Renkon-Ya

One of the most Yudofu we had in Japan. The dishes here are so delicious and i must say this restaurant needs many more reviews with how authentic and homie the food was. We are vegetarians and the options for vegetarian food were so many. I would go there everyday once back in Kyoto! Absolute vegetarian and mostly vegan friendly too. They are very accommodating with any minor needs we might have! Thanks to the lovely chef!

I got the deep fried tofu and shiitake mushrooms and they were super delicious, the crunch on the tofu was fantastic and the sauce the shiitake came in to gave it this great flavor. The staff for super nice

Made to order dishes by the chef. Highly recommend if you’re looking to try a local, home cooked izakaya. Many vegetarian and vegan options. This spot was underrated and feels like a local spot.

This izakaya was by the female cook who cooks every dish made to order. Every dish tasted so good, wow. My favorite was the fried tofu. Even though the portions don’t seem big, it was very filling and nutritious. This restaurant was great for vegetarians/vegans and individuals with allergies, since it is clearly labeled what is vegetarian or what has egg/dairy. The atmosphere was cozy where you can sit on the tatami with shoes off - it was felt very authentic.

Renkon-ya is a hidden gem – a cozy little eatery that feels just like home. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, with friendly staff and a calm, local vibe that instantly puts you at ease. Every dish is packed with flavor and clearly made with love – simple, comforting, and absolutely delicious. It’s the kind of place where time slows down, and you can truly enjoy the moment (and every bite). Perfect for a quiet lunch or a heartwarming dinner away from the tourist crowds. Highly recommend if you’re looking for an authentic, soul-satisfying meal in a cozy setting.

The restaurant serves traditional Japanese cuisine with a lot of vegan and vegetarian options, all marked with a symbol on the menu (available in English). The food is prepared almost in front of you with the kitchen in the middle of the (small) restaurant. Cozy atmosphere and quick service.

What a gem! By luck, we walked in as a table opened up. Our most special, cozy dinner in Japan. Every single dish was delicious, even our weird-food-suspicious girls were diving into the leeks with butter, chicken liver, and rice balls. Their specialities are in red on the menu - order them all without hesitation! Great service. Thank you for a special night! 🙏🏼😊

Amazing food and authentic experience. Tiny restaurant with the chef and a server. We sat on the floor and watched her cook! The food came out fresh from her gas stove top. Very dish was wonderful. Don’t miss the renkon, eggplant, and lightly fried tofu.

While in Kyoto I wanted to try obanzai or Kyoto home cooking. I found this place on a blog and had our hotel reserve for us. We sat at the counter. There are a couple of tables with western chairs as well as a couple of tables on tatami mats (where you sit on the floor). Not a large place which makes sense as the owner is doing all of the cooking herself. Obanzai typically involves at least some dishes that are already prepared and sitting on the counter. You can simply point at them (if you are lucky enough to be sitting at the counter). There are two menus, one that has the dishes always on offer and another with that days specials. The main menu is in english and the specials menu on the day we were there was mostly translated. We ordered one dish that wasn't translated just to try it and it turned out to be shirasu (baby anchovies/whitebait) which my husband likes. Other dishes we enjoyed were the namesake lotus root with mustard, the beef simmered in soy sauce, sardines and black pepper, grilled peppers, baked flat fish, beef and potato stew and shitakes in vinegar. We shared two bottles of sake. The young woman serving us was very friendly as was the owner. It was great being able to watch the owner cook and to see all she could do with her tiny kitchen. Very local place. Highly recommended!

This was our best dining experience in Japan. The dishes are very small so you can order and try a lot of things. We especially liked the beef with soy sauce, the cold tofu, rice balls with sardines, the lotus root with mustard. The beef was so good we ended up ordering two of them. It feels like you are eating in someone's kitchen.