This place seems to be a well-known long-established restaurant popular with tourists both domestically and internationally... but embarrassingly, I only found out about it recently. Today, I finished work early and got off at the Kyoto Minami IC around noon. I saw this as a chance and headed here. It seems to be quite crowded on weekends, but there was no line on this Friday. However, when I entered, all tables were full, so I had to share a table. They have Inari sushi and small dishes, but no set meals, only udon or rice bowls. It's a traditional diner style. It was my first time, so I hesitated between the famous "Tanuki Udon" and "Niku Udon," but since most reviews favored "Tanuki Udon," I deliberately chose "Niku Udon." The "Niku Udon" (750 yen) had a generous portion of beef and green onions, with a cloudy soup as the first impression. The beef was fatty beef belly, which explained the color of the broth! I tasted the broth first. Oh, the umami from the beef, especially the fat, was really coming through! And the noodles. The soft Kyoto-style noodles didn't disappoint, a perfect balance! The skill of enhancing all the goodness while using fatty beef belly was truly befitting of a long-established place. The oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) that the guy sitting across from me had also looked delicious... The atmosphere of an old-fashioned diner, with the aunties treating tourists, foreign guests, and solo Japanese customers equally. It was a nice atmosphere! I might not be able to come back often, but I will definitely visit again!

I visited for the first time. The area around the restaurant is just a few minutes from Kyoto Station, and it feels like it hasn't changed since ancient times, with cats lounging in the alleyways. It's a simple udon restaurant where the whole family gets along well, as if it were meant to be in such a place. I was hesitating between various options but ended up choosing the classic tempura udon, which was delicious with its flavorful broth and thin noodles. The tanuki udon, which is highly recommended, might be the best choice after all. The oyakodon that the person at the next table ordered also looked delicious. I was curious about the self-service nori rolls and inari sushi, but I have a small appetite, so I refrained this time. I will definitely visit again!

I usually order the tanuki udon every time. I intended to order it this time as well, but accidentally ordered the meat udon. Well, it was a good accident. To truly savor the broth, this might be the way to go. Delicious! Thank you, Tonomiya.

I was finally able to debut at Tonden-san, a restaurant beloved by locals in Kyoto as I had long hoped for! It was just a straight walk from Kyoto Station, about a 5-minute walk, and I smoothly arrived even in the scorching heat. Recommended tanuki udon and beer, my heart was pounding at the start of my Kyoto journey. The ginger in the tanuki udon adds a nice touch, and the ankake with fried tofu and flavorful broth seeps into my tired body from the heat. Then, I stopped by again at the end of my Kyoto trip, finishing with tanuki udon.

I went to have an an sauce udon in the scorching midday sun. As expected, it was not crowded, and the air conditioning was cool and comfortable. The appearance of "tanuki" that you can't imagine in Tokyo, the simple taste of nori rolls, and the impressive inari sushi. Chopped aburaage, Kujo green onions, plenty of grated ginger, slightly sweet dashi, mmm, it all goes well together.

I learned that Tanuki Udon in Kyoto is different from Kanto-style, so I visited this famous restaurant. When I told the man who greeted us that there were four of us, he briskly said, "I'll tidy up now, so please wait a moment." Initially, we were seated near the entrance, but perhaps because we had a child with us, they moved us to a slightly larger table in the back when it became available. The men and women working in the hall were friendly and attentive. Many restaurants are not child-friendly, which often makes me feel sad, but here I felt very warm and happy. We ordered Tanuki Udon, Niku Udon, Chuka Soba, and Hito-n Don. The menu had recommendations, making it easy to choose. First, the Hito-n Don arrived. As someone from Kanto, I had assumed it would come with pork, but it was beef. It had a sweet and savory seasoning, almost like sukiyaki. It was very delicious and my favorite of what we ordered this time. The Chuka Soba had delicious soup!! The Niku Udon also had the same meat as the Hito-n Don, and it was tasty with a sweet and savory flavor. Now, for the main dish we came for, Tanuki Udon. It had a thick broth with a hint of ginger. Oh, so this is Kyoto's Tanuki Udon. The udon noodles were on the softer side. There were English translations on the menu, and in fact, the person at the next table was Chinese, so it seems that foreign tourists also come here. It's just my personal impression, but (⌒-⌒; ) I had thought that Kyoto's long-established restaurants would be cold (especially with children), and I visited nervously, but I was very relieved by the man and woman's service. I was happy. I will go again. Thank you for the meal.

