X-townTokyo
They have a variety of local sake that can only be found in Kyoto. They stay open relatively late, making it convenient for business travelers staying at the station-front hotels. I used this place during a business trip to Kyoto. I was staying at a hotel near the station, and while walking down the street, I happened to stumble upon this brightly lit shop with red lanterns! The menu outside displayed a variety of options such as kushikatsu, sashimi, sake, and more. It seemed like a place where you could enjoy a variety of dishes. Despite the cheap exterior of a casual izakaya, the interior of the shop had a stylish bar-like counter and many table seats. Both the staff and customers had a high percentage of foreigners. The staff couldn't speak Japanese, so there were moments where the roles of the staff and customers were reversed, with customers having to explain their requests very slowly. I am used to this kind of situation as I work for a foreign company, but for those who are not, it might be a bit frustrating. The menu consisted of typical izakaya dishes such as kushikatsu, sashimi, yakitori, and fried foods, but with a touch of Kyoto style in some places. The pride of this place is the wide variety of local sake produced in the vicinity of Kyoto. I listened to the staff's recommendation and ordered a recommended local sake. I also added a salad and assorted fried skewers. The local sake was available in a glass or a set of three for comparison, and the comparison set was significantly more cost-effective. It was priced in the 900 yen range, so I think it's quite reasonable. I ordered the recommended "Jurakudai" as I don't drink much. It was a smooth, dry sake with a good finish. It was delicious! The tofu and yuba Kyoto-style salad had a generous amount of tofu. It paired well with the sesame salad. The fried tofu had large pieces of eggplant inside and was also delicious. Now, the assorted fried skewers made their appearance! There were quite a few skewers for the price! There were various types such as fish, vegetables, and fresh wheat gluten. Even if you order them individually, they are priced at around 130 yen each, which is quite affordable considering the location near Kyoto Station. I wish they were a bit bigger though. The additional order of shredded squid tempura was a bit too heavy for my taste. Unexpectedly, the sashimi platter with three types of fish - amberjack, horse mackerel, and salmon - all had a good amount of fat, making them suitable as a closing dish. As a restaurant near Kyoto Station filled with tourists, it's relatively reasonable to enjoy sake and dishes, so I guess it's not too bad.