This time, I am relocating, and my colleagues from the same department are throwing a farewell party for me. The local lady made a reservation at this Michelin-starred restaurant. It's a course meal. We were guided to the second floor tatami room. The setting is elegant, and it seems like a place where we can enjoy the food and conversation in a relaxed manner. First, we ordered drinks and made a toast. Being with this group is so much fun. The beer I ordered tastes especially good. After a while, an assortment of appetizers was brought to us. It included smoked duck breast, cold abalone, jellyfish, and bon bon chicken. The abalone and jellyfish were recommended to be eaten with mustard soy sauce. The abalone was tender and had a fresh flavor. The jellyfish had a crunchy texture with a classic taste. The bon bon chicken was well balanced with sesame sauce, chicken, cucumber, and garnished with scallions. The smoked duck breast had a pastrami finish, which also had a classic taste. Next, beef and spring vegetable stir-fry with oyster sauce was served. The beef was stir-fried with baby corn, Brussels sprouts, red turnips, shimeji mushrooms, carrots, and seasoned with oyster sauce. The beef's flavor was not overshadowed by the vegetables, and the oyster sauce elegantly brought out the flavors of each ingredient. Then, we had fried chicken, spring rolls, and walnut stir-fried with black sugar. Sichuan pepper salt was served on the side. The fried chicken was simple, and the flavor of the chicken was enhanced by the Sichuan pepper salt. The spring rolls were thin and long, with the filling mainly consisting of peas. The sweetness of the peas and the umami flavor of the meat were well balanced. The walnuts were sweet and fragrant. All dishes had a light and elegant taste. Following that, prawns in chili sauce were served. The prawns were juicy and coated with a slightly spicy chili sauce with a hint of ginger, which spread a flavorful taste in the mouth. The dishes so far had a refined and light taste, almost like Kyoto-style Chinese cuisine. However, the prawns in chili sauce had a strong umami taste, making it the most delicious prawn chili I've ever had. The restaurant's specialty, Tohronpo, was served with steamed sakura buns. The steaming hot sakura buns were pink in color, wrapped with pickled sakura leaves, evoking a seasonal feel. The Tohronpo was made from simmered pork belly with a beautiful glaze, making it undeniably delicious even before eating. The combination of the hot buns, Tohronpo, watercress, and sauce was delightful. The tenderly simmered meat, the smoothness of the gelatinous skin, the fragrance of star anise, and the aroma of sakura leaves all blended harmoniously in the mouth. It was truly delicious. Despite being filling, we finished everything in no time. Just as the food and drinks were running out, we were served with a finale of hot and sour soup, pickled mustard greens, and a mouthful of rice. The hot and sour soup was spicy and sour, yet delicious, stimulating the appetite even when full. The pickled mustard greens had just the right amount of saltiness, and its light and refreshing taste complemented the rice well. Despite being full, everything was delicious. For dessert, we had tapioca coconut milk with strawberries and pineapples, smooth and refreshing. The chewiness of the tapioca added to the gentle taste, making us forget about our full stomachs. It was a suitable dessert to end a Chinese meal. The dishes at this restaurant were all light and elegant, truly following the essence of Kyoto-style Chinese cuisine. Despite their lightness, they had distinct flavors that were enjoyable. The service provided by the staff was excellent, combined with the elegant interior, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Above all, being able to enjoy delicious food with loved ones and creating memorable moments made the experience truly wonderful. I would love to visit again when I have the chance.

Visiting a famous Chinese restaurant in Kyoto, enjoying Chinese cuisine in a traditional Kyoto townhouse is a must. The Ma Po Eggplant at Kamo Nasu has a gentle Kyoto-style flavor that you shouldn't miss. It pairs well with the fried rice, and the Sweet and Sour Pork with the skin on is a perfect match. For dessert, try the Tapioca Coconut Milk - it's cold and refreshing. Overall, it was a satisfying lunch experience.

A friend recommended this restaurant for delicious Chinese food. The restaurant didn't look like a typical Chinese restaurant, more like a traditional Japanese establishment. When we arrived at opening time, it was already full, but we asked and managed to get the last available table. Next time, I'll make a reservation in advance. We ordered the lunch course for 2800 yen. Everything was delicious, but my favorite was the stir-fried squid and green peppers in the second photo! The squid was tender and lightly seasoned. The Kamo eggplant mapo eggplant in the fourth photo was also great, with soft eggplant and spicy mapo sauce. The cold sesame chicken noodle dish in the sixth photo was refreshing, but I kind of want to try eating the mapo eggplant with white rice (laughs).