At Kyoto Tanuki Udon, located on the south side of the station, near the "Tonoda" area, I appreciate that they are open continuously and sometimes stop by early in the evening. The ankake udon with vibrant green onions, the texture, the balance of the broth with ginger, and the softness of the udon noodles all combine to create a nostalgic and delicious taste. The light-up of Toji Temple is really beautiful, I'd like to go see it sometime.

A hidden gem near Kyoto Station? I felt like having udon during idle time, searched on Tabelog, and found a highly rated restaurant! I went there right away. I ordered their specialty tanuki udon in a nostalgic atmosphere, and it was a wonderful bowl that made me feel warm inside. They seemed to be visited for media coverage. Thank you for the meal.

There are many inbound tourists, and there are more foreigners than local customers. Is it really okay to prioritize tourists (foreigners) over locals? It's good to have a menu tailored to foreigners, but they should also consider the preferences of Japanese customers! The head chef is trying too hard to speak English, but it's painful to watch when it's broken and awkward. The inari sushi and rolled sushi are still delicious as always, but the udon has lost its flavor! I can't taste the dashi broth anymore! I don't know if they are adjusting to suit foreigners or if they are just too busy and unable to prepare properly, but the udon's taste has deteriorated too much! I won't be going back anymore! Remember the original essence of Tonden.

Taste... Ordered the beef udon. The broth lacks flavor. The udon is the type without much chewiness, more like boiled udon. It lacks the taste of wheat. The beef loses its flavor from being boiled in the broth. Liked the inari sushi. The vinegar rice is delicious. The pickled ginger is also homemade and tasty. Went because it was recommended by celebrities like Shibasaki Kou, but... Atmosphere... Feels like a long-established diner. Bright atmosphere with friendly staff. Clean. Wonder if it's run by a family? Comfortable to be in. Cost performance... Average.

I went for lunch when I visited Kyoto Station. I arrived around 12 o'clock and there were about three groups waiting in line at this popular restaurant. I had never heard of Kyoto's tanuki udon before, but it turned out to be a type of udon with a thick sauce. The noodles were soft, reminiscent of Fukuoka udon. Personally, I prefer udon without the sauce, but trying Kyoto's tanuki udon made me understand what it's all about.

When having a meeting in Kyoto in the afternoon, I was debating whether to eat at Sakuraya on the Shinkansen or look for something around Kyoto Station. So, this time I found this place on Tabelog. Walking through the back of the station and passing by MK, I found it right away. I was worried about having to wait in line, but it turned out to be unnecessary. They welcomed me in a manner that showed they have been in business for decades. I was pondering over the menu when an older lady recommended either the tanuki or meat, so I went with the tanuki. The broth, the filling, the firm yet not overly chewy noodles, everything was just amazing. It felt like a scene from a movie, with funky regulars who seemed like elderly women, simple school trip students brought by their familiar driver, and more. I will definitely visit again!

Arrived at Kyoto Station and walked about 5 minutes from Hachijo-guchi straight to this place. A very ordinary restaurant not often featured in guidebooks, with about 4 groups of people waiting just before opening. Finally tried the tanuki udon I wanted to eat! The slightly thin and soft noodles, chopped fried tofu, green onions, grated ginger, and the thickened broth are all perfectly balanced and complement each other well! In the Kanto region, you don't see tanuki made with fried tempura bits, but here they use fried tofu. I love this kind of dish, so if I lived nearby, I would definitely become a regular. Besides noodles, they also have rolled sushi and curry rice. I hope this restaurant continues to thrive!

I visited here early as recommended by a friend before going home. Since it was shortly after opening, it was relatively empty. I ordered the classic tanuki udon, which is recommended, along with meat udon and hitoden-don. Tanuki udon is typically associated with tempura bits, but this one had deep-fried tofu in a thick, stew-like soup that I had never tasted before. It had ginger in it, which was also nice. I'd like to try the meat udon next time I visit. I'm also curious about the side menu item, inari sushi (laughs).

Near Kyoto Station, in Tonden-cho, there is Tonden. This is the proof of its long-established history. The fact that they open at 10:30 is quite stylish. By 10:40, there were already four groups of customers inside, and the owner was cheerfully greeting everyone. The "tanuki udon" here is made with fried tofu instead of tempura, and has plenty of ginger. It's a taste that I've never experienced before - incredibly gentle and refreshing. Even on a scorching day, the warmth of the dish doesn't bother you at all. Amazing! It seems that Shibasaki Kou also frequents this place. It was delicious!

