I've been back and forth between Kyoto and Okinawa, so inconsistent, sorry for being restless. This time, I visited a restaurant called "Gion Kitazato" a bit further south from there. It was a short visit, but I tried the "Otegaru Course" for 3800 yen. It was delicious. I also had two beers, so it cost around 5000 yen, but I was very satisfied. The atmosphere was nice, probably due to the location. It's a good place to have a calm conversation with close friends. Having sushi at the counter with a friend while drinking sake, hmm, the best! But today, I'm alone... haha. Although I seem like a business traveler, they were very polite when I called to ask if there were any available seats. Thank you! It was delicious! I will definitely go again. Thank you for the meal!

Memo. Visit date unknown. Took a stroll from Kiyomizu to Gion Shijo♪ While famous tourist spots are great, I heard about a local favorite spot so let's go! A quiet shop located east of the Kamo River, near Kennin-ji Temple. No overwhelming tourist crowds, just locals enjoying delicious authentic cuisine while sipping on drinks during the day! It has a chic Tokyo vibe to it. We opted for the chef's selection and started with a refreshing vinegared dish of summer vegetables. Delicious! The simmered dish had a rich broth and was beautifully presented. I'm not a fan of Kanto-style black simmered dishes, especially the black taro. The sashimi had a unique twist, with the shrimp tasting exquisite without any fishy smell! The pressed sushi was definitely Kansai style. The sake kept flowing! While the dishes weren't high-end, each one had quality ingredients and a touch of skill. The prices were very reasonable, not geared towards tourists at all. I love these kinds of places! They also serve sushi, which looked just as authentic as a high-end sushi restaurant. Locals seem to know how to make the most of various dining experiences! This place in Gion offers seasonal delicacies that I almost don't want to share with anyone (*^^*)

The shop before Ebisu-san's is all very delicious. The pike conger here is deboned. The closing dish is satisfying!

Kyoto is known for having few affordable and delicious sushi restaurants. I was recommended by a friend who owns a restaurant to try Yamabiko. I opted for the "affordable course" for my first visit, priced at only 3500 yen. The dishes arrived promptly, starting with Fugu skin with ponzu sauce, followed by delicious Grilled Cod marinated in miso. The Oden, a surprising addition to a sushi course, was flavorful and satisfying. The assorted sashimi was fresh and delightful, especially the Kanpachi. The Tempura platter was crispy and delicious, with each piece perfectly fried. The sushi rolls were next, featuring Zuwai crab, Kanpachi, Tuna, Shrimp, and more. The sushi lineup was impressive, with high-quality ingredients and perfectly seasoned rice. I also added a Shiso roll with mountain yam, which was a delightful surprise. The additional Anago was tender and flavorful. To finish off the meal, I enjoyed a red miso soup. With a few extra orders of sake and sweet potato soda, the total bill came to around 6000 yen per person. This course is highly recommended for those who want to enjoy a variety of grilled and fried dishes along with excellent sushi. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, frequented by older regulars, adding to the authentic Kyoto experience. I look forward to returning and becoming a regular myself in the future.

I met up with friends from elementary school and high school for a meal after a long time, and we decided on a Japanese restaurant. We chose this restaurant because we all have shared memories together, like the time we got into a car accident at 18 and our first trip to Hawaii. We reserved a table with a sunken kotatsu style seating as we wanted to catch up on each other's lives. It was our first time at this restaurant, so we ordered the easy course set menu for 3500 yen. We started with draft beer and were served appetizers like firefly squid with miso vinegar and simmered beef tendon. The sashimi platter included striped jack, tuna, seared sea bream, sea grapes, and a unique mix of sayori fish and minced tree buds. Each item was delicious, especially the fatty striped jack and the flavorful sayori with tree buds. The grilled silver cod with white miso was also excellent. We changed our drinks, and I opted for a junmai ginjo sake which paired well with the food. The tempura selection included eggplant, sweet potato, shiitake mushroom, shrimp, conger eel, and sand smelt with taro sprouts, all served with salt and sansho pepper. It was a delightful spring tempura dish. We ended the meal with sushi, featuring creative toppings like sayori with tree buds between the fish and rice, flounder with ponzu sauce, and conger eel with plum paste. The sushi rice was decent, but I wished there was more fresh wasabi. The red miso soup with clams and seasonal vegetables was also tasty. Overall, the meal was satisfying, reasonably priced at 3500 yen in Gion, and the service was attentive. It was a heartwarming experience to reconnect with old friends over delicious food and drinks. This sushi restaurant in Gion definitely exceeded our expectations in terms of quality and value.

I sometimes go to Yamabiko-san's restaurant, and every time I can leave satisfied with the food. What's more, the occasional old man's Makana-i cuisine that comes out is really delicious! It's a Japanese restaurant, but it serves Chinese food occasionally! The Japanese-style Chinese food is amazing, almost like it was made by someone with experience in Chinese cuisine. Of course, the side dishes are so much better than those at fancy restaurants. On top of that, the prices are reasonable and make it easy to visit regularly, which explains why there are so many regular customers. This sushi restaurant in Gion is like an at-home sushi restaurant. It's a place where even locals from the flower district can come and feel comfortable. It's definitely one of those restaurants you want to keep a secret from others.

Located in front of Ebisu Shrine, down the Yamato Oji Street, this restaurant has been visited three times, with each visit being almost fully booked. Despite making a reservation for two at the counter, we were seated at a table counter, possibly due to the previous customers lingering longer than expected (lol). We ordered drinks for two - two beers, two hirazake, and two servings of sake. For food, we ordered a sashimi platter for two, grilled fish, boiled fish, hosomaki sushi, and chawanmushi. Although the restaurant is always bustling and the service is good, the presentation and preparation (including cutting) can feel a bit sloppy when they are busy. Maybe it's unavoidable at this price point in this location... Come to think of it, the mackerel I had during my second visit was a bit dry...