Best Izakaya in Kyoto: 10 Picks, Map and Booking

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

For seafood, start by comparing Saketosakana DNA and Fuyacho Kuraku. For a wide choice of dishes, consider Tsuneya Densuke, whose Michelin listing describes a menu of more than 100 dishes. These are ten useful options to compare, not a ranking of which restaurant tastes best.

An izakaya is a Japanese restaurant where people order drinks and individual dishes. This guide focuses on what each listing says about the food, the district, and the available way to make an inquiry or booking. Exact current prices, English menus and booking conditions were not confirmed for all ten, so check those details with the restaurant before you go.

Best izakaya in Kyoto at a glance

The restaurants are listed according to the evidence used to select them, not according to taste, sales or customer ratings. The selection prioritizes individual Michelin Guide listings, then other award or selection sources, then official tourism and restaurant information; within the same evidence level, confirmed English booking or guidance is preferred, followed by name order. The Michelin Guide’s 2026-updated Kyoto izakaya feature includes eight of the picks below; Fuyacho Kuraku is in the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2026 Bib Gourmand selection, and Ikkon Uruuru is featured by Kyoto’s official travel guide.

Read menu→Point to dish→Ask staff

Choose priority→Fish: Eitaroya OR rice: Komedokoro Inamoto OR charcoal grill: Sambongi Shoten OR online booking: Tsuneya Densuke→Check the venue

Seafood→Charcoal cooking→Rice→Sake

A “booking link” means a link is available from the relevant Michelin page; it does not by itself confirm that a table is held. Michelin’s 2026 feature and individual restaurant pages are linked throughout the restaurant cards, and the 2026 Bib Gourmand selection is listed here. Bib Gourmand is Michelin’s label for restaurants it rates as good value; it is not a current price quote for a particular meal.

The English restaurant names below follow the linked listings and are not all confirmed official English names. Japanese names and town names are included to help you match a map result or ask for directions. In Japanese, a ward is called a ku; the town names in this guide narrow a search but are not full street addresses.

Choose by food, setting or booking route

Use the table to shortlist a restaurant by the feature that matters most to you, then open its individual card for the source and map search. If your first choice is full, the table suggests a second option with a related food focus, but a shared theme does not mean the two restaurants serve the same dishes. Check the second restaurant’s current menu and booking method separately.

Best izakaya in Kyoto by area

The ten picks are in three wards: five in Nakagyo, four in Shimogyo and one in Kamigyo. Only Sambongi Shoten and Ikkon Uruuru have a station exit and walking time stated in the supplied sources; for the other restaurants, use the map search on the card and confirm the result against the Japanese name and ward. A map search is a starting point, not a confirmed street address.

Eitaroya→Muromachi Kaji→Tsuneya Densuke→Sambongi Shoten→Saketosakana DNA

Japanese name→Listed ward→Map result

Japanese name→Ward→Map result

The station details for Sambongi Shoten come from its official site, and the walk for Ikkon Uruuru comes from Kyoto’s official travel guide. The Sambongi Shoten details were checked on 2026-11-04 and the Ikkon Uruuru listing on 2026-11-03. These are walks from the stated station exits, not from your hotel or another station.

In Nakagyo, compare Eitaroya, Tsuneya Densuke and Fuyacho Kuraku if fish is your priority; Nominokoji Yamagishi and Nijo Aritsune offer different starting points if wings or grilled patties appeal more. In Shimogyo, the four picks have distinct food or setting highlights, but sharing a ward does not establish that they are close together. Sambongi Shoten is the sole Kamigyo option in this guide, so use its stated station walk as one planning reference and check your full route from wherever you are staying.

Best Kyoto izakaya 1–5: fish, charcoal grills and a large menu

The first five offer several ways to choose: sliced fish, individual dishes made with traditional restaurant skills, a large menu, charcoal-grilled food or seafood from Obama Port. Details here come from the linked restaurant listings and official pages where available, rather than from a claimed personal visit. Use the map links to check the result before you set out.

Eitaroya→Muromachi Kaji→Tsuneya Densuke→Sambongi Shoten→Saketosakana DNA

Eitaroya→Muromachi Kaji→Tsuneya Densuke

Tsuneya Densuke→Dish choice→Ingredients→Price

Sambongi Shoten→Charcoal cooking; Saketosakana DNA→Seafood

1. Eitaroya — えいたろう屋

Area: Nakagyo Ward, 龍池町
Nearest station: Check the map
Booking: Ask the restaurant how to book
Sources: Michelin restaurant page · Google Maps search

Eitaroya is a useful starting point if you are interested in sliced raw fish: Michelin mentions a sashimi assortment as well as cooked vegetables. The Japanese word sashimi (刺身) refers to sliced raw fish, so you can show the word when asking which fish dishes are available. Ask about the cooked vegetables too, since the current options and prices were not confirmed in this check.

