Kyoto Yudofu has decided to go to either "Okutan" or "Junsei." After several years, Okutan has improved their customer service even more. Sesame tofu and tororo soup, along with kinome dango, are served first, followed quickly by yudofu, shojin tempura, and rice with pickles. There is a detailed explanation beforehand, making the dining experience enjoyable. The Kyogoku negi and shichimi on the yudofu are exceptionally delicious! The shichimi pepper has a slightly dark color, and you can taste the sansho pepper. I wanted to buy some to take home, but unfortunately, they didn't have any at the checkout counter. When I arrived at around 12:45, I was able to enter the restaurant smoothly.

On the day before the start of Golden Week, we arrived at the restaurant around 11 o'clock. We were shown to a private room where we were the only customers, giving us a sense of exclusivity. The staff efficiently served us a variety of dishes within a short period of time, allowing us to leisurely enjoy the view and savor the flavors. Despite my initial hesitation about tofu being the main course, I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent service and delicious food. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I was brought here by my wife. Even though it was 11:25, there was already a line of customers waiting at the entrance. After waiting for about an hour, we were finally seated. We ordered sesame tofu, miso eggplant, tempura, grated yam soup, and the main dish of tofu hot pot. Everything was delicious, and it was worth waiting in the cold. I had a heartwarming time listening to the conversation of the elderly couple next to us.

I finally got to visit this restaurant after seeing it on a high school field trip 35 years ago. When I arrived around 12 o'clock, there were 3 groups ahead of me. The menu was set, and I added 2 servings of hot sake. The miso-grilled dish had a refreshing taste of sansho pepper, which was very good. When lighting the solid fuel on the stove, they used matches, which I found very cool. I asked about the reason for this, and they explained that they switched to solid fuel from charcoal, but kept the match lighting for a more stylish touch, as per the previous owner's wishes. I thought it was indeed more sophisticated than using a lighter. In addition to the dishes in the photo, they also served miso-grilled dish, tempura, hot tofu, and rice, but I was so engrossed in eating that I forgot to take photos. I left around 1:30, and by then, they had already sold out of tofu. It was a peaceful and enjoyable time.

When it comes to Kyoto, you think of Yudofu. And when it comes to Yudofu, you think of Okutan. So, I visited Okutan. I enjoyed a Yudofu full course meal while admiring the beautiful garden. It was warm and very blissful. The staff's service was also pleasant. I understand why it's so popular. Lunch reservations are not accepted, but even on weekends, if you line up a little before opening, you can usually get a seat fairly easily.

I visited Kyoto in autumn and went to Nanzenji Temple and Eikando Zenrinji Temple. The autumn leaves in Kyoto are beautiful. It was cold in Kyoto, so I had yudofu near Nanzenji Temple. It seemed like there was a short line, but the turnover rate was slow, and it took about an hour to get a table. I ordered the yudofu set for 3500 yen and a medium bottle of beer for 770 yen. I felt like the yudofu in Kyoto was just like regular homemade yudofu, nothing special. Overall, I wasn't particularly impressed.

On the last day of the consecutive holidays, around 11:30 am, I was able to enter without waiting in line. In the past, I had tried to go twice in the afternoon and it was sold out, so I couldn't get in, but this time I was able to enter smoothly. The tofu was very delicious, but the portion was a bit small for me. There were many older customers. Overall, I think the atmosphere was good.

Soba restaurant near Nanzenji Temple, a long-established hot tofu shop. I visited with a colleague for a straightforward Kyoto lunch. It seems to cater to tourists, but it's worth a visit. They used to offer a course with tofu made in the traditional way, but it was not available this time. Maybe it's seasonal. Enjoying hot tofu in a cool, air-conditioned room even on a hot day felt luxurious.

The set menu is a must-try. The sesame tofu was the most delicious I've ever had in my life. Next, we had miso paste on fuki (butterbur) tofu, which went perfectly with the sake. We had five servings of yudofu. The meal also included rice, pickles, and grated yam. Due to COVID-19 measures, all tables were placed facing the garden, which actually created a wonderful atmosphere. If you want a variety of dishes, go to Junsei, but for a great ambiance, this place is the clear choice. The garden view is simply mesmerizing. I wish I could have more tofu and sake...

This was my third visit, I think? It has become a regular stop for me whenever I visit Kyoto. Especially in the winter, it is a must-visit. They only have one menu item, but the work is done very carefully. Eating their yudofu in the quaint atmosphere of the restaurant during the cold winter is exceptional. Thank you for the meal. I will visit again!

Nanzenji Temple does not take reservations, so be prepared to wait on weekends. It gets really cold in winter, so be careful. This time, we were guided to a private tatami room where we could relax. The menu consists of only one course, which is Yudofu, so you may not go there often, but it could be fun to compare it with Ukai under Tokyo Tower.

Enjoyed Yudofu at Okutan Nanzenji Store ☆彡 #Kyoto #Lunch November 20, 2021 Had lunch at "Okutan Nanzenji Store" right next to Nanzenji Temple. During the autumn foliage season, reservations are not accepted, so I decided to go before the 11 am opening time. There was already a long line in front of the store around 10:45 am. The first few people were ushered inside around 11 am, and after about 5 minutes, I was able to enter. However, there was still a wait inside. Around 11 am, we were guided upstairs in the store. We took off our shoes, stored them in lockers, and went up the stairs to the second floor. As a COVID-19 precaution, seating was arranged for two people side by side. There was a shichirin-style pot stand and a view of the autumn foliage from the window in the tatami room. It was a calming atmosphere. The course was only Yudofu, with drinks ordered separately. We had sesame tofu and grated yam. The grated yam could be eaten with the rice at the end. We started with the miso dish. It went well with sake. In the Yudofu pot, there was a container of sauce and tofu. We poured the sauce over the tofu as instructed by the staff. The tempura was crispy and delicious. The rice was also tasty. The autumn foliage view from the second-floor window was like this from the first floor↓ It was a meaningful time, enjoying a meal while looking at the beautiful garden.

