In front of Minami-za in Gion Shijo, there is a historic building that has always remained unchanged as a designated cultural property. I have always passed by and looked at the menu, but never actually dined there. Today, I tried to make a reservation at a restaurant I wanted to go to in Kyoto for an early dinner before heading back, but it was fully booked. With the crowds of people out for spring break and cherry blossom viewing, it seemed difficult to get into the restaurant I wanted to go to. As I was thinking about this, I walked past a restaurant that was bustling with a huge crowd and decided to go in. The interior had a very retro vibe with unique tables and chairs. I was promptly served a wet towel and water. I looked at the menu and decided to go for the beef cutlet set with bread. The staff here were numerous and attentive, quickly bringing water when needed and serving the food promptly. First, the soup and salad were brought to the table. The corn soup was delicious. As soon as I finished the soup, the plate was cleared away. Then, the beef cutlet arrived and it looked delicious. The meat was tender and tasty, and the vegetables were also flavorful. The set meal included free refills of bread or rice, but I was already full. The dessert and demi coffee were also included, making it a great value for money. I dined on the 1st floor this time, but I noticed that the 2nd floor offers course meals and the 3rd floor is for banquets. The rooftop might be used as a summer beer garden. It was a pleasant experience dining in the retro atmosphere on the 1st floor while watching the hustle and bustle of people passing by. The food was delicious. Thank you for the meal!

On the afternoon of September 16, 2023, I went to Kyoto. Feeling hungry, I decided to have lunch first at the longstanding Western-style restaurant established in 1916, "Restaurant Kikusui" located in front of Minami-za. I had the #duck and Kujo green onion hamburger set meal. #lunch #Kyoto gourmet #Kyoto lunch #Gion Shijo gourmet #Restaurant Kikusui. Address: Gion, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City (across from Minami-za) Phone: 075-561-1001 Reservation: Available Business hours: 10:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:30) Closed: None

During the scorching daytime, it is sweltering, but in the evening, a breeze comes in and I came to Kikusui's beer garden where I can leisurely drink while looking at the Kamogawa River. Drinking beer while looking at the town of Kyoto has a charming atmosphere. Kikusui, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, in front of Minamiza Theatre, east end of Shijo Ohashi.

The first floor is home to casual dining options like a la carte and cafes. It was the day after the Gion Matsuri festival, but luckily there were seats available. The retro atmosphere of the restaurant attracted many young people and foreign tourists. The food was delicious, but it was disappointing when the waitress cleared the plates without saying anything while we were still eating.

Met up with 10 middle-aged men at Keihan Sanjo. Walked for about an hour from Pontocho to Kiyamachi, breaking a sweat and getting thirsty for beer. Arrived at the beer garden, which requires reservations, at 4:30 PM in front of Keihan Gion Shijo Station. The view overlooking Minami-za Kabuki Theater and Kamogawa River is great! Ordered the "Half Pound Set" (beef sirloin, beef kalbi, Kyoto pork, and all-you-can-drink). Started with a glass of draft beer for a toast! The plentiful meat, especially the Kyoto pork, was delicious! After the beer, switched to highballs. The conversation heated up, so switched to cold sake! Ordered yakisoba as an extra. More and more customers started to arrive. The only downside of this beer garden is that it's a bit cramped, with the seating tightly packed. As it reached full capacity, the 2-hour all-you-can-drink time was up, and it was time to leave. Thank you for the meal.

I enjoyed an authentic course meal that seems to be hard to find these days, and the Crepe Suzette prepared tableside at the end was amazing. I'm not sure if I would want to eat this course again, but I definitely recommend trying it at least once.

Beer garden at a long-established shop in Kyoto. Enjoyed beer and meat while admiring the view of Minami-za. Happy with the women's pricing. The location is superb! Despite it being a weekday, it was fully booked. Kyoto is hot these days, but it was surprisingly cool and pleasant on the rooftop. It was great to be able to have a lively time.

