighborhood Chinese restaurant. I had tantanmen noodles, mapo tofu, and fried chicken, and all of them were satisfying and delicious. The tantanmen noodles had just the right amount of spicy flavor that was irresistibly delicious.

Two days in a row eating Chinese food in Kyoto. Oh, it's delicious! I wanted to try the karashi miso dumplings yesterday, but they were sold out... Today... finally!!!! I tried them! So tasty! I like this! But you know... some people might have mixed feelings about it. Why? Because if someone asks what flavor it is, I would be stumped, and it's a bit vague. It's not bad at all, so please try it!

When I told others that I was going to travel to Kyoto, they kept asking me if I had tried "karashi soba". Everyone insisted that if I were to try it, I had to go to "Hobouro!!". With so many recommendations, I couldn't resist trying it! I heard that it's always crowded, so I made a reservation and visited the restaurant. It was a good decision as there was a sign saying that they don't accept walk-ins without a reservation! We were seated in a tatami room on the second floor, and we ordered bottled beer, leek spring rolls, and karashi soba. We also added pickled vegetables as an appetizer. We were informed that it would take some time due to the busy crowd. After about 20 minutes of waiting, the long-awaited karashi soba arrived! After the first bite, I understood why everyone recommended it! In the scorching heat of Kyoto, where we had been consuming only cold drinks, the sharpness of the mustard combined with the richness of chicken and kelp broth, and the velvety smooth sauce gently enveloping the stomach, was like a warm and comforting embrace. The crunchy lettuce and wood ear mushrooms were also excellent! This is truly addictive and a taste combination I have never experienced before! It has become my favorite dish! The leek spring rolls were also delicious and paired well with the beer! The mapo tofu, generously shared by the friendly family sitting next to us with an adorable baby, was also outstanding with a lingering spiciness! There are still many other menu items that I'm curious about! I think this is the perfect restaurant to visit with a few friends and try a variety of dishes! I will definitely come back for the karashi soba!

The Gion Festival has started, but in the unsettled weather of the rainy season, I wanted to eat Karashi Soba so I visited. I was happy to be able to make a reservation online! The toilets were built in a mysterious way, with one on the first floor and one on the third floor. I was guided to the second floor, where there were spacious and relaxing table seats. Karashi Soba was 1100 yen, Nira Kousen (leek and pork spring rolls) 1350 yen, Gyoza (dumplings) 700 yen, Chahan (fried rice) 900 yen, and Kolao Rou (sweet and sour pork) 1000 yen. The Karashi Soba had a mild sauce and was easy to eat. The lettuce was crispy compared to other restaurants, which was good. The Kolao Rou had a unique lychee and pineapple flavor, and despite the sauce being translucent, it had a strong sweet and sour taste without being overpowering. Delicious! The Chahan was fluffy and the lettuce was crispy, and when you pour the Karashi Soba sauce over it, it becomes even more delicious. It's a pretty flavorful fried rice! The Gyoza and spring rolls were better at Houhi and Houzen, I think. Thank you for the meal! I would like to visit again!

I'm really looking forward to it. I'll wait for my order with a QR code. I wonder if the shumai at the City Hall is good? I like the spicy chicken at Kitayama. I might like the spicy soup! The sweet and sour pork is too sweet! I wonder if the one at Itosen is delicious? Lychee and pineapple are innovative, but the spicy chicken was fried too much and I thought my teeth were going to hurt! Anyway, is the wait too long?

Kyoto Chuka Saikan, Phoenix Dance Tower Karashi Soba. The homemade noodles are topped with a karashi-flavored sauce. It has been featured in the media a lot and is said to be well-known among the people of Kyoto. Today was my first time trying it. The subtle spiciness of the karashi blends elegantly with the Chinese sauce, increasing my appetite. It was delicious.

I visited around 11:30 AM on Sunday, July 2, 2023. I didn't have a reservation, but luckily I was able to sit at a counter seat in the corner. I originally planned to order spicy soba, but the yakisoba looked delicious, so I changed my mind. I used the popular QR code ordering system, and it took about 10 minutes for the food to arrive. There were a lot of tourists coming in one after another. The yakisoba was made with fried noodles, and it had a deliciously crispy texture. It was so good!

I visited this restaurant for lunch after 5 years since my last visit, as I was nearby. I ordered the Karashi Soba (spicy noodles) set and a beer. I felt like the spiciness was stronger than before, but the toppings in the broth were celery, green onions, wood ear mushrooms, shrimp, and chicken with a gentle flavor. The shumai was also seasoned quite well. Thank you for the meal.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐I visited this restaurant for the first time after watching the "Secret Kenmin Show"... I ordered Karashi Soba and fried rice... The Karashi Soba was really delicious, just as the reviews said. It was a bit spicy when eaten quickly, but the taste made me want more. The lettuce topping had a crunchy and light flavor, which was very tasty. The fried rice had a smoky aroma and was delicious (true craftsmanship). To everyone... When choosing a restaurant, look at the entrance area. A clean entrance area means that the food is prepared with care. A dirty entrance area indicates that the food may be sloppy!

In a previous visit, the service was terrible. It was on par with a regular family restaurant. The seating was slow, and even though it was busy during lunchtime, I waited for over 40 minutes. Some customers left without waiting. If the restaurant can't handle the crowd, they shouldn't take online reservations. I will not be going back. The food didn't taste good, maybe because of the frustration from waiting.

At the neighboring restaurant of Chukyo Kyoto Brighton, Ho Bu Ro, I had delicious dishes such as Kusuniku Karashi Soba and crispy shumai with lily root or onions. Everything I ate was excellent - the eggs were fluffy, the wood ear mushrooms were crunchy, and the seasoning was perfect! The edamame and steamed chicken were also delicious. I used to only go here with drinking buddies, but I think it's a great place to bring family too. Highly recommended! Thank you for the meal! ✨