8 RESTAURANTS TO EAT IN KYOTO (GOOD AND CHEAP)

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Eating in Kyoto, as in the rest of Japan, is a real pleasure. Japanese cuisine is one of the best in the world, and if you are not a big fan of sushi, don't worry: there are hundreds of alternatives. And the best: it's low cost! In this post we recommend 8 restaurants where to eat in Kyoto well and cheap.

Discover the 20 best things to see and do in Kyoto

The gyozas, Japanese fried dumplings, are one of our favorite dishes. Are you also part of our #teamgyoza? Then point this name well: Chao Chao Sanjo Kiyamachi, as they are reputed to be among the best in Japan. They have a beer mug menu + 16gyozas (pork) + accompaniment (kimchi or cucumbers ...) for ¥ 1,200 (€ 10 approx). But if you prefer you can pull a letter, it's very good! And for dessert? Chocolate Gyoza XD

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It is a tiny but cozy place where you can find fantastic ramen dishes. There are several types (as well as menu / set). The prices are good: a ramen bowl costs from € 6.50 (if you want a menu with ramen, gyoza and beer you will have to pay about ¥ 1,600, something like € 13). As in other restaurants of the style, upon arrival you have to place your order on a machine and get a ticket. This will indicate the waiting time (go to rare times since at peak time it is usually quite busy).

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There is kaiten sushi cheaper, of course (restaurants where sushis pass on tapes that spin non-stop), but there are not many better than this. Prices are different, depending on the sushi / nigiri you choose. Usually they are pieces of two sushis and there are ¥ 129 (€ 1), ¥ 194 (€ 1.5), ¥ 280 (€ 2.2) and up to ¥ 720 (€ 5.7). You can too opt for a set (example: 4 sushi with shrimp, tuna, salmon and corn costs ¥ 360, about € 2.8).

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It is a place that is in the Kyoto train station (although there are several in Kito) and he is quite famous for preparing a delicious tonkatsu (some pork fillets breaded in panko, the Japanese breadcrumbs). Of the restaurants we recommend is the most expensive: tonkatsu prices range from ¥ 1,280 (€ 10) to ¥ 2,080 (€ 16.5), depending on size.

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If you are looking for haute cuisine, you will not find it here, but what you want is eat well at cheap prices, East fast food You will be a great friend on your trip to Japan! Here you have to try the gyudon, a plate of rice with veal, onion and a delicious soy sauce. The normal bowl costs ¥ 380 (€ 3), the big one ¥ 550 (€ 4.5).

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The okonomiyaki It is the Japanese pizza / crepe ... a kind of pancake that is prepared with the most varied ingredients. It is typical of Hiroshima and Osaka, but in every Japanese city there are places where they prepare it. In this familiar and tiny place he prepares the Kyoto's best okonomyaki. And also cheap: the pork and squid okonomyaki cost ¥ 580 and the shrimp ¥ 700 (€ 4.6-5.5).

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Is a chain specialized in Japanese curry, which has nothing to do with Indian curry. You have to try it at least once. The prices are very cheap: for example the curry dish, rice and chicken costs about ¥ 700 (€ 5.50). There is also version with fish and seafood and vegetarians.

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We walked through the center of Kyoto looking for some menu of the day to try and this place caught our attention. For 980Y (plus rates) they offered a menu with a plate of stone meat, rice, soup, pickles, tofu and an orange sauce. It was great! Local atmosphere, with wooden table and free tea. Come on, a great success. There were more dishes on the menu of the day (soup, gyudon, bibimbap) but the truth is that what we ordered was 10, so we recommend it!

We ended up here by chance and the truth is that we loved it! It is a place (we went to the 10th floor of the Kyoto train station) that specializes in Kitakata ramen that is characterized by a soft broth and slices of braised pork meat (chashu) suuuper tender. We shared a large ramen, a plate of gyozas (good but nothing from the other world) and a plate of rice with chashu meat with sweet soy sauce that was dead. And it was cheap: we paid about 1,500Y. To drink, as always in Japan, they serve cold tea (but there is also beer if you want). The truth is that we found it very good and the place, tiny but authentic, we liked it a lot!

If you travel to Kyoto in spring or summer a very good idea is get a bento and take it to eat on the river bank or in a little park or garden. Bento is a kind of box with several ingredients (usually rice with some meat or fish and some companion). Look for the streets because you are sure to run into several family businesses or ask at the reception of your accommodation: surely they know some place that sells them. Japs usually eat them when they travel by train but hey ... every moment is the right one if you feel like it!

Do you know more sites and restaurants where to eat in Kyoto (good and cheap)? Leave us your advice in the comments.