Visited the long-established restaurant "Kikusui" in Gion. Established in 1916, it is a landmark in Gion along with Minamiza and Toho Chinese Restaurant. The most unique menu item is the Duck and Kujo Negi (leeks) hamburger (¥2200). Duck has a distinctive aroma that some people may find off-putting, but this dish should be fine. It tastes like chicken but is fluffier than chicken. The set meal includes soup, salad, rice or bread, dessert, and a drink, making it a good deal. I would like to try their beer garden next time.

It was steamy hot in Kyoto. I came looking for the chumaki from the Gion Festival, but they weren't selling it yet. I wandered around looking for a delicious lunch and ended up at this restaurant I had wanted to visit for a while. It was established in 1916, making it 106 years old, but it's not considered a long-standing establishment in Kyoto. It was a Sunday afternoon and the place was bustling with customers, so I had to write my name down on the first floor and wait. While waiting, I looked at the menu and noticed that the first and second floors had different menus. When I asked for the second floor, the staff mentioned that they only offered set courses there. I decided to go for it. I took the elevator to the second floor, where there were about 10 table seats. There were two other groups of customers already there. Each table had a postcard with a painting of the Shijo Ohashi bridge from the Taisho era, featuring the Kikusui as well. I was allowed to take it home as a souvenir. I ordered the lunch course. The appetizers included shrimp, crab, and pate, which was incredibly delicious. It was just my taste. The cold soup was a consomme, with a jelly-like center that made it look like there was something inside the glass. It was interesting to see the jelly remain the same as I ate it. The main course was shrimp fry and hamburger, both tasty in a simple and everyday way. The dessert included sherbet, cheesecake, and fruits, with a biscuit featuring the Kikusui building as a bonus. Overall, the flavors were very suitable for Japanese palates. This place is sure to last a long time.

I visited Kikusui's beer garden. I chose the seafood and meat barbecue plan with all-you-can-drink. The portion size was a bit small, but it might be just right if you focus on drinking. I added the famous beef cutlet and salad to my order. The beef cutlet was delicious! There was a wide variety of alcohol options, so I was satisfied!

☆彡Located right in front of Shijo Ohashi Bridge, this historic Western-style restaurant gives off more of a touristy vibe than a culinary one. However, the bright red cross-section of the beef cutlet on the menu caught my interest, and it had been a while since I had tried beef cutlet. The set meal comes with soup, potato salad, and a choice of bread or rice. Plus, dessert and coffee are included after the meal, which made me happy. I ordered the Beef Cutlet Set Meal (2,970 yen), which came with a mini salad, soup, bread, dessert, and coffee. When the beef cutlet was served, I thought there was a mistake in my order, as it looked nothing like the dish pictured on the menu. I was so disappointed that I didn't even feel like taking a photo, but I did so for documentation purposes. I think the meat was tender, but the overall experience left me feeling let down. Even the dessert was not homemade, but a store-bought item, which made me think about unnecessary price increases and other things. Thank you for reading until the end. Your likes, saves, and follows are very encouraging. If you like, please give it a click (*･ω･)*_ _) I also have an Instagram account @ginjirou.star. Feel free to check it out! ===========

I have visited the nearby Toho Kaikan restaurant several times, but this is my first visit to this one. Both places have a historic, traditional feel to them. When I arrived around 11 o'clock, there was only one other customer. I was told to sit wherever I liked, so I chose a table by the window. I ordered a small bottle of Kurobier and gratin. Since it seemed like it would take some time, I also ordered escargot. The escargot arrived first, and it had been years since I last had it. The silverware used to eat it was unique. The escargot was served with crispy bread, and when you poured the juice from the shell on it, it was delicious! The gratin was seafood, but it seemed to have more potatoes. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was very nice and had a historic feel. I would like to come back for a beer garden if possible.

It is an old-fashioned Western-style restaurant. I think it's good value for money in Kyoto. I visited on a Sunday and since it was past 1 pm, I didn't have to wait long to get a table. The staff were attentive, but they didn't smile, maybe for the sake of the restaurant's atmosphere.

