It was a pleasure to see the head proprietress and enjoy the delicious meal and excellent service as always during my recent visit. However, I was disappointed by the overtly contrived service from the younger waitress. Despite her youthful appearance, she seemed to have the attitude of an old man nearing retirement age (what's up with that?). I have a license as a sake sommelier and ordered with full understanding, but she didn't seem to appreciate it... It's sad to say, but I had to give a negative rating ⭐︎.

Located just a stone's throw away from the Shijo Kawaramachi intersection, this cozy eatery specializes in tofu and river fish dishes. A long-standing establishment with fishing rights on the Kamo River, the previous owner and the current proprietress herself fish for river fish like sweetfish on the Kamo River and serve them at the restaurant. Next to the restaurant, their siblings run a tofu shop as a family business. The restaurant, with only counter seating, attracts a mature, regular clientele and many locals. Due to its popularity, reservations are a must. You can enjoy seasonal dishes such as river fish and Kyoto vegetables. In early summer, the salt-grilled sweetfish and sweetfish sashimi are recommended, while in winter, the monkfish liver and duck teriyaki are popular choices. The river fish caught in the Kamo River swim energetically in the restaurant's tank and are caught on the spot to be served as fresh dishes. As the poet Kitaoji Rosanjin remarked, skewering and grilling live sweetfish is a difficult task at home, making it a delicacy to savor at such establishments.

I enjoyed delicious meat in Pontocho and took a leisurely walk around Kyoto at night, feeling the pleasant breeze blowing in the area around Kiyamachi. I stumbled upon a restaurant as I walked down a narrow alley. The restaurant is called "Kiko." It has a quaint exterior. Upon entering, I saw the proprietress dressed in a kimono and a traditional Japanese apron behind the counter. I had been wanting to visit such a atmospheric restaurant, so I was excited. The interior was comfortably lively, with everyone quietly enjoying their drinks and dishes. It's usually better to make a reservation, but luckily there was an available seat this time. I tried "Konteki," a local sake from Fushimi in Kyoto. It was smooth and easy to drink, a delightful sake. My friend, who is knowledgeable about alcohol, always introduces me to delicious drinks. I had already finished my meal, but seeing other customers order the grilled deep-fried tofu made me crave it. The large piece of tofu was grilled fragrantly and served with green onions, grated daikon radish, and grated ginger, accompanied by special soy sauce. The aroma and flavor of the tofu, combined with the green onions, radish, and ginger, was exquisite. I also tried "Sagishirazu no Yudofu," a dish made with small fish called "sagishirazu" caught in the Kamo River. It had a slightly bitter taste, perfect for accompanying alcohol. The restaurant has a tank where ayu fish and small fish caught in the Kamo River swim energetically. I learned that even celebrities visit this place, and the proprietress has appeared on TV. Next to the shelf of alcohol, there was a sign that read "Spring, Summer, Winter, Two Sho, Five Go." It means that there is no autumn because the business is flourishing, two sho make up one masu, and five go is half a sho, signifying prosperity in business. The proprietress explained this to me. It was very interesting! It's such a stylish place where you can leisurely enjoy drinks and food. I would love to try their closing rice dish next time. (On this day, it was ginger rice.) I have become a fan after just one visit. I will definitely visit again. Thank you to the proprietress for her hospitality, and to my friend who guided me and treated me. It was a wonderful dining experience.

Before going, I confirm the seat and visit a tofu restaurant, so I opt for yudofu instead of the appetizer, with a light amount of nuta. I enjoy a light shochu and assorted vegetables as an appetizer, beautifully colored and well-balanced in taste. I then have yudofu with a variety of seasonal vegetables. While famous yudofu places are good, it's nice to be able to eat casually with a wide range of menu options. I would like to go again.

I was recommended to visit this restaurant by an acquaintance. When I called on the day, they said it was okay to come in an hour. So, I made a reservation for an hour later. We ordered three cups of sake, fresh ayu sashimi, and vegetable tempura. They asked us to choose from a selection of appetizers like pickles, tofu, or okara. The landlady was the only one serving, so she chatted with regulars but didn't take our order promptly. We had to wait for the right moment to place our order. I work in customer service myself, so I was surprised.

