Eating Solo in Kyoto? Try These 15 Casual Restaurants! Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jun 05 2020

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Kyoto

Eating Solo in Kyoto? Try These 15 Casual Restaurants!

When you're travelling alone, it takes some courage to enter a restaurant you know practically nothing about. This is a guide to 15 places in Kyoto where it is totally fine to eat solo.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Kyoto.

1. Takano Mugishuten TAKANOYA

This is a elegant restaurant that's built in a renovated machiya (old merchant's house). It's extremely close to the main street, and the atmosphere is ideal for solo women diners too. Here, you can enjoy the combination of Japanese dishes with craft beer. It's recommended to try their [2-or-3-kind Otsukuri], which consists of seasonal seafood sashimi, or any of their smoked dishes. They have 10 beer dispensers that are mainly brought from abroad, which serve up various red, black, and wheat beers - from light drinks to heavy-hitters!

Takano Mugishuten TAKANOYA

Open: 55:00 pm - 3:00 am (L.O. 2:30 am)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: 10 minutes walk from Karasuma-oike station on Karasuma municipal subway line. Located in front of Kyoto Shimbun.
Address: 255, Makieya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

2. Nico

This is a small and cozy restaurant that's single-handedly run by a female chef who's also the owner. The contrast of the white walls and green doors and windows is truly delightful. The interior is colored in relaxing tones, with a warm atmosphere adrift. There are counter seats facing the kitchen where you can enjoy your meal in undisturbed peace. The proprietress serves classic French cuisine made with seasonal products. Enjoy her dishes that bring out the authentic and deep flavors of the ingredients. There is also a selection of about 50 different wines that are mostly made in France. The owner is a certified sommelier, so feel free to ask her which wine matches best with your food.

Nico

Open: 6:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: 5,000 JPY
Address: 377-2, Nishimae-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (Map)

3. Wabiya Korekidou Gion Hanamikoji Main Branch

This restaurant is located on Hanamikoji Street (Hanamikoji-dori) in the beautiful Gion, Kyoto's most characteristic area. They take pride in their dishes made with carefully selected products from all over the country, starting with Wabiya-dori (Wabiya chicken) - their original chicken brand raised on their own farm. This chicken's meat has a particularly tender texture and juicy fat. You can consume it through their [Gensen 3-kind Momo Niku no Tabekurabe (1,350 JPY)] that will let you taste and compare it with other premium chicken brands. You can also have it by ordering their [Truffle Tsuke-soba (1,400 JPY)], where noodles and fragrant truffles are soaked in a delicate chicken soup. They have a rich menu of wines and sake (Japanese alcohol). The interior is wide, and there are plenty of counter seats that make it suitable for a relaxing solo meal.

Wabiya Korekidou Gion Hanamikoji Main Branch

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Monday *Except for November, December, March, and April
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,600 JPY
Address: Kaburenjo Kita-gawa, Gion-cho Minami-gawa, Shijo Hanamikoji-sagaru, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

4. Bansan Kyosyoku

This izakaya (Japanese pub) that's housed in a renovated machiya is also highly recommended. Their wooden interior creates a warm and laid-back atmosphere. Sit down and relax by the large counter, and enjoy their fresh products and recommended drinks. The menu displays a wide choice of dishes made with premium products: fresh vegetables, fish directly delivered from Nishiki Market (Nishiki Ichiba), and ji-dori (local chicken) caught that morning. The most recommended dish is the [Yakiyasai] - vegetables grilled to draw out their ultimate flavor. They get their vegetables from Tamba's morning market, and are also particular about using fresh, local Kyoto ingredients.

Bansan Kyosyoku

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: 3,500 JPY
Address: 473-1, Setoya-cho, Shijo-agaru, Yanaginobanba-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
More Details

5. Kyosyoku

A red noren (curtains) and big lanterns decorate this restaurant. It is designed a modern Japanese style, and the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. The counter is perfect for solo customers who want to treat themselves to a high-quality meal. The food is made by 3 artisans who were trained in different fields, so it ranges from Japanese to Western cuisine, as well as creative dishes. For example, you can find [Obanzai] (Kyoto's home cooked dishes) made with seasonal ingredients, dishes made from seafood that was directly delivered from Wakasa Bay (Wakasa-wan), pasta, and even bagna cauda!