Once again, I visited Kikusui for a meal. This time, I ordered from the first floor restaurant. I had omurice, beef cutlet, and hamburger set. The chicken steak set comes with soup and salad. Everything I tried was delicious. I have used the beer garden, second floor course, and first floor a la carte, but personally, I prefer the first floor a la carte at Kikusui. It's delicious. I recommend the omurice.

Lunch, my daughter said she wanted to eat tempura. We usually eat at Endo-san's place, but she wanted a more casual place this time, so I made a reservation on the internet. It was a terrible experience, almost like the famous "Ikezu" in Kyoto. They told us to leave, so we left without arguing. It was my first time experiencing something like that. I learned a lesson for choosing restaurants in the future. I should have just gone to Endo-san's place after all. However, there are plenty of restaurants in Gion (laughs). I remember eating Yudofu at Kikusui in Nanzen-ji before, and that restaurant is right at the entrance of Gion. My daughter liked it here, so we went to this restaurant. It was completely different from the one in Nanzen-ji, with a casual feel and a nostalgic Showa retro vibe. Both of us had the Pork Cutlet Set for 2090 yen. The sauce for the cutlet had a curry flavor, and it was very filling. It was a comforting place with a nostalgic atmosphere.

What a longstanding establishment since the 5th year of Taisho era. Located in a prime location. The building is old and magnificent. Spacious store. Whether for coffee or a meal. Western-style cuisine. The atmosphere inside is both Taisho and Showa era! It's hard to describe, but it feels good. The High Collar Special Set (soup, main dish, bread, coffee) is delicious. It's cheap. It's fast. I will definitely go again.

I was a bit tired from sightseeing, so I was looking for a place where I could rest and eat, but everywhere was crowded with people. Suddenly, I noticed this place. The building was old but impressive, and when I peeked inside, I saw a few available seats. When I come to Kyoto, I always try to eat and drink in places that feel like Kyoto, and this place turned out to have a long history, even though I had unknowingly passed by it before. I was hoping for a light meal and a parfait, and luckily they had a limited edition strawberry parfait. The parfait was classic and beautifully presented, with peaches at the bottom. It felt like a luxurious dining experience from the past. The staff were mostly young but very polite and well-mannered, which I appreciated. Located near Gion, this place is a hidden gem.

A shop in a Western-style building along the Kamo River. I had been curious about it for a while, so I visited for dinner. They had about 10 main dishes to choose from, and the full set included salad, soup, bread or rice, dessert, and coffee or tea for 2000-3000 yen, which was quite cost-effective! I ordered the beef cutlet that I often saw in reviews. The meat was very tender and delicious!

I visited the intersection of Gion Shijo that I had always been curious about. The interior had a retro atmosphere and was lovely. I ordered the omurice, which turned out to be pilaf inside with shrimp, which was different but good. It was delicious!

A long-established Western-style restaurant located near Shijo Ohashi Bridge. I have passed by this place many times but never tried it until now. The interior has a retro atmosphere with old-fashioned tables and chairs. I decided to try their lunch set, which included salad, soup, shrimp fry, white fish fry, pork chop, and steak. The food came out quickly, probably because it was during the lunch rush. It felt like a classic diner-style Western restaurant. It was a satisfying meal!

After enjoying a performance at the Nanzatsu theater, I finally visited the long-awaited restaurant Kikusui. I had reserved a lunch course, so I was seated by the window on the second floor. It was a blissful moment to enjoy classic French cuisine while looking at the Nanzatsu theater. I had appetizers, soup, bread, the main course of beef stew, dessert, and coffee in a relaxed atmosphere. The beef stew, a specialty of the restaurant, was particularly delicious. The rest of the dishes were also excellent, showcasing the traditional taste of this long-established restaurant. At the table next to us, they had a performance with a flambeau dessert, which we also enjoyed watching.