This year's final review is about a simple soba restaurant. During a chilly afternoon walk in Kyoto, I remembered this place. It's a long-standing soba shop from the Edo period, and I visited without high expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the clear broth. When I opened the sliding door, an elderly man greeted me and kindly showed me to my seat on the first floor of the traditional machiya building. The atmosphere was lovely with low tables and beautiful ceiling decorations. I ordered the "Duck Nanba" for 1,300 yen, which came in a small bowl filled with soup, green onions, duck meat, and a sprinkle of sansho pepper. The soba noodles were firm and had a good texture, and the broth had a light soy sauce flavor with the richness of duck fat and sansho pepper. It was a delightful experience enjoying the delicious broth. If you visit Kyoto, be sure to try this place for a taste of their wonderful broth. With a happy heart and a "thank you" from the staff, I left the restaurant. Thank you all for your support this year. Wishing everyone a happy new year.

I visited Kaiun Kawamichiya, the main store. It seems that many famous people like Steve Jobs and Tom Cruise have visited here incognito. I tried the tea soba with grilled chicken and grated radish. The soba noodles are chewy and interesting. The chicken is amazing, with a strong flavor of sansho pepper. #KaiunKawamichiya #Kawamichiya #soba #Kyoto #KyotoGourmet #KyotoSightseeing #tea soba #SteveJobs #TomCruise #Japan

Steve Jobs, Tom Cruise, and David Bowie visited the restaurant "Misokaan Kawamichiya." Jobs' favorite dish was the soba roll. The limited-time cold sudachi soba was delicious. The duck nanba was tasty, but the portion was small, so it might be suitable for those with a small appetite. They don't have shichimi on the table, so you have to ask for it separately. The owner's gentle response was nice, and the atmosphere of the restaurant in Kyoto was charming and nostalgic, making it seem suitable for foreign visitors and tourists.

❤️: Kure-an Kawadoya Honten: Kyoto Kawaramachi: Tabelog 3.47: 1300~ The ateno yuba and simmered anago were delicious, and the duck seiro and sudachi soba were also tasty. The atmosphere of the restaurant was really nice, with a cozy hidden gem feel. I definitely want to go back! ✨ #Kyoto #KyotoGourmet #KyotoLunch #KyotoSightseeing #Soba #KawaramachiSoba #TabelogKyoto #TabelogHighRating #LikeForLike

Every time I receive a bōro from Kawadoko-ya, I think "Oh, there's also a soba restaurant here..." I wonder if the soba bōro comes from the soba restaurant... I've always thought about visiting when I go to Kyoto someday, and on this business trip, that wish finally came true (´・ω・｀). The warm noren and signboards were a perfect match for the beautiful streetscape, and I was guided deeper and deeper into the restaurant (*^^*). Nishin soba, Kamonanba soba, seasonal plum rice... I thought it was just a soba restaurant, but it seems they also have rice bowls and hot pot dishes. The garden and the second-floor building were also very lovely, so waiting was not a bother. Nishin soba: Thick slices of Nishin were incredibly delicious, and they paired well with the plum rice ( ˙-˙ ). Kamonanba soba: The broth was full of the flavor of duck, and the soba itself was slightly thick with a firm texture. Delicious♡ This is the parent and child bowl with chilled sudachi... I'll definitely try other menu items next time I visit Kyoto (*^^*).

I visited the restaurant because Steve Jobs used to go there. I arrived around 10:50 and was the first in line. But by the time I left, there was a long line. Lucky me! I usually eat warm soba, so I ordered the herring soba, soba roll (soba sushi), and bean rice. The herring has a strong flavor, so it goes well with the mild taste of the soba. The soba itself was average. The soba roll is like sushi rolled with nori and wasabi, so it has a kick to it! The bean rice was delicious. Steve Jobs apparently ordered the tempura soba and soba roll, and he sat at the table next to mine. I will try the tempura soba next time. They accept card and other IC payments.

