Located in a quiet residential area on the south side of the Imperial Palace, about an 8-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station, "Tsune-ya Densuke" is a hidden gem for adults. While many Kyoto kaiseki restaurants offer omakase courses, this restaurant allows you to enjoy a variety of dishes a la carte. With Chef Tsunematsu's delicious creations drawing in many regular customers, reservations are always fully booked. Tonight, a friend who is a regular at this restaurant made a reservation for us, and after a round of golf at a course by Lake Biwa, we visited with our golf buddies to savor the delicious fish and dishes. The a la carte menu at Tsune-ya Densuke included dishes such as marinated nagaimo, okra, and ikura, macaroni salad, whale meat platter (heart, venison, cheek meat), and more. This was my first visit, and both the chef and the hostess were friendly, and the dishes made with seasonal ingredients were exceptionally delicious. Thank you for seeing us off until our taxi arrived. This restaurant has become a place I would like to visit again when I come to Kyoto. Thank you for the wonderful meal. I will visit again.

On my third visit, the deliciousness was consistent and the menu had so many options that it was hard to decide what to eat. We started with sashimi and hairy crab, but I was disappointed that the eggplant tempura I wanted to try was sold out due to our late visit. We ended the meal with mackerel sushi, a fitting end to our dining experience.

I made a reservation online two months ago and visited the restaurant. It was the second round of evening service, and the place was packed with what seemed to be local customers. When I honestly mentioned that I was a tourist, they kindly offered to give me directions on my way out. It was a cozy izakaya. I will definitely visit again.

Located about a 5-minute walk from Marutamachi towards Kyoto City Hall, this place is more of a small dishes restaurant than an izakaya. While the selection of sake is not extensive, they offer a good variety of quality drinks. It seems that this place is more about enjoying the food than the alcohol. The dishes here are quite delicious. Enjoy a sashimi platter, conger eel and onion tempura, and minced fish with miso, finishing off with mackerel sushi and red miso soup. The quality is quite impressive, showcasing the meticulousness and delicacy towards ingredients typical of Kyoto's small dishes restaurants. Also, not unique to this establishment, but Kyoto's mackerel sushi is truly delicious, as confirmed once again. Considering the location in Goshominami, the prices are quite reasonable. (Visited in January 2023) I previously mentioned that the selection of sake was not very good, but it turns out that it is actually quite extensive, just not listed on the menu. Therefore, I am significantly raising my rating from last time. Once again, I recognize how delicious the food is. As a result, my evaluation has improved quite a bit.

The review mentioned that it was described as a traditional Japanese restaurant in reviews, but it was more like well-made home cooking. The food was tasty, but the ingredients didn't have that freshly caught feel, more like something bought from a supermarket. The menu is extensive, but prices are not listed, it's based on market price. No matter what you order, the bill may not change. This seems to be a common practice in Kyoto. Later in the evening, they may run out of high-end ingredients like blackthroat seaperch or crab, but there are still plenty of options. Five dishes cost 14,000 yen, with only two drinks. It's a bit challenging to visit unless you plan to drink and eat a fair amount. Due to its popularity, reservations are essential. During our visit, the phone kept ringing with reservation requests. The cozy atmosphere and the lively feel reminiscent of a late-night diner where anything can be served make this restaurant an interesting place to visit.

A series of dining out with my mother after work. Since the yakitori restaurant we had been looking forward to was fully booked even with a last-minute reservation, we decided to visit this place for the first time. Upon arrival, we found that the restaurant was packed except for our seats - it seems like we just got lucky. I was surprised when I looked at the menu!! It was filled with small characters. They couldn't fit everything in vertical writing, so the middle part was written horizontally (laughs). I like restaurants with a wide variety of menu choices, but having this many options can be overwhelming. We had draft beer, highball, ginger ale, appetizers, grilled shiitake mushrooms, goby sashimi, striped jack sashimi, salt-grilled chicken, shrimp tempura, asparagus and abalone butter, goby red miso soup, and mackerel sushi. The chef brought the lively goby fish before it was prepared, and we were served deep-fried goby and red miso soup, which left us fully satisfied. The salt-grilled chicken had crispy skin and juicy meat. The dishes here are delicately seasoned with a light touch. Everything we had that day matched our tastes perfectly and was delicious. I used to live nearby and knew this place from before, but I never knew there was such a great restaurant here. I've discovered the ultimate à la carte restaurant. I will definitely visit again♪

