Local tells Top 5 best Shabu Shabu Restaurants in Kyoto!

Hi,I’m Keiko from Osaka!

I am sure many of you are familiar with shabu shabu.

This traditional Japanese hot pot dish has become popular internationally.

It is a hot pot where you would stir in thinly sliced meat (usually beef, pork or both) and pieces of vegetables in boiling water or broth, then consume them by dipping in various sauces.

The term “shabu shabu” came about by mimicking the sounds of the ingredients being stirred in a hot pot.

It is a great dish to have along with friends and colleagues in winter.

Here are top 5 Shabu Shabu restaurants you can try in Kyoto!

Top 5 best Shabu Shabu Restaurants in Kyoto!

1.Mishima Tei/三嶋亭

Worldly known, Mishima Tei is located in the middle of Kyoto, in Teramachi shopping arcade.

The restaurant has the traditional charming exterior with the brush painted signage on a wood board.

It is hard to miss the charm, but if you do, it is certain that you notice the restaurant’s showcases full of marbled wagyu (premium Japanese beef), which they sell on the ground floor.

Mishima Tei specializes in beef dishes including sukiyaki, mizutaki (shabu shabu), or steak.

The restaurant has been operating over 140 years, and its pride lies in its selection of premium beef from all over Japan.

Mishima Tei also offers various kaiseki meals including shabu shabu starting from around 14,850 yen (from 7,800 yen for a lunch course).

Mishima Tei is around 5 minutes’ walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae Station on Tozai Subway Line or Sanjo Station on Keihan Line.

2.JUNIDANYA Honten/十二段家 本店

Photo credit: hsuyo on VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Junidanya is the first restaurant that offered the dish that later became to be known as shabu shabu.

In 1947, right after the war, the owner of the restaurant adopted a Chinese hot pot lamb dish by using beef instead.

This became very popular and the owner shared its receipt widely to other areas, making it one of the most popular dishes of the era in Japan.

The exterior of the restaurant shows its history and is very fitting to Gion area, cultural center of Kyoto.
It is a beautiful traditional wooden house.

Shabu shabu here uses kuroge wagyu sirloin (premium Japanese beef).

The shabu shabu in Junidanya starts at 11,000 yen.

Yes, a bit pricy.

However, you would probably feel it is justified once you taste the food.

It also offers lunch boxes that are reasonably priced.

The closest station to Junidanya is Gion Sijo Station on Keihan Line.

3.Hyoto/瓢斗

Hyoto is an authentic Shabu shabu restaurant that serves both pork and beef Shabu shabu.

It offers its dishes in a kaiseki style (traditional course meal), allowing you to experience Kyoto’s fine dining scene.

Hyoto’s shabu shabu is known for its dashi (soup stock).

Their beef are premium Ohmi beef (one of the branded beef in the region).

The food is prepared by a Michelin-stared chef, no wonder why this is one of the most popular shabu shabu restaurants in Kyoto.

The restaurant has many small private rooms, so it can serve as a perfect place for your business meeting.

Despite its historic and authentic atmosphere and the quality of the food here, the food is reasonably priced.

Its kaiseki offers the great seasonal ingredients of Kyoto starting at 5,000 yen.

Pork shabu shabu starts at 3,000 yen and beef at 5,000 yen.

Hyoto is located near Karasuma Station on Hankyu Line near Nishiki Market.

4.SHABU ZEN Kyoto Gion/しゃぶ禅 京都祇園店

Photo credit: Nodame on Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

This is another popular shabu shabu restaurant conveniently located in Gion.

The unique feature of shabu shabu here is that you can choose the type of beef: Japanese beef, kuroge wagyu, Kobe beef, etc.

It also offers “all you can eat” shabu shabu (meat and vegetables) for a reasonable price of 4,800 yen to 6,800 yen.

Until the end of February, there is a set meal offering both fugu (puffer fish) sashimi and shabu shabu.

If you want to eat quality food to fill your stomach, without breaking your bank, this is a place for you.

Shabu Zen is a 3 minute’ walk from Shijo Station on Keihan Line or 15 minutes’ walk from Kawaramachi Station on Hankyu Line.

English menu is available for foreign tourists.

5.MIYABI AN Kyoto Rokkaku/雅庵 京都六角

Miyabi An is another restaurant that offers “all you can eat” shabu shabu that comes with Kyoto vegetables, udon noodles, etc.

Popular among young professionals, the restaurant sits in the modern chic fashionable atmosphere.

You can choose a type of hot pot you want to have (shabu shabu, shabu shabu-sukiyaki mix, sukiyaki, or seasonal hot pot such as beef-crabs or lemon hot pot).

After that your price of the meal will vary depending on the quality of meat you choose.

For example, all you can eat shabu shabu-sukiyaki mix hot pot starts at 2,480 yen.

You can also add “all you can drink” for 1,500 yen (120 minutes), so this might be a perfect place to have a little party among your friends.



I hope you’ll enjoy the best Shabu Shabu in Kyoto!