Top Obanzai restaurants in Kyoto, Japan

Very unkind shop that was not common in Japan. I felt really bad.

We did make reservation but they sat us at the counter. We watched the chefs cook, it was one of the best meals we had had in a long time. Even with limited English, service was good, and food was excellent! We recommend anyone to give it a try!

Best food and service I’ve had in Japan. I went for dinner by myself and do not speak English but the chef went really far out of his way to explain the dishes to me and even opened up Google translate when I had a complicated question.

Highly recommend

One of the best places I have ever eaten in Japan, one of the best sashimi I have ever had in my life. Open kitchen, exceptional service, they don't speak much English but they do everything to make themselves understood and language is absolutely not a problem. I absolutely recommend the sashimi salad, the egg with rice, but really everything was spectacular. The staff and the chef are incredibly skilled and kind. Really suggested.

My dining experience at this Japanese restaurant was absolutely exquisite from start to finish. From the moment I stepped through the door, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that immediately set the tone for an unforgettable meal.

The attention to detail in every aspect of the restaurant's ambiance was truly remarkable. From the elegant decor to the soothing traditional music playing in the background, every element worked together harmoniously to create a truly authentic Japanese dining experience.

But what truly stole the show was the food. Each dish was a masterpiece, expertly crafted with the freshest ingredients and bursting with flavor. From the delicate sashimi to the perfectly seasoned sushi rolls, every bite was a delight for the senses.

The service was equally exceptional. The staff members were attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure that my dining experience was nothing short of perfect. Their passion for Japanese cuisine was evident in their enthusiastic explanations of each dish and their willingness to accommodate any special requests.

Overall, I cannot recommend this Japanese restaurant highly enough. Whether you're a seasoned sushi aficionado or someone looking to experience authentic Japanese cuisine for the first time, this restaurant is sure to exceed your expectations. I can't wait to return and indulge in another unforgettable dining experience. Arigato gozaimasu for an incredible meal!

My wife and I had a lovely dinner here a few weeks ago. The entire staff worked hard to communicate with us in English and make us feel comfortable. The food was excellent! We sat at the bar and really enjoyed watching the chefs make all of the food.

How to say: eating beautifully, solo traveler friendly…Such a great way to enjoy Kyoto speciaty: Obanzai!

Huge wide spread of food . Very healthy toufu, and Japanese pickled food . Less salt . For those health conscious tourists. Hit up the restaurants

Very busy restaurant near Bamboo Forest. We had a short wait and we had a set menu with 12 different items, nice variety of seafood, meat and vegetables dishes. Everything is very tasty with unique local flavors. We had very enjoyable lunch with a nice view on the 2nd floor. 👍👍

A happy late night find for a sweet tooth's quick fix!

We had their hojicha au lait and cream puff set, as well as coffee jelly zenzai.

The hojicha had sprinkles of gold, beautiful, and we were shocked at how tasty their cream puffs were. I don't think I've had cream puffs this good, buttery and crunchy.

Ambience is lowkey and nothing fancy, service is straightforward and as-is.

Note min. of 1 order per person.

Chance upon this place while searching for lunch, saw that they have this set meal, which looks really pretty.
Autumn menu at the moment!
For 2500 yen, it's really very worth it! We avoided lunch timing, so the queue was really fast.
The food was really good as well, love the Japanese food presentation!

Great tasting lunch set option, filling and reasonably priced. Paid 6000 yen.

Went here as part of a foodie tour. We had a very delicious obanzai dinner! Loved the atmosphere upstairs. The staff were so friendly and accommodating, we sat indoors but they allowed us to explore the balcony, helped to take photos of us, and even provided bonus cream puffs from the adjoint cafe downstairs. The cream puffs were so good!

We came here based on the recommendation of our rickshaw driver. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Although not as elegant, tastes were on par with a fine tasting menu. Diverse and flavorful at a bargain price.

A relatively affordable way to do a mini kaiseki lunch. Recommend showing up 15 minutes prior to opening and collect a wait ticket so you are admitted soon after opening.

