I happened to meet up with my drinking buddies who were also visiting Kyoto on the same day, and we made a dinner reservation at a Chinese restaurant. It was a feast of Kyoto-style Chinese cuisine. The menu included: - 4 kinds of appetizers - Autumn saury spring rolls - Shanghai crab soup (or so I thought) - Peking duck - Blowfish tempura with lotus root tempura - Beef wrapped in yuba and deep-fried - Shark fin soba - (Dessert) Almond jelly Although there was a slight emphasis on fried dishes, the autumn saury spring rolls and beef wrapped in yuba were particularly impressive in conveying the traditional flavors of Kyoto. The rich soup of the shark fin soba was well-crafted, and despite my initial wariness due to the prominent presentation of blowfish and Peking duck, there was neither a nouveau riche vulgarity nor an overly refined taste, striking a good balance. We mainly drank beer, and the bill came out to less than 16,000 yen per person including tax, which was quite reasonable. We were planning to go to an acquaintance's wine bar afterwards, so we didn't try the wine, but the menu indicated that inquiries were welcome. The restaurant, renovated from a Kyoto machiya with a touch of exotic atmosphere, had a very pleasant ambiance. They accept reservations online, and overall, I believe it's a very good high-end Chinese restaurant considering its convenience as well. By the way, I wonder what "zezekan" means. I also don't understand "pocchiri." There must be some significance to them (although I didn't ask), but in the end, I remain clueless about them.

I had a reason to go to Kyoto, so I came to this restaurant I wanted to visit for a long time. When I called the day before, the reservations were already sold out, but they said there were free seats available, so we lined up as the second group 15 minutes before opening. We were able to enter the restaurant as soon as it opened. This restaurant is located in Tenjin-yama-cho, which has a float called Arare Tenjin-yama during the Gion Festival. There is a garage next to it with an explanatory sign. I was torn between shark fin and Peking duck, but I chose the shark fin lunch course for the day. - The shrimp marinated in Shaoxing wine in the appetizer was delicious down to the miso. - My wife, who wanted to try dim sum, was delighted with the chive dumplings. - The shark fin is cooked in a pot whole and served individually. It was shark fin cooked in a sweet firm sauce, with a unique texture of soft and chewy. I enjoyed my first experience of eating whole shark fin. After that, the course progressed with vegetables, seafood, meat, a finale, and dessert. - The seasonal vegetables were cool, with eggplant, okra, and myoga chilled and sweet corn. - The prawn in the shrimp chili was big and chewy! It was more like a prawn steak with chili sauce than the image of shrimp chili. - Then the main dish of sweet and sour pork appeared. Is this sweet and sour pork? It was a dish of tender braised pork sautéed and topped with a rich black vinegar sauce. I was very satisfied with the taste, texture, and portion. - The final dish was sea bream cold noodles. I was already full, but the light vinegar and coldness made me keep eating. Oh, it's delicious! I'm not a fan of Chinese-style cold noodles, but I wanted to eat this again and again. The course ended with homemade almond jelly. It was more delicious and filling than expected. Since it was a lunch course, I think it was very reasonable. Many other customers ordered dishes like mapo tofu and ramen, so I'm sure everything is delicious. I'm really looking forward to visiting again. Thank you for the meal♪

The atmosphere and the taste were both very delicious♪ The waiting area right at the entrance and the courtyard visible from the seats had a very lovely atmosphere. The staff were elegant and provided refreshing service, making the dining experience enjoyable. Every dish was delicious, especially the sweet and sour pork. The meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, a new experience for sweet and sour pork. The lychee tea served before dessert was so delicious that I wanted to buy some.

I used it for lunch. I chose the Peking Duck course. They also had lychee tea, and I was very satisfied with the abundance of Peking Duck. It wasn't just skin-focused Peking Duck, but had more meat. I would like to go again.

It's rare to find a restaurant in Kyoto that isn't focused on tofu, traditional Japanese cuisine, ramen, or udon, but this place offers Chinese cuisine. It looks high-end from the outside and seems to have no budget limit. I was so shocked and nervous that I couldn't even take a photo of the food. I remember the fried rice being delicious. It seems difficult to make a reservation, but I would like to go again.

It's a bit of a walk from Karasuma, but a nice stroll. The retro Kyoto-style exterior with a large noren gives a luxurious feel. Inside, the atmosphere is perfect. There were couples and families of three like mine. We ordered a course and it was fantastic. Shark fin, Peking duck, and other high-quality ingredients were served beautifully. I really wanted fried rice instead of white rice at the end, but they couldn't accommodate that. We enjoyed the mapo tofu, white rice, and fried rice together, and it was excellent in terms of spiciness as well. Next time, maybe I'll go for à la carte.

