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2025.2.28
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Karasuma Lunch Special

2025] 14 Recommended Lunches in the Shijo-Karasuma Area

The Karasuma area is lined with offices and stores, and many people come and go every day. This area, which is also known as the center of Kyoto, is packed with restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious lunch! We have picked up our editorial staff's recommendations regardless of genre, including Japanese, Western, and Chinese food. Why don't you check out your favorite restaurants and explore new ones?

Contents of this article

1.
The delicious flavor of chicken and seafood is concentrated! Ramen at Wajo Ryomen Sugari, where the fresh motsu (motsu) satisfies your appetite!
2.
Boasting fresh fish purchased the same day! [Harbor Meal Lunch at Yumedokoro Fisherman's Meal Zaushiya
3.
A series of elaborate dishes will be served one after another! [Traveling Lunch Course at ryu no hige by MITATE
4.
Excellent thirst-quenching noodles! [Enjoy the taste of the broth in the thick tsukemen noodles at Menshou Takamatsu Kyoto Main Store!
5.
[Enjoy a rewarding lunch of shark's fin rice at ZEZE KANPOCHI.
6.
Spice-scented! The unmistakable taste of Keema Curry and Udon noodles in a traditional Kyoto townhouse.
7.
A wide variety of dishes will impress you! AWOMB Karasuma Honten's course lunch featuring hand-woven sushi
8.
Repeaters keep coming back! The spices stimulate your appetite for the excellent keema curry at SPICE CHAMBER.
9.
Enjoy authentic dim sum that goes all the way down to the skin! [Hoshi-machi Set Meal at Hong Kong Yumcha Hoshi-machi
10.
Neapolitan spaghetti at Maeda Coffee Muro-machi
11.
[Enjoy Kyoto's Obanzai at Gozen Lunch at the Kyoto Aji-Nomura Karasuma Main Store
12.
Healthy lunch served by an authentic Chinese restaurant [Raksenro] black rice porridge set
13.
Juicy hamburgers with plenty of flavor! Juicy hamburgers to satisfy your taste buds [HAMBURG LABO Shijo Nishinotoin
14.
A time-consuming hamburger steak lunch at a popular Western-style restaurant [Western-style restaurant Noro] will satisfy both your stomach and your mind.

1.The delicious flavor of chicken and seafood is concentrated! Ramen at Wajo Ryomen Sugari, where the fresh motsu (motsu) satisfies your appetite!

Wajo Ryomen Sugari (Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is located just a 3-minute walk from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Railway. [Opened as the third store of the same name, this popular store is visited by fans in search of excellent noodles. The soup is made from a large amount of chicken stock and dried sardines, and topped with fresh motsu (motsu). The soup is filled with cabbage and green onions, which are soaked in the thick broth, and served with homemade whole wheat noodles, filling you with happiness.

Japanese brewed good noodle Sugari Ramen (mori)

Ramen (motsu) 1,200 yen. Chicken seafood soup and homemade noodles, topped with freshly seared savory Japanese motsu

Interior view of Wajo Ryoumen Sugari

Japanese-style noodles

  • being caught in a trap
  • 471-1, Kannondo-cho, Shijo-dori Shinmachi-agaru, Ichijo-me Higashiiru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 3 minutes walk from Hankyu "Karasuma" station or subway "Shijo" station (Exit 26)
  • Tel: None
  • 11:30-15:00, 18:00-21:00 *Close when sold out
  • 7 days a week

2.Boasting fresh fish purchased the same day! [Harbor Meal Lunch at Yumedokoro Fisherman's Meal Zaushiya

[Yumedokoro Fisherman's Meal Zaushiya is proud of its harbor cuisine, which you can enjoy in the city! You can enjoy a variety of dishes using fresh fish carefully selected and purchased at the central market every morning. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes recommended for the day, but the most recommended dish is the sumptuous rice dish, which is also available at lunch time. A variety of dishes such as a bowl of rice topped with a sumptuous bowl of fish purchased on the day and a main dish that changes daily are served on a single plate. The restaurant offers seats with sunken kotatsu (table over a sunken table) where you can relax in comfort, as well as seats at the counter where you can enjoy watching the craftsmanship of fish processing. Enjoy the special taste of fresh fish in the city.

