Meeting with Professor K at the clock tower in front of Kyoto University's Hyakumanben Campus. We went together to the "Central Cafeteria (Co-op)" on campus. It's been 40 years since I last ate here. The cafeteria has been reinforced for earthquake safety and looks completely renovated. The table layout has been revamped and everything looks different. The lunch menu has also changed a lot. I chose a variety of dishes and it cost 708 yen. I've never had such a luxurious lunch before. Back in my student days, I used to eat for under 200 yen per meal. That's all I could afford for food expenses.

■ Tonjiru (Pork Miso Soup): 108 yen ■ Soupless Tantanmen: 418 yen ■ Kitsune Udon: 220 yen Chuo Shokudo 075-753-7651 8th Building, B1F, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260302/26020620/

A cafeteria operated by a co-op located right next to the main campus of Kyoto University, right next to the Clock Tower, with good access. The menu includes main dishes, rice bowls, noodles, and small side dishes, and one of the features is that breakfast is also available. The solo seats are famous, making it a recommended choice for those who want to enjoy a meal in a calm atmosphere.

On the 3rd day in Kyoto, for lunch I had the soupless tantanmen at the Kyoto University Co-op Central Cafeteria located on the Yoshida Campus (418 yen). It came with green onions, half-boiled egg, and plenty of minced meat miso on top. There are various dining options on the Yoshida Campus, including the West Co-op Cafeteria, cafes, and a French restaurant. Although the menu offers a variety of choices, there was no regular ramen, so I opted for the soupless tantanmen. Udon and soba are available starting from 220 yen. These kinds of places are affordable and good. The soupless tantanmen I had was mixed well with the meat miso and had a decent level of spiciness, making it easy to finish quickly. Sometimes it's nice to have soupless tantanmen too. It was a delicious meal.

This time, I tried to be a little more conscious of the visual aspect, or the appearance, based on the reflection from last time. However, there are still limitations. - Grilled horse mackerel in Western-style sweet and sour sauce 216 - Miso soup 32 - Cold tofu 43 - Rolled omelette 64 - Ancient rice mixed rice S 94449 The grilled horse mackerel in sweet and sour sauce was unexpectedly warm, which was a pleasant surprise. On the other hand, the rolled omelette was served very cold from the refrigerator, so I warmed it up a bit in the microwave before eating. The horse mackerel was surprisingly well-prepared, with plenty of vegetables and a mild vinegar flavor. Overall, it was a decent option for a light lunch considering the price. Thank you for the meal.

The lunch was on the slower side, and the place was quite empty. I ordered the refreshing pork with salt and lemon for 259 yen, miso soup for 32 yen, ancient rice for 94 yen, and cold tofu for 434 yen. The total came to 828 yen. I was drawn to the dish by its name, but the appearance seemed lacking in flavor. So, I sprinkled seven spice powder on half of it. The dish looked like something straight out of a disappointing Instagram photo, which oddly suited the gloomy mood of the rainy season. The main dish was not very flavorful, but the seven spice powder was a good choice. There were only 3 slices of pork, the rest was mostly bean sprouts. I won't complain about the price, but in terms of value for money, it wasn't very impressive. Thank you for the meal.

I have been quite busy lately and haven't been able to post much. Today's lunch was curry from a place nearby, out of necessity for something quick. The curry at this place has not changed in decades. It's neither impressive nor flavorful, just very plain and safe. I tried to make it look better by adding fried chicken, a soft-boiled egg, and spinach, but it still fell short. It was a lackluster lunch. The total cost was 464 yen, which is not too expensive but not very cheap either.

The appearance is not very appealing, just like last time. Today's choices were miso soup, pork stir-fry, and grilled mackerel. The ancient rice with small fish was 557 yen. The dishes were nutritious, but the flavors seemed a bit overcooked. It's probably because they were pre-made. Also, I wish they wouldn't put flashy ads on the trays. Students probably don't pay attention to them. Thank you for the meal.

My rating is 3.9 [Food & Taste 3.8 | Service - | Atmosphere 3.9 | Value for Money 4.1 | Drinks -]. It may not look fancy, but the lunch here consists of ancient rice with miso soup, pork and leek stir-fry, cold tofu, and a hot spring egg, totaling 471 yen. It's impressive how it naturally adds up to just one coin without even trying. And surprisingly, these simple dishes are quite delicious. Don't worry about impressing on Instagram.

