Update-date: Aug 27 2020
Is it safe now to eat out in Kyoto? Is it not? It is still in the gray area. But if you need some time to refresh your mind and belly, it might be the time to go out and eat, as long as you follow the safety protocol. It is now more important than ever to carefully choose where to eat. We have picked up 5 restaurants in Kyoto where hygiene and safety are the utmost importanceーother than the food.
1. Kirakutei －Izakaya
An izakaya with an interior inspired by a public bathhouse (ofuro). A minute walk from Marutamachi Station on the Karasuma Subway Line, Kirakutei is a restaurant where you can enjoy Japanese-style creative cuisine using seasonal ingredients in a relaxed atmosphere. Kirakutei uses Kyoto vegetables and other high-quality ingredients. Kyoto's rich water resources have made the vegetables renowned for their unique flavor, aroma, and abundant nutrition, making Kyoto vegetables highly valued across Japan, especially among chefs.
The most popular menu is Toro Hakomori, a sashimi platter with a vibrant combination of fresh fish caught in the same morning at Maizuru Port, Kyoto. If you like sake, they also offer a selection of local sake to pair with the food. Takeout service is available until 6:00pm.
Extra Hygiene Measures against Coronavirus:
☑ The tables, seats, and doorknobs are cleaned regularly using alcohol disinfectant.
☑ All staff are wearing masks.
Kirakutei
Open: 17:00-01:00, last order for food at 23:30, last order for drinks at 00:30Lunch from 11:30-14:00
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 750 JPY
Access: A 1-minute walk from Marutamachi station on the Karasuma subway line
Address: Christer Plaza M1F , 215 Karasu Maru Takeya-cho Agaru Okura-cho, Chukyo-ku,Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 750 JPY
Access: A 1-minute walk from Marutamachi station on the Karasuma subway line
Address: Christer Plaza M1F , 215 Karasu Maru Takeya-cho Agaru Okura-cho, Chukyo-ku,Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
2. Arancino Kyoto Hotel Okura －Italian
Arancino Kyoto Hotel Okura is the second restaurant in Japan of Arancino, which has received numerous awards and is renowned as one of Hawaii's leading Italian restaurants. The decor of the restaurant is in modern Japanese style, retaining the elegance of a Kyoto townhouse with the fusion of western decor.
A menu you should try is Spaghetti with Hokkaido Sea Urchin and Tomato Cream Sauce, which continues to attract many people in both Hawaii and Kyoto due to its rich flavor.
For dessert, we recommend the majestic Maccha Fondant au Chocolat. An original menu that puts matcha green tea in liquid nitrogen and makes it granite-like. Take a spoonful, and the warm green-tea-flavored chocolate will melt. The warm and cold harmony will spread in your mouth. Who could say no to this?
Extra Hygiene Measures against Coronavirus:
☑ Regular ventilation in the facility.☑ The tables, seats, and doorknobs are cleaned regularly using alcohol disinfectant.
☑ Alcohol hand sanitizers are provided at the entrance.
☑ The number of seats available is limited, and each seat is given more space to maintain social distance.
☑ Partition is set up between the guest and cashier to prevent the infection through droplets.
☑ All staff are required to wear a mask, wash their hands frequently, and check their temperature before work.
☑ Alcohol hand sanitizers are provided at the entrance.
☑ The number of seats available is limited, and each seat is given more space to maintain social distance.
☑ Partition is set up between the guest and cashier to prevent the infection through droplets.
☑ All staff are required to wear a mask, wash their hands frequently, and check their temperature before work.
Arancino Kyoto Hotel Okura
Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. for course meal 8:30 pm, L.O for a la carte 9:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: No.3 exit of [Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae station] of Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line (directly connected to B2 floor of the hotel). Soon after exiting north exit of Kyoto Hotel Okura, ground floor
Address: 1F, Kyoto Fukuzumi Bldg., 537-9, Ichino-funairi-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: No.3 exit of [Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae station] of Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line (directly connected to B2 floor of the hotel). Soon after exiting north exit of Kyoto Hotel Okura, ground floor
Address: 1F, Kyoto Fukuzumi Bldg., 537-9, Ichino-funairi-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
3. Premium Wagyu Steak Hanasato －Teppanyaki
Premium Wagyu Steak Hanago is a located in a refurbished Kyoto Machiya. It is a unique Kyoto-style structure with a courtyard on the back of the counter seat on the first floor, giving it a sense of openness. Hanago offers course meals featuring the best ingredients that reflect the season, with a focus on the teppanyaki menu.
