I headed straight to Kyoto for cherry blossom viewing. Upon arriving in Kyoto, the first place I visited was Yama-shina Aqueduct. But before that, I needed to grab a bite to eat. I went to a restaurant just a few minutes from Yama-shina Station. This restaurant only makes a limited amount of noodles each day, so they tend to sell out of ramen first and then soba. I ordered the Chisei Udon, which is also the name of the restaurant, for 550 yen. It arrived in just a few minutes. The udon noodles were very soft and had a fine texture. The toppings included mochi and kashiwa, which is chicken meat that was flavorful and delicious. I also found a piece of yuzu peel in the dish, giving it a nice citrusy aroma. Despite arriving after 1 PM, the restaurant was almost full, showing its popularity among locals.

The restaurant is always full of customers since opening, with people coming in one after another. It is a popular spot where you can choose delicious udon and side dishes from the showcase to create a set meal. However, because you may have to share a table with others, there is not much of a relaxed dining atmosphere, and you have to leave soon after finishing your meal.

Popular diner in front of Yamashina Station, Sennari Mochi Shokudo, is open for lunch and continuous service, so as soon as it opens, customers come in non-stop. They offer a wide variety of menu items, not just udon and rice bowls, but also a la carte dishes, set meals, inari sushi, and rolled sushi, so you won't get tired of coming here! And the udon broth is delicious!

A popular diner in Kyoto, Yamashina. As soon as it opens, customers start pouring in. The popular Chinese noodles sold out within 10 minutes of opening. At a price of 550 yen, nobody can complain. The simple and traditional Chinese noodles are delicious.

This is a popular diner located behind the shopping mall in front of Yamashina Station. People who know about it always use it. It's fun to choose from the dishes lined up in the case, but this day I was tempted by my partner's order and ended up ordering the Kinoha Don. Well, I say "ended up ordering" but this is also delicious, so I couldn't help but eat it. The slightly sweet broth is poured in just the right amount in front of the soup, and in addition to the standard ingredients of kamaboko and shiitake mushrooms, this restaurant's "Kinoha Don" features added aburaage.

I had heard that the Chinese soba at Chisei Mochi Shokudo in Yamashina was delicious, so I decided to visit when I had the chance. Unfortunately, the Chinese soba I was aiming for was sold out, so I switched to Chisei Udon. The udon came with mochi and chicken, and according to the lady at the shop, it was the best deal on the menu. The shop, which closes at 7 o'clock, had a Showa-era atmosphere that made me feel like Tora-san might appear at any moment. The Chisei Udon had mochi, chicken, onions, and green onions in a flavorful broth. It was delicious and just to my liking! The udon noodles were soft, which paired perfectly with the broth. And can you believe it? The kake udon was only 350 yen! Chisei Mochi Shokudo is a fantastic find with great taste and value. Highly recommended! Thank you for the meal!

I always order the "Chicken Egg Udon" at a bustling local shop. A Kyoto specialty, the "Chicken Egg Udon" has become my favorite since trying it at Senarumochi Shokudo. The noodles are soft and fluffy, and the egg, sauce, and broth combine deliciously. The atmosphere of the shop is also very cozy and welcoming.

It's Kyoto. In Yamaoka, Kyoto. Keihan? JR? There was a shop right near Yamaoka Station. I happened to have some business nearby and was looking for a lunch spot when I stumbled upon it. The entrance of the shop had red rice and ohagi for sale, giving off a nostalgic vibe. Surprisingly, the shop was long and narrow, stretching far back from the entrance. There were various items on the menu, but it didn't seem like they offered sets with both rice bowls and noodles. I wanted to try both, so I ordered the oyakodon. In just 2-3 minutes, the oyakodon and pickles were brought to me. I was hoping for miso soup to come with it, but unfortunately, there was none. I thought maybe it would have been better if it came with kake udon instead. The oyakodon was very basic, with chicken, egg, white leeks, onions, and shredded seaweed. Perhaps due to the quick service, the onions were a bit crunchy. I wondered if the chicken was cooked through properly, but it turned out fine. The pickles had a surprising sourness to them. The staff were efficient but not very friendly.

