Famous "Waraji Tonkatsu" for 1628 yen. On the way to Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, I had an early lunch at a window seat. I ordered the famous "Waraji Tonkatsu" and got a plate full of it! It was a thin tonkatsu but very large, with salad buried underneath. When dipped in sauce, it was so delicious that I couldn't stop eating. I finished it all in one go. Thank you for the meal! In Kyoto, there are many foreign tourists and it's interesting to see them ordering in English. It's a good learning experience for the staff.

After visiting Kiyomizu-dera, I was looking for a lunch spot and was drawn to the menu at Warajiya, a restaurant known for its "Kyoto Beef Cutlet". In Kyoto, it has become a trend among foreign tourists to enjoy this high-quality beef cutlet as a Japanese dish. Served on a round plate with rice, it is enjoyed like a Western meal. In the scorching heat of Kyoto's summer, eating a rare beef cutlet in a cool, air-conditioned restaurant is a delightful experience. During the Meiji and Taisho eras, Kyoto, known for its love of new things, saw the emergence of Western-style restaurants. One restaurant's oversized beef cutlet was likened to traditional Japanese footwear (waraji) and became known as "Waraji Cutlet", gaining popularity as a famous Western-style dish in Kyoto.

After visiting Kiyomizu-dera, we had lunch here on the way back. There were few staff members, so the tables were slow to be cleared after customers left. Despite a long line, I noticed several empty tables that could have been used, which made me wonder why they couldn't seat us sooner. I ordered the chicken set meal from the daily specials menu. The portion size was quite generous, but the taste was just average.

After decades, I decided to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple. When I was a child, my grandmother lived near Sannen-zaka, so places like Kiyomizu-dera and the surrounding area felt like my backyard. It's hard to believe now, but back then, hardly anyone walked from Sannen-zaka to the Five-story Pagoda or Kannon Temple. I used to often go to the tofu shop in front of the Five-story Pagoda (which is no longer there) to buy tofu. Anyway, after circling Kiyomizu-dera and returning, it was almost lunchtime at 11:30. It was difficult to find a place to eat, so I decided to have tonkatsu for the first time in a long time at a nearby restaurant. There was one customer before me and one after me, but I wonder if this is the norm on weekdays in this day and age. It has been many decades since I last had tonkatsu, probably since I had it at Murase in Shinkyogoku (or was it Teramachi Kyogoku?) when I was a child, but I don't really remember. The tonkatsu itself was okay, but I didn't like the demi-glace sauce. I ordered the large rice, which cost an additional 150 yen. I thought about having something sweet on the way back, but I didn't want to go into a store alone, so I gave up and went home.

I am currently on a pilgrimage to the Thirty-Three Temples of the Western Region. Today, I visited Kyoto city and decided to stop by Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It was quite crowded, even though it was already past 2 PM and I hadn't started my visit yet. Feeling hungry, I decided to try a restaurant that caught my eye, a place known for its "waraji tonkatsu" (sandal-shaped pork cutlet). It's located just before Kiyomizu-dera Temple, on the second floor after climbing up a hill. The restaurant had a wait, but they could seat me quickly at the counter. The menu included tonkatsu, bifukatsu, hamburger, and more. I opted for the waraji tonkatsu priced at 1480 yen, as it was listed as a specialty. While waiting for my order, I was surprised by the size of the bifukatsu served to the person next to me. When my order arrived, I found a thin but large plateful of tonkatsu! It came with rice, miso soup, cabbage, broccoli, and cherry tomatoes hidden underneath the tonkatsu. The rice portion was reduced in advance. The tonkatsu was truly in the shape of a sandal, with a large portion of meat, making it difficult to finish. The sauce paired well with the tonkatsu and was delicious. I thought it would be nice to have a slightly smaller size option as well.

Kyoto Tonkatsu Warajiya specialty Waraji Tonkatsu ¥1480 This was the first time I ate such a huge tonkatsu, almost the size of my face. It was incredibly delicious and there was plenty of tonkatsu, so I was full and satisfied! It would be worth stopping by again when I visit Kyoto next time. (*ˊ˘ˋ*)

I had seen it on TV before, so I decided to visit the restaurant near Kiyomizu-dera Temple. I went up to the second floor alone and sat at the counter seat. I ordered the "famous" Waraji Tonkatsu (1628 yen including tax), and it was quickly served. The thin cutlet was placed like a sandal, and it came with a sauce that was somewhat fruity, which I found a bit challenging. The cutlet itself was large and thin, making it easy to eat. It seemed like a choice between size and thickness. It came with rice and miso soup. The restaurant was almost full even though it was around 2 pm.

This is a shop located on the slope in front of Kiyomizu Temple. I went in because the specialty dish, "tonkatsu" or "waraji katsu," displayed in the window looked delicious. The staff seemed busy and didn't say much, just placing the menu on the table and leaving. The water tasted strange. The waraji katsu had a thick batter and thin meat that was easy to cut with a fork. The batter was salty and the sauce was also strong, creating a unique taste. The strong flavors of the batter and sauce made it hard to taste the meat itself. It was a tonkatsu unlike any I've had before. I didn't think the cost performance was very good. The interior design and the view from the window were nice.

The straw sandals are big, delicious, and served quickly.

A safe choice for women, a normal Western-style restaurant that is not overpriced even for tourists.