I visited "Mitate" located 10 minutes from Kyoto Shijo Station! I went to Kyoto for Obon and visited a grave, so I decided to try something Kyoto-like! It's located along the approach to Yasaka Shrine, so it's recommended to stop by while visiting the shrine! The exterior of the restaurant looks like a traditional inn, giving off a vibe of long-standing establishment. Look for the sign that says "Kyoto Udon"! It was a scorching hot day, so I went for cold udon! This time, I ordered: - Cold pork shabu udon for 1,100 yen. The soup was a Japanese-style broth with cucumber, pickled ginger, and rice crackers on top. The presentation was beautiful, making it a good choice for women too! The cold shabu shabu pork matched well with the udon, and I felt like I could eat it endlessly! Overall, it was refreshing and perfect for summer! The service seemed a bit slow as they were dealing with a group before I entered, but the prices were reasonable for a tourist area! The fried tofu pockets seem to be a specialty and delicious, so I might try them next time! It's been a while since I had cold udon, and it seems like I'll be hooked next year too. It was a great meal!!

Near Yasaka Shrine, there is an udon restaurant. It is housed in a traditional building where you take off your shoes at the entrance. Walking down the hallway, you'll find a large tatami room with tables where you can enjoy your meal. The atmosphere feels like dining in a regular home turned into a restaurant. You can gaze at the garden through the large glass windows while enjoying your meal. The menu mainly consists of various types of udon, both hot and cold options. On a chilly day, I opted for the hot udon and chose the Pork Nanba Udon, a slightly unusual choice. The broth had a clear golden color typical of Kyoto, with a natural umami flavor that spread throughout my body. The slightly salty taste was not overpowering but rather delicious. The thinly sliced pork belly topping was tender, with a sweet fat flavor and meaty umami taste. The generous amount of green onions added a refreshing touch to the dish. The noodles were soft, lacking a strong chewiness but still easy to eat. Overall, the udon was quite tasty, although the price of 1,100 yen for a bowl of Pork Nanba Udon felt a bit expensive due to its location near a tourist spot. A slightly lower price would make it more accessible and worth the value.

The place seems to also run a ryokan. I was drawn in by the nice entrance, but once inside, I found myself in a tatami room with tables and chairs... It was a bit disappointing as I was hoping to enjoy the garden view. Looking at their website, it seems like they cater to foreigners. I ordered the Kyoto green onion udon for 1,200 yen (tax included). The dish was filled with diagonally sliced green onions, probably Kujyo negi. The green onions were crunchy and fresh, with no bitterness. The broth had a refined Kyoto-style flavor, and the added ginger provided a nice touch. The noodles were chewy and delicious.

I arrived at the restaurant around 12:30 on a regular day while walking from Kiyomizu-dera to Yasaka Shrine, and I was drawn in by the atmosphere. The inside felt like a renovated house, and the seats facing the garden were already taken. I ordered the herring udon for ¥1300. The udon noodles were thin and soft, with a flavorful broth. I personally prefer noodles with more firmness, but this had a different kind of taste. The herring simmered in soy sauce was larger than I expected and had a delicious flavor. My companion ordered the yuba udon for ¥1100, which allowed us to enjoy the delicious broth and yuba together. I had wanted to try Kyoto's famous herring soba, but my companion has a buckwheat allergy, so we were looking for a restaurant that only served udon. It was cheaper than other eateries in the area, and we left satisfied.

Visit Date: 3.13

The Kamo Negi Udon was delicious. It had a lot of ginger which made my body warm and cozy.

Price for tourists and taste ===========

On April 2, 2017, I visited a restaurant located near Sannenzaka, leading to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Shrine, and Maruyama Park. The restaurant has a traditional Japanese architecture, and used to be a Japanese cuisine restaurant. The atmosphere is quite upscale for a udon restaurant. The prices on the menu were reasonable. I chose this restaurant because it had a shorter line compared to others. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I was finally seated. The restaurant had several divided rooms, and guests were required to take off their shoes before entering. I ordered negi udon, which was served with a delicate Kyoto-style broth. The udon itself was average, with a generous amount of negi that felt a bit messy. Overall, the food was decent. However, the service felt rushed, which was a bit disappointing considering the beautiful traditional setting and location of the restaurant.

I visited the restaurant on February 5, 2016 for lunch. It is a udon restaurant near Yasaka Shrine. The service was a bit lacking as they only brought a tea cup and you have to pour your own tea from a pot. I would have preferred if they served the tea already. The atmosphere was nice with a view of a Japanese garden. I ordered the Kyoto green onion udon for 1100 yen. Honestly, the taste was just average and the broth was a bit bland, which was disappointing. I had high expectations for Kyoto udon, so it was a letdown. Despite the convenient location, I hope they focus more on serving delicious udon rather than just catering to tourists.

I came across this shop just as I was coming down a quaint slope from Kiyomizu-dera to Kodai-ji. Intrigued by the sign advertising Kamo negi udon for 1,000 yen, I decided to enter. The room I was led to was at the back of the building, with a view of the garden beyond the veranda. A friendly elderly lady explained the menu to me, and I ended up ordering the Kamo negi udon. The udon, served with a side of chirimen sansho rice, was surprisingly generous in portion. It was topped with plenty of green onions and a hint of ginger. The flavor was mild and gentle. The udon itself was not too firm, and easy to slurp up. It had an elegant quality to it, though some may find it lacking in distinctiveness. The autumn leaves in the garden visible from the veranda were at a perfect stage. The lady mentioned that unfortunately, the colors of the leaves this year were a bit disappointing, perhaps due to the summer heat.

It was a bit crowded as it is located in a tourist spot, so we had to wait a bit. However, since it's an udon restaurant, the turnover is fast. The udon is delicious, of course, but the inari sushi is exceptional. It often sells out, but I was lucky enough to get some.

This is my second visit. Last time, I had the warm Kyoto negi udon, but this time, on a hot day, I tried the cold sudachi udon, and my companion had the plum udon. Both were refreshing and delicious. I would like to come back again.