On the way from Kyoto City Hall to Karasuma Oike, I happened to come across this restaurant. The atmosphere was nice, so I had high expectations. I ordered duck soba and rice with beans. The duck broth was weak!! I prefer the duck hot pot at Shinkiraku in Umeda. It's not soba though... There were also foreigners dining, it was a nice Kyoto-style restaurant.

Kyoto City Hall Mae Station is about a 4-minute walk away. The historical gate and the quaint alley leading to the entrance create an atmosphere. This longstanding soba restaurant has been serving soba since the Edo period. The first floor was full, so I climbed a narrow staircase to the second floor, where there were tables on tatami mats. I ordered the Herring Soba for ¥1,600 and a rice set for ¥300. Since it's Kyoto, I decided to try the herring. The large herring is homemade and carefully prepared. When you put your chopsticks in, it crumbles and the flavor oozes out. The dashi, infused with the herring's umami, was also delicious. However, the soba itself didn't leave a strong impression in terms of aroma or texture. For an additional ¥300, I had the "Takenoko Gohan," which had a light and easy-to-eat flavor. This restaurant has been visited by VIPs like Jobs, offering a leisurely dining experience surrounded by history and charm. Thank you for the meal.

In the area around Sanjo Fuyacho where traditional ryokans line up, enjoying soba in an old townhouse is exceptional! This time, the topping for the rice bowl is bamboo shoots!! This is so delightful^^ The duck nanba seems to be popular, but for those who prefer a firm and chewy texture, it may be a bit lacking. For such people, I recommend the zaru soba. Especially during the new soba season, I want you to try the "zaru" as well. It seems there is a secret recipe when making the soba.

Hiean Kawadoya [Kyoto Prefecture, in front of Kyoto City Hall] Recommended Soba in Kyoto for a date! If you want to go with someone special, this is the soba to try: https://youtu.be/R_CWx4RvmjM The atmosphere is irresistible. Despite being a popular restaurant loved by celebrities, the lack of pretentiousness and the fact that it has been loved by the locals in Kyoto may be due to its down-to-earth nature. The menu items are small in size, but there is no high price tag associated with being an established or popular restaurant, and the menu offers soba that makes you want to come back again and again. The soba and udon have a simple taste that is not overly unique. This may be the reason why it has been loved for so long, but I think it's worth experiencing this atmosphere. As mentioned in the video, the tatami seating with a view of the garden is very nice. A restaurant to go with someone special (https://www.youtube.com/@taisetsunahito)