After enjoying the art museum, I was invited to have lunch in Marutamachi Kawaramachi from Okazaki. The restaurant was Madame Kouran, a popular Chinese cuisine spot. It is a restaurant in a traditional Kyoto townhouse facing Marutamachi Street. Upon entering, I was guided to the second floor. It was extremely hot in Kyoto that day, so I decided to have a draft beer. I ordered a mini kaiseki meal for the day. The meal started with a cold tofu appetizer, which was colorful and delicious. The texture of the tofu was excellent. The stir-fried squid and vegetables were incredibly tender and flavorful. The tempura of conger eel, a summer specialty in Kyoto, was best enjoyed with salt. The mapo eggplant dish featured Kamo eggplant, which paired perfectly with the spicy sauce. The shumai dumplings were also delicious. By the time I reached the cold noodles as the final dish, I was quite full. The noodles had a sesame sauce flavor and were satisfying to eat. Each dish was well-executed and portioned perfectly. This restaurant is clearly popular for good reason. Although it is a bit far from where I live, I would definitely like to visit again.

A renowned Chinese restaurant in Kyoto that has been around for a long time. I've known about it for a while, and finally had the chance to visit. It's in a traditional Kyoto townhouse, with a cozy interior that exudes a nice atmosphere. The lunch set includes shrimp tempura, sweet and sour pork, vegetable tempura, and shumai, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors in one meal. The fact that they serve jasmine tea is a nice touch. They even provide a small dish for you to place your mustard packet – a true sign of a top-notch restaurant in Kyoto!

This time, I had a Chinese course meal. My first impression was that it had a refreshing taste. The flavors of the tomato and eggplant were fresh and at my age, it's a dish that I truly appreciate. The meal also included shrimp tempura, shumai, tamagoyaki, sweet and sour pork, and egg drop soup. I was able to fully enjoy the flavors of Chinese cuisine. Thank you for the delicious meal.

The refreshing Chinese cuisine at Marutamachi Jingu in Kyoto is excellent! I visited this restaurant for the first time and made a reservation in advance. We arrived on a Saturday at 11:30 am. The restaurant is located in a renovated early Showa period Kyoto townhouse, creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. We ordered the Chinese set meal (Chinese treasure box), which was light on the throat and delicious. I enjoyed it very much. They also offer a mini banquet that can be ordered for two or more people. I would like to try it with a group next time.

Located on the east side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, along Marutamachi Street, this Chinese restaurant is one of the top 100 restaurants in Kyoto. It has been selected by the Michelin Guide Kyoto as a first-class establishment. The lunch-only mini kaiseki meal is a delightful experience, with meticulously crafted dishes full of rich flavors in a comfortable and elegant setting. It was a truly satisfying dining experience.

Lunch was delicious! The stir-fry with rice was surprisingly sweet and flavorful. I had the mini kaiseki set, but I want to try the tantanmen and fried rice next time. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also very nice, I definitely want to go back!

I couldn't get a reservation easily, so I couldn't go to this restaurant for a while. Every dish I tried was delicious! Especially, the mapo tofu had a great balance of spiciness and flavor. I felt like I could eat three bowls of rice. The spring rolls were also crispy and crunchy! The old-fashioned building was lovely, but the stairs were steep and going up and down was tough! Haha

Madam Kouran in Kyoto, which lost its spot in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, offers a signature dish called "Tonpuro Burger." The tender meat is sandwiched between steamed buns, similar to mantou, and surprisingly light and delicious. The five-flavor fried rice was average, and the fried chicken was just like regular fried chicken. I prefer Gion Morisachi. #MadamKouran #KyotoChinese #MarutamachiGourmet

Now, let's talk about Kyoto. The Shinkansen was delayed due to rain, but I arrived on time thanks to leaving two hours early. For lunch, I went to Madame Kouran. Of course, I had made a reservation and the restaurant was fully booked. I ordered the lunch mini-kaiseki for 2,800 yen, which included the following dishes: steamed chicken with leek sauce, shrimp in chili sauce, spring rolls with snow peas and sakura shrimp, saury with lemon sauce, the famous Dongpo burger, and crispy rice. For dessert, I added tapioca milk. I also added the tantanmen (1,000 yen), which was surprisingly cost-effective. The shrimp in chili sauce and the Dongpo burger were exceptional. The crispy rice made a sizzling sound when I broke it apart to eat. The tantanmen had low hydration straight noodles, which were also delicious. The service, including the speed of food delivery, was perfect. The cost-effectiveness of the lunch mini-kaiseki was astonishing. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and left extremely satisfied.

Sichuan-based dishes with mild spices: Dan Dan noodles, Shrimp fried rice, Dongpo Burger, Ma Po Tofu, Shrimp Chili, two types of spring rolls. Spring rolls are called spring rolls in Australia.