One of our recommendations is Special Yonezawa Beef Sirloin Steak, which uses beef with a fine texture that is suitable for teppanyaki. The course is complete with an assortment of Kyoto’s highly regarded local vegetables.
Extra Hygiene Measures against Coronavirus:
☑ Regular ventilation in the restaurant.
☑All staff are required to wear a mask, wash their hands frequently, and check their temperature before work.
☑ The number of seats available is limited, and each seat is given more space to maintain social distance.
☑All staff are required to wear a mask, wash their hands frequently, and check their temperature before work.
☑ The number of seats available is limited, and each seat is given more space to maintain social distance.
Premium Wagyu Steak Hanasato
Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (last order 2:30 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm (last order 8:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 7 minutes on foot from Gion Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line (Keihan Honsen)
Address: 404 Hashimoto-cho, Shinbashi-dori Hanami-koji Higashi-iru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 7 minutes on foot from Gion Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line (Keihan Honsen)
Address: 404 Hashimoto-cho, Shinbashi-dori Hanami-koji Higashi-iru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
4. Kyoshoku Fuji-ya －Kaiseki
The old and new of Kyoto are mixed in this restaurant specializing in creative Japanese cuisine. While sticking to the traditional kaiseki style, Kyoshoku Fuji-ya strives to invent new ways of doing things, perhaps by adding something extra or by taking something away. In this way, even if the same dish has been on the menu for five years, the flavor may be different. It also has an attractive interior with plenty of space where people can enjoy a relaxing meal.
Extra Hygiene Measures against Coronavirus:
☑ Alcohol hand sanitizers are provided at the entrance and inside the restaurant.
☑ Regular ventilation
☑ The number of seats available is limited, and each seat is given more space to maintain social distance.
☑ Regular ventilation
☑ The number of seats available is limited, and each seat is given more space to maintain social distance.
Kyoshoku Fuji-ya
Open: Normal hours: 17:00-00:00 (last order at 23:30)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY
Access: Seven minutes on foot from Karasuma Oike Station. Located two blocks north of Kyoto Oike Junior High School.
Address: 656-1 Seimei-cho , Chukyo-ku,Kyoto-shi , Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY
Access: Seven minutes on foot from Karasuma Oike Station. Located two blocks north of Kyoto Oike Junior High School.
Address: 656-1 Seimei-cho , Chukyo-ku,Kyoto-shi , Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
5. Droit －French
How about having a special dinner with a view of Kyoto Gyoen National Garden? Enjoy an intimate night with your loved one at this cozy French restaurant.
The restaurant only offers course meals using the recommended ingredients of the day. They proudly use exquisite ingredients, such as fresh vegetables mainly from Kyoto, seafood directly supplied by the fishermen in Naruto, and meat carefully-selected by a rich-experienced professional. Make your night even more special with wine pairing, as you have the privilege to choose from over selected 200 wines, mostly from France.
Try the beautifully presented Scallops on Spiced Eggplant Caviar. It resembles eggplant seeds as caviar. The exquisite combination of eggplant, scallops, spices, herbs, and citrus, blends very well, made possible by a precise technique and years of experience.
Extra Hygiene Measures against Coronavirus:
☑ Alcohol hand sanitizers are provided at the entrance and inside the restaurant.
☑ Regular ventilation
☑ The number of seats available is limited, and each seat is given more space to maintain social distance.
☑ Regular ventilation
☑ The number of seats available is limited, and each seat is given more space to maintain social distance.
Droit
Open: Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY
Access: Approximately a 10-minute walk from Exit No.3 of [Jingu Marutamachi Station] on Keihan Main Line
Address: 49-1 Higashisakura-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY
Access: Approximately a 10-minute walk from Exit No.3 of [Jingu Marutamachi Station] on Keihan Main Line
Address: 49-1 Higashisakura-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details Reservation
Those are 5 restaurants in Kyoto that are actively striving to combat the spread of Covid-19. Remember, if you must go out, wear your mask, wash your hands regularly, and keep the 2-meter distance with other people. Stay healthy and stay safe!
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
