On the second day of my trip to Kyoto, I had planned to have lunch at a restaurant in front of Yasaka Shrine, but unfortunately it was closed that day. So, I decided to visit a place I had been checking out before called "Gonbei". It was close by, so we quickly headed there. When we arrived at the restaurant, there were about three groups of customers already there. We were seated in a small raised tatami area at the back. They had a variety of dishes like udon and rice bowls. Both my partner and I ordered the oyakodon. The oyakodon arrived after a short wait, and it looked delicious with the egg cooked just right, making it clear that this was going to be a tasty dish! We dug in right away. The aroma of the sansho pepper was enticing and made us even more hungry. With the first bite, both of us couldn't help but exclaim, "Delicious!" The fluffy and tender egg, along with the incredibly soft and tasty chicken, made it a fantastic dish. I usually don't like onions, so I don't often choose oyakodon, but this one didn't have onions and was amazing! We finished it all in no time. I definitely want to visit this restaurant again. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal!

For some reason, there were few people on the street on Sunday. I went around 12:30 and there were plenty of seats available. I took off my shoes, sat on the tatami mat, and looked at the menu on the table. I ordered the parent and child bowl. The soft chicken with the creamy egg was delicious. Especially the broth was so tasty that I wanted to drink it. Next time, I want to come and try the udon with broth. Payment is cash only, and there was a sign in several languages at the front of the register.

Kama-age udon for 1200 yen. The noodles are round and soft, easy to break with chopsticks. The dipping sauce is light, without much flavor or sweetness. It might be okay even without teeth. The zaru udon my companion had was tastier. The noodles are so thin that they resemble soba noodles, but they have a good firmness. I won't visit again.

The beautiful tororo soba is my personal number one favorite. The atmosphere inside the restaurant, unique to Kyoto, is very pleasant. It is conveniently located near Hanami-koji and Shijo Minamiza, making it easy to stop by in between sightseeing. I heard that you can also enjoy hot pot dishes if you make a reservation, so I look forward to trying that next time.

For lunch in Kyoto, I decided to try Gonbei, a place I've been curious about for a while. Stepping in from the scorching sun on the streets of Gion, the traditional Japanese house ambiance and cool interior instantly put me at ease. I was intrigued by the duck namba, but it was only available in winter, so I ordered the chicken namba instead. When it arrived, I was greeted with a bowl of udon filled with plenty of Kujo green onions. The aroma of the delicious broth, rising slowly with steam, enticed my appetite. I took a sip of the soup first, and the refined and gentle flavor was delightful. After walking around and breaking a sweat, the saltiness was just right. Despite wanting to move on to the noodles, the taste was so good that I couldn't help but keep sipping. As I slurped the noodles, the crunchy green onions and slightly soft noodles created a wonderful texture. Even as a fan of chewy noodles, I found myself strangely drawn to this noodle texture. The comforting and delicious chicken namba is perfect even for a hot summer day. I must visit again to try the duck namba and the parent-child bowl next time.

I went to Gion in Kyoto for lunch and was craving oyakodon. I tried going to the famous Wabiya, but it was still preparing. I searched for a place that was open at that time and ended up here. The building is currently under renovation and has a retro vibe from the Showa period. It's a bit dim with incandescent lights, giving a nostalgic feel. I sat in a tatami room and ordered oyakodon right away. It arrived quickly without a tray, just chopsticks on top. There was also some pickles. The dish looked pretty normal, with regular chicken and egg. The taste was average, but the price of 1,800 yen seemed high for what it was. Maybe it's the Gion price?

When I visited, the exterior of the restaurant was under construction. I was momentarily confused, thinking, "Huh? This area usually looks different." I sat down inside and placed my order. I always end up ordering the tororo soba, so I told myself to try something different next time! But once again, I ended up ordering the tororo soba. Okay, next time for sure! (laughs)

I ordered the shredded fox soba (hot) and I like my broth on the sweeter side, but it was a bit refreshing in taste. It had a ginger-like flavor!? However, it was delicious. Above all, the atmosphere of the restaurant was great. It was full of a feeling that "various customers have visited the shop across generations." I visited around 3 PM before evening, so it was not crowded.

I stopped by Gion for some shopping and decided to have a quick lunch at the highly-rated Gonbei. I ordered the tempura soba for 2700 yen. The soba was indeed delicious but nothing out of the ordinary. The tempura had a crispy coating and the shrimp was prepared decently. There are many other places with tastier options. I'm not a fan of the udon my companion ordered as I prefer firmer noodles. Despite being a popular long-standing establishment, I didn't find anything exceptional about the food. The location in prime Kyoto didn't offer great value for money, and personally, it felt like eating expensive soba from a regular countryside restaurant. Perhaps I made a mistake by not trying their famous tamagotoji dish.