I was able to get in right away on a weekday without a reservation. The daily special had just the right amount and was delicious. The person next to me ordered the mapo tofu with mild spiciness, so I want to try that next time. The service and atmosphere of the restaurant were great, so I want to go again.

After a long time, I visited Zensho Kan for lunch. Apart from the lunch menu, there seemed to be a summer menu item called "cold noodles," but I didn't hesitate to choose the daily lunch special. It included three kinds of dim sum and a home-cooked dish like "mushu pork (pork, wood ear mushrooms, scrambled eggs)" as the main dish for 1400 yen. Great value for the price! Also, they served a common Chinese drink called "suanmeitang (plum juice)," which is said to help cool down the body in the heat (has a slight herbal medicine smell). A must-have drink in the summer. If the young female staff had been a bit more friendly, I would have given them a 5-star rating, but the service from the kitchen and cashier was excellent!

Limited sale only during the Gion Festival period (4 days).................✔️ Simmered pork bun ¥500 Sold only during the 4-day Gion Festival's eve mountain, this legendary pork bun sells over 20,000 units during the festival period, always attracting long lines!! The texture of the ingredients such as pork, shiitake mushrooms, and mountain jelly is rich in the pork bun, and the sauce applied to finish it is soaked in, making it the best with plenty of ingredients and moist and fluffy dough. It's twice the size of a regular pork bun, but it's so delicious that you'll have plenty of room to spare~

I went to Osaka for a hot spring-related social gathering. I decided to join a walking tour in Kyoto as well, making my schedule quite busy. I left my luggage at the hotel in Osaka and took the Hankyu train to Kyoto. I was browsing on my phone to decide what to eat and found a place that caught my eye. They had chilled noodles and highly recommended mapo tofu set meal that I was excited about. When I arrived, there was a long line outside the shop. I thought it might be impossible to get in, but it turned out people were queuing up to buy a special steamed bun that is only available during the Gion Festival. I felt relieved when I finally entered the restaurant. The building was a renovated kimono store with a modern design and a large inner garden. As a renowned Chinese restaurant, it exuded a sense of luxury. I was seated at a round table (not a rotating one) by myself. They served tea in a teapot. When I looked at the menu, I saw options for shark fin noodles or shark fin rice, with three different levels of quality. I requested the set meal menu, but I was informed that due to the Gion Festival, only the grand menu was available and not the set meals. Although I wanted to try the course meals, I had a tight schedule for the walking tour, so I quickly ordered the Shark Fin Ramen Hokuushi (¥1800 excluding tax). The soup was thick and hot, and the portion was generous. The thin noodles paired well with the flavorful soup, which was so delicious that I could have kept drinking it. It truly had the dignity of a high-end restaurant. I look forward to trying the definitely delicious mapo tofu set meal next time at a more affordable price.

While out in Kyoto, I visited a highly recommended restaurant. The lunch prices were quite reasonable! Although the dinner course requires a bit more effort to secure a reservation, the lunch is more accessible! When I arrived, there were over 20 people waiting in line, and unfortunately, I was told they were fully booked and couldn't accommodate me. Feeling like a lunch refugee, I hesitated but decided to call the restaurant, and they had a table available for me. The special cold noodles had a gentle yet robust flavor, and they were delicious. The tempura was also included, and I left feeling very satisfied.

Second visit. Once again, ordered the mapo tofu just like last time! 1300 yen. Spicy! But delicious!!!! When I first went, I had a seat where I could see the courtyard in the back. I was looking forward to that, but this time I was seated right by the entrance. Maybe because it's a weekday? Perhaps they only expand capacity on weekends. They had new items like ramen and spicy noodles on the lunch menu. I'm curious about those too!!!! The atmosphere, the taste, everything is top-notch. Definitely coming back!

