Here, hot pot is still the best. Even if the price goes up, hot pot is still the best. The broth is delicious. Clams, live shrimp, duck, napa cabbage, quail, shiitake mushrooms, fish cakes, bamboo shoots, udon. The carefully selected vegetables and duck are a delight. Today, I also tried the fried duck for the first time. It was delicious - satisfied!

I had the Yamaage Udon for 1400 yen. Upon entering the lovely entrance, I was guided to the upper floor by myself. I took off my shoes and sat at a table. In the calm atmosphere, I enjoyed the harmony of grated yam and udon in dashi broth. The staff members were all very polite, and I felt the strength of this desirable long-established restaurant.

I visited for lunch. I had the seasonal vegetable tempura and sasame udon set meal. The udon noodles were thin but had a strong chewiness, which was very delicious. The mushroom mixed rice and sesame tofu were also tasty and satisfying. The tempura was crispy, and I found the myoga tempura to be unique. The atmosphere of the restaurant was lovely and the interior was calming.

I went to Nishiki Market (Nishiki) where I used to go often as a child but had forgotten about. It seems to be a shop known for its udon. It was hot that day, so I chose the summer vegetable tempura soba as a single item. The dipping sauce had a slightly subdued sweetness but was delicious. The soba had a good texture and went down smoothly. However, the amount of wasabi was disappointingly small! The exterior of the shop has a traditional feel, but the interior is in a building. That's why there is an elevator, making it a friendly place for the elderly or those with mobility issues. Next time, I plan to go try their udon.

Soba and udon specialty restaurant located in the city. They also offer rice bowl dishes. It is considered a high-end restaurant. The dipping sauce for the cold soba comes with a raw quail egg, and there are two types of spicy condiments on the table, one based on sansho pepper and the other on red pepper, both seem to be specially blended. For dessert, they serve matcha bracken rice cake. The matcha flavor was rich and delicious. They mentioned that it is homemade. Since it's a popular spot, it's better to make a reservation if you don't want to wait.

I ordered the Tempura Zaru Gozen for lunch. It cost around 2200 yen. All menu items can be upgraded to a set meal for an additional 600 yen, which includes a small side dish and mixed rice. When I visited, the side dish was sesame tofu and corn mixed rice. The corn mixed rice had a slightly mild flavor. The soba noodles had an authentic taste and were delicious, but the rice and tempura were just average. Considering the price of 2200 yen, I felt it was a bit expensive.

I had a light business dinner at a traditional udon suki restaurant in Kyoto. The place reminded me of Mimi Udon in Osaka. The udon was ordinary, but the broth was delicious with a harmonious blend of sweetness and bonito flavor. The set menu for 6000 yen was a good deal, including tempura and dessert. The ambiance was a bit outdated, but I believe a renovation would make it more charming.

It was very disappointing... I entered the restaurant through a charming entrance, feeling excited about what delicious food I would be able to eat. I was led to a table for four, feeling ready to relax and enjoy. I ordered the tempura set meal. I could hear the sound of tempura being fried a little while before, so when the freshly fried tempura arrived at my table along with soba noodles, I was hopeful. First, I tried the shrimp tempura. It was indeed delicious being freshly fried. Next, I tried the soba... It lacked a firm texture, smoothness, and chewiness, and for some reason, the noodles were about 1.5 times longer than normal... It was such a letdown after looking forward to visiting the restaurant.

The beautiful and charming shop had a traditional Japanese atmosphere, and the soba we had was simply delicious. I don't usually eat soba that often, but today it was the only choice for me. It was hot outside, so I decided to have the cold soba and it helped me stay cool.

I always wanted to visit Gontaro-san at least once. It is a long-established store founded in Meiji 43 (1910), so that means it has been around for 113 years! Amazing, right? I ordered the tempura udon (1,650 yen) and it was perfect for my hangover because the broth was soothing to my stomach. Even without a hangover, it was delicious. The broth had a sweet Kyoto-style flavor that I liked. The noodles were soft and typical of Kyoto udon. The tempura was just like I imagined, with a nostalgic taste. The atmosphere of the old store was charming and made me feel like I was on a trip. It's perfect for a visit while sightseeing near Nishiki Market!