Arrived at the restaurant at 3:30, no waiting customers. Ordered: Dan Dan noodles, shrimp fried rice, spring rolls, Kirin Heartland beer. The Dan Dan noodles were delicious, but I wish they were a bit spicier. The fried rice had juicy shrimp and was very tasty. The spring rolls had crispy skin and were delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Order: Mini Kaiseki lunch (2800 yen) Located in front of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Madame Kouran is a super popular Chinese restaurant. Advance reservations are a must, so I made a reservation three weeks in advance. The lunch cost performance is exceptional. All the dishes were delicious, but the MVP was the spring rolls.

Located near the Kyoto Imperial Palace, this restaurant is a gem in Kyoto where many places are exclusive to members. It was featured in a popular tourist magazine and I was fortunate enough to secure a reservation as a tourist on a Sunday evening, with a strict 2-hour time limit. Despite dining alone, the service was impeccable and I am grateful for that. The menu is divided into seasonal specials and regular dishes. I learned that Chinese cuisine in Kyoto does not use garlic, as geishas sometimes eat it before work. The absence of garlic's distinct flavor actually resulted in a refined taste, thanks to the use of ginger, chicken broth, and scallop dashi. I ended up ordering a lot of dishes: - Appetizer: Abalone and jellyfish - Stir-fry: Lightly stir-fried seasonal vegetables and scallops, stir-fried beef with burdock and bell peppers - Simmered dishes: Simmered Kujyo green onions and Kyoto tofu, Mapo tofu, Swallow's nest soup The ingredients were fresh and the seasoning was elegant, making the dishes incredibly delicious. However, it's important to note that due to the nature of Chinese cuisine, the seasoning tends to be strong with soy sauce and salt, so it's easy to get tired of the flavors. I almost fell into that trap if it weren't for the advice from the staff. Also, since Chinese cuisine uses a lot of oil, overeating can lead to indigestion. It's recommended to have drinks like oolong tea or Shaoxing wine to help with digestion. The drink options included sours, Shaoxing wine, fruit wine, and soft drinks. I opted for oolong tea and a 10-year-old Shaoxing wine. Overall, I enjoyed the sophisticated flavors and the natural taste of the ingredients. However, one needs to be cautious and skillful in navigating the strong flavors and oil content to truly appreciate the meal.

We have been conducting company training trips under the guise of inviting a chef from Nagano and visiting various restaurants in different locations to incorporate new menu ideas for the past few years. However, due to COVID, we were unable to go for the past two years, but we are finally back this year! ♡ Our first stop is at "Madam Kouran" in Kawaramachi Marutamachi for a course dinner experience. Every dish was meticulously prepared and absolutely amazing! We also tried their famous Dongpo pork dish, which was specially prepared with a cherry blossom twist for the season and it was exquisite! Thank you for the delicious meal, it was fantastic! Now, on to our second destination!♪

Dan dan noodles 1000 yen. The broth is the key here. The sesame flavor is well done. More satisfying than it looks. Shrimp fried rice 1000 yen. The shrimp is plump and delicious. The fried rice is a bit bland. The slight smell of the pork belly was a bit off-putting, but overall not bad. Eastern meat 1400 yen. Sakura version. The braised pork belly is on the sweet side. The mantou is also sweet like sakura mochi. I don't dislike sakura mochi, but I prefer the pork belly and mantou to be less sweet. I'm more curious about the non-sakura version.

Thanks to the reservation, we were able to enter without waiting in line, but there were people lining up at the restaurant. I highly recommend making a reservation. It was a cold day with snow falling by the time we crossed the Kamo River in Osaka, so we enjoyed some delicious hot sake at Gion Komachi. When I mentioned that I didn't like oysters, they kindly changed the dish to sweet and sour pork for everyone. The shrimp toast was sold out, so we had to switch to spring rolls, which turned out to be very popular. The red turnip and squid stir-fry was surprisingly flavorful and delicious despite being light. I usually don't like daikon mochi, but the one here made with Seigoin daikon was so tasty that I wanted seconds. We also ordered the mini kaiseki burger with Dongpo pork, which was a limited special order item and absolutely delicious. If you plan on taking home some frozen items as souvenirs, it's best to reserve them in advance as they may sell out quickly.

I visited a restaurant recommended by a friend during my trip to Kyoto and had lunch there. I ordered shrimp with mayonnaise, shrimp fried rice, tantanmen noodles, and the lunchtime Chinese set meal. The lunchtime Chinese set meal had rice topped with shrimp tempura, jellyfish with vinegar, shumai, sweet and sour pork, and radish omelet, allowing me to enjoy a variety of flavors in one dish. It was very delicious, and I would recommend it to anyone traveling to Kyoto.

I made a daytime reservation on a regular day and was able to book it the day before. I ordered the mini kaiseki course. Each dish, starting from the appetizer, was delicious. I also added a burger, but it had too much fat, which was a bit of a concern. The saltiness of the noodles was also strong. The service was very pleasant, and I would like to go again. There is a coin parking nearby. The style is to take off your shoes when entering.