Located on the historic site of a kimono store at Shijo Karasuma, this restaurant offers delicious Chinese imperial cuisine in a sophisticated building. You can enjoy a leisurely time admiring the beautiful green garden. The adult Chinese dinner course offers about four options, ranging from ¥11,000 to ¥20,000. I chose the second option, the Hutong course for ¥13,200. The menu includes: - Assorted appetizers - Smashed prawn and winter melon bun - Lamb dumplings - Oven-roasted Peking duck - Crispy-fried sweetfish - Tender simmered wagyu beef shin - Braised shark fin and noodle soup - Dessert The main difference from the first course is that the shark fin in the noodle soup is served in chunks, not shredded. The appetizer assortment was delicious and captivating from the first bite. The drunken prawn (prawns marinated in Shaoxing wine) was a standout, along with the gentle winter melon buns, generously filled lamb dumplings, and seasonal crispy-fried sweetfish. The menu is well thought out and enjoyable. The service quality is high, with attentive staff who even adjusted the air conditioning and frequently replaced the hot towels. The ambiance of the restaurant is exceptionally lovely. I recommend visiting during the transition from dusk to night when the garden view changes along with the atmosphere. This place is suitable for dates, family meals, business dinners, and various occasions. Grateful for my brother's recommendation. #Kyoto #Zensho Kanpotchiri #Kyoto Gourmet #Kyoto Dinner #Shijo Karasuma #Shijo #Karasuma #Kyoto Sightseeing #Kyoto Travel #Kyoto Stroll #Gourmet #Travel #Kyoto #Kyoto Japan #Kyoto Trip #Kyoto Food #Japan #Japan Travel #Chinese #Shijo Gourmet #Shijo Lunch #Karasuma Gourmet #Karasuma #Shijo Karasuma Gourmet

A Chinese restaurant located along the Nishiki-Koji Street, just a few minutes' walk from Shijo-Karasuma. This place is famous for selling Nanban during the Gion Festival. I visited for lunch on a holiday. The lunch courses range from around 4,500 yen to about 15,000 yen. This time, I opted for the 5,000 yen Peking Duck course. The restaurant has regular table seating as well as several private rooms towards the back. We were seated in the furthest tatami room. The Peking Duck course included a platter of three appetizers, soup, spring rolls, the main Peking Duck dish, glass noodles and duck stew, fried rice, and almond tofu for dessert. The Peking Duck was the type where you get a lot of meat along with the skin, not just the skin. And there was plenty of duck, almost too much for the amount of skin. You roll the duck, scallions, cucumber, and miso sauce yourself. The miso sauce was delicious. The stew with glass noodles was a bit too strong in flavor for my taste. But for the amount of Peking Duck you get to eat, 5,000 yen is a good deal for Peking Duck lovers. With various private rooms and convenient access, it seems like a user-friendly place.

The old Western-style building has been renovated into a Chinese restaurant, with subdued lighting creating a calm atmosphere. The course prices vary depending on the ingredients, such as including Peking duck. Each dish is carefully prepared and beautifully presented, true to Kyoto's reputation. The flavors are Chinese but not overpowering, making it a pleasant dining experience without feeling heavy. I enjoyed it very much.

I went out for a meal with my mother as a treat, and we revisited a restaurant for a course priced at 16,500 yen. We also ordered Peking duck as an extra. I had indicated my food preferences and allergies in advance, and the staff were considerate even after we arrived, so we could enjoy our meal comfortably. I miscalculated my stomach capacity, so I asked to reduce the rice dish. They kindly suggested sharing one dish between the two of us and taking one home, which I appreciated. The course included: assorted appetizers, shrimp and potato soup, celery and pork dumplings, stewed shark fin in red soy sauce, deep-fried seasonal fish with fragrant broth, selected Japanese beef stir-fried with Sichuan peppers, cherry shrimp fried rice (or clam soba), almond tofu, and Peking duck. The Peking duck had tender meat, chewy skin, and a perfect sauce combination. The shark fin soup was delicious. Although I thought I could finish the course easily in the beginning, the fried dishes packed a punch, so I will be more mindful of my stomach capacity when ordering additional dishes next time. Thank you for the feast! ✨

This is a restaurant with a lovely exterior that I've been curious about for a while. I visited for the first time and had lunch. I ordered today's lunch, which was the "oyl chicken." The interior has a charming atmosphere, like a museum with a mix of Japanese and Western styles from the Meiji and Taisho eras. I noticed that groups of women and individuals on their lunch break from work were enjoying their meals. From the outside, it may seem intimidating to enter, but the restaurant's cashier and staff are friendly, and you can have lunch for around 1000 yen.

We visited with children in elementary school, and they were very kind! Although it seemed like a high-end restaurant, they asked if we wanted to exclude ingredients that children might not like. They also brought out items that children could eat first. It was a restaurant where not only the food was delicious but the service was also excellent!

Had lunch at the upscale Chinese restaurant "Zensho Han Pocchiri". I don't know the origin of the name, but I like the sound of it. Ordered oyster and leek soba, seafood yakisoba, and crab lettuce fried rice to share. Everything was delicious, and I was so full that I didn't feel like doing anything for a while.