The listing gives this pick a fish-and-vegetable focus, not a confirmed menu size or a current price. If you want another seafood-led option, compare the source descriptions for Saketosakana DNA and Fuyacho Kuraku. An independent official website was not found during this source check; that does not establish that no official social or booking page exists.

2. Muromachi Kaji — むろまち 加地

Area: Shimogyo Ward, 中野之町
Nearest station: Check the map
Booking: Michelin’s feature has a booking link; check the terms
Sources: Michelin restaurant page · Google Maps search

Michelin describes Muromachi Kaji as a place for individual dishes prepared with skills learned in a ryotei, a traditional Japanese restaurant. Consider it if you are interested in that style of cooking, rather than choosing it for a specific dish that the source does not name. Ask staff what they recommend and check the current menu before deciding what to order.

A booking link appears in the Michelin feature, but the available source information does not specify the booking terms. Follow the link and check the date, party size, cancellation details and any other conditions shown before submitting a request. No independent official website was found in this source check, which is not proof that no official social or booking page exists.

3. Tsuneya Densuke — 恒屋伝助

Area: Nakagyo Ward, 観音町
Nearest station: Check the map
Booking: Online booking link through TableCheck on the Michelin page
Sources: Official site · Michelin restaurant page · Google Maps search

Tsuneya Densuke may suit a group that wants plenty of choice: Michelin describes more than 100 dishes and mentions fish dishes. A large menu gives diners more items to compare, but it does not confirm that the restaurant can meet a particular dietary need. Ask about ingredients before booking or ordering if you have an allergy or food restriction.

Start with the fish dishes if seafood is your main interest, and check the price of each item before ordering. If a menu item is unfamiliar, point to its name and ask what it contains. Michelin’s restaurant page links to online booking through TableCheck; check the date, party size, language options and current terms on the booking screen.

4. Sambongi Shoten — 三本木商店

Area: Kamigyo Ward, 真町
Nearest station: Keihan Jingu-Marutamachi Station, exit 3; 3 minutes on foot
Booking: Contact the shop directly
Closed: Mondays and other irregular days; ask the shop for opening hours
Seating: Nine counter seats and a shared table with ten seats
Sources: Official site · Michelin restaurant page · Google Maps search

Sambongi Shoten serves charcoal-grilled food, wine and sake, a Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice. Choose it if a charcoal grill is a main interest or if the stated station walk helps you plan. The three-minute walk begins at exit 3 of Keihan Jingu-Marutamachi Station, not at your hotel or another station.

The official site lists Monday and irregular closing days and directs visitors to contact the restaurant about opening hours. It also gives the seating information shown above: nine counter seats and a shared table with ten seats. Ask what is available from the grill and contact the shop directly about a booking; confirm current contact details on the official site.

5. Saketosakana DNA — 酒と魚 DNA

Area: Shimogyo Ward, 燈籠町
Nearest station: Check the map
Booking: Contact the shop directly; Michelin lists a phone number
Sources: Official site · Michelin restaurant page · Google Maps search

Saketosakana DNA is a seafood-focused option. Michelin mentions dishes using seafood from Obama Port, a fishing port on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture, and also mentions wanmono (椀物), soup dishes served in a bowl. Ask which seafood and soup dishes appear on the current menu, since the source does not establish what will be available on your visit.

The Michelin page lists a phone number and advises contacting the shop directly about a booking. If calling in Japanese is difficult, you can ask your hotel for help with the inquiry, but confirm the booking details with the restaurant. Compare this pick with Fuyacho Kuraku if you are choosing by regional seafood; their listings describe different food and the restaurants are in different parts of Kyoto.

Best Kyoto izakaya 6–10: wings, rice and Fukui sake

The second group includes fried chicken wings, charcoal-grilled patties, freshly cooked rice, seafood from Wakasa Bay and a converted Kyoto townhouse. The descriptions below help you identify dishes or settings of interest, but they are not guarantees of current availability. Confirm current menu items, prices and booking details with the relevant restaurant.

