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Hi,I’m Keiko from Osaka!

Ramen has become the world known “street food” of Japan and the next is … Udon.

You start to see the popular Japanese Udon chain restaurants overseas.

Along with ramen, you definitely want to try udon while you are in Kyoto!

As matter of fact, udon and soba are considered to be more authentic “Japanese” noodles than ramen.

For those not familiar, udon are thick Japanese chewy noodle made of wheat flour.

Just like ramen, what attracts people to Udon is its variety: they can be served cold or hot, in various stock, in soup or without, and each restaurant has its own combination of flour to make their special noodles.

Each region also has a unique udon dish.

Here are top 7 udon restaurants you can try in Kyoto!
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Local tells Top 7 best Udon restaurants in Kyoto!Enjoy authentic Japanese noodles

1.Yamamoto Menzo/山元麺蔵

Menzo is known to be one of the best udon restaurants in Kyoto.

So, you have to be willing to be in a long line to taste their popular home made udon noodles.

People not only from Kyoto but all over Japan visit here.

Their starchy flour makes the noodles firm and chewy that attract many people.

The recommended menu is agemochi mizore udon, which has deep fried rice cakes as a topping, grounded radish in a hot stock.

Also, udon with fried burdock may be unique to non-Japanese, but delicious.

Menzo is located near Heian Jingu Shrine, you won’t miss its quaint and traditional exterior.

Here is a video of Menzo.



Yamamoto Menzo
Address:34 Okazaki Minamigosho-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Location:10 minutes walk from Kyoto City Subway Higashiyama Station
Phone:075-751-0677
Open Hour: Mon.Tue. Fri-Sun.11:00~18:00(L.O.),Wed 11:00~14:30(L.O.)
Closed: Thursday,The 4th Wednesday
Price:1,000〜2,000 yen
Map
Center map

2.Okakita/岡北

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Okakita’s udon is consider to be the typical “Kyo Udon” (Kyoto styled udon).

Okakita has been in business for 70 years.

They perfected their soup stock in two generations of owners using the best quality kelp and fish flakes.

The item you should try is Namayuba Keiran, which is an udon noddle with eggs, thick sauce (ankake), and tofu skin.

Also Tentoji udon is popular, which is a bowl that has a huge deep fried shrimp and tempura flakes.

Okakita is located right next to Yamamoto Menzo.

Okakita
Address:34 Okazaki Minamigosho-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Location:10 minutes walk from Kyoto City Subway Higashiyama Station
Phone:075-771-4831
Open Hour: 11:00~18:00(L.O.)
Closed:Tuesday,The 1st,3rd,5th Wednesday
Price:〜2,000yen
Map
Center map

3.Fumiya/冨美家

Originally established in 1946, Fumiya used to be a Japanese sweets maker that specializes in the traditional sweets using red bean curd.

As a popular udon noodle restaurant, Fumiya has been offering popular udon dishes since dishes 1963.

Fumiya uses the top quality ingredients and make their own noodles combining various flours of Japanese wheats.

The broth is made from kelp in Hokkaido and flakes of several fishes.

They even care about the water they use, taking the water from Fushimi area, which is also famous for sake making thanks to its pure water.

The popular item here is Nabe Yaki Udon, “Fumiya Nabe.”

With only ¥650, it includes rice cake, shrimp tempura, fish cake and some vegetables.

The closest station to Fumiya is Karasuma station on Hankyu line.

Here is a video of Fumiya.



Fumiya Main Shop
Address:519 Kikuya-cho, Nishiki-koji Sakaimachi-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Location:5 minutes walk from Kyoto City Subway Karasuma station
Phone:075-222-0006
Open Hour:11:00〜16:30(L.O.)
Closed:The year-end and New Year Holidays
Price:〜2,000yen
Map
Center map

Fumiya Nishiki Shop
Address:493 Naka Uoya-cho, Nishikikoji-dori Sakaimachi-nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Location:5 minutes walk from Kyoto City Subway Karasuma station
Phone:075-221-0354
Open Hour:10:00〜18:00
Closed: The year-end and New Year Holidays
Price:〜2,000yen
Map
Center map

4. Gion Tokiwa/ぎをん 常盤

Established in 1922, Gion Tokiwa is an esteemed noodle shop famous for its broth.

Using the top quality kelp and fish flakes, the broth here is made daily and known for its soft, gentle flavor note that highlights the umami flavor.

The noodles here are slightly flat and soft to eat.

The popular dishes here are Haikara Udon (which has fish cake, Kyoto’s green onions, eggs, tempura flakes) as well as Tokiwa Kishimen.

Gion Tokiwa is conveniently located only 5 minutes’ walking distance from Sanjo Keihan Station.

Gion Tokiwa
Address:412 Hashimoto-cho, Shinbashi-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Location:11minutes walk from Subway Higashiyama Line Higashiyama Station
Phone:075-561-1811
Open Hour:12:00〜15:00,18:00〜22:00
Closed:Sunday,National holidays,Irregular holiday
Price:〜2,000yen
Map
Center map

Next,let’s go to the udon restaurant which is located near Ginkaku-ji temple!

5.Omen/おめん

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Omen has three branches all in touristic spots: near Ginkaku-ji temple, Shijo Pontocho, and Kodaiji temple.

It even has a branch in New York thus world known.

Omen is known for tsukemen, which is a cold udon noodle that you dip in a separate bowl of thick soup.

Omen offers tsukemen with various dishes as a set such as with tempura, or saba (mackerel) sushi.

