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2025.1.16
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2024 Good place to go.

Leaf Editor's Choice! New restaurants opening in 2024 that you will want to repeat!

In the blink of an eye, 2024 is over and 2025 has begun!
In this issue, as a special Leaf KYOTO project, we will introduce "Editor's Choice! New restaurants opening in 2024 that we are glad we actually visited".
They are all wonderful stores, so please find your favorite and visit them.

1.February 27, 2024 open] [Syn], a new taste sensation created with rich ingredients from Wakayama, established in the Nijo Castle area.

A restaurant where you can enjoy Italian-based cuisine run by a married couple. The owner, Shinsuke Yoshida, was the head chef at the popular restaurant To. in Karasuma-Oike and became independent when he married Yumi, with whom he worked. As Yumi is from Nachikatsuura, the main ingredients of his cuisine are from the mountains and seas of Wakayama. While using the Italian techniques he has cultivated over the years as a base, he adds an Asian flavor and incorporates charcoal fire to create original dishes that can be found nowhere else.

Pasta with Syn Sode Squid and Salted Lemon Fish Sauce Butter

Sode-ka with salted lemon and fish sauce butter pasta for 1,800 yen. The resilient and sweet sode-ika squid is well mixed with fresh tagliolini noodles kneaded with egg. The homemade brodo made from fish ara and fish sauce accentuate the taste.

<Editor I's recommendation.
In an adult space with only a counter, you can enjoy dishes made with rich ingredients from Wakayama. The menu is a la carte only, and you can order a little of what you like while consulting with the owner, which is a nice point. This is a restaurant you want to visit for special occasions without being too formal.

Syn.

  • thin
  • 1-847, Omiya-dori Marutamachi Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 14 min. walk from Exit 2 of "Nijojo-mae" subway station.
  • Tel. 075-406-0899
  • 16:00-23:00 (LO/22:00)

2.Kyoto Kinshirou (Kyoto-style noodle shop) opened in Gosho Minami on March 25, 2024, and offers a variety of noodles to suit your tastes.

The owner of this restaurant, who served as general manager of a popular Chinese restaurant in Nagoya, has now opened a restaurant specializing in tananmen. Two types of noodle soups are on standby: the soup-less dish, which allows you to enjoy thick, chewy noodles, and the soupy noodle soup, which has a thick broth. You can customize not only the hardness of the noodles and toppings, but also the amount of hot oil and pepper. The final dish is freshly cooked rice from Gihee VIII, which is the Kinshi-Ro way of savoring all of the soup.

Kinshi-Ro's soup noodle soup

Soup-arid tanjangan-men ¥1,000. A bowl of bubbly soup made by mixing top-grade hot water and chicken broth with a secret salt sauce. The hot and spicy "ma" (chili pepper) that permeates the five and six internal organs is exquisite!

<Editor M's recommendation.
I was so captivated by the thick creamy soup that I became a fan of having soup. Eating it with rice is a blissful experience. Not only is it spicy, but it also has a good balance of aroma and stimulation that makes me want to eat it again and again. One sip of this soup is unforgettable!

Kyoto Tantanmen Kinshiro Main Branch

  • Kyoto Hot noodles, Kinshiro Honten
  • 128-4 Kinuya-cho, northeast corner of Isigawa, Sakaicho-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • Six-minute walk from Exit 7 of Marutamachi Subway Station
  • 11:00~14:30 (LO/14:00)
    17:00 - 20:30 (LO / 20:30) *Only on Thursday and Friday

3.The owner of the famous restaurant "NIKUNINCHU" opened a counter barbecue restaurant in Gojo that attracts the enthusiastic attention of meat lovers.

The "meat man" is Mr. Ohira, the owner of the restaurant, who loves meat more than anyone else. He is a meat professional who runs a butcher store and a popular yakiniku restaurant in Kyoto, and opened this restaurant as his "ultimate goal.

person of flesh and blood

All photos are from the omakase course at market prices (approximate prices range from 8,000 yen to 10,000 yen). Clockwise from the front, roast beef with kamenoko. Tangeta, the base of tongue, cooked at low temperature. Assorted namul and kimchi. Melt-in-your-mouth harami yukke (lamb yukke) matched with a thick sauce.

<Editor M's recommendation.
I want to eat delicious meat! I would like to recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to enjoy delicious meat! Mr. Ohira himself embodies the ideal yakiniku restaurant, serving meat according to each customer's preference, reducing the number of seat rotations so that customers can enjoy their meal at their leisure, and paying close attention to each and every one of his customers to ensure their satisfaction. I believe that it is precisely because of Mr. Ohira that he has been able to realize this style.

person of flesh and blood

  • dikunin
  • 2F Yuasa Kaikan, 172 Kameya-cho, Gojo-agaru, Takakura-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 4-minute walk from Gojo Subway Station (Exit 1)
  • Tel.090-4455-4129
  • 18:00-21:00

4.Open April 3, 2024] Luxurious eel and seasonal dishes at "Eel & Kappo Toishi" in Goshonan.