Kyoto's nostalgic now-closed famous restaurant, Vicuña. The late Mr. Yasuyoshi Fujie (singer name Pancho) created an original curry by arranging Peruvian cuisine. While his wife continues to serve Mexican cuisine, this particular menu is no longer available. It was often featured on TV. When I saw the name here, I couldn't help but order it. White Curry 378, Miso Soup 32, Okra with Onsen Egg 86, Total 496 yen. While it is still a milk-based curry, the taste is naturally different. Just being able to have White Curry makes me happy in some way. Thank you for the meal.

My rating is 3.9 [Food/Taste 3.8 | Service - | Atmosphere 3.9 | Value for money 4.2 | Drinks -]. It's October. Students have returned to the campus near my workplace. There seems to be a somewhat festive atmosphere lately. However, the cafeteria menu is not very exciting. So, this time, let's focus on the original charm of the school cafeteria, which is "affordability". Barley rice S 91, miso hot pot 216, cold tofu 43, hot spring egg 43, total 393 yen. It all adds up nicely. But as a result, the appearance is very plain. Today's main dish, miso hot pot, is actually quite good. The chicken meatballs are large and there are plenty of vegetables. The meatballs are likely made with something like yam, giving them a soft and fluffy texture. Personally, I prefer a more robust and solid texture, but this is also delicious. It's wallet-friendly and quite tasty. The celebration of the Nobel Prize winner was also displayed in the restaurant. This person has been predicted to win since I was in my 20s. Congratulations.

I came to Kyoto and decided to visit Kyoto University even though I had no intention to. I walked from Kawaramachi and found that Yoshida Dormitory was still there, and the Yoshida Library was also open. The clock tower was very quiet. I was the only one there. The campus was incredibly quiet, with fewer people than before, and everyone looked very intelligent. The buildings were the same, but something felt different. I also visited the RENESA building, which was also quiet. It seemed like the chemical engineering department had been taken over by the literature department. I later found out that the engineering department had been moved out of the Yoshida campus and became Katsura Institute of Technology. Coincidentally, there was an event for the Nobel Prize-winning Professor Kenichi Fukui in front of the RENESA building, but it was already closed. I was disappointed by the state of the Yoshida campus. I then had tea at the Central Cafeteria, and the bread was delicious. I also tried the conger eel, which was tasty.

In the area of Hyakumanben in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, there is the Central Cafeteria of Kyoto University. In the past, it was strangely dim, so I tended to avoid it and instead go to Rene next to the West Lecture Hall, or use the North Cafeteria. A few years ago, the Central Cafeteria was completely renovated and transformed into a surprisingly beautiful space. The exterior remains the same as before, but the interior is like a different world. There were some menu items from the past as well as new additions. I ordered the cold noodles that I used to eat a lot during my student days, feeling nostalgic. The fried chicken cold noodles that I used to eat were not available, so I got the vegetable cold noodles instead. In the past, there used to be a mysterious large mayonnaise in the dressing corner, which I would pour over the fresh vegetables in the cold noodles, but the mayonnaise was no longer there, so I added a little dressing. The Central Cafeteria is now bustling with students in a bright and beautiful environment, but I also felt a little lonely, sensing the changing times. It's a nostalgic "chushoku" (meal).

The cafeteria at Kyoto University had excellent value for money.

My rating is 3.9 for food, 3.9 for service, 3.8 for atmosphere, 4.1 for value for money, and 0 for drinks. Oh, they're still having the Kyushu Fair. This time it's chicken tempura, which I love. So, I ordered the following: Oita chicken tempura (young chicken deep-fried in soy sauce) 172, miso soup 32, shredded daikon radish 64, rolled omelette 64, barley rice (small) 91, for a total of 423 yen. Hehe. It was a somewhat conservative order since last time it was more than one coin. But, the rolled omelette was cold, but when I heated it in the microwave it was quite good. The shredded daikon radish was also tasty. And the chicken tempura was satisfying in terms of both portion size and taste. Plus, it was very affordable. It may be a bit cheap, but overall it was a lunch that left me quite satisfied.

