Best 10 Restaurants to Enjoy Kyoto Cuisine and Obanzai in the Tea City of Uji, Kyoto Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Nov 13 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Kyoto

Best 10 Restaurants to Enjoy Kyoto Cuisine and Obanzai in the Tea City of Uji, Kyoto

Uji, a city near Kyoto, is well-known across the globe as Japan's premier tea growing region, as well as for its numerous temples and shrines, including the globe Heritage Site Byodoin Temple and Ujigami Shrine. There are several ways to enjoy Uji, such as taking a walk along the banks of the Uji River and enjoying a tea-based dessert at one of its famed cafés. The region is filled with restaurants serving both traditional Kyoto cuisine and inventive food produced using Kyo-Yasai (traditional Kyoto veggies) and seasonal ingredients. If you become hungry while exploring in Uji, stop by one of these best restaurants!

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Kyoto.

1. Odaidokoro roji

Located in a back alley, this restaurant that specializes in creative Japanese cuisine feels like a hideaway. Housed in a renovated Kyo-machiya (Kyoto's old merchant house), it has a warm and cozy atmosphere. A recommended dish is their [Roji Specialty Sashimi Meal], which is served at lunchtime and consists of sashimi of wild fish from Tango, Kyoto, grilled fish, and obanzai (Kyoto's traditional home-cooked dishes) made with vegetables produced in Kamigamo. Alternatively, you can order the [Pork Seiro Meal], which consists of obanzai made with vegetables produced in Kyoto, pork, and vegetables steamed in a bamboo basket, or the [Roji Special Steak Meal], which is an energy-boosting steak served with a sauce with a grated daikon (white radish) base. For dinner, you can order grilled, fried, and steamed dishes from their a la carte menu, and pair them with ji-zake (Japanese local alcohol) from Kyoto or wine.

Odaidokoro roji

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) *Required to make a reservation up until the day before a weekend or national holiday. Also, lunch on Tuesday may start at 12:00 pm., Dinner from 5:30 pm (Food L.O. 10:45 pm)
Closed: Monday *Subject to change
Average price: [Dinner] 4,500 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from Uji Station
Address: 171-14, Uji Myoraku, Uji-shi, Kyoto Map
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2. Osaka Jubei Uji Kohata Branch

You'll find Osaka Jubei Uji Kohata Branch in a location with a view of Kowata Pond. The spacious restaurant can seat up to 100 customers. [Jubei-yaki] is a super voluminous Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) that contains the restaurant's original thick noodles. Other than classic okonomiyaki like [Buta Tama] (pork and egg), [Ika Tama] (squid and egg), and [Cheese Tama] (cheese and egg), you'll also find a unique version called [Original Negiyaki], where finely chopped green onions are mixed with sweet and spicy offal, as well as modanyaki (okonomiyaki with noodles), yakisoba (fried noodles), and teppanyaki (ingredients grilled on an iron griddle) items. Their soy sauce-flavored [Japanese-style Yakisoba], made with bacon and various mushrooms like shimeji, eringi, and enoki, is a favorite among regular customers! They also have cozy tatami rooms, so it's recommended for a family lunch or dinner.

Osaka Jubei Uji Kohata Branch

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY *Average budget 2,000 JPY - 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 800 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Kowata Station (240m)
7-minute walk from Kohata Station
Address: 38-51, Kohata Kumakoji, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)

3. Dining Dice

Decked out in relaxing colors, Dining Dice is a casual eatery where you can enjoy creative cuisine with no neat distinction between Japanese and Western cuisines. The menu is rich and diverse, ranging from small dishes that go great with drinks, like [Avocado Sashimi], [Sashimi of Kisslip Cuttlefish], [Beef Sinew Stew], and [Chorizo], to grilled delicacies like [Grilled Pork Cheek with Salty Sauce] and [Namafu Dengaku] (raw wheat gluten with miso glaze), and fried dishes like [Octopus Karaage] (deep-fried octopus), as well as rice, noodle, and motsunabe (offal hot pot) dishes! The restaurant's specialty is the [Seafood Avocado Yukhoe], a dish of fresh fish and avocado dressed in a yukhoe sauce (soy sauce-based sauce with chili paste). Plus, their sake (Japanese alcohol)-based Japanese liqueurs, characterized by a mild flavor, are a true delight.

