Grounded in Japanese cuisine but not beholden to its structures, the delightful creations of these dining pubs are often paired with an extensive menu of sakes, including local brews – pub crawling done with Japanese panache. Here are Kyoto’s best izakaya according to our culinary experts on the ground.
Saketosakana DNA
Gracious service by the family in charge warms the soul in this izakaya. Seafood sourced from the fishing port of Obama pairs with sakes from Fukui. Order sake with as little as one 90 ml glass at a time, to try as many sakes as you like.
Nijo Aritsune
The look and feel are refined but the concept is zakaya. Old friends such as char-grilled tsukune and croquettes are a comforting presence. The detailed notes on local sake and wine are a thoughtful touch, made possible by the owner’s dual qualifications as a sake expert and sommelier.
Sambongi Shoten
A char-grilling izakaya under the command of a former French chef. Straw-smoked fish are popular, as are venison and duck grilled as whole cuts. The proprietress entertains with organic wine and hot sake from various terroirs. Trying a variety of wines and sakes, paired with fare from the kitchen, makes for an enjoyable evening.
Komedokoro Inamoto
A small paper lantern bearing the character for ‘rice’ marks the entrance to this komedokoro — a place to enjoy both rice and sake. Steaming freshly cooked rice is the house specialty, and dishes are served on small plates, perfect for pairing of drinks with sharing a few bites.
Muromachi Kaji
A counter eatery somewhere on a spectrum between izakaya and kappo. Morsels worthy of a ryotei arrive à la carte to delight and entertain. Word to the wise: Start off with the Otoshi Hassun (appetizer hassun), an assortment of shuko in season.
Tsuneya Densuke
A sprawling menu of over 100 items seals the deal, with so many choices it’s hard to know where to begin. Particular focus is placed on fish, served as sashimi, grilled dishes, or tempura, among other preparations. The menu also includes Chinese and Western-inspired offerings — an impressive variety that keeps the sake flowing.Nominokoji Yamagishi
The whimsical menu evinces a plucky determination to entertain. Items such as deep-fried chicken wingtips and grilled octopus with soba are crowd-pleasers. A wide range of adult beverages are available, from lemon sour to Japanese whiskey.
Eitaroya
Sashimi is a principal draw at Eitaroya. Spread out over a large bowl of ice, the selection of fish presented is a delight. Ohitashi (blanched greens lightly marinated in dashi and soy sauce) and simmered items, prepared with vegetables and dashi, are popular. Honest flavors to warm the soul.Hero Image: © Nijo Aritsune
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- Browse our other Travel Guides
- Kyoto’s Must-Try Dishes, According to Our MICHELIN Guide Inspectors