My rating is 3.9 for food, 3.8 for atmosphere, and 4.1 for cost performance. There was a big sign saying "Kyushu Fair" at the entrance, so I decided to go for it. Today's lunch special was "Oita Nakatsu Karaage" for 302 yen. I also had the usual soft-boiled egg, cold tofu, barley rice, and miso soup. The fried chicken, which is considered the "holy land" in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, was marinated in soy sauce and ginger before being fried to a crispy texture. The taste was good, but for 302 yen for a school cafeteria side dish, I would have liked one more piece. As a result, the price was a bit high. Due to various global sports events (World Cup, US Open, Ohtani's return), my lunch today was before 4 pm. It was not crowded, so it was fine. Thank you for the meal.

I would rate this restaurant as 3.9 for food, 3.8 for atmosphere, and 4.2 for value for money. The service was good. It was a bit crowded due to new students on campus, but I could easily find a seat at 10:30. Today, I decided to have a breakfast of small dishes. I had ancient rice, pork miso soup, cold tofu, okra with onsen egg, and grilled mackerel side dish. The total cost was 417 yen. The mackerel was surprisingly good in quality and quantity. It was a well-balanced and nutritious meal at a very affordable price. Thank you for the meal.

My rating is 3.9 [Food 3.9 | Service - | Atmosphere 3.8 | Value for money 4.2 | Drinks -]. In the world, the principle of market competition generally applies, and this is also true in the food and beverage industry to some extent. However, there is more to it than just that. There are longstanding restaurants that strive to keep the tradition alive, as well as family-run establishments that prioritize customer satisfaction over profits. What I want to say is, at this time of year, there are no people on university campuses. Graduates have left their lodgings, and students are either engaging in recruitment activities or enjoying spring break. Soon, a large number of young people who do not know what they want will flock in. At 8:30 in this university cafeteria, during lecture periods, there should be a bustling crowd of students grabbing a meal before class. But now, there are very few people around. If you counted, there were more staff members than customers. Yet, the cafeteria is open from 8:00 to 20:00 (usually until 21:00). Despite not making any profit. Why is it open? Because the cooperative organization running it is not profit-oriented. If everything in the world were like this, it wouldn't work out, but such places are necessary. Therefore, I opted for a breakfast set served on one plate. Priced at 324 yen for rice (ancient grains) at 94 yen, totaling 418 yen. The side dishes included omelette, meatballs, minced cutlets, sautéed burdock and bamboo shoots, boiled greens, two slices of salt-grilled mackerel, and Chinese soup. For this variety of dishes at just over 400 yen, it's quite a good deal. The taste is not bad either. The minced cutlets were especially delicious. However, it's so empty here. It's actually unsettling. Nevertheless, the meal was satisfying.

I rate this restaurant 3.9 [Food 3.9 | Service - | Atmosphere 3.8 | Value for money 4.2 | Drinks -]. Today, around 2:30 pm, I had lunch. It seems like most classes and exams are over, and the university campus is quiet and peaceful. It's not crowded here either. Today's menu choices were as follows: Fried sardine with plum and shiso 257, Cold tofu 43, Dried young sardines with grated daikon radish 64, Miso soup 32, Ancient rice small size 89. Total 485 yen. The fried sardine was surprisingly delicious. It was a great combination of sardine, shiso, and plum, and eating it with grated daikon radish made it even more refreshing. I don't think we had such elaborate side dishes in the past. To get all this for a one-coin price, there's really nothing to complain about. Thank you for the meal.

In August 2017, during our family trip, we visited Kyoto for just one night. We wanted to show our son Kyoto University, so we decided to have lunch there. Instead of going to a fancy restaurant near the Clock Tower, we chose to experience the university cafeteria in the Co-op Central Cafeteria. The dim staircase leading underground gave the impression of a dingy cafeteria, but we were pleasantly surprised to find a modern, bright, and spacious area. Many students on school visits were there for the summer break, and today a group of high school girls were also dining. It was self-service, but unlike typical university cafeterias, this one used a cafeteria-style system. We lined up in the "main dish" section to receive today's recommended sweet and sour chicken, miso soup, and rice. Then we moved to an area with side dishes where everyone could choose from a variety of dishes like rice bowls and noodles. It was quite efficient. We also grabbed a soft-boiled egg and paid at the register. It only cost around 500 yen, very cheap! We didn't have high expectations for the food since it was a university cafeteria, but surprisingly, it was quite good and definitely passed the test. It was much better than the cafeteria under the Yasuda Auditorium at the University of Tokyo. I envied the students who could eat here every day.