This is a long-established soba restaurant located near Kyoto City Hall Station on Fuyacho Street. Established during the Edo period, it is the sister store of the main branch of "Sobahoru," the 14th generation of the Kawamichiya. You can enjoy various types of soba and the famous "Hokoro" in a calm space. It is about a 5-6 minute walk from Kyoto City Hall Station. Head west on Oike Street, turn left on Fuyacho Street, pass by Tawaraya Ryokan and Hishiya Ryokan, cross Higashi-koji Street, and it will be on your right. The building is a traditional sukiya-style structure with a lot of charm. It takes about 10 minutes from Karasuma Oike Station. I visited at night. Reservations are not required, but since they are operating with shortened hours, I called the day before to inquire. I made a reservation for the "Hokoro" for the number of people. On the day of the visit, the building exudes a sense of history. The first floor has tatami and chair seating, but I was guided to a separate building passing through the garden and up to the second-floor seating area. The floor is spacious with only table seating. The atmosphere is very comfortable. The service was good, and although they seemed busy until the Hokoro was ready, they were attentive. The dishes I had, along with their prices (including tax), were as follows. I ordered a draft beer for 800 yen. Hokoro (for 2 people, 8,800 yen) is a unique hot pot created by the 14th generation, featuring Kyoto-style ingredients and ending with soba and udon noodles. The pot, filled with plenty of ingredients, is placed on a gas burner at the table to start the meal. The ingredients include raw yuba, steamed fish paste, fish ball, young chicken thigh meat, Kujo green onion, spinach, and shiitake mushrooms. The portion is generous, with three fish balls and shiitake mushrooms even though it's meant for two people. When I asked the staff about this, they said it was for good luck (odd numbers are considered lucky). Let's start with the cooked ingredients from the hot pot!! Condiments include shichimi and sansho pepper, and yuzu citrus. First, taste the broth. The light broth is delicious and not overwhelming. The raw yuba, soaked in the broth, is as tasty as expected. Next is the steamed fish paste, which is like a regular fish cake. The large fish ball, taking up a third of the pot's surface, has a substantial texture. There are three of them, so one and a half per person should be enough, especially since the fish paste is also included. The shiitake mushrooms, rehydrated, are delicious with the broth. After enjoying all the ingredients, what's left in the pot are Kujo green onions, plenty of spinach, and young chicken meat. This hot pot provides high-quality protein and vegetable intake, which is great. However, I'm not interested in young chicken meat (not a fan), so I only had a little, and my companion finished it for me. After finishing the ingredients, we ended the meal with udon and soba noodles. The udon noodles were fluffy and chewy, and the soba noodles, made with yam, had a good texture. Both noodles paired well with the broth and were enjoyable even when full. Considering the time spent was about an hour, the broth was delicious, but the ingredients were a bit monotonous and the portion was large. I got a bit tired of it halfway through. If there were more variety, such as seafood, the impression of the hot pot might have been different. The fish balls were too big, so I had to give up on one of them, but I finished the rest of the ingredients and noodles. Also, considering the price for one serving, the cost performance may be slightly high. The bill was settled at the counter near the entrance, where the owner was in charge. I was satisfied with the experience of trying the famous hot pot in this historic building. If I visit again, I would like to order just soba without any fuss.

From Kyoto Station, take the subway Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike Station. It's about a 10-minute walk from there. The place has a charming and unique atmosphere. I arrived at 11:10, just after they opened at 11. As I entered, I was greeted with a warm "welcome." The interior of the restaurant was even more charming. I ordered the Duck Nanba for 1,300 yen. It came in a small bowl with soba noodles, duck meat, and green onions topped with sansho pepper. The broth was gentle and flavorful, the soba noodles were smooth and delicious. I finished it in no time. I was able to enjoy a heartwarming bowl of soba in a place with a Kyoto-like atmosphere.

I had duck Nanba soba. When the soba was brought out, I was surprised by how small the bowl was. I thought it was a mini or half size. But it was actually a full portion. The broth was delicious, and the duck meat and green onions were tasty with the soba.

In the seating area of the Fuya-cho River Herring Soba in Kyoto, a rabbit figure is placed. On my first day of assignment in Kyoto, I visited Kaian River Herring Soba and sat in the seating area with the rabbit figure. I wonder what kind of soba this is. It must be the simplicity of the soba with plenty of sansho pepper. #Kaian River Herring Soba #River Herring Soba #Kyoto

Duck Nanba is a long-standing soba restaurant that has been around since the Edo period. The duck at Duck Nanba is topped with powdered sansho pepper and is very tender and delicious (*´～｀*). The shimeji mushroom mixed rice has a gentle flavor. The restaurant is designed like a traditional Japanese house, making you feel like you're on a little trip. Thank you for the delicious meal ☺︎

From some time ago, it seems like we started eating New Year's Eve soba here, and this year has come again. There were a lot of tourists, I think, but this New Year's Eve was the busiest in the past few years, with about a one-hour wait to get in. There are various types of seating, such as small raised seating on the first floor, separate table seating, and tatami seating on the second floor. This time, we were seated at a table on the second floor. Even though there was a line outside, once you enter the restaurant, it is quiet and calming, which may slow down the turnover... My partner ordered "Kamo Namba", and I ordered "Tenzaru". The soba dishes come in small bowls, which might surprise first-timers. The Tenzaru dipping sauce is on the spicier side, more like the Kanto style... Honestly, the soba, the sauce, and the tempura are not incredibly delicious, but we will probably come back again next New Year's Eve. It's that kind of place.