Zogyo-ya's extravagant rice

Luxury meal for 1,200 yen. In addition to the fish dish, the set includes a salad and homemade chawanmushi (steamed egg custard). To finish, pour the broth into a bowl of rice and enjoy it as chazuke (rice with green tea).

Inside view of Zoya

Yumedokoro Fisherman's Meshi Zagoya

  • Yumedokoro Ryoshi Meshi Zakoya
  • 147-3 Honeyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 4 min. walk from Exit 6 of Karasuma-Oike Subway Station
    6 minutes walk from Exit 22 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel.075-221-3358
  • 11:00-14:00 (LO), 17:00-23:00 (LO/22:00)
  • Closed on Sundays and other non-scheduled holidays *On Mondays, only night business is available.

3.A series of elaborate dishes will be served one after another! [Traveling Lunch Course at ryu no hige by MITATE

ryu no hige by MITATE" offers a new fusion of Kyoto cuisine and French cuisine. The "Tourism Experience Course," which is available at lunchtime, is a tour-style menu of Kyoto's famous landmarks based on the concept of an "adult excursion. From appetizers to main courses and desserts, diners can enjoy a variety of creative dishes that focus on famous sightseeing spots. The best part of visiting "ryu no hige by MITATE" is that you will discover something new every time you visit, such as seasonal changes in cuisine and a course developed in collaboration with cutlery brand "COUTIPOLE.

Ryuunohige's Cuisine

An example of the 4,950 yen Tourism Experience Course. The course features a variety of dishes that change with the seasons, including appetizers, sashimi, kamameshi (rice cooked in a pot), and a dessert buffet. Reservations required for this course.

Interior view of Ryunohige

ryu no hige by MITATE

  • Ryu No Beard by Mitate
  • Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Shijo-Karasuma 1F, 678 Ojosho-machi, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • Short walk from Exit 5 of "Shijo" subway station
    4 minutes walk from Exit 2 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel. 050-5462-4033
  • 11:30-15:00 (LO/13:30)
  • Closed on Wednesdays and irregular holidays
    *Confirmation of store holidays is required.
  • All seats non-smoking No private room No parking
  • https://www.instagram.com/ryu.no.hige/

4.Excellent thirst-quenching noodles! [Enjoy the taste of the broth in the thick tsukemen noodles at Menshou Takamatsu Kyoto Main Store!

The Kyoto branch of Menzoku Takamatsu specializes in tsukemen (tsukemen). Takamatsu's signature tsukemen dish is to enjoy the aroma and the smoothness of the noodles alone. After that, we recommend adding a dash of sudachi (citrus fruit) or black pepper to the noodles for a different flavor. The chicken broth and seafood broth are combined with the thin noodles, which are very smooth, and one bite will immediately fill you with happiness. The restaurant is a place where one can easily stop by alone at the counter, as they want to be "close to you. Come by on a whim and fill your stomach and soul with the delicious tsukemen.

Takamatsu Tsukemen

Tsukemen (chicken and seafood): 930 yen. The noodles, which are the key to the flavor, are made with stone-ground whole wheat flour from Nagano Prefecture, which has a unique texture and feel on the tongue.

Exterior view of Mensho-Taka Matsumoto

Mensho Takamatsu Kyoto Main Store

  • licensed real estate agent
  • 312 Ichirensha-cho, Takoyakushi-dori, Higashinotoin, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 5 min. walk from Exit 21 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel.075-252-8270
  • 11:00-23:00 (LO/22:30)
  • 7 days a week

5.[Enjoy a rewarding lunch of shark's fin rice at ZEZE KANPOCHI.

Zensho Hanpochi offers authentic Chinese cuisine in the Karasuma area. The restaurant is housed in an atmospheric building that was formerly the store and residence of a kimono merchant, and offers a variety of gorgeous Chinese dishes. The famous shark's fin rice is a dish that has many fans, with a lavish portion of large shark's fin on top. The option to choose your favorite part of the shark's fin from the following options is also a plus. The restaurant also offers a lineup of course meals, making it a useful choice for a variety of situations, from a small rewarding lunch to a special dinner.

Cuisine of Zensho Hanpochiri

Our specialty shark's fin (unraveled (1,980 yen), full-sized breast fin (2,640 yen), and special shark's fin (5,500 yen)), which can also be enjoyed with rice, is full of collagen and melts in your mouth. The richness and flavor will fill your mouth!

