Monk is an italian japanese restaurant in Northern Higashiyama, Kyoto.
A wood-fired pizzeria and tasting counter on the Philosopher's Path, run by chef Yoshihiro Imai with a daily-changing 12-course Italian-Japanese menu.
Signature dishes: Wood-fired pizza, Vegetable courses
Must order: Chef's omakase course including the night's signature pizza
Tip: One seating, 12 seats; reserve 60 days ahead on the website.
Address: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8412, Japan
A long-running garden-side yudofu room beside Nanzen-ji, set on a 1,200-tsubo strolling-garden plot in Kyoto that changes with every season.
Signature: Yudofu, Yuba, Tofu kaiseki
Order: Yudofu Gozen course with simmered Kyoto vegetables and tempura
Tip: Book the garden-side tatami pavilion; walk-ins are turned away in foliage season.
A hand-cut udon counter beside Ginkaku-ji, opened in Kyoto in 1967. The Omen bowl pairs wheat noodles with sesame, vegetables and a dipping dashi.
Signature: Omen udon, Sesame udon
Order: Cold sesame Omen with seasonal vegetable plate
Tip: Cash and card both accepted. Closes 21:00; arrive before the 19:00 dinner rush.
A 10-seat modern Japanese counter from chef Jacob Kear (ex-Noma) and Stuart Brioza. Open-fire technique meets Kyoto produce in a 12-course menu.
Signature: Tasting course, Open-fire dishes
Order: Chef's omakase with open-fire grilled vegetables and seafood
Tip: Reservations open online on the 1st of each month for two months out.
Tofu-kaiseki on a Kamogawa riverside terrace, hidden down a narrow Kiyamachi alley in a preserved Taisho-era townhouse just steps from Pontocho.
Signature: Tofu kaiseki, Yuba sashimi, Yu-dofu
Order: Eight-course tofu kaiseki with yuba sashimi and warmed soy-milk pots
Tip: Book a tatami room on the riverside for kawayuka decking from mid-May to September.
A long-running garden-side yudofu room beside Nanzen-ji, set on a 1,200-tsubo strolling-garden plot in Kyoto that changes with every season.
Signature: Yudofu, Yuba, Tofu kaiseki
Order: Yudofu Gozen course with simmered Kyoto vegetables and tempura
Tip: Book the garden-side tatami pavilion; walk-ins are turned away in foliage season.
Nanzenji Sando Kikusui in Sakyo in Kyoto is a sukiya inn near Nanzenji with a Jihei Ogawa garden, yudofu kaiseki featuring Hattori tofu, seasonal courses.
Signature: Yudofu, Dengaku
Order: Yudofu set with dengaku miso-glazed tofu skewers
Tip: Closes Thursdays. Aim for the 12:30 sitting before the temple-touring crowd lands.
A Nishijin yudofu room set in a former silk-warehouse machiya, opened in the 1970s. Quiet, courtyard-view tatami; locals know the Matsu Gozen set.
Signature: Yudofu, Yuba, Matsu Gozen set
Order: Matsu Gozen set: yudofu, yuba-sashimi and seasonal Kyo-yasai
Tip: Closed Mondays and Thursdays. Two-minute walk from the Omiya Nakauri bus stop.
A hand-cut udon counter beside Ginkaku-ji, opened in Kyoto in 1967. The Omen bowl pairs wheat noodles with sesame, vegetables and a dipping dashi.
Signature: Omen udon, Sesame udon
Order: Cold sesame Omen with seasonal vegetable plate
Tip: Cash and card both accepted. Closes 21:00; arrive before the 19:00 dinner rush.