Having the lunch bento here was like a small exciting journey of flavors. The presentation was beautiful and each dish had a wonderful combination of flavors and textures that made the whole meal an experience rather than simply filling one's stomach. The flight of sake was wonderful too. :)

Finished up there on a foodie tour, had a delicious cup of hot chocolate and also had custard puffs, very delicious. The atmosphere was quaint and relaxing. The service was quick and friendly. Would recommend.

Good local obanzai izakaya. You can order a set dinner menu for 4200 or 5300 yen, or just order a la carte off the menu (which we did).

Able to get in without a reservation at 6 pm on a Wednesday.

One street over you can see maiko arriving for work. At 5:30, we saw 6 up and down one block.

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Cute cafe that opens late. The waitress spoke English too which was helpful. Must try their puffs! I was blown away as I didn’t think much of it from its appearance!

Amazing caramel French toast! Also open late so perfect for dessert after dinner. Cream puffs were a bit too sweet tho

Very cosy and quiet. Delicious dessert and hot chocolate. I love ringing the bell to call the waiter.

Staff made sure we’re hydrated. Thank you!

2,000 yen for Kyoto style buffet = very good price for all you can eat. Staffs very nice with service mind. Food is good, very enjoy with everything.

A cozy cafe downstairs and restaurant upstairs, hidden behind a wooden gate, with a small, quiet courtyard. Staff is polite and not over friendly. I had a matcha latte and cream puffs. Presentation was pretty, but the taste was just ok for the price. Great ambiance.

Tl;dr: delicious cafe hidden in the corner. A bit pricey, but a great way to cool down and refill in Gion.

Found this place by accident, hidden in a small, quiet courtyard. The staff were friendly and the menu had pictures for non-Japanese. Food took time to cook fresh, but was delicious and worth the wait. Dessert (milkshake) was fantastic and very flavorful.

The cafe itself is small but cozy, and feels like a nice old cafe in Gion. The prices were a bit steep (curry was 1000 yen, milkshake was 950) but understandable and pretty worth it. They have limited seating and cooking space though, so large parties might have to wait a while for their food.

Overall, great little cafe, can't wait to go back.

Halal Food in Arashimaya. Place is nice and beautiful. Just ask for the halal menu from the waiters and they will be happy to oblige and explain to you. There's halal kids meal too. Free flow of green tea and cold iced water. A definite pit stop for Muslims visiting the area... They even have tatami rooms too.

What an incredible restaurant in Kyoto! If you have the chance to go, please do. An 8 course meal that was traditional, yet tasty Japanese food and the price (including Saki) was very reasonable. Make a reservation ahead of time.

What an experience to taste the bamboo & cherry blossom ice cream flavor,love it😍. Set of lunch i choose udon,refreshing dish i must say.

Good food for a buffet. Some great items and some blah. Overall decent spot but nothing to write home about

Tour guide said might not be the tastiest, but very aesthetically pleasing food. I beg to differ, when your food is so beautiful, it's hard to be bad. It's a buffet tho, so you'll have to arrange the food yourself. You get this 3x3 plates that you place your food on. I had fun decorating my plate. Choices ranges from fried foods, pickles, grilled, curry, spaghetti, cakes, desserts to ice cream.

Buffet style restaurant. Great food. So much to choose from. Enjoyed my belly full

We went there at lunch time. Coz it’s not so close to the Kyoto station, there were a few people eating inside, and the staffs took care of us friendly.
They have very good Japanese food that specialized in using various kind of vegetables, and the taste was sophisticated and excellent.
I love the pork fried with onions and sake, was so nice with alcohol!!

Finally we found the halal menu at Arashiyama Area. I ordered Tempura set with Soba & Tofu. It's delicious and worth the price. Don't order kobe beef curry with rice because they only put a little amount of beef. Maybe because it was very hard to find halal kobe beef in Japan, and it's Kobe by the way, it supposed to be very expensive.