I stayed at a hotel right near Kyoto Station. I was looking for a reasonably priced izakaya and stumbled upon a place that had a delicious smell, seemingly centered around motsunabe. Various cuts of beef seemed to be simmered in miso until tender. I ordered a set that included motsu (offal), thick deep-fried tofu, konjac, pickled radish & cabbage, and a large bottle of beer, totaling 2,310 yen. While enjoying the pickles and beer, the main dish, a dark brown color, arrived promptly. The thick deep-fried tofu and konjac, listed as oden on the menu, were also served on the same dark brown plate. Both were deliciously simmered in sweet and savory miso. As for the "salvage" (soko) listed on the menu, I wonder which part of the beef it refers to. It had a tender, collagen-rich texture. The lean parts were also tender and combined perfectly with the dark brown miso, creating an outstanding flavor. Once I finished my beer, I left the restaurant fully satisfied, with no need to linger.

"Henkotsu"☆ First of all, I was attracted by the name of the restaurant (*ﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ I came to find this kind of restaurant specifically because I want something deeper than the touristy places, even in my hometown, Kagawa☆ It feels almost like Osaka rather than Kyoto, with a unique atmosphere like a doteni stew (＊´д｀) I arrived at 5:30 pm alone (is that okay?) and the proprietress guided me to a round table in the back that can seat about 10 people☆ They only serve bottled beer, with options of large and small sizes, so I went for an Asahi Super Dry (large bottle), so refreshing♡ The menu consists solely of individual items⤴︎⤴︎ It's a "Beef Hot Pot Specialty Restaurant," and the beef hot pot refers to simmered meat (｀･ω･´) Among them, the recommended dish is Salvege, where you randomly scoop up the meat at the bottom of the pot◎ You can add your favorite oden to it, and if you want a refill of oden, you can add it to the same plate (wow~) Despite the rich appearance, it has a refined lightness, and the flavor of the beef tail is mostly in the soup, incredibly delicious (*´д｀*) It includes tender meat and well-cooked tendons, creating a variety of textures and flavors, making it interesting◎◎ The can labeled "Shichimi" contains only one spice, so be aware※ It goes really well with the dish (ﾟ皿ﾟ) This restaurant, located near Kyoto Tower, exudes a local vibe. I couldn't understand the ordering style of the regular customers I ended up sharing a table with, but the more you know, the more you appreciate the addictive charm of the place⤴︎⤴︎ Try the restaurant's specialties, enjoy them with some drinks, that's the owner's wish, so if you don't drink or eat, you might be refused entry (⃔ ꒪꒳꒪̟ )⃕↝ I was lucky to be allowed in☆ Kyoto has various specialties, but this place stands out⤴︎⤴︎ Just like the name "Henkotsu," this restaurant left a lasting impression in Kyoto◎ The people in Kyoto are very hospitable. I was treated to a meal by a regular customer next to me. Thank you very much (*ﾟ▽ﾟ) I definitely want to visit this restaurant again. Thank you for the feast ===========

Today's second stop was here. The restaurant is located right next to Kyoto Tower, which is not a place I often visit, but it had a calm atmosphere amidst the lively surroundings filled with many foreigners. It was almost full, but we managed to find a seat. I enjoyed the braised tail and grilled muscles with shochu. Thank you for the meal.

I went to Kyoto on this day. After finishing work, I went to Henkotsu for a drink. I arrived around 5:40 PM. It was almost full, but the turnover was good, and I managed to find a seat at the counter. I started with a bottle of beer. I also ordered their signature dish, the Tail and Muscle Assortment, and some oden. The oden included tofu, thick fried tofu, fish cakes, and bamboo shoots. The oden broth was rich, as you could tell just by looking at it. I enjoyed pairing it with the beer. By alternating between the oden and beer, I was able to unwind from work fatigue. Since the menu mainly focuses on beef tail, muscle, and oden, I was able to eat quickly without hesitation and leave within an hour. Thank you for the meal.

Near Kyoto Station North Exit, there is an izakaya that mainly serves simmered dishes. The restaurant used to have a sign at the entrance saying "membership required," and there were some local rules that may not be immediately clear upon entering (especially for solo female customers). I visited as a lone male customer (non-member, not a regular), without fully understanding all the current rules. In the evening, there were a decent number of vacant seats, so I was free to choose any seat. The interior seemed to consist only of a counter. By chance, all the customers were men, so I couldn't fully grasp the intricacies of entering the establishment this time. I ordered beer, "salvage" (a dish scooping up the bottom of the simmered pot), and oden. They arrived promptly. Despite its appearance, the salvage was not too salty, heavy, or too light, with a flavor that seemed unlikely to get tiresome. It felt rather gentle, with a seasoning different from the saltiness of Nagoya or Osaka. All the ingredients were simmered to a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The oden, likely seasoned in the same pot, was served on the same plate and paired perfectly with the alcohol. This time, I left promptly without witnessing any incidents or receiving any particular service, including customer interaction. Despite its proximity to Kyoto Station, it didn't exude a touristy vibe. I personally want to support this establishment's style of not trying to please everyone. I believe places like this are necessary. I enjoyed a beer and simmered dish in a sophisticated drinking spot.