Omen’s Ginkakuji location is located only a few minutes from city bus Ginkakuji stop.

Omen Ginkakuji Main Shop
Address:74 Jodoji Ishibashicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Location: 3 walk from Kyoto city bus Ginkakuji-mae or Ginkakuji-michi bus stop
Phone:075-771-8994
Open Hour:11:00〜21:00 (L.O.20:30)
Closed: Thursday
Price:〜2,000yen
Map
Center map

Omen Shijo Pontocho Shop
Address:Shijo Dori, Ponotocho Nishi Iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Location: 5 minutes walk from Keihan Railway Gion-shijo Station,
Phone:075-253-0377
Open Hour:11:00〜16:00 (L.O.15:30),17:00〜21:00 (L.O.20:30)
Closed:Thursday
Price:〜2,000yen
Map
Center map

Omen Kodaji Shop
Address: 362 Masuya-chou Shimogawara-higashiiru Koudaiji-doori Higashiyama-ku Kyoto
Location: 10 minutes walk from Keihan Railway Gion-shijo Station,
Phone: 075-541-5007
Open Hour:11:00〜21:00(L.O.20:30)
Closed: Thursday
Price:〜2,000yen
Map
Center map

6.Gontaro/京都 権太呂 本店

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Gontaro has a few branches in Kyoto with its head store located next to Nishiki Market.

It has a traditional “instagram” perfect exterior that screams “Kyoto.”

Gontaro has been in business for 100 years and is known for its stock, that is called “golden stock.”

The restaurant makes its stock every morning for 3 hours.

The recommended dish is Udon suki, where noodles are simmered in a hot pot with various ingredients.

Also popular is shippoku noodle, which comes with fish cakes, which is perfect with the golden stock.

The closest station is Kawaramachi Station.

Gontaro Main Shop
Address:Fuyacho-dori Shijyo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Location: 5 minutes walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station
Phone:075-221-5810
Open Hour:11:00~21:00 31th Dec. 11:00~23:00(L.O22:30),1st&2nd Jan.11:00~20:00(L.O19:00)
Closed:Wednesday
Price:Lunch 1,000〜2,000 yen Dinner 5,000〜6,000 yen
Map
Center map

Gontaro Okazaki Shop
Address:17 Okazaki Minami Gosyo-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Location: 5 minutes walk from Kyoto City Subway Higashiyama Station
Phone:075-751-7880
Open Hour:11:00~21:30(L.O. 21:00)
Closed:Wednesday
Price:Lunch 1,000〜2,000 yen Dinner 5,000〜6,000 yen
Map
Center map

Gontaro Kinkakuji Shop
Address:26 Hirano Miyaziki-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto
Location: 5 minutes walk from Kyoto City Bus Kinkakuji-mae Bus stop
Phone:075-463-1039
Open Hour:11:00~21:30(L.O. 21:00)
Closed:Wednesday
Price:Lunch 1,000〜2,000 yen Dinner 5,000〜6,000 yen
Map
Center map

7.Okaru/おかる

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Okaru is known for their two very popular dishes: ankake udon and curry udon, both of which are “must try!”

Ankake is a thickened soup, which stick very well to the noodles, a very popular dish in Kyoto.

Okaru does not use any water in their ankake soup, so you are just tasting the good pure stock made of kelp and fish.

Okaru also has various curry udon noodles, but the most popular is curry cheese meat udon, which is the perfect combination of spicy and thick curry, mild cheese, and meat that gives the kick.

Though their service is not so popular compared with other shops, their noodles are so affordable.

Okaru is 3 minutes’ walking distance from Gion Shijo station.

Okaru
Address:132 Yasaka Shinchi Tominaga-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Location: 3 minutes walk from Keihan Railway Gionshijyo Station
Phone 075-541-1001
Open Hour: Mon-Thu:11:00~15:00, 17:00~26:30 ,Fri,Sat:11:00~15:00,17:00~27:00
Sun,11:00~15:00
Price:〜1,000 yen
Map
Center map

Summary

Top 7 best Udon restaurants in Kyoto

  1. Yamamoto Menzo・・・Menzo is known to be one of the best udon restaurants in Kyoto.
  2. Okakita・・・Okakita’s udon is consider to be the typical “Kyo Udon” (Kyoto styled udon)
  3. Fumiya・・・As a popular udon noodle restaurant, Fumiya has been offering popular udon dishes since dishes 1963.
  4. Gion Tokiwa・・・Established in 1922, Gion Tokiwa is an esteemed noodle shop famous for its broth.
  5. Omen・・・Omen has three branches all in touristic spots: near Ginkaku-ji temple, Shijo Pontocho, and Kodaiji temple.
  6. Gontaro・・・It has a traditional “instagram” perfect exterior that screams “Kyoto.”
  7. Okaru・・・Okaru is known for their two very popular dishes: ankake udon and curry udon, both of which are “must try!”

I hope you’ll enjoy Kyo-style Udon in Kyoto!


For your information
If you’re looking for unique activities and experiences in Kyoto,you can find them here:

There are also a variety of unique food tours in Japan.

If you are a foodie looking for a nice hang-out plan out in the city with the locals, these tours will truly delight you!

Kyoto:
Kyoto Bar Hopping Night Tour:

Kyoto Night Foodie Tour

Osaka:
Osaka Bar Hopping Food Tour in Namba:

Tokyo:
Classic Food Tour in Shinjuku

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