Interior view of Zenjo Hanpokkiri

Zenshikan chubby

  • Zezekan chubby
  • 283-2 Tenjinyamacho, Shinmachi Higashi-iru, Nishikikoji-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 4 minutes walk from Exit 26 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel.075-257-5766
  • 11:30-15:00 (LO/14:00)
    17:00-22:00 (LO/21:00)
  • 7 days a week
  • All seats non-smoking Fully private room available No parking
  • https://kiwa-group.co.jp/zezekan/

6.Spice-scented! The unmistakable taste of Keema Curry and Udon noodles in a traditional Kyoto townhouse.

Kyoto Shijo Kunon is located a four-minute walk from Karasuma Station. It is a popular restaurant that attracts fans every day as they can enjoy udon lunch in a renovated Kyoto-style machiya house. The signature dish is Keema Udon, a thin udon noodle made from a blend of Japanese wheat ground by hand on a stone mill and roasted germ, topped with a generous amount of Keema Curry. More than 20 spices are used in the keema curry, and the exquisite marriage between the udon and the curry stimulates the appetite. Enjoy your favorite arrangement, such as adding tsuyu (soy sauce) or pouring the curry over barley rice topped with egg yolk.

Kyoto Shijo Kuon's Japanese-style Kashiwa Keema Udon with five types of skewered tempura

Japanese-style Kashiwa Keema Udon with five kinds of skewered tempura for 1980 yen. A set that includes the popular keema udon with barley rice topped with egg yolk and five kinds of skewered tempura.

Interior view of Kyoto Shijo Kuon

Kyoto Shijo Kuon

  • capital punishment
  • 420, Koyadana-cho, Nishiki-kouji-sagaru, Shinmachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 4 minutes walk from Exit 26 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel. 075-251-6661
  • 11:00-15:00 (LO/14:30)
    17:00-21:00 (LO/20:30)
  • Irregular holidays

7.A wide variety of dishes will impress you! AWOMB Karasuma Honten's course lunch featuring hand-woven sushi

AWOMB Karasuma's main restaurant focuses on "food, clothing, and shelter," which are indispensable for daily life, and offers a variety of food. Enjoy lunch in a renovated 80-year-old machiya house in a space where classic and modern styles coexist. The hand-rolled sushi that appears as part of the course is served in a style similar to hand-rolled sushi with about 50 different seasonal obanzai and condiments. The sushi is not only delicious, but also so beautiful and colorful that it is hard not to fall in love with it. This winter, hand-rolled sushi and yakisoba made entirely of vegetables will be added to the lineup.

AWOMB Cuisine

An example of the standard course priced at 5,940 yen. The main dish is hand-woven sushi, followed by sakcha, soup, a choice of one dish, sweet, and Shikicha (tea) to finish. Reservations required for the standard course.

Appearance of AWOMB

AWOMB Karasuma Main Store

  • Aum Karasuma Honten
  • Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City
  • 6 minutes walk from Exit 26 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel.050-3134-3003
  • 11:30-15:00 (LO/14:00)
    17:30 - 20:20 (LO/19:30)
    * WEB advance reservation priority
  • Irregular holidays

8.Repeaters keep coming back! The spices stimulate your appetite for the excellent keema curry at SPICE CHAMBER.

SPICE CHAMBER's main attraction is its owner's signature keema curry, made with a mixture of 17 different spices, which has a tangy, addictive taste. The curry fans are attracted by the deep and well-balanced taste of the onions from Awaji and the acidity of the tomatoes. The aroma of spices fills the restaurant, stimulating your curiosity about food at once! [Let's recharge your energy for the day with a keema curry from SPICE CHAMBER!

Keema Curry at Spice Chamber

Keema Curry (spicy) 1100 yen. The spiciness of the curry goes well with the accompanying pickles. The topping of yogurt cools down the tingling sensation.

Appearance of Spice Chamber

SPICE CHAMBER

  • Spice Chamber
  • 1F Fukui Bldg., 502 Shirakuten-cho, Muromachi-dori Ayashoji-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 2 minutes walk from Exit 26 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel. 075-342-3813
  • 11:30-15:00
    18:00-21:00 (LO/20:45) *Open only for lunch on Saturdays
  • Closed on Sundays and Mondays (open for lunch if Monday is a national holiday), other irregular holidays Please check the official website or official Instagram.