I had some extra time before catching the Shinkansen, so I went to a restaurant outside the station. We ordered a large "Sabre" bottle of beer and Oden with konjac and tofu for 2,400 yen. The dishes are mainly simmered in a large pot. The pot contained Oden, beef tendons, and various offal. The "Sabre" refers to the random ingredients scooped from the bottom of the huge pot. It's like a surprise encounter not knowing what will come out. The dishes are served on the same plate, which is eco-friendly. The rich flavors were delicious, but unfortunately, they didn't serve rice to eat with it. I would like to visit again. Thank you for the meal.

A restaurant near Kyoto Station that specializes in simmered dishes. Visited during the early evening on a weekday and managed to secure a seat at the counter in this seemingly popular establishment. The restaurant had a slightly dim atmosphere, creating a great ambiance. Ordered oxtail and bamboo shoots. Enjoyed the well-cooked oxtail and bamboo shoots, and also tried the "salvage" dish, which was the flavorful contents that had settled at the bottom of the pot. Overall, a very satisfying experience and a place I would like to visit again.

Popular restaurant, happened to find an empty seat at the counter so I entered. Drinking alone. Was it a members-only place before? There are no such notices now. Cash only. Ordered a large beer and "salvage" dish. Also got some tofu and fried burdock for oden. Served on the "salvage" dish. Surrounded by regular customers. Thanks to my research beforehand, I was able to order smoothly. Next time, I want to try the tail dish. I have a feeling I could surprisingly eat it.

Hello! Today, I came to Kyoto and decided to have a quick solo drink before meeting up. I found a shop with a nice traditional atmosphere called "Kotetsu," known for its specialty dish of simmered beef tail and muscles. They have a one-order system per person for meat dishes, so you must order at least one. Well, why would you come to this place and not order, right? (laughs) I ordered a combination of tail and muscles, and the muscles were firm and tender. The tail was also well simmered, making it easy to eat. The rich flavor of the stew goes well with alcohol. They offer a DIY highball style, which is quite cost-effective. It's very convenient for a quick drink. Thank you for the meal.

I visited this place for the first time in a long while, as I had a good impression from a previous visit. The location is a 2-minute walk from the central exit of Kyoto Station towards Kyoto Tower. The seating options are only at the counter and at round tables in the back. Smoking and non-smoking areas are separated inside the restaurant. This time, I sat at a table in the back. The menu is limited, and it seems that each person must order one item. I ordered the "salvage" (bottom) and tail dishes this time. The salvage was indeed delicious and melt-in-your-mouth. I ordered a shochu highball to drink, which is served with shochu in a glass that you mix with tea yourself. It's nice because you can adjust the strength to your liking. I think it's a great place for a second round or as a place to end the night, so I would like to visit again if I have the chance.

Today, I finished work at 7 o'clock in Shijo Karasuma and suddenly craved for soba. I decided to walk to Gojo to visit Soba no Mi Yoshimura, but it was super crowded... I regretted not making a reservation. I then walked towards Kyoto Station and remembered how my friend always got rejected at Henkotsu. Luckily, I managed to get a counter seat! It was my long-awaited first visit. I ordered a bottle of beer and the miso stew. The stew was delicious, but it had liver in it... I can't eat liver, so I had to avoid it while enjoying the stew. It reminded me of the taste my dad used to make, so I got a bit emotional. I saw on the web that it's supposedly women-unfriendly, and indeed, there were only male customers that day... I wonder what the real story is. Thank you for the meal! #Henkotsu #MisoStew #CozyIzakaya #Gourmet #GourmetInstagram #WantToConnectWithGourmetPeople #WantToConnectWithMisoStewLovers #Salvage #MisoStewInstagram #WantToConnectWithIzakayaLovers #InstagrammableIzakaya #DeliciousStew #PhotoMisoStew #WantToConnectWithKyotoLovers #KyotoCity #KyotoGourmet #KyotoStation #WomenUnfriendly⁈ #KyotoPrefectureGourmet #TailStew #Japan #Kyoto #Gourmet #JapaneseFood #BeefTendonStew