Chicken and egg rice bowl for 1700 yen, Keiran soba for 1100 yen. To be honest, I don't see the value in these prices. It's a bit too much for a tourist spot. I would say around 1200 yen for the rice bowl and 900 yen for the soba. Udon in Kyoto is known to be expensive but this is still high. The dishes look delicious, especially the egg with the visible white part. The rice bowl seems to be mainly egg with a soft chicken. The soba has egg mixed in the sauce with ginger on top. It would be nice in winter when it's warm, but not so much in spring. The green tea served was good. The restaurant has a long history, so it might be good for tourists, but I wouldn't visit frequently. If you want udon, go to Marukika Yamanokami on the Kawaramachi side, or Shinodaya in Sanjo. If you want a historic feel, Okaruto nearby is an option. Personally, I don't often crave udon. I'd rather eat ramen for under 1000 yen. It's strange that Chicken Nanban costs 1300 yen while the rice bowl is 1700 yen.

I went around noon on Saturday and there were about 4 groups in line. However, the line moved quickly! Once seated, the speed from ordering to the food arriving was quite fast! I ordered the parent and child Nanba udon. The noodles were chewy and delicious, perfect for someone who loves soft and chewy noodles like me! The broth was also delicious and satisfying.

A long-established udon restaurant in Gion. The atmosphere and interior of the store evoke a sense of the Showa era. The broth is easy to drink and gentle on the stomach. It's delicious, but I'm not sure if it's worth waiting in line for. It's just right to go if it's not busy.

[Date] February 13, 2023 (Monday) 12:02 PM [Foodlog Rating] 3.49 [Wait Time] None, Half full inside [Service] Excellent [Would Visit Again] Yes [Payment Method] Cash [Turnover] Yes If you want to experience the atmosphere and Kyoto vibes, this place is good. [Egg Donburi] [Service Time] 11 minutes The donburi has perfectly cooked eggs with a generous amount of egg yolk on top. The presentation is great, but when you mix it, the seasoning becomes a bit diluted, which is disappointing. The flavor is good with a nice dashi taste, but it's not mind-blowing. Egg Donburi: 1,050 yen

I visited a favorite maiko (apprentice geisha) for lunch and ordered the warm Oyako Namba due to the snowfall. The combination of dashi broth and sansho pepper was delicious, and I enjoyed it quietly. Adding shichimi spice halfway through or changing the flavor was also enjoyable, and I was quite satisfied. Nearby is "Okaru," known for its curry udon, so it seems like a good spot to visit in winter.

I went to the restaurant for lunch and had tempura soba. It was delicious, as expected from a well-established famous restaurant in Gion. However, it is a bit pricey for everyday use (tempura soba costs over 2,000 yen). The egg dishes that my friends ordered looked really delicious.

Gonbei is a charming soba restaurant located in Gion, Kyoto. Established in 1927, it has been a popular spot for geisha and is featured in the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand. The menu includes udon, soba, and rice bowls, but I chose the soba dish called "Kamo Nanba." The dish was served with plenty of chicken and leeks, and the soba noodles were soft and had a good texture. The broth, made with kombu and bonito flakes, was rich and flavorful. I enjoyed adding shichimi pepper to change the flavor. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere and I had a great experience at Gonbei.

Gonbei, located a 5-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station in Kyoto, is an udon restaurant founded in 1927. They offer a variety of lunch menu items such as udon and rice bowls. I ordered the oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) and udon. The oyakodon had fluffy eggs and tender chicken on top of rice, with a delicious sweet and savory sauce. The udon had a good chewy texture and the broth was refreshing. It was a satisfying lunch experience. I recommend this restaurant for those who want to eat udon or rice bowls in Gion.

I visited the restaurant for dinner on Sunday before 6:00 PM. The interior of the restaurant had sunken seating areas and had a cozy atmosphere that reflected the history of Kyoto. They only accepted cash payments. I ordered the "Tenzaru" dish (2700 yen including tax), which included two tempura prawns made with fresh prawns from Yatsushiro. The tempura had a crispy and light texture, with a unique flavor of the prawns. The soba noodles were thick and chewy, with a refreshing texture that paired perfectly with the gentle soba dipping sauce. The menu consisted of soba noodles, rice bowls, and drinks, but they did not offer appetizers.

Gonbei-san is a specialty restaurant in Kyoto's Gion district that serves soba, udon, and rice bowls. Established in 1927, it is a renowned Kyoto institution with almost 90 years of history. The restaurant is beloved by locals and has many fans among celebrities. The traditional atmosphere of the place exudes a sense of history, with tatami seating and old-fashioned tables adding to its charm. The menu is filled with enticing options, making it hard to choose. I ordered the Keiran (1100 yen), which is a dish of udon noodles topped with a fluffy egg and thick sauce. The egg was perfectly cooked, with a soft yolk that blended well with the rich sauce and hint of ginger. The udon noodles were tender and coated in the flavorful sauce, complemented by a delicious broth that warmed my heart.

I visited after visiting the grave. I ordered zaru soba. It felt more like thin udon than soba. The dipping sauce had a good dashi flavor. It wasn't very sweet. Personally, I prefer it a bit sweeter. Thank you for the meal.

There is also a theater nearby called Minami-za, which seems to be popular among celebrities. Although I intended to have udon, I ended up having soba, but it was delicious. There was no waiting time, and I was able to enter the restaurant immediately, but when I left, there were about 10 groups lined up outside. Lucky me! (^^)v