The storefront looks intimidating, but customers are arriving one after another. Even though it was a bit early for lunch, there was a wait of three groups. It seems to be a popular restaurant. The menu consists of "Yudofu Set" only. The set includes yudofu, kinome tofu, sesame tofu, grated yam soup, vegetarian tempura, rice, and pickles. I usually don't like sesame tofu, but the sesame tofu here was delicious with a strong sesame flavor. All the dishes were tasty and satisfying. The chopped pickled vegetables were so delicious that I decided to buy them as a souvenir. When I asked, I found out that they source them from a pickle shop called Iseya. I got a pamphlet and went to the shop to buy some. Thank you for the delicious meal. It was great. 6.4

A cozy yudofu restaurant near Nanzenji Temple, said to be the first to serve yudofu in Japan. You can relax in a private room while enjoying warm yudofu and the view of the greenery outside. The first dish served, sesame tofu, is made by continuously kneading white sesame, making it a unique dish not found elsewhere. A must-visit spot while exploring Nanzenji Temple.

This time, I visited "Okutan Nanzenji Store," located near Nanzenji Temple, which is said to be the birthplace of Yudofu (tofu hot pot). I wanted to experience the 360-year history of Yudofu. - Visit: Around 12:00 - Store: Traditional Japanese-style facade - Staff: A friendly older lady Yudofu Course (3,300 yen including tax) Due to the impact of COVID-19 and the temporary suspension of the GoToTravel campaign, there were surprisingly few tourists around Nanzenji Temple. Despite not having a reservation, I was able to enter the shop without any issues. I was guided to a private room on the 1st floor, which was the only one available. How lucky! The meal consisted of the following dishes: - Sesame Tofu: Fresh tofu with a sesame flavor and a firm texture - Tororo Soup: Miso-flavored soup that was delicious when poured over rice - Kinome Dango: A tasty dish with the fragrance of kinome (Japanese pepper) and miso-flavored dango - Yudofu: An exquisite dish with yudofu, topped with sansho pepper, green onions, and a flavorful broth - Vegetarian Tempura: Tempura made with pumpkin, shiso leaves, seaweed, shishito pepper, and yam, served with salt - Rice and Pickles: Including takuan pickles The highlight of the meal was the incredibly delicious Yudofu. It was so tasty that I couldn't believe Yudofu could be this good! The portion was generous, and I especially enjoyed the tororo soup poured over rice at the end. I left about half of the rice uneaten. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I am from Kyoto and this was my first time trying Yudofu (tofu hot pot). I heard that I may have eaten it when I was younger, but I don't remember. The restaurant I went to didn't really judge if it was good or not, they just served the food and you ate it. Maybe people from other regions would enjoy it more. I thought I would eat it with dashi broth, but it was more like a slightly sour soy sauce with very little acidity, almost like ponzu. It would have been tastier if it had a stronger bonito flavor.

This is my first visit. I went on a trip to Kyoto with a friend. As we headed towards Nanzen-ji Temple, we found many tofu restaurants, and this time we went to Okutan. You can enjoy your meal while looking at the charming garden. They only serve lunch. It was a tofu full course meal! I was amazed at how full I got from eating tofu, it was a lot! Everything was delicious. By the time we finished eating, they had already sold out of lunch! Kyoto is truly amazing! If you have a specific tofu restaurant in mind, I recommend going early!

The autumn leaves were almost over when I visited in early December. After passing through the quaint entrance, I waited about 20 minutes before being seated. The menu had only one item, "Yudofu" (3000 yen). I enjoyed it with a beer. The presentation of the tofu in the Yudofu was so meticulous, and all the dishes were very delicious. Thank you for the meal. I will visit again!

We visited Okutan, famous for its tofu dishes, at Eikando-Nanzenji during the peak of autumn leaves. We arrived at 11:15 and the line extended from inside the building to outside, with a wait of about an hour. During this busy season, they do not accept reservations. The menu consists of various types of yudofu, priced at 3,300 yen including tax, and payment is cash only. It's a bit disappointing that they do not accept cashless payments. After waiting for an hour, we were seated. Since the menu is predetermined, the food was served quickly. Starting with Goma tofu, followed by Kinome Tadaku, each dish was delicious in the pleasant atmosphere. With a sense of tradition, I think it's a great place to dine.

Yudofu, which originated as shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) at Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto, has evolved over time and become a representative dish of Kyoto cuisine. Established in 1635, Okutan is known as the oldest yudofu restaurant in Japan, with a history spanning over 380 years. The restaurant has two locations, one in Kiyomizu and one in Nanzen-ji. The Nanzen-ji location is about a 10-minute walk from Keage Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line, along the Kaga-tani Street north of Nanzen-ji. Their menu includes sesame tofu, grated yam soup, kinome dango, vegetarian tempura, yudofu, rice, grated yam rice, and pickles.