9.Enjoy authentic dim sum that goes all the way down to the skin! [Hoshi-machi Set Meal at Hong Kong Yumcha Hoshi-machi

Hong Kong Dim Sum Star Street is where you can enjoy dishes prepared by He Yui-king, who has been making dim sum for more than 40 years. His dishes, which maximize the deliciousness of the ingredients, have won the hearts of dim sum fans. The signature Ho-Yu-King set meal includes congee, three kinds of steamed shrimp dumplings, a steamed pork bun, and a dessert! This is a great choice for a busy lunch time, as it is a casual way to taste the best dim sum. Try the authentic dim sum carefully made from the skin with all your heart.

Cuisine at Star Street Yum Cha

Hoshigai Set Meal: 1,600 yen. The three kinds of steamed shrimp dumplings are thin-skinned and full of filling, and the plumpness of the shrimp is appealing. To finish off the meal, you can enjoy a refreshingly sweet dessert called "yongji kangro.

Exterior view of Hong Kong Yum Cha Star Street

Hong Kong Yum Cha Star Street

  • Hong Kong Yumcha Star Town
  • 532 Koiyama-cho, Takoyakushi Ueru, Muromachi Dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto
  • 5 minutes walk from Exit 26 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel. 075-708-8885
  • 11:30-15:00 (LO/14:30)
    17:30 - 20:30 (LO/20:00) *Friday through Sunday and holidays: 17:00 - 21:00 (LO/20:30)
    Closes at 20:30 on Sundays
  • Closed on Thursdays
  • All seats non-smoking No private room No parking
  • https://www.starstreet.jp/

10.Neapolitan spaghetti at Maeda Coffee Muro-machi

Maeda Coffee Muromachi is a long-established coffee shop in Kyoto, where coffee culture has long been rooted. Opened in 1981 in a building that was originally a kimono shop, it continues to serve the same taste that has been passed down from generation to generation. The lunch recommendation is the old-fashioned specialty Neapolitan spaghetti, which is synonymous with the coffee shop menu. The sweetness of slowly sauteed onions and the tomato sauce with just the right amount of acidity are well mixed together to create a flavor that has remained unchanged since the establishment of the shop. +A drink can be added for 300 yen, so we recommend spending a relaxing time after your meal with a cup of coffee, a specialty of the restaurant.

Maeda Coffee's Neapolitan

The famous Neapolitan spaghetti is 1,200 yen. In addition to the drink set, you can add a salad set, change the size of the spaghetti, and customize it to your liking!

Interior view of Maeda Coffee

Maeda Coffee Muromachi Honten

  • Mae Da Coffee - Muromachi Honten
  • 236 Hashibenkei-machi, Takoyakushi-dori Karasuma-nishiiru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 4 minutes walk from Exit 22 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel. 075-255-2588
  • 7:00-18:00 (LO/17:30)
  • Closed on January 1
  • All seats non-smoking (smoking space available) No private room No parking
  • https://www.maedacoffee.com/shopinfo/honten/

11.[Enjoy Kyoto's Obanzai at Gozen Lunch at the Kyoto Aji-Nomura Karasuma Main Store

Kyo-Na-Aji Nomura Karasuma offers obanzai (Kyoto-style dishes) using vegetables. We recommend the popular "Masa Gozen" menu, which offers 12 kinds of colorful obanzai, mainly vegetables. The beautifully arranged dishes, which look like a jewelry box, are not only delicious but also pleasing to the eye. It is also a pleasure to know that the set comes with a bowl of yuba (yuba leaves) and miso soup, one of the signature dishes of the restaurant. The restaurant opens at 7:00 a.m., making it ideal for breakfast or an early lunch.

Aji-no-Mura Cuisine

The Masa Gozen (1,800 yen) offers a variety of elaborate obanzai dishes that can be enjoyed a little at a time. The ingredients change daily, so you can enjoy a new taste every time you visit!