Kyosyoku

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: 3,500 JPY
Address: 611-2, Teianmaeno-cho, Shijo-sagaru, Teramachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (Map)
Source: hitosara (Japanese)

6. TENTATION

This is a stylish bistro that serves French and Italian cuisine. The atmosphere inside is pretty casual, but the food is deliciously authentic. It's a hidden gem, with many fans even among top chefs. Its counter seats are ideal for solo customers, too. Their main dishes include lots of different meats: beef, pork, lamb, duck, and, depending on the season, even boar and deer! They also make pasta, pizza, and the super cheesy and creamy [On-yasai no Raclette (1,680 JPY)] with warm vegetables. There's a rich lineup of wines, too!

TENTATION

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm) *May close at 11:00 pm if there are no customers
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: 4,000 JPY
Address: 3F, 534-31, Ebisu-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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7. Ginnan

Enjoy this restaurant's creative Japanese cuisine, made with fresh seafood and local products like yuba (tofu skin) and Kyo-yasai (traditional vegetables from Kyoto). It's only a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Station. The 1st floor offers counter seats in a black-themed, stylish space. It's perfect for relaxing and enjoying some food and alcohol, even if you're alone. The menu offers healthy yet tasty dishes made with namafu (wheat gluten) and tofu, as well as a huge variety of fresh sashimi and perfectly matching alcoholic drinks. You'll be able to find a wide variety of sake, starting with Kyoto's ji-zake (Japanese local alcohol).

Ginnan

Open: [Weekdays, Saturdays, Day Before Holidays] 5:30 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: From the central exit of JR Kyoto station walk to Karasuma-dori. Cross the Karasuma-Shichijo intersection and continue west for 20M.
Address: 114-2 Nakai-cho, Kita-gawa, Shichi-jo Nishi Hairu, Karasuma-dori, , Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto (Map)
More Details Reservation

8. Ichishun

You can find this Japanese izakaya right at the back of Kyoto Tower, which is the symbol of Kyoto. Their dishes are made with seasonal seafood that's been directly delivered from the fishing ports of Wakasa Bay and Awaji Island (Awaji-shima), as well as with organic, pesticide-free vegetables stocked from farmers in Yawata, Kyoto. Sometimes, they even use fish caught by the owner himself in order to offer different flavors each season. If you need a recommendation, try their super fresh and tasty [Sashimi Assortment (from 980 JPY)] or [Classic Yoganyaki (seasonal vegetables) (880 JPY)], which consists of vegetables grilled on a rock plate created from the lava of Mt. Fuji. You can also enjoy reasonably-priced ji-zake from Kyoto that will boost the flavor of your food.

Ichishun

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 2F, Surugaya Bldg., 720, Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Shichijo-sagaru, Karasuma-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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9. Premium Wagyu Steak Hanasato

This is a restaurant in Gion that's housed in what used to be a typical machiya. The tastefully designed, typical Kyoto-style building is characterized by a narrow frontage and deep interior. Surrounded by a chic atmosphere, you can enjoy teppanyaki (ingredients grilled on an iron griddle) dishes, such as steak. If you sit at the counter, you'll get to admire the chef preparing your food right before your eyes. Please all 5 of your senses with the sound, smell, and sight of the meat and fish being grilled. The menu offers both courses and à la carte options. Don't miss this chance to taste top-quality ingredients, such as meat brands like Yonezawa beef and Kobe beef, as well as spiny lobsters and abalone.

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

10. Sobashusai Sakaean

This restaurant serves reasonably priced dishes made with premium ingredients, such as seasonal fish, horse meat, and Kyo-yasai, plus sake and shochu (another type of Japanese alcohol) from various parts of Japan. Their specialty is duck meat from Kyoto. You can enjoy its tenderness and deep flavor in various ways, such as through exotic [Tataki] (minced), [Kunsei] (smoked), [Kushiyaki] (skewers), and even in nabe (hot pot). Their creative cuisine that uses soba (buckwheat noodles) handmade daily is also popular. This restaurant has many solo regulars!