Dining Dice

Open: Dinner 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: 1 minute walk from Ogura Station
Address: 2F, Ogura Station Park, 78-3, Nishiura, Ogura-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)
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4. Kyoto Uji Dining Ichigo

With its stylish entrance and simple interior, Kyoto Uji Dining Ichigo is a restaurant where you can eat creative Japanese cuisine made with local vegetables and meat produced in Kyoto. If you order their [Japanese One-Plate Lunch], you'll get to savor 7 different kinds of Kyoto-style obanzai, which are different every day. It is a dish that is popular for having mild and delicate flavors. [Seasonal Salad] and the fluffy [Kyoto-style Dashimaki], a rolled omelet made with a Kyoto-style dashi (broth), are both recommended items to add to your lunch. At dinner time, it's also possible to order meat dishes like [Wagyu Misuji Steak] (top blade steak of high-quality beef) and [Grilled Jidori] (local chicken).

Kyoto Uji Dining Ichigo

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 5:00 pm (L.O. 4:00 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) *Reservation required
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: Next to the Starbucks Coffee in front of the north gate of Byodoin Temple
Address: 21-2, Uji Renge, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)

5. Tsubameya

Please take a seat at one of the large tables of the simply furnished Tsubameya, and enjoy their tempura made with plenty of Kyo-Yasai and wild plants native to Uji and Yamashiro. The most popular lunch menu among their regular customers is the [Tender Chicken Tempura Lunch], whose main dish consists of juicy tempura of chicken procured from Akita, Kyushu and other places. One of the appeals of this restaurant is the opportunity they provide to taste different vegetable tempura depending on the season. For example, from February to March, you'll find rape blossoms, while from mid-April, wild plants and bamboo shoots from Oharano feature on their menu. Other delicious lunch options include the [Zaru Soba] (cold buckwheat noodles) and the [Tempura Meal]. On the 2nd floor, there are private rooms ideal for gatherings with friends. Making reservations for dinner is required.

Tsubameya

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 4:00 pm (L.O. 3:00 pm) *In January, it closes on Thursday and Friday.
Dinner 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm *You must make a reservation and it must be for a minimum of 4 people.
Closed: Irregular
*In February, it closes on Thursday and Friday. However, it might open on those days if there are reservations. Also closed on February 10, 11, 12, 20, and 21.
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY *Banquets from 2,000 JPY for a minimum of 4 people. / [Lunch] 1,100 JPY *Lunch menu from 880 JPY! The menu may change according to the daily stock without prior notification.
Access: 1 minute walk from Kyoto Uji Station heading towards Ujigami Shrine
Address: 13-3, Uji Higashiuchi, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)

6. Tatsumiya

Sitting on the banks of Uji River, Tatsumiya is a long-established Japanese restaurant that serves cuisine made with plenty of Uji matcha. A recommended dish for lunch, the [Uji Maru Bento] is beautifully arranged on a vessel made of bamboo peel, and, in addition to the [Unagi Inroni] (simmered eel), comprises of over 25 other Kyoto-style stewed and grilled delicacies. Aside from that, you can choose your lunch meal according to your budget and preferences. They also have items such as [Kids Bamboo Basket Bento] and the [Matcha Tenshin], a dessert set, of which there are only 10 servings available a day. Also, don't miss the [Sea Bream Chameshi], where fish and rice are cooked in tencha tea leaves, and the [Matcha Dofu], a tofu hand-made from soy milk.