Appearance of Aji no Mura

Kyo-Nana Aji Nomura Karasuma Main Store

  • Kyoto's best-known store
  • 224 Hashibenkei-machi, Takoyakushi-dori Karasuma-nishiiru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 4 minutes walk from Exit 22 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel. 075-257-7647
  • 7:00~14:30 (LO/14:00)
  • Open all year round (check during the year-end and New Year's holidays)
  • All seats non-smoking No private room No parking
  • https://www.nomurafoods.jp/shops/karasuma/

12.Healthy lunch served by an authentic Chinese restaurant [Raksenro] black rice porridge set

Enjoy handmade dumplings, hot pot, and other Chinese home-style dishes at Raksenro, a Chinese restaurant opened by the previous owner, who was originally from Harbin. The restaurant is popular for its authentic Chinese cuisine, including the black rice porridge set that appears on the lunch menu only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The menu includes a variety of dishes such as congee made from black rice, which is valued in China as a nutritional food, three kinds of cold vegetables, and apricot bean curd. The appearance of the restaurant, which makes you feel as if you are visiting China, is also a must-see. Step into the world of authentic Chinese cuisine in the conveniently accessible Karasuma area!

Raksenro black rice porridge set

Black rice porridge set (Saturday, Sunday, and holidays only): 1,650 yen. You can choose between chicken dumplings or three handmade dumplings. We recommend adding the included kibi sugar to the black rice porridge at the end to enjoy it like a dessert.

Exterior view of Raksenro

Rakusenro

  • Rakusenro
  • 1F Toyomoto Bldg. 37, Shijo-sagaru, Higashinotoin-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • Short walk from Exit 19 of Hankyu "Karasuma" station
  • Tel. 075-351-4900
  • 11:30-14:30, 17:30-22:00
    *Sunday dinner time is by reservation only.
  • Closed on Tuesdays

13.Juicy hamburgers with plenty of flavor! Juicy hamburgers to satisfy your taste buds [HAMBURG LABO Shijo Nishinotoin

HAMBURG LABO Shijo Nishinotoin is proud of its teppan steamed hamburger steak. The 100% pork hamburger set, made from selected Japanese pork, has been a popular staple menu item since the establishment of the restaurant. The hamburger steak is made with the finest ingredients, and is steamed slowly on a griddle to create a fluffy, juicy hamburger steak that is packed with juices. The menu also offers a wide variety of toppings, so you can enjoy changing the flavor of the hamburger by your favorite arrangement. Please enjoy the taste of a hamburger steak specialty restaurant that has spared no effort in its production.

Hamburger at Hamburger Labo Shijo Nishinotoin

Pork 100% hamburger set 1680 yen. Includes rice or bread, red miso soup or soup, mini salad and dessert at lunch time.

Interior view of Hamburger Lab

HAMBURG LABO Shijo Nishinotoin

  • Hamburger Labo, Japan
  • 694 Myodenji-cho, Shijo-sagaru, Nishinotoin-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 4 minutes walk from Exit 26 of "Karasuma" station on Hankyu line
  • Tel. 050-3134-5280
  • 11:30-14:30 (LO/14:00) *Open for lunch only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
    17:00-23:00 (LO/22:00)
  • Closed on Wednesdays
  • All seats non-smoking No private room No parking
  • https://www.instagram.com/hamburg_labo_shijonishinotoin/

14.A time-consuming hamburger steak lunch at a popular Western-style restaurant [Western-style restaurant Noro] will satisfy both your stomach and your mind.

Located a six-minute walk from Karasuma-Oike Station, Western Restaurant Noro is a popular Western-style restaurant that fills up its seats immediately after opening. [Opened as a sister restaurant of Ristorante Noro, it is a remarkable restaurant that continues to steadily increase the number of repeat customers. The lunch menu is a series of carefully prepared dishes, starting with appetizers, minestrone, hamburgers with poached eggs, and so on. The sake lineup, carefully selected by Chef Kono, who says he loves Japanese sake, is also noteworthy. Enjoy a new kind of lunchtime experience and be surprised by the unexpectedly good chemistry between Western cuisine and sake.

Stewed Hamburger Steak at Western Restaurant Noro

Lunch Ichigeki 2950 yen (price will be changed to 3150 yen from March 16, 2025). The demi-sauce for the hamburger steak has a secret flavor of red miso, which produces a richness. Soups and appetizers change daily, making this a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Interior view of Western-style restaurant RO

Western-style restaurant

  • attractive face and figure
  • 115-1 Tamakura-cho, Rokkaku-dori Shinmachi Higashi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • Six-minute walk from Exit 6 of Karasuma-Oike Subway Station
  • Tel. 075-746-6900
  • 11:30-14:00 (LO/13:00)
    17:00-22:00 (LO/20:00)
  • Closed on Mondays and once a month on Tuesdays
*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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