Nominokoji Yamagishi→Nijo Aritsune→Komedokoro Inamoto→Fuyacho Kuraku→Ikkon Uruuru

Nominokoji Yamagishi→Food choice→Nijo Aritsune

Nijo Aritsune→Restaurant card→Komedokoro Inamoto

Komedokoro Inamoto→Rice; Fuyacho Kuraku→Seafood and sake

Fuyacho Kuraku→Japanese name→Ikkon Uruuru

Shijo exit 5→Five-minute walk→Ikkon Uruuru→Confirm booking

Price→English menu→Hours→Booking terms

6. Nominokoji Yamagishi — 呑小路 やま岸

Area: Nakagyo Ward, 下白山町
Nearest station: Check the map
Booking: Michelin’s feature has a booking link; check the terms
Sources: Official page · Michelin restaurant page · Google Maps search

Michelin highlights fried chicken wings and squid yakisoba, or squid fried noodles. If you want to ask about the wings, show tebasaki (手羽先); for the noodles, show ika yakisoba (いか焼きそば). These Japanese names can make an inquiry more specific than pointing to a broad category such as noodles.

The source description does not guarantee that either dish will be available when you visit. Check the price and ingredients before ordering, especially if you avoid particular foods. Michelin’s feature has a booking link, so follow it and read the current terms rather than assuming it confirms a table automatically.

7. Nijo Aritsune — 二条 有恒

Area: Nakagyo Ward, 丁子屋町
Nearest station: Check the map
Booking: Online booking link through TableCheck on the Michelin page
Sources: Official site · Michelin restaurant page · Google Maps search

Nijo Aritsune is another choice for charcoal-grilled food. Michelin mentions tsukune (つくね), a minced-meat patty, among its individual dishes. If you want to ask about that dish, show the Japanese name; if you avoid an ingredient, ask what the patty and any sauce contain.

The Michelin page links to TableCheck for online booking. Before submitting a request, check the date, party size, booking conditions and language options displayed on the screen. If comparing Nijo Aritsune with Sambongi Shoten, consider both the food and the route: Sambongi has a stated station walk, while the supplied sources do not give one for Nijo Aritsune.

8. Komedokoro Inamoto — 米処いなもと

Area: Shimogyo Ward, 八幡町
Nearest station: Check the map
Booking: Michelin’s feature has a booking link; check the terms
Sources: Michelin restaurant page · Google Maps search

Consider Komedokoro Inamoto if freshly cooked rice and small dishes matter as much to you as drinks or other menu items. Michelin highlights both in its description, making this a useful contrast with the seafood- and grill-focused choices elsewhere in the guide. Ask staff what rice and small dishes are available on the day.

The source does not provide a current menu or a price for a rice dish, so check both before ordering. Michelin’s feature includes a booking link, but the reservation terms need a fresh check. An independent official website was not found during the source check; that does not prove there is no official social page or booking page.

9. Fuyacho Kuraku — 麩屋町 久らく

Area: Nakagyo Ward, 橘町
Nearest station: Check the map
Booking: Contact the shop directly; Michelin lists a phone number
Sources: Michelin restaurant page · Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2026 Bib Gourmand selection · Google Maps search

Fuyacho Kuraku’s listing mentions seafood from Wakasa Bay, on the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture, and sake from Fukui. Ask what Wakasa Bay seafood is available and which Fukui sake the staff recommend. Check the price of each item before ordering, because the source does not provide a current yen price.

The restaurant is included in the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2026 Bib Gourmand selection. That distinction is a reason to consider it, not a current price for a meal or a guarantee about a particular dish. Michelin advises contacting the shop directly and lists a phone number; compare its seafood description with Saketosakana DNA’s if you are deciding between the two.

10. Ikkon Uruuru — 一献うるうる

Area: Shimogyo Ward, 燈籠町
Nearest station: Subway Shijo Station, exit 5; 5 minutes on foot
Booking: Ask the restaurant how to book
Sources: Official site · Kyoto travel guide listing · Google Maps search

Kyoto’s travel guide describes Ikkon Uruuru as a restaurant in a converted machiya, a traditional Kyoto townhouse, serving sake and individual dishes made with Kyoto ingredients. Consider it if the setting matters alongside the food. Ask which dishes feature Kyoto ingredients and what sake the staff recommend.

The travel guide gives a phone number, but the booking method was not confirmed in the source check. Check the official site or contact the shop before assuming that a table is available. The stated walk begins at exit 5 of subway Shijo Station; plan a separate route from your hotel and confirm the map result against the Japanese name.