(Visit 2023.5) On a holiday in late May, I visited Kyoto - part 4. This time in Kyoto is just a day trip, so once I finish my errands, I plan to head back without wandering around on the way back, haha. But of course, I end up deciding to visit one more place, right? I came to "Henkotsu" (^ ^ ♪ Address: 579 Asunaro Building 1F, Higashi Shio-koji-cho, Uramachi Nishi-iru, Kizuya-bashi Street, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City. Business hours: 17:00-23:00. Closed on Sundays. When you come out from Kyoto Station (Karasuma Exit), you pass by the bus stop and it's about a 1-2 minute walk next to Kyoto Tower on the west side, haha. I've been wanting to visit this place for a while, but due to the opening hours not aligning with my schedule, I never made it there. From the name of the restaurant, it seems like there's something intriguing (Henkotsu = stubborn person), but since my reviewer friends highly rated it, I decided to give it a try. There are various discussions online, but it's hard to decide which one to trust, right? Arrived about 5 minutes before opening time. There was a group of men around our age waiting for the opening, so let's continue. I glanced inside the restaurant and noticed that although the lights were on, there were already people drinking at the counter, haha! It seems like when you become a regular, you get special treatment, right? Well, I think it's nice to have such places too. We entered right at the opening time. Surprisingly, there were only 2-3 seats available at the counter, haha. The group that was waiting for the opening was guided to a table at the back, and we were also taken to the back, probably because they thought we were part of the same group, haha. Bottled beer, Salvage, Tail. The group that entered at the same time placed their orders first. It seemed like ordering one drink or dish per person was a must, so we ordered 2 bottles of beer, Salvage, and Tail for two servings each. The menu only had oden, suji (beef tendon), and pickles. The drink lineup included sake, whiskey, shochu, soup, oolong tea, etc. The beer was Black Label, haha, it's a place where you just quietly enjoy, right? Salvage (bottom) was served a bit later. It seems to be named after scooping up beef and konjac from the bottom of a pot where they are simmered for a long time. The beef simmered for a long time with hachimitsu (miso) had a dark color and a punchy appearance. Next was the Tail. I took a photo of it halfway through eating, so I couldn't capture its appearance when it was served, but it had a look with bones in the center. The well-cooked beef tails were tender and paired well with the rich miso flavor, complementing both beer and shochu on the rocks perfectly (though I didn't drink). The atmosphere of the restaurant has a nostalgic feel, and the conversations of regular customers serve as background music, haha. There's still that feeling of not being too welcoming to new customers, so if you go without knowing anything (I don't know if there are people like that, haha), you might feel a bit hesitant to fit in. Although it's not a place for lingering with its limited menu options, there are regulars who seem to enjoy being there, so I imagine the staff might be a bit strict with customers at times (personal impression). I'm satisfied that I could visit a restaurant I've been wanting to go to for years and still feel the Showa era atmosphere preserved. If my schedule allows, I would like to revisit in the future, haha. Well, let's go to one more place, haha. Thanks for the meal!

A stew restaurant near JR Kyoto Station. I visited just after the opening at 5:00 pm, and the counter had only a few seats available, showing its popularity. I sat at the non-smoking counter in the back. I ordered the "Sarubee," which most customers choose. This menu item, called "Soko" by regulars, is served by the master scooping out the bottom part of a large stew pot. It contains various meats and is perfect for solo dining. I also added some bamboo shoots and thick fried tofu to my order. The oden, cooked in the same large pot as the meat, has a similar basic flavor. So, I also ordered pickles for a refreshing taste. Lastly, I had a refill of Sarubee and left fully satisfied. The restaurant's name "Henkotsu" comes from the master's past eccentricity (as mentioned in old reviews), but now it's not that eccentric, so feel free to visit.

I knew it was located in front of Kyoto Station, but it was my first visit. There are counter and table seats, and I sat at the counter and had the specialty sukiyaki and oden. Both were miso-based, which suited me as I love hatcho miso. Personally, I think it could have been a bit stronger in miso flavor, but it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Full of Showa nostalgia! Tail stew, sinew stew, oden, pickles, and "salvage." Salvage is a menu where you scoop from the pot, it's exciting. Perfect for old-timers! We started with the classic tail and sinew assortment, and a pickled assortment. The miso flavor brings back the Showa nostalgia of the 70s, with a taste that feels romantic and delicious! The flavor that emerged after the war, accompanied by old man's stories. When you order a highball, the whiskey and ice come in separate glasses from the soda, with extra soda available. Incredibly fun Showa nostalgia! I love it, it was delicious!

"The 'Salvage' and 'Bamboo Shoots and Thick Fried Tofu (Oden)' are consistently amazing. The base is the same. You eat what's in the big pot while drinking. The best. The oden is the same. Eat it quickly, drink it quickly. Beer goes well with it anyway. I get drunk on this unique atmosphere. Irresistible. I love it."