I visited here again during my Kyoto business trip this year, following last year. The appetizers, sashimi, stir-fried lettuce, grilled conger eel, and fresh oysters were all carefully prepared and very delicious. And with the draft beer, sake, and highballs, the drinks kept coming one after another... (laughs) It's not a flashy restaurant, but it was quite lively. For me, it's a place of relaxation in Kyoto. I'll visit again next year~♪

I visited a restaurant in my hometown Kyoto that is loved by the locals after a long time (*^^*). It falls under the genre of izakaya in Kyoto, but the dishes are more like kappo cuisine. I enjoyed various dishes with a focus on delicious food. The menu was packed with items written closely together. There were so many dishes that it was overwhelming...(^▽^;) It was hard to decide just by looking at it. We each ordered our favorite dishes. As a result... We ended up ordering too much ((+_+)) and had to cancel a few dishes midway. Ordering at restaurants in Kyoto seems to be slightly different. When you order a dish, it usually comes out in portions for the number of people. The Bon Family dish we ordered thinking it was for one person ended up being a huge amount (;・∀・) It's typical in Kyoto for dishes to be served according to the number of people. Please be aware of this. Alternatively, it might be better to specify the number of servings when ordering. Also, prices are not listed, so it's more of a leave-it-to-them situation, which is typical of Kyoto. This is also the case in Nagoya for kappo restaurants, but izakaya-style places have clear billing. In Kyoto, it's best not to sweat the small stuff! Just think of it as a lump sum bill (^^ゞ Probably... They seem to differentiate between regulars and first-time visitors. That's also the Kyoto way. It feels like the Showa era, but the food was indeed excellent. Additionally, in terms of cost performance, I, as a first-time visitor, thought it was better than expected. It felt quite affordable compared to the quality of the dishes. A restaurant loved by the locals is definitely a good place...(*^^*) Now, here are the dishes we had: ◇ Assorted appetizers ◇ Macaroni salad ◇ Potato salad ◇ Water shield (forgot to take a photo) ◇ Conger eel drop ◇ Meat and potato croquette ◇ Turban shell with vinegar miso ◇ Grilled sweetfish with salt ◇ Bamboo shoot spring roll ◇ Smelt tempura ◇ Conger eel and matsutake mushroom shabu-shabu ◇ Udon noodles in broth That's all. I don't know how many servings each dish was for... (^▽^;) They were all quite generous portions, and it was overwhelming. We also had a few drinks, and the total came to a little over 8,000 yen per person. Each dish was freshly made and had a homemade feel! It's completely different from your typical izakaya level, so in terms of the food quality, I felt it was quite cost-effective. High-quality dishes and tasty drinks! A recommended spot by the locals, and also by Bon Papa. If you have the chance, please give it a try. Thank you for the meal.

It has been five months since I last visited Kyoto in October last year. This time, I am here for a personal major event, which is the reason for this trip. I boarded the "Nozomi" train departing from Shinagawa Station at 1:37 PM. We arrived at Kyoto Station before 4 PM. It's really fast. I got off at Karasuma Oike Station on the subway Karasuma Line and walked for a few minutes. Checked into my usual inn at Sanjo Takakura. It's a perfect location where I can walk to Nishiki Market and my favorite restaurants. The room is well-equipped with a kitchen including a 2-burner IH stove, microwave, double-door refrigerator, bathroom with a TV, toilet, washing machine, closet, double bed, TV, PC, and a table set. The reservation was at 5:30 PM. It's less than a 10-minute walk from here. Good evening. Welcome. I was guided to a counter seat. Three gentlemen were seated at the raised area, and two gentlemen were already enjoying their meal at the back of the counter. Due to the impact of COVID-19, it seems that the opening hours have been slightly advanced. After a while, the restaurant became full. They had to turn down several phone calls, saying sorry, we are full today. Phew, it was a close call. I made a web reservation just two days ago. Lucky me. I started with a highball and carefully studied the handwritten menu. Oh, there's a baby octopus dish available. I didn't see it last time, so I immediately chose it. Sashimi, fried fish head, and they even offered to make a soup with the fish head! The appetizers were rolled omelet, red konjac, and mountain vegetable with sesame dressing. This alone seems to go well with a cup of sake. I noticed a huge mackerel sushi on the counter!!! When I asked, they said they could cut it into pieces for individual servings. Wow! So, I kept one piece for the end with the soup. I enjoyed wasabi in soy sauce, switched to sake, and sipped away. The wasabi had a subtle spiciness, reminding me of spring. I could feel the breath of nature. It's spring indeed. The baby octopus sashimi arrived first. Just like pufferfish, it still had the outer skin and inner skin attached. The ring-shaped part is the stomach. The flesh was translucent and shining in a cherry blossom color. I dipped it in ponzu and tasted it. Wow, it's incredibly chewy! The texture is amazing! Despite being white meat, it's fatty and sweet. Next, I had fried fish bones and head. Crunchy and delicious. With the sake flowing, I was feeling good. I ordered the soup and the giant mackerel sushi. Wow, it's really huge! Look at this thickness! Oh my, it's delicious. It's my third visit to Densuke. The first time, I thought the food was excellent but the service was lacking. However, tonight, I felt that they have improved in that aspect. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Even with the new coronavirus, the streets are bustling, and the restaurant is fully booked. The staff seems busy and focused, but around 10 p.m., they become more relaxed and provide friendly service. They have a good selection of seasonal ingredients, and the menu is filled with items without fear of waste. The price range is around 10,000 yen per person for food and drinks. It's more of a pub than a traditional Japanese restaurant.