Sobashusai Sakaean

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (Food L.O. 10:00 pm, Drinks L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 800 JPY
Address: 2F, Satake Bldg., 571, Obiya-cho, Nishikikoji-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (Map)

11. Shiki-no-aji Hamacho

Head here to taste different delicacies each season. The menu focuses on Japanese dishes made with superb dashi (broth). There are monthly dishes consisting mainly of fresh, seasonal fish that come at quite reasonable prices. Recommended dishes include their [Otsukuri Assortment], creamy [Homemade Goma-dofu (400 JPY)] that's made with sesame seeds, cow's milk, and fresh cream, and [Kyo Tsukemono no Harihari Salad (850 JPY)] that uses vegetables and pickles. As for sake, they have several premium brands from all over the country that match divinely with seafood. The 1st floor has counter seats by the open kitchen, while on the 2nd floor, you'll find a bar counter.

Shiki-no-aji Hamacho

Open: 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: 5,000 JPY
Address: 448-2, Ebisu-cho, Sanjo-agaru, Kawara-machi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto (Map)

12. Le Steak Frites Gaspard zinzin

This is a restaurant with the design and feel of a bistro in Paris, where you can have a French-style steak. The outside of the meat is well-cooked while the inside stays tender, and it's served with French fries. They choose the best meat of the season and grill it so that it gets super juicy. By letting it cook for a while at the perfect temperature, the umami (Japanese savory taste) is condensed inside. As for the meat's brand, they often use sirloin with a good balance between fat and lean meat, or slightly sweet Kuroge Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef). All the vegetables - such as potatoes or salad - are 100% organic.

Le Steak Frites Gaspard zinzin

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk to north from Hankyu Karasuma Station, or from the exit 21 of Subway Shijo Station.
Address: B1F, Shijo Karasuma Star Bldg., 650, Karasuma-dori Takoyakushi Sagaru Tearaimizu-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto

13. Mescita Pane e Vino

You can have charcoal-grilled, dry-aged meat and delicious wine at this Italian restaurant. The cozy counter seats inside make it suitable for solo female diners as well. Made with 40-day aged meat grilled on binchotan (high-grade charcoal made from Ubame oak), their [Jukusei Niku no Sumibiyaki (100g from 2,200 JPY)] has a thick flavor and aroma that spreads within your mouth at the first bite. Don't forget to pair it with a matching wine! They have a large variety of natural wines made only from organic grapes. Other popular items include their [Cultured Butter and Sheep Cheese Pasta (1,700 JPY)] and homemade bread.

Mescita Pane e Vino

Open: 6:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 12:00 am)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: 5,000 JPY
Address: 1F, K-an, 277, Tenjinyama-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

14. Anna Pace C'est Dur

This Western restaurant is established in a renovated machiya that was built 100 years ago. Their dishes, made with plenty of seasonal products, are a faithful reproduction of the genuine flavors that the owner got to savor during his long stay in Europe. He'll offer you the home-cooked dishes of France, Spain, and Hungary, such as delicious terrines made with seasonal ingredients or lamb cheeks stewed in red wine. Their wines come from Europe as well. The space inside is furnished with antiques, and there are counter seats for solo customers to stretch their legs and enjoy their meal. Occasionally, you'll be welcomed by their cat named "Fuku".

Anna Pace C'est Dur

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, Dinner 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm
*Opens from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm only for phone reservations
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 524, Koiyama-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

15. Ryugetsuan

The chef and owner of this Japanese restaurant polished his skills at several restaurants before opening up his own. The dishes he serves are made with plenty of seasonal ingredients that undergo a thorough examination before being selected, such as top-quality Tochigi Wagyu beef, seasonal seafood, vegetables, and even the soup ingredients - kombu (kelp), katsuo-bushi (dried binto flakes), and maguro-bushi (dried tuna flakes). They offer Kaiseki courses (Japanese banquet courses with alcohol) for both lunch and dinner, as well as lunch gozen (high-class set meals). Their menu also includes lots of premium sake brands. The Japanese-style interior and counter seats offer a relaxing atmosphere for solo diners as well.

Ryugetsuan

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday *May close on short notice
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Address: 1F, Bessho Bldg., 368, Masuya-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

If you're traveling solo, don't miss these lovely restaurants!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.