It's amazing. The power of foreign customers at Nishiki Market. I quietly pass through the curtain, thinking that it's impossible without a reservation, and my heart is calmed by the quiet and calm atmosphere. For dinner, it would be hot pot, but for lunch, I'll have a single item of chicken egg udon or chicken egg soba. And some warabi mochi that I made this morning for dessert.

A famous long-established restaurant known for its udon suki. The dignified entrance leaves a lasting impression on travelers in Kyoto. Whenever I visit Kyoto, I always make sure to stop by, and my go-to order is the "Keiran Udon". It may not be familiar in the Kanto region, but it is udon with a ginger-flavored beaten egg sauce. It has an elegant and gentle taste that warms you up in the cold season. Another recommended item is their warabi mochi, with a silky smooth texture that is truly exceptional. If you visit this place, make sure to try it out. Kyoto is truly wonderful. I will definitely visit again when I come back to Kyoto. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Today I had work in Shijo, and for lunch, I visited the main store of Gontaro in Kyoto Shijo for the first time in about 10 years. The atmosphere from the entrance is quite nice. I ordered the kitsune udon and yakigohan set. I noticed some high society people ordering the Gontaro hot pot which costs 4980 yen even on a weekday afternoon. Truly Kyoto, the city of flowers... I went for a more casual style. The food was served quite quickly, and the tofu made from soba seeds was delicious! It could be a meal on its own. The kitsune udon had slightly firm noodles and a flavorful broth with kombu. The fried tofu was half the size of regular ones but had a great balance of sweetness and the green onions were a perfect match. The cooked rice was light in flavor, and the set had a good balance. Truly a longstanding establishment. Thank you for the meal!

Located right in the heart of Kyoto is a restaurant where I made a reservation for the 5:30 pm slot to try their udon suki "Gontaro Nabe" for 4,500 yen per person. The hot pot included chicken, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, shrimp, and gluten, followed by udon noodles as the finishing touch. I couldn't resist ordering an extra serving of udon that day. While ordering individual soba or udon dishes for lunch might not seem cost-effective at this restaurant, the udon suki hot pot for dinner at this location felt like a great value. A female staff member at Hanaban added the ingredients one by one and prepared the hot pot for us. When adding the shrimp, she warned us, "It might splash, so please step back." This could be a show of the freshness of the ingredients, but it added to the experience of dining at Gontaro. Ah, the hot pot was delicious.

Tempura set meal for 2,150 yen, Duck Nanba set meal for 2,300 yen, Kids Kitsune set for 650 yen. Soba and Udon at this long-established Kyoto restaurant have a good texture and are satisfying to eat. The duck was not gamey and easy to enjoy. The children happily ate not only their own udon but also the soba ordered by the adults. The building allows you to feel the essence of Kyoto, and although the prices are a bit high, it's a place you can proudly say you visited in Kyoto. Parking available - there is a parking lot next to the building with about 8 spaces, but there are steps.

On Monday at 18:10, I was seated at a table for four at Gontaro's. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere and smelled of delicious broth. I ordered the tempura set meal (hot) for 2,150 yen. They also have reasonably priced udon noodles, which adds to the friendly vibe of the place. I really enjoyed the side dish of walnut tofu. The meal came with mixed rice, so I could try a variety of dishes and left feeling satisfied. Even though I was dining alone, I was seated at a larger table, which allowed me to enjoy my meal at a leisurely pace. Thank you for the great meal.

I've been wanting to try this parent and child rice bowl restaurant for a while in Kyoto. I've passed by it many times but never had the chance to go in. The restaurant looks very impressive. [Order] Parent and Child Rice Bowl ¥1,400. The fluffy and creamy parent and child rice bowl was amazing, almost like a drink. It was also good with yuzu pepper and shichimi for flavor variation. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived around 11 o'clock and was seated immediately. I ordered the duck soba set meal, which came with duck soba, walnut tofu, and mushroom mixed rice. The broth was very flavorful, but I personally prefer a bit more soy sauce flavor. The duck was thickly sliced, tender, and delicious with a nice amount of fat. The staff were attentive and kept refilling my tea.