A soba restaurant that has been in business for over 300 years. I arrived at Kyoto Gojo before 11 am and while exploring the old town, I noticed a line of people, so I decided to visit for the first time. After the opening at 11 am, I was guided to the second floor. The room had the atmosphere of an old Kyoto townhouse. I ordered the herring soba (¥1500) and seasonal rice (¥300), while my companion ordered the shippoku udon (¥1200), which seemed a bit pricey. The serving of soba in the bowl was on the smaller side, so the portion was a bit small. The taste of the broth was good. The herring was decent, but it didn't have that special taste of a longstanding traditional restaurant. Overall, with the ambiance included, it was a nice experience. Thank you for the meal.

Kaian, Kawadoya Soba. I chose the cold soba option first, attracted by the tea soba. Surprisingly, the soba had a good texture. The atmosphere of the shop was very charming, and the second floor was spacious, allowing me to enjoy my meal leisurely. Next time, I might try the warm duck soba.

[Date] October 2, 2022 (Sunday) 5:39 PM [Ratings on Tabelog] 3.47 [Wait Time] None, 1 group in the restaurant [Service] Excellent [Will Visit Again] Yes [Payment Method] Cash The seating area near the entrance has low tables, reminiscent of the past, making it difficult to sit in the traditional seiza style due to the 20cm height. [Menu Items] - Green Tea Soba (slightly thicker noodles) - 9 minutes Changed from regular zaru soba to green tea soba, probably with an additional cost of around 150 yen. The noodles were thick and had a deep green color, with a good texture. The broth was rich in flavor, slightly sweet, and not too soy sauce-heavy. Served with soba-yu to mix with the broth at the end. - Soba Roll - 14 minutes Served with nori and chopped green onions, dipped in the provided sauce. The nori flavor was prominent, and the texture of the noodles was enjoyable. Wasabi was also inside the roll, which was a nice touch. - Sliced Fried Tofu Soba - 10 minutes Topped with sliced fried tofu, chopped green onions (both green and white parts), and served with a side of sansho pepper for seasoning. The noodles were soft, typical of Kyoto-style soba. The broth was light but became more flavorful with the addition of sansho pepper, providing a delicious taste. Prices: - Green Tea Soba: 1,100 yen - Soba Roll: 950 yen - Sliced Fried Tofu Soba: 1,100 yen

I plan to stay at a hotel nearby and visited the restaurant around 1 pm on a weekday. I have seen this restaurant featured on TV and heard that even famous people from overseas like to dine here, so I have been curious about it for a while. I was worried that it might be crowded because it's a famous place, but surprisingly it was not too busy, and I was seated on the second floor. The famous dishes here are said to be hot pot and herring soba, but I ordered tempura soba. When the soba was brought to me, I was a bit surprised that the bowl was small. It was like a large teacup with soba, 2 shrimp tempura, and green onions on top. It was quite simple, and I was expecting other tempura like vegetables or seaweed along with the shrimp tempura, so I was a little disappointed. The soba noodles were thick and had a soft texture. The broth was indeed delicious with a Kansai style taste, but it was not significantly different from what I usually have in Osaka. At 1800 yen, I wonder about the cost performance. The value of coming here to eat soba might be to experience the centuries-old tradition, the calming Kyoto-style entrance and building, and so on.

I went to "Kaichoya" located down the Asikoji in Fuya-cho. This restaurant has over 300 years of history and a charming Kyoto-style exterior. I walked on the cobblestone path and entered the restaurant where I was seated. Since it was my first time there, I ordered the zaru soba (large portion). After waiting for about 10 minutes while admiring the beautiful inner garden, the soba arrived. The soba broth was served in a small bowl instead of a soba cup. The soba noodles were most likely made from a mixture of 20% wheat flour and 80% buckwheat flour, and they were cut quite long, making it a bit difficult to dip them in the broth. There was nori seaweed on top, but personally, I prefer soba without it as it can mask the aroma of the soba. Overall, it didn't feel particularly special, but the atmosphere was nice, and other menu items like "yamakake soba" looked delicious, so I would like to try them next time.