Prices, opening information and details to confirm

Exact current yen prices, seat charges and cancellation fees were not confirmed for any of the ten restaurants. English-menu availability and English booking were also not confirmed for these picks; an online booking link does not establish that the entire process is available in English. Ask the restaurant for current food and drink prices and any other charges before you order or submit a booking.

The table reflects information checked on 2026-11-03, except for Sambongi Shoten’s closing days, seating and station walk, checked on 2026-11-04. “Ask the restaurant” means the detail was not confirmed in the source check, not that the restaurant cannot provide it. Follow the official or listing link on the relevant card for current information.

For any restaurant, confirm payment methods, allergies, children, step-free access and other needs that could affect your visit. Do not assume one restaurant’s answer applies to another, even when their food or location seems similar. For Sambongi Shoten, the official site specifies closing days but directs visitors to contact the shop about opening hours.

How to book a Kyoto izakaya and order

Start with the restaurant card, then use the booking route it actually provides. Keep a backup with a similar food focus, but check that restaurant’s map and booking method independently. Before setting out, ask about current prices, ingredients and the route back to your accommodation.

Restaurant card→Booking link or shop contact→Confirm terms

Restaurant→Date→Booking terms→Menu

Sashimi→Tsukune→Tebasaki→Ika yakisoba→Wanmono

Menu→Ingredients→Payment→Access

Hotel→Restaurant address→Return journey

Book and prepare in six steps

1. Choose by food and area. Use the comparison table to shortlist a restaurant, then save a backup with a related food focus in case your first choice is unavailable. A backup can be in another ward, so open its map rather than assuming it is nearby.
2. Follow the booking link where one is listed. For Tsuneya Densuke and Nijo Aritsune, open the Michelin restaurant page and follow its TableCheck link. Check the date, party size and current booking conditions before submitting anything.
3. Contact other restaurants through their listed route. Sambongi Shoten, Saketosakana DNA and Fuyacho Kuraku are described as direct-contact options; use the contact information on their official or Michelin pages. For a pick where the booking method is unclear, ask the shop how to book rather than assuming a link or walk-in option.
4. Ask about practical details. Confirm current yen prices, an English menu, payment and any dietary needs. You can show the phrase card below or send the questions when you inquire.
5. Check an unfamiliar dish before ordering. Point to the Japanese name on the menu and ask about ingredients and price. If you have an allergy or avoid a food, identify the ingredient clearly before you agree to the dish.
6. Plan the route and return journey. Open the map link on the chosen card and set a route from your hotel or current location. Check the restaurant’s current opening days and your return trip; use exit 3 for Sambongi Shoten or exit 5 for Ikkon Uruuru only if that is your chosen restaurant.

A booking screen may show information that was not available when this guide was checked. Read the terms on the actual screen, including any cancellation conditions, instead of assuming that all restaurants use the same rules. A submitted request or a link to a booking service should not be treated as a confirmed table unless the restaurant or booking service confirms it.

Useful Japanese dish names

These words come from dishes or food types mentioned in the restaurant listings. Use them to ask about specific items; they are not a promise that every restaurant serves every dish.

If you want fish, ask whether the dish is raw or cooked before ordering. For squid noodles, show the full phrase いか焼きそば rather than only 焼きそば, which means fried noodles. If you cannot identify a dish, point to the menu and ask about its ingredients; do this before ordering if a food restriction or allergy is involved.

Four useful questions

You can show these phrases on your phone. The staff member may answer in Japanese, so use the menu, a translation app or a written reply if you need help understanding the response.

For the ingredient question, show or write the name of the ingredient as well, so staff know what you are asking about. For the price question, point to the exact item and ask whether there are any other charges you need to know about before ordering. The guide did not confirm current prices, seat charges or cancellation fees for the ten restaurants, so get the relevant details directly from your chosen restaurant.

Mistakes first-time visitors can avoid

The most useful precautions are not to assume a price, to treat a booking link as a starting point rather than a held table, and to use the station directions for the restaurant you actually chose. The table below turns those cautions into practical checks. Each restaurant’s information can differ, even when two picks share a ward or a food theme.

Japanese name→Ward→Map result

If your preferred restaurant is unavailable, return to the decision table and compare options with a similar food focus. The two seafood picks and the two charcoal-grill picks are possible comparison pairs, but they are not interchangeable menus or booking arrangements. Check the backup’s location and booking route before changing plans.

If rain, stairs or a long walk would make the journey difficult, ask the restaurant about access and check the route. This guide cannot confirm which restaurant is best for limited mobility. If you are traveling with children, ask the selected restaurant about suitability and booking conditions before making plans; do not assume that one restaurant’s policy applies to another.