Tatsumiya

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 4:30 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: Around a 12-minute walk from Uji Station
Address: 3-7, Uji Togawa, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)
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7. Shun-sai Dining Fuji

You'll have to take your shoes off to enter Fuji, a popular restaurant housed in a renovated kominka (traditional Japanese house), where the owner who trained in French cuisine cooks creative Japanese cuisine dishes. Its relaxing and laid-back atmosphere will feel almost like your own home. The owner personally selects the seafood for the [Assortment of 5 Kinds of Sashimi], and arranges it beautifully on the plate. If you order the [Beef Loin Toban-yaki] (beef roasted on a ceramic plate, also available as duck breast or beef tongue), season it with momiji-oroshi (a mix of grated daikon and chili peppers) or ponzu (citrus-seasoned soy sauce) to savor the umami (Japanese savory taste) of domestic beef in a luxurious way. Their menu features a huge variety of food, from grilled, stewed, and fried delicacies, to obanzai and even crispy [Pizza Genovese]! This place is perfect for a casual meal with friends.

Shun-sai Dining Fuji

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Monday
*Also closed on the first Monday and Tuesday of each month.
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: 2-minute walk from Rokujizou Station. It's south of the station.
Address: 26-2, Rokujizo Fudanotsuji-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)
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8. Chikurin

Along Uji River, in front of the north gate of Byodoin-Omotesando, sits Chikurin, a famous restaurant in a detached house where you can taste traditional Kyoto cuisine. Inside, you'll find private rooms with a garden view, recommended for group meals, as well as table seats on the 2nd floor with a nice view. During your sightseeing in Uji, you may want to take a lunch break and have their [Asagiri Meal], where kaiseki (traditional Japanese course cuisine with tea) is stacked beautifully in a dual-layered box. Bringing out the umami of Uji tea, the [Duck Hojicha Mushi] (duck steamed with roasted green tea) is a classic delicacy of the tea-growing district of Uji. If you feel like enjoying a lengthy dinner, you can pick a [Kyo-Kaiseki] that best suits your wallet and taste.

Chikurin

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday] Kyoto-style kaiseki and bento 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) *Private rooms are for kaiseki courses only.
[Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Kyoto-style kaiseki 4:30 pm - 7:45 pm (L.O. 7:45 pm) *Food is served in their private rooms.
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: It's next to Starbucks Coffee, in front of the north gate of Byodoin Temple.
Address: 21, Uji Renge, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)
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9. Ryurin

At Ryurin, you can enjoy authentic and affordable Chinese cuisine prepared by a chef who trained in Chinese cuisine at a well-known hotel. Made without using any artificial ingredients, their mouth-watering dishes are extremely popular among locals of all ages. Their signature dish, the [Sichuan Mapo Tofu], is made with a homemade meat sauce and a blend of 3 types of doubanjiang (chili bean paste) and Sichuan pepper to create a spiciness everyone is crazy about! Also, make sure to try the [Seasonal Vegetables and Seafood Salted Stir-fry], characterized by a delicate salty flavor, and the [5-Ingredient Scorched Rice] that comes with plenty of thick sauce containing 5 main ingredients. There's plenty of standard fare like spring rolls, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), shumai (dumplings), and gyoza (dumplings), as well as a wide selection of a la carte options, so this restaurant is suitable for groups of friends and families.

Ryurin

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm), Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm) *Reservation required up until a day prior for dinner time.
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: Exit Kowata Station, turn right, and walk for 3 minutes.
Address: 101, High Class Mansion, 31-7, Kohata Nishinaka, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)

10. Rairaitei Makishima Branch

Easily recognizable by its big yellow sign, Rairaitei is a casual ramen restaurant frequented by locals. Their ramen soup is made with a chicken bone base and a Kyoto-style soy sauce and includes pork back fat. This gives it a pleasant texture and a refreshing taste that will make you drink it up until the last drop. Being able to regulate the firmness of noodles, the thickness of the soup, and the lard quantity when placing your order is a bonus! Of course, they have classic options like [Ramen], [Char siu-men] (ramen with roast pork), [Seasoned Egg Ramen], [Chahan Set] (fried rice set), [Gyoza Set], and [Beef Liver Karaage], to name a few. With an opportunity to enjoy exquisite ramen for a reasonable price, this casual ramen spot is good for both solo diners and families.

Rairaitei Makishima Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 12:00 am
Closed: Tuesday
*Open if it's a national holiday or the day before a national holiday
Average price: 800 JPY
Access: Please consult the map
Address: 44-4, Juhachi, Makishima-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto (Map)
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.