I was taken to this restaurant by a foodie from Kyoto. It was my first time experiencing such delicious food with a couple and a few part-time workers. I was impressed to see they had raw fish of kue (a type of fish), and I was surprised to find tempura and grilled dishes on the menu, considering the location. I definitely want to bring my family to this restaurant next time. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I visited Tsunenoya Densuke again. I have been going there more often recently. The kawahagi dipped in liver soy sauce (which is usually difficult to dissolve, but they finely pounded it so it blends in well) was incredibly delicious. On this day, I had white fish and spring vegetable tempura, grilled swordfish, and even bear meat simmered lightly at the end. Surprisingly light dashi broth with just a hint of sansho pepper, no gamey taste at all, and the leaner fat was exquisite compared to beef. Finished with my recent favorite, mackerel sushi. I left the restaurant that day feeling very satisfied.

This is probably my seventh visit. There are many izakayas with a traditional Japanese atmosphere in Kyoto, but I always feel that this place is the best. Just looking at the menu gets me excited. There are so many dishes, and they all look delicious (I don't think there are many places with such a wide variety). I often look at the menu and plan my strategy for the day. On this day, I started with sashimi, followed by grilled seafood, softshell turtle hot pot, turnip steamed dish, a few dishes to go with sake, and finished with mackerel sushi. Everything is incredibly delicious, but the mackerel sushi is truly outstanding. The restaurant was almost full until late at night, and the staff were very busy, but they were also very considerate. As always, I left feeling very satisfied.

You can't tell how delicious it is from the pictures. It was a wonderful place that made me want to come back for everything, from the atmosphere of the staff to the taste. The cozy atmosphere was very nice.

The best cost performance!! I want to go again ☆

I visited at the end of 2018. This was probably my 6th visit since my first visit about 2 years ago. Each time, they have consistently exceeded my high expectations. I tried their Tataki, and it was so delicious that it made me question what I had been eating as Tataki before. Of course, winter calls for Fugu, and their grilled Fugu and Shirako were exceptional. Their fried dishes are also outstanding. I usually have Horse Mackerel Fry, but this time I tried Oyster Fry since it's winter. It was the best, with a plump and melty texture. With such high-quality dishes, the bill this time was 7000 yen per person. The owner and staff provide warm hospitality, making it a fantastic value. They also adjust the quantity of grilled dishes according to the number of people, showing thoughtful consideration. I definitely want to visit again.

This time, thanks to my boss at work who always takes care of me, I was able to attend a small banquet here. I am very grateful that we were able to secure a semi-private room at this popular restaurant that is difficult to book. The menu is incredibly vast, and the freshness of the seafood ingredients in every dish, as well as the skillful preparation, all made me feel like I was experiencing the essence of Kyoto. The assorted sashimi, grilled salted guchi (tilefish), mackerel sushi, all of them were top-notch. The steak we ordered on a whim was also incredibly delicious. There was absolutely no flaw. The fugu (blowfish) was also expertly handled, and overall, it was a highly satisfying dining experience. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

This is an izakaya that far surpasses the quality of a typical izakaya. Everything you eat here is delicious, but the seafood dishes are particularly tasty. The hamo shabu-shabu in particular is exquisite. The cost performance is great, and I always end up ordering a lot and drinking too much when I come here. The menu is extensive, with regular items as well as special dishes offered at that time. Whenever I feel like eating what's in season, I make it a point to come here.

It was delicious.