Established for 70 years, this long-standing restaurant is always bustling with regular customers who have been coming here for years. Depending on the season, the main dish varies - from May to September, you can enjoy sweetfish, while at other times, you can savor river fish. For this visit, we ordered green soybean tofu, a serving of fried river fish, half a portion of grilled fish, half a portion of nanbanzuke (marinated fish), sweetfish simmered with sansho pepper, steamed turnip, and to finish, a clear soup with seasonal vegetables and matsutake mushroom rice. The dishes were refined without being overly sophisticated, and each one, such as the airy fried sweetfish caught in the Kamo River and the flavorful turnip, was delicious. Furthermore, the friendly distance between the proprietress and the customers created a comfortable atmosphere, where everyone enjoyed the food, ambiance, and conversations naturally. Kyoto offers a variety of dining options, but I believe that by including a few establishments like this one or the neighboring Tsukimura that have been cherished by locals for generations, you can truly enhance your dining experience.

I made a reservation in advance based on a memory from a media feature. The atmosphere of this Kyoto-style small dishes restaurant is very nice. It is run by women only. Every dish is delicious without fail! The ambiance is also great. It's a popular spot with limited seating, so making a reservation is recommended.

(From past logs) When I went on a trip to Kyoto, a knowledgeable teacher took me to this restaurant in Kyoto. It's called "Kii-ko" and it seems to be pronounced that way. I could feel the history in the design of the restaurant, and if I were alone, I might not have had the courage to enter on my own. There seemed to be many regular customers, and they were enjoying conversations with the female owner behind the counter. You can enjoy grilled and tempura dishes made with freshwater fish caught near Kyoto. On this day, I had grilled moroko caught in Lake Biwa. I ate every part from head to tail. The duck dish was not overly duck-like in a good way, and it was tender and delicious. Each dish was not elaborate like a high-class restaurant where artisans put their skills to work, but rather had a homely taste that brought out the flavors of the ingredients. That might be the reason for this restaurant's popularity. I would like to visit again during the sweetfish season.

Visited a small restaurant in Kyoto alone. Specializing in Kyoto river fish dishes such as the recommended Kamogawa by the Amakara Editor-in-Chief, it is run by the former owner's wife, daughter, and a female employee. The cozy interior has a wooden counter with 10 seats. The ordering system begins with a bottle of beer and a choice of standard appetizers. Choose between chilled tofu, "teppai" (a Kyoto term for "nuta"), or okara. The restaurant features a large water tank filled with ayu caught in the Katsura River and Lake Biwa. The spicy "teppai" pairs well with beer. Requested a half-size portion of simmered hamo roe. Ordered salt-grilled ayu swimming in the tank, along with homemade tadezu vinegar that harmonizes well with the bitterness of the intestines. Ended with the specialty yudofu, where you can compare green soybeans and regular tofu. Enjoyed beer and sake, and the bill came to 6,800 yen. Located at 202 Sendacho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City. Phone: 075-351-7856.

It has a casual atmosphere, but each dish is impressively well-prepared. This is all thanks to the skilled female owner in the back. The meal includes appetizers (small portions), pickled river fish, half portion of vegetable tempura, turnip steamed in broth, turnip greens in broth, and rice with bracken ferns, all for 5,450 yen without drinks. The cost performance is not great, but they charge accordingly. It's definitely a well-known restaurant. The fact that they hide the prices is a bit cunning. It's a shame that there are not many dishes on the menu. Unless you are a regular, you can only choose from about 20 items.

It's been a while since I last visited. I enjoyed the reliable teppai, taiko's simmered dish, kenken bonito, haruko's fried chicken, and wakayu tempura. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Located next to the long-established tofu shop "Chikaki" near Senmaizuke "Murakami Shige," this traditional Japanese restaurant was opened by a branch family. I happened to walk under the curtain over 30 years ago. Truly as a regular. The master, who was once a billiards champion in Japan, has passed away, but his daughter has taken over. They have the fishing rights in the Kamo River and will catch and serve ayu and small fish for you to enjoy, but their specialty must be the tofu from the main shop. The recommended set includes a starter of scooped tofu (with days for spicy mustard tofu in the summer), grilled large aburaage, and tofu simmered in miso. I remember seeing a calligraphy from the late Kaikou Ken that said, "I guarantee you will have good bowel movements."

After attending a classmate's live performance, we entered this restaurant and were greeted with a warm "oideyasu" in Kyoto dialect, which immediately put us at ease. This traditional izakaya has a great atmosphere. The tempura, simmered turnips, tofu, and river fish were all delicious, making for a delightful and enjoyable time.

A business associate made a reservation for me and I went. The food may be delicious, but I won't go again! The female servers are really lacking! They must think we're just passing through... It's a shame. The river fish was fresh, and the fried fish and vinegar-marinated dish were very tasty... The three side dishes of simmered root vegetables, okara, and tofu were also delicious... Ah, what a disappointment!!!