A udon restaurant located a little down from Kyoto Station's Hachijo Exit. It's well-known and often recommended by food enthusiasts and famous people. I wanted to try it out. I visited right after opening as a late weekday breakfast. The exterior and interior are quite ordinary. I tried their specialty, Kyoto-style Tanuki Udon and Niku Udon. I also considered the Katsura Don. The Kyoto-style Tanuki Udon is udon noodles topped with minced fried tofu in a ginger-flavored sauce. It warms you up, especially in winter, but it was a bit heavy on this day with over 30 degrees Celsius. The udon noodles were quite soft. The Niku Udon, as the name suggests, is udon noodles with beef and surprisingly flavorful. When serving tea or udon, the owner and his wife would say, "Here you go. Thank you. Sorry for the wait." Both were delicious udon dishes. If I have the chance, I'd like to try other dishes and rice bowls. However, I personally didn't feel the special or sacred atmosphere that some people seem to associate with this place. It's just a good udon restaurant you can find anywhere in Kyoto with a nice vibe.

A cafeteria with a Showa-era atmosphere located less than a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Station's Hachijo West Exit. Due to the suspension of Shinkansen services caused by Typhoon No. 2, my Kobe day trip turned into an overnight stay in Sannomiya. The weather was clear the next Saturday, but the Shinkansen was still not running. Instead of staying in Sannomiya, I checked out of the hotel around 9 a.m. and decided to take the JR Special Rapid Service to Kyoto. I arrived at Kyoto Station a little after 10:30 a.m., only to find an incredibly long line at the ticket counter. Not wanting to wait, I decided to escape reality and have an early lunch. I headed to a restaurant I had bookmarked on Tabelog to try someday. Arriving just after 11 a.m., most of the seats were already taken, with a mix of Asian and Western tourists. I informed the staff that I was dining alone and was seated at a table near the kitchen. The menu featured dishes like curry udon, oyakodon, chicken nanban, meat udon, tempura udon, tanuki udon, kitsune udon, gyudon, and more. There was also a sushi corner where you could pick sushi or inari sushi to eat at your table. I ordered the popular meat udon and added a sushi platter. The meat udon arrived within 5 minutes, topped with plenty of beef and chopped green onions. The broth had a rich flavor from the beef, and the meat was tender and delicious. The udon noodles were soft and had a nostalgic taste. The sushi platter included egg sushi, inari sushi, and rolled sushi, providing a homely and satisfying taste. Thanks to the sushi platter, I was more than satisfied with the portion size. I would love to revisit to try their other specialty, the tanuki udon, if given the chance.

Near Kyoto Station for lunch, Takabashi's famous ramen shop comes to mind, but this time I decided to enjoy Kyoto-style udon. In Kyoto, "tanuki" is a udon dish with a thick sauce, and here, the "tanuki" is recommended. However, when I saw the menu, I was drawn to the "keiran," and without hesitation, I decided on the "keiran." I had a genuine "keiran" with round udon noodles, thick sauce with scrambled eggs, and plenty of ginger... It was a long time since I had a real "keiran." The side menu includes "osushi." The Inari sushi and rolled sushi set are also a must. I'm curious about the rice bowl dishes too.

I was looking for an early lunch near Kyoto Station, and decided to try this restaurant. When I opened the door to the old-fashioned interior, the friendly owner greeted me with a warm "Welcome! Please have a seat here." I ordered the tanuki udon, and after a short wait, she brought it to me with another lovely smile, saying "Sorry for the wait. Thank you!" The tanuki udon with plenty of sweet red bean paste was delicious and satisfying. It was my first time trying it. They also had side dishes like inari sushi and futomaki, and I noticed regular customers picking out their own plates and taking them to their tables. I thought I'd like to come back here to have their udon again the next time I use Kyoto Station. ❤️

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I visited to try the local Imadegawa-don in Kyoto. Although this place is originally an udon restaurant, the classic choice would be to order noodles, but this time the purpose was to experience Imadegawa-don, so with a heavy heart, I ordered a rice dish. Imadegawa-don is likely easy to include on the menu for an udon restaurant, as it can be made with fried tofu and scrambled eggs, which are common ingredients. The taste is quite sweet for the Kyoto region, with sugar and soy sauce flavors stronger than the dashi broth. To be able to recreate the existing menu at home, I decided to try it as a sample. I think I can easily make this at home. Next time, I want to try the meat udon. I'm sure the broth won't be too strong.