I found tarako for 150 yen, karei simmered for 200 yen, salad for 200 yen, large bottle of Kirin Lager for 700 yen, and small bottle of Kirin Lager for 500 yen. The total was 1,650 yen. Oh, wait! Isn't the bill 100 yen cheaper? When I saw the tarako in the side dish showcase, my excitement skyrocketed. The amount of tarako could easily be priced at 300-350 yen in other stores. Just this tarako alone makes me want to come back again. Next time, I'll definitely bring some mirin. The karei simmered was delicious with a subtle flavor. It's a shame they only had beer for alcohol options. If they had sake, I would definitely visit more often. I'm satisfied. Thank you for the meal. P.S. Many customers around me were ordering the Chinese soba, and the smell of the soup was incredibly appetizing. I had to resist ordering it today since I plan to come back again, but I really want to try the Chinese soba at some point.

A truly old-fashioned diner. Arrived at 11:30 am. It was almost full, but since I was alone, I shared a table with someone. I ordered "Chuka Soba" and "Inari-zushi", luckily there was still "Chuka Soba" available. About 10 minutes later, it was sold out. The Inari-zushi also sold out at that time. I thought it was amazing. About 15 minutes later, the Chuka Soba arrived. It was a light soy sauce flavor with straight thin noodles. Just what I wanted. It had a nostalgic taste with depth. The Inari-zushi had a flavored fried tofu pouch, but it wasn't heavy at all. I could eat as many as I wanted. It was really delicious. I wonder if the payment is self-reported? I reported my bill at the cash register by the entrance. It was really delicious.

Today, in between heavy rain showers, I went to Chise-san's place. I wondered what to do today as I headed to the shop. It seems like the only COVID-19 measure here is that the entrance is open. It's common sense to share a table, and there was a bit of an uncomfortable atmosphere when someone sat down after me. Today, I ordered the yakisoba (large). When it was served, I was surprised by the amount - it looks like it has 2 servings. The flavor is seasoned with dashi and Worcestershire sauce, with a refreshing Japanese taste. It's packed with bean sprouts, cabbage, and plenty of pork, giving it a satisfying taste. The air conditioning didn't seem to be working well, as I was sweating a lot while finishing the meal. Thank you for the meal.

In August 2021, I went to Kyoto for work, aiming to eat at three places. The second place was in Yamashina, a nostalgic area for me. The shop was well-known on YouTube and is considered a classic Kyoto ramen spot. I arrived around 1 pm and there were already some customers inside. I ordered the "kata-men" style noodles, which turned out to be the right choice. The old-fashioned ramen had thin straight noodles with a firm texture, a soy sauce base with a hint of saltiness, and was topped with black pepper. While I was there, it seemed like half of the orders were for the classic ramen. The experience was unforgettable, and the taste was something I didn't want to forget.

It's so hot in Kyoto. I decided to try the set meals at a restaurant in Yamashina. The entrance had a curtain with the word "mochi", so I wasn't sure if it was a set meal restaurant. The entrance was narrow, but the inside was spacious with many seats. I ordered the Sensho set meal. Today's dish was fried conger eel. It had a gentle flavor. Delicious! I will definitely come back.

I went for lunch. The place is just a short walk from JR Yamashina Station. You can feel the Showa era vibe from the entrance. They have ohagi and inarizushi in the showcase. Inside the store, there are table seats lined up. You can add an extra side dish, have a side dish with rice, or even have a side dish with beer because they have a showcase in the store. They also have daily specials and service sets. The fox udon and tuna bowl set is ¥850. You can immediately tell that the dashi broth has a delicious aroma. The sweet fox is just the right sweetness. The udon, typical of Kyoto, is on the softer side. The tuna bowl contains two types of tuna, lean and medium fatty. Lucky for me, both the taste and portion left me satisfied.

I visited Senari for the first time in a while. I was planning to eat curry udon, but I was drawn to the curry bowl on the menu and decided to order that instead. I ordered the curry bowl for 600 yen and the kitsune udon for 400 yen. Kitsune Udon: It had plenty of green onions, the broth was just right, not too strong. I wish the udon noodles had a bit more chewiness, and the fried tofu could be a little sweeter to my taste. Curry Bowl: The visual presentation of the curry bowl was quite different from what I've had before. I have seen raw egg on top before, but having grated yam was a first for me. The curry was a thick, Japanese-style curry and very delicious! However, I thought it would have been better without the grated yam. Mixing the raw egg and grated yam together all at once made the curry lose its flavor. Both dishes cost just 1,000 yen in total. I was full and satisfied ^_^

Historic Chitose Mochi Shokudo has been known for its Chinese noodles, which many people order. The price is only 500 yen. This time, I tried it for the first time. I also ordered Inari sushi and Assorted Sushi. The sweetness of the fried tofu in the Inari sushi was different from others. Personally, the sushi here has a refreshing taste (low in salt). As for the Chinese noodles, it is a traditional dish with white pepper that goes well with it. I don't usually spend a lot of money on soy sauce-based ramen (except for Shinfukusai and Daiichi Asahi), but this one really made me feel relaxed. The simplicity of the ingredients, such as bean sprouts, char siu, and green onions, is nice. The char siu is a bit firm. The soup is light and you can keep drinking it. It might also taste good with a little sesame oil drizzled on top, like with Demae Itcho. The fried rice at this restaurant is incredibly delicious. Next time, I'll try the omurice! Thank you for the meal.