This eel restaurant is marked by the dignified atmosphere of its stone door. The owner, Mr. Hajime Toishi, is a dedicated Japanese cuisine chef, and after five and a half years as the head chef at Tokina Kyokuman in Gion, where eel dishes are popular, he decided to start his own restaurant.
The best eel of the season is purchased live, and grilled in the Kansai style to achieve a crispy texture. The eel is turned over many times to coat it with fat and cooked slowly to make it fluffy inside and fragrant outside with a pleasant texture.

Toishi Cuisine

An example of the 15,000 yen omakase course. Shiroyaki appears in the middle of the course and kabayaki appears at the end with rice. Shiroyaki is accented with sansho miso and sansho tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce).

<Editor M's recommendation.
The crispiness of the eel is a world apart from other restaurants, and a lot of care is taken to preserve that texture. The staff members who were covering the event were also captivated by this eel. It is an unforgettable "eel you can only taste here. The rice is best when it is freshly cooked, so we are happy to hear that they serve freshly cooked rice in an earthenware pot every time we visit.

Eel and kappo Toishi

  • Eels, Kappos, and Toshi
  • 682 Harumei-cho, Nishi-iru, Nijo-dori, Mawagaya-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 5-minute walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Subway Station
  • Tel. 075-746-5557
  • 11:30-15:00 (LO/14:00)
    18:00-23:00 (LO/21:00)

5.Opening on April 23, 2024] A happy space [måne] in front of Kyoto City Hall where you can enjoy dishes that bring out the best of the ingredients with the people you love.

The popular restaurant [måne], loved for 8 years in Matsuiyamate, Kyotanabe City, will relocate and open in the area in front of Kyoto City Hall in April 2024. The owner chef, who skillfully manipulates techniques and flavors from around the world, has a background of 15 years of training at prestigious Italian restaurants in Kyoto City. His seasonal dishes, which bring out the best of the ingredients, are one-of-a-kind.

måne cuisine

The dish is an example of the 14,960 yen dinner course. Polenta with new potatoes and char-grilled abalone. Aromatic char-grilled abalone topped with liver sauce and black olive powder.

<Editor I's recommendation.
This popular restaurant in Matsuiyamate has attracted a lot of attention because it is now located in the city. As befits a restaurant name meaning "moon," you can enjoy creative cuisine utilizing Italian techniques in a stylish restaurant with warm and gentle lighting. The restaurant is happy to offer not only wine but also alcohol pairings, making it possible to enjoy a wide range of dishes!

måne

  • Morne.
  • 440-1 Yamamoto-cho, Nijo-dori Gokomachi-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 7 min. walk from Exit 3 of Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Subway Station.
  • Tel. 075-741-6563
  • 12:00 - 15:00 (last entry at 12:30)
    18:00-22:00 (last entry/19:00)
  • By appointment only

6.Jingu-michi JIN] [Open June 2, 2024] Kappo restaurant in Okazaki with a la carte dishes that are also very attractive.

This kappo-ryori restaurant is located along Jingu-michi street with a stylish ajiro ceiling and white wooden kotatsu-style counter. In addition to the 15,000 yen and 20,000 yen course menus, there is a full a la carte menu. Among them are beef dishes such as steak and beef cutlet, and suppon ramen noodles, which are rare for a kappo restaurant. How about having a chic time at the counter, which is comfortable even if you visit alone, while sipping a glass of sake?

Jingu-dojin Meat Cuisine

Kagoshima Ichibo 2,000 yen (photo for two). The Kagoshima black wagyu beef, which is said to have good quality fat that is not too greasy, is purchased directly from the place of production. The beef is directly roasted over a charcoal fire, giving it a rich flavor.

<Editor I's recommendation.
It is fun to dine at this cozy, hideaway-like restaurant while chatting with the friendly owner. It is a rare and very attractive place to enjoy authentic kappo cuisine made with recipes using seasonal ingredients, which can also be easily enjoyed a la carte.

Jingu-michijin

  • Jinguashiro (sect of Shinto, dissolved in 1899)
  • 374-5 Horike-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 4 min. walk from Exit 1 of Higashiyama Subway Station
  • Tel. 075-708-3967
  • 17:00-22:00

7.Open July 17, 2024] Cheers from the morning at Poli in Kitayama, a restaurant with a somewhat exotic atmosphere.

The restaurant serves authentic Italian-based dishes made with ingredients such as Ohara-grown vegetables and natural wines and other alcoholic beverages from 9:00 in the morning. The owner, Mr. Mizukami, says, "I hope people will enjoy drinking in the morning or at noon with healthy, non-heavy entrées. The interior of the restaurant looks like a restaurant in a small European village, and it is easy to linger in the restaurant for a long time.

poli aquapazza

Aqua Pazza of Maizuru lotus sea bream, 1,820 yen, and a cup of Sapporo Black Label draft with blood orange, 650 yen, recommended for a morning drink. Simple seasoning is used to bring out the flavor of the ingredients of the fresh lotus root sea bream shipped directly from Maizuru Port.