Ask before photographing staff or other guests. This is general courtesy, not a claim about any particular restaurant’s photography policy. For another city’s options, see our separate guide to the best izakaya in Osaka.

Best izakaya in Kyoto: FAQ

These answers summarize what the source check established, not what every restaurant will offer on a particular date. For details that can change—especially prices, hours, availability and booking conditions—use the restaurant’s own contact route or current booking screen. The restaurant cards above link to the available official and Michelin information.

Budget→Online booking→Station walk→Seafood

Which Kyoto izakaya should I choose for seafood?
Saketosakana DNA’s Michelin listing mentions seafood from Obama Port and soup dishes. Fuyacho Kuraku’s listing mentions Wakasa Bay seafood and sake from Fukui, and it is in the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2026 Bib Gourmand selection. Check each current menu and prices before choosing, since the source descriptions do not establish what will be available on your visit.

How much do these Kyoto izakaya cost?
Exact current yen prices were not confirmed for the ten restaurants in this guide. Ask your chosen restaurant about food and drink prices and any other charges before ordering or booking. Bib Gourmand is a Michelin good-value label, not a price quote for a particular meal.

Which restaurants have an online booking link?
Tsuneya Densuke and Nijo Aritsune have online booking links through TableCheck on their Michelin restaurant pages. Muromachi Kaji, Nominokoji Yamagishi and Komedokoro Inamoto have booking links in the Michelin feature, but the booking terms need checking. Follow the link and wait for confirmation rather than assuming that opening or submitting a form means a table is held.

Are English menus confirmed?
English menus were not confirmed for any of the ten restaurants in this source check. Ask the restaurant directly before visiting, or show the English-menu question in the booking and ordering section. English names used in this guide follow linked listings and are not all confirmed official English names.

Which restaurants have a stated station walk?
Sambongi Shoten is listed as a three-minute walk from exit 3 of Keihan Jingu-Marutamachi Station. Ikkon Uruuru is listed as a five-minute walk from exit 5 of subway Shijo Station. These details come from the Sambongi Shoten official site and Kyoto’s official travel guide, checked on 2026-11-04 and 2026-11-03 respectively.

What should I ask about before visiting?
Confirm the current menu, prices, hours, booking conditions and payment arrangements with the restaurant. If you have an allergy, need step-free access or are visiting with children, ask about that specific need directly. The supplied sources do not confirm these details across all ten restaurants.

Source notes, related viewing and update information

The main selection sources are the Michelin Guide’s Kyoto izakaya feature, its individual restaurant pages linked above, the Kyoto Osaka 2026 Bib Gourmand selection, and the Kyoto travel guide entry for Ikkon Uruuru. Official restaurant links are included on the cards where supplied. An independent official website was not found in the source check for Eitaroya, Muromachi Kaji, Komedokoro Inamoto or Fuyacho Kuraku; this does not establish that those restaurants have no official social account or booking page.

Restaurant selection information was checked on 2026-11-03. Sambongi Shoten’s closing days, opening-hours inquiry guidance, seating and station walk were checked on 2026-11-04. Prices, seat charges and cancellation fees were not confirmed across all ten, and current prices, hours and booking terms should be checked with the restaurant. No affiliate links are used in this guide.

Related videos mentioned alongside this guide provide general Kyoto food or area context, not confirmation of a visit to one of the ten picks. Kate’s Slow Travel Japan shares a Pontocho izakaya experience, while the video is about the area rather than a confirmed visit to a restaurant listed here. 찰기남 chalginam shares a list of Kyoto izakaya described as places locals book ahead, and Nippon Gourmet’s Chinese-language video presents classic Kyoto izakaya food; neither description identifies a visit to a particular pick in this guide.

Shorts With Sage 🚀 shows Japanese-style chicken steak at Teng Grand Hall, a different Kyoto izakaya, not Nominokoji Yamagishi. Akatsuki Travel presents Kyoto food including Gion and izakaya, but does not confirm a visit to Ikkon Uruuru. Chef’s Confessions shares a video about a Kyoto izakaya restaurant, but the description does not identify it as a booking demonstration or as one of these ten picks.

For more Kyoto and Japan planning, see our guides to Akihabara, the Aomori Nebuta Festival, Arashiyama, Asakusa, Atsuta Jingu, and the Awa Odori Festival. You can also share an experience, ask a question or suggest a correction to JGO!