Holiday around 4 pm. First visit with 3 generations of family, 4 people in total. Only a few groups of customers. Early dinner. Appreciate the fact that they are open all day. Passed through the noren and stone pavement, entered the restaurant. The entrance is not wide, but the depth is long. The eel bed style typical of Kyoto. Stepping into the splendid sukiya-zukuri architecture, even locals feel like saying, "We're going to have dinner in Kyoto now." Ordered 3 servings of "Keiran Udon", "Yamakake Udon (warm)", "Grilled Duck", "Deep-fried Shrimp and Taro", "Mixed Rice", and 2 glasses of draft beer. The staff provides meticulous service, taking many commemorative photos for us. When it comes to Kyoto, it's Keiran. The an sauce with ginger is delicious. Then, a warm feeling. The warm potato sauce is also incredibly tasty. The grilled duck and deep-fried shrimp and taro complete the winter preparation of the heart. We can celebrate New Year's anytime now. The shichimi togarashi and sansho on the table are of high quality, but for some reason, the flavor is not quite there. Also, the hygiene aspect is a bit lacking. That's the only slight disappointment. In any case, a long-established restaurant founded in 1910. The dignified appearance and quality that have been loved for a long time are understandable!

It's been a while since my last visit. The restaurant has a spacious interior with partitions, so I couldn't see the entire place. There didn't seem to be any other customers at the time of my visit right after the weekday opening hours. I heard that the oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) is delicious, so I wanted to try it... but as a soba lover, I also wanted to have some soba... I ended up ordering the following: ● Kinoha-don (rice bowl with chicken and egg) for 1,100 yen ● Ichifuku soba (cold with grated daikon) for 550 yen. I hesitated at the price of 1,400 yen for the oyakodon. Let's consider it since it's also an egg-based rice bowl. The Ichifuku soba was a small size, and the staff said "even women can eat it along with the rice bowl," so I ordered it as well. It's good for those who just want a little bit of soba. You can choose between fried tofu or grated daikon, and hot or cold. It was served quite quickly. The rice bowl came with a lid, and when I lifted it, steam came out. The tray included the rice bowl, soba, pickles, and disposable chopsticks. You can use the sansho pepper and ichimi chili pepper on the table according to your preference. The grated daikon soba was refreshing, and I finished it all at once. Next was the Kinoha-don. It had plenty of seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, and fish cakes, topped with a beautiful yellow egg. The flavors were all gentle. The portions of the rice bowl were quite generous, and I was full. It was a refined rice bowl and soba. The rice bowl may not have a distinctive feature, but it was served in an elegant atmosphere with traditional vibes, and the convenience of being able to use PayPay was also a plus.

Kyoto Gontaro Main Store located in Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Established in the 43rd year of the Meiji era. Originated from a soba restaurant in Osaka. They use Rausu kelp for the broth and are famous for their soba and Kyoto-style udon suki. They also serve rice bowls and udon dishes. The restaurant is a five-story traditional Japanese building with a serene atmosphere that harmonizes with nature. They offer continuous service without a break, which is convenient. Recommended dishes include Keiran Udon (1,100 yen) and Kitsune Udon (900 yen). Keiran Udon is a popular dish among Kyoto locals, featuring udon noodles topped with a thick egg sauce. It may seem simple with just udon, egg, sauce, and grated ginger, but the flavors are rich and delicate, with a strong umami taste from the broth. The grated ginger adds a refreshing touch and elevates the dish to another level. The texture of the noodles may not suit everyone's preference, but the overall deliciousness of Keiran Udon surpasses any shortcomings. The balance of the thick sauce, fluffy egg, and flavorful ginger creates a satisfying dining experience. The service is attentive and matches the ambiance of the restaurant. I look forward to visiting Kyoto Gontaro again. Thank you for the meal!