<Editor M's recommendation.
Open from morning to evening, this unusual style is perfect for those who want to enjoy a bit of elegance in the light of day. The interior of the restaurant is very cute and exciting. Each dish is elaborate and exquisite. The wine is really good, too!

POLI

  • polyethylene terephthalate
  • 28-3, Shimogamo-Nishihonmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 13 min. walk from Exit 5 of Kitaoji Subway Station
    2 minutes walk from bus stop "Prefectural University Mae".
  • Tel: None
  • 9:00-17:00 (LO/16:00)

8.Open July 23, 2024] Enjoy the special handmade noodles at "Teuchi Udon" in Kitano Shiraume-cho.

The owner, who trained at udon restaurants in Kagawa and Osaka, is known for his freshly-kneaded udon noodles made by hand without using a machine. We recommend the Tsukemen (tsukemen) with black beef and Kujo leeks. [Fresh Kujo leeks from Makimura Noen and black Japanese beef from Ginkakuji Onishi are used, and the ginger-accented dipping sauce is very appetizing. The soft and firm noodles are a perfect match.

Hand-rolled udon noodles with duck leg dipping sauce

Tsukemen noodles with Japanese black beef and kujo leek: 1,100 yen

<Editor's S. Recommendations
The udon noodles are very firm, filling, and very tasty! The dipping sauce has a soft aroma of ginger, which whets the appetite. There are many sightseeing spots in the area, so this is definitely a place to stop by on your way to see the sights.

Udon noodles with duck legs

  • udon noodles in broth (no trimmings)
  • 101 Arteheim Shiraume-cho, 77 Hiranomiyamoto-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 1 min. walk from Kinugasa-school-mae bus stop.
  • Tel: None
  • 10:30 - 14:30 (LO)
    17:00 - 20:00 (LO/19:30)

9.August 23, 2024 opening] Artisanal pizza baked in a custom-built wood-fired oven at Yoroshiku Pizza in Okazaki, Japan.

The symbol of this restaurant is the fully-ordered yellow pizza oven that peeks out from the window, where you can enjoy freshly baked pizza and drinks. The oven's temperature reaches nearly 500 degrees Celsius, and each pizza is baked one by one. The restaurant also offers a selection of alcoholic beverages, including natura wines, as well as a la carte dishes that make effective use of the oven and are perfect as entrées, making it a great bar.

Yo, Pizza!

The popular Margherita is 1300 yen. Tomatoes are crushed in a creative way so that they do not become watery, and the dough is more crispy and savory.

<Editor M's recommendation.
The sweet and sour tomato margherita with a hint of juiciness is delicious! The dough is chewy yet thin and not too heavy, allowing you to finish it in one piece. Not only is there a wide selection of drinks, but also Italian entrées can be enjoyed at reasonable prices.

Yo, Pizza!

  • 11-3 Okazaki Tokunari-cho, Nijojo-agaru, Higashioji-dori, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 10 min. walk from Exit 2 of Higashiyama Subway Station
  • Tel: None
  • 11:30 - 14:00 (LO)
    18:00-22:00 (LO/21:30)

10.Opened on September 12, 2024] A must-try for lovers of thick ramen! Mild Tonkotsu Soy Sauce Ramen at Menya To Toei Ruizu in Kyoto's Shijo-Omiya

This ramen restaurant was established in the Shijo-Omiya area, where new restaurants are opening one after another. The soup is made from pork bones from Kyoto's brand-name pork, Kyoto Poku, and cooked with several kinds of vegetables and chicken. The soup is so creamy that it is easy to recognize, but it is not cloying and has a mild and gentle taste.

Thick Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen at Menya Tochirouji

The thick Tonkotsu Soy Sauce (1,000 yen) uses the medium-thick straight noodles of Menya Egbe, which were carefully selected for their balance with the broth. The store's special soy sauce gives depth to the pork bone soup.

<Editor M's recommendation.
It is just so delicious that you will want to drink up the soup. Not only the flavor of Kyoto poke and chicken, but also the sweetness of vegetables makes it possible for even women to finish the dish with great relish. I personally prefer the thinly sliced menma, which is against the era of extra-thick menma. You can eat them with noodles and enjoy their texture.

Noodle Shop Utsu-ruji

  • MENYA KUREZU
  • 19-17 Mibubanba-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 8-minute walk from JR/Subway Nijo Station
    9 minutes walk from Exit 4 of Hankyu "Omiya" station
  • Tel. 075-334-9012
  • 11:00-15:00 (LO/14:30) *Close when soup is gone.
    17:00-22:00 (LO/21:30) *Close when soup is gone.

11.Survey] Recommended restaurants in Kyoto that you would like to repeat.

Thank you for taking the time to read to the end. We would love to hear your recommendations for Chinese restaurants in Kyoto that you would like to eat at even if you have to wait in line!
We sincerely look forward to your responses!

*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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