I found a delicious place at Kyoto Station when I got hungry late at night. I was in the mood for oden, so I searched on the spot and discovered a place that looked delicious like doteyaki or motsu-ni. I decided to drop by based on the reviews that seemed to discourage first-time visitors. It was past 8:45 pm, but luckily there were six seats available and they welcomed us. The father seemed a bit quirky as his name suggests, but turned out to be a nice person. The mother was also very kind. We ordered Salvage (bottom), Tail meat assortment, and various oden items. Everything was simmered in one pot, so the seasoning was the same throughout. The doteyaki with red miso base and the Nagoya-style flavors made me crave rice. It had a rich taste without being too salty. Originally from a food stall, the flavors were rich from continuous additions. Salvage, scooped from the bottom of the pot, was the most popular item. It contained liver, muscle, crumbled potatoes, and cut onions, giving a heartwarming feeling. The tail meat was tender and the muscles were soft. Personally, I liked the tail meat the best. The oden had bamboo shoots, tofu, thick fried tofu, potatoes, and fish cakes. My favorites were the tofu and thick fried tofu. The tofu cooked in this flavor was amazing. By around 10:00 pm, the place was full of regular customers, so we were lucky with the timing. Even though we didn't drink, they were kind to us as if we were visiting relatives. I definitely want to go back to this restaurant.

I was intrigued by the menu name Salvage, as it looked dark and I thought it would be quite rich in flavor, but the seasoning itself was simple and refreshing miso flavor, which paired perfectly with alcohol. The oden had the same miso flavor, so if you like miso, definitely give it a try! The menu name Salvage apparently comes from the way the meat is taken out quickly. The owner of the restaurant told me!

Located close to Kyoto Station, this restaurant specializes in simmered dishes and has only counter seating. Inside the counter, there are two large pots simmering with oxtails and muscles. The proximity to the counter gives a strong presence. From the menu, I ordered something called "Salvage (Bottom)." Salvage is the chef's selection of meat that has sunk to the bottom of the pot during long hours of simmering. Tender oxtail meat falling off the bone and muscles are served in a bowl. The appearance is similar to a dish called "dote-ni" in the Tokai region. The rich and sweet-savory taste of red miso comes to mind. However, to my surprise, despite the rich appearance, the miso flavor is very subtle. The sweetness is restrained, and instead, you can strongly taste the broth that has melted out of the meat. The umami of the tender simmered meat is also pronounced, and overall, it's on the lighter side. It reminds me of the surprise I felt when I first tried ramen at Shinpukusai-kan (although it might be a different comparison). Salvage allows you to enjoy various parts, making it a great choice for first-time visitors like me. I was also pleased to see a lineup of bottled beers with black labels. The additional oden, soaked in the meat broth, was deep and fantastic. Thank you for the meal.

Visited a restaurant near Kyoto Station! Checking reviews beforehand, it seems there are some rules to follow - you must start by ordering a beef dish. The interior has a counter at the front and shared tables, likely regulars sit at the counter and first-time customers are seated at the tables. Ordered the "Sukimi" beef dish for ¥820 plus various types of oden ranging from ¥110 to ¥250. The traditional way seems to be ordering beef and oden together, and it turns out the beef and oden are cooked together in the same pot. The dishes are served together in the same bowl, hence the combined order. The prices for each oden are not listed, but they will inform you if asked. The "Sukimi" beef dish was more substantial than expected, with tender fat and liver adding to the richness. Despite the significant fat content, it doesn't feel heavy and is easy to enjoy. The flavors are rich and pair well with alcohol, but it might be a bit much for those who don't like fatty meats. The oden, including potato, bamboo shoots, konjac, tofu, was ordered in two rounds and each item had a delicious, well-infused flavor. Personally, I really liked them. The portion of two potatoes was satisfying. The pickled vegetable assortment for ¥530 is a great accompaniment to the fatty beef dishes. It includes eggplant, Chinese cabbage, and cucumber, refreshing and perfect for a break between bites. Ordered a sake labeled "1" which was sweet and very delicious. Although not a sake expert, the taste and price seemed reasonable. Thank you for the meal!

I visited the restaurant with 5 people the day before, but there were no seats available, so we had to give up. On the second day, we were able to get a table for 2 people. I'm not sure how many times I've been to this restaurant, but when my friends ordered oden, the owner said, "You have to order meat too. Oden is just a side dish here. You should do your research before coming." It was the first time I heard that. The beer was bottled beer. The dishes like atsuage, imo, tofu, takenoko were all delicious. I'm satisfied.