It's been fluctuating between warm and cold, and with the coronavirus going on, it's been tough to manage our health lately. Today is super cold, so I wasn't in the mood for ramen and decided to search for udon instead. Surprisingly, there weren't many udon places around, so I settled for a standing udon spot in the train station, which was decent enough. I asked a senior on Tabelog for recommendations and ended up at this quite old-looking entrance. I was a bit skeptical at first, but even after the peak hours, there were still quite a few customers inside. What's interesting is that despite the high Tabelog ratings, there didn't seem to be anyone who looked like they would use Tabelog. It seems to be quite popular among the locals, and the age range of the customers was quite diverse. The restaurant was spacious with large tables, so it didn't have the cramped feeling that many soba shops have. I initially came for udon, but they offered a variety of dishes from udon and soba to ramen, yakisoba, curry, yakiniku, fried rice, omelet rice, hamburger, tonkatsu, and even seafood bowl. And the prices were like those in a university cafeteria – very affordable! This is a place where the elderly in the neighborhood can come without getting tired of the menu. The staff were cheerful and efficient, creating a pleasant atmosphere. The udon was soft and chewy, not like Sanuki udon, but it paired perfectly with the inari and the broth was delicious! The dimly lit ambiance of the restaurant was quite charming. While I was eating, the TV was broadcasting a segment about going cashless in the government, but this place only accepted cash, as clearly stated at the entrance!

This is a restaurant review for a diner near Sanjo Station. In my opinion, it's a top-notch place. You order noodles and rice bowls from the lady working there, and help yourself to side dishes from the fridge, which are priced from 100 to 300 yen. The side dishes may not be freshly made, but they look delicious. I started with three side dishes and finished with udon. The simmered flounder for 300 yen was seriously delicious, with tender, flaky meat and flavorful fat. I feel like having some hot sake with it. The pickled mackerel (shimesaba) for 200 yen was just regular, but you get 5 pieces for a very cheap price. It makes me crave some cold sake. The stewed eggplant for 100 yen had a rich flavor soaked in. Truly the work of a seasoned simmering master. Delicious! The kitsune udon for 400 yen was my finale. Just call the lady and she'll bring it over. I appreciate the abundance of Kujo green onions. There's also a piece of fish cake on top. The udon is average, but the fried tofu is delicious. Exactly as expected. And the broth is spot on. A small draft beer for 250 yen, about half a regular glass. The snacks are cheap and the taste is comforting. Perfect for a daytime drink, but it's not a place for lingering as there are no other drinkers. Overall, it's a surprisingly great restaurant. It would be the best if it were in your neighborhood. Thank you for the meal.

August, which was extremely busy, has come to an end. On this day, I had a regular dental check-up. After it was done, it was around lunchtime, so I decided to have lunch before heading home. I went to Senarumochi Shokudo, located on the west side of Yamashina Rakuto. It has a traditional local diner vibe. I ordered a set meal, which was quite generous. The rice portion was a normal size, and the meal looked and tasted healthy. It was quite filling, with a good amount of food. The tuna sashimi was particularly delicious, and I wished there was more of it. Many people were also enjoying noodles, which looked appetizing as well.

The small plate dishes and daily specials are great here. The popular Chinese noodles often sell out by lunchtime, and they are delicious. They also serve draft beer and have a cozy izakaya atmosphere. The food never disappoints and the restaurant has a nostalgic Showa era vibe that is always bustling with customers.

A restaurant with a nostalgic Showa era atmosphere. There seems to be a mysterious rule that if the word "mochi" is in the name of the restaurant, it's delicious. I found a great restaurant near the sports gym! It's a place where sharing tables is common and all kinds of customers come in one after another. It seems like the popular dish here is the "Herring Soba + Seafood Bowl for ¥900". The speed of serving the food after ordering is also impressive! The aunties at the restaurant are cheerful and make the place feel welcoming. This time, I had the Tonkatsu set meal for ¥800, but next time I will try the Herring Soba. Thank you for the meal.