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KW / FOOD / 03

Everyday Japan

Affordable Japanese chains every visitor should know.

Everyday Japan

Easy meals across Kyoto

Reliable chains for quick lunches, family dinners, solo meals and late-night stops.

29 familiar brands · prices vary by branch

Everyday Japan

Simple, not second-rate

Chain restaurants are useful between long sightseeing days. Ordering is usually clear, prices are visible and many branches stay open later than independent restaurants.

  1. 01Kura Sushi
  2. 02Sushiro
  3. 03Gyoza no Ohsho
  4. 04Tenkaippin
  5. 05Kairikiya
  6. 06Nakau
  7. 07Torikizoku
  8. 08Marugame Seimen
  9. 09Yayoiken
  10. 10Saizeriya
  11. 11Katsukura
  12. 12CoCo Ichibanya

01

Conveyor-belt sushi

Touchscreen sushi, sides and desserts with clear prices.

4 brands

Kura Sushi

01

Kura Sushi

くら寿司

¥1,200–2,500

Conveyor-belt sushi

Multilingual touchscreen ordering and a prize game every five plates make this especially easy for families.

What to order

Tuna · Salmon · Aburi sushi · Chawanmushi · Seasonal desserts

Good for

Family friendlyMultilingual

Sushiro

02

Sushiro

スシロー

¥1,200–2,500

Conveyor-belt sushi

A broad menu of fish, gunkan, fried sides, noodles and desserts with traveler-friendly ordering.

What to order

Tuna · Sea bream · Aburi salmon · Tempura · Parfait

Good for

Wide choiceFamily friendly

Hama Sushi

03

Hama Sushi

はま寿司

¥1,000–2,300

Conveyor-belt sushi

Good value, several soy sauces and a large menu beyond sushi, including noodles, fried chicken and sweets.

What to order

Tuna · Cheese salmon · Shrimp tempura sushi · Chawanmushi · Miso soup

Good for

Good valueLarge menu

Kappa Sushi

04

Kappa Sushi

かっぱ寿司

¥1,000–2,300

Conveyor-belt sushi

A familiar, straightforward sushi chain that is most useful in suburban Kyoto or when traveling by car.

What to order

Tuna · Salmon · Shrimp · Miso soup · Desserts

Good for

Clear pricingSuburban stops

02

Gyudon & quick meals

Fast rice bowls, curry and breakfast sets for busy days.

4 brands

Matsuya

01

Matsuya

松屋

¥500–1,200

Beef bowls, curry and set meals

A dependable stop for beef bowls, curry, grilled-meat sets and breakfast, often with fast ticket-machine ordering.

What to order

Gyumeshi · Yakiniku set · Hamburg set · Curry · Breakfast set

Good for

Solo friendlyQuick meal

Sukiya

02

Sukiya

すき家

¥500–1,200

Beef bowls, curry and breakfast

Known for many gyudon toppings, including cheese, kimchi, scallions and soft eggs.

What to order

Three-cheese gyudon · Scallion egg gyudon · Kimchi gyudon · Curry

Good for

Late nightMany toppings

Yoshinoya

03

Yoshinoya

吉野家

¥500–1,200

Beef bowls and set meals

The classic gyudon chain: a focused menu, quick service and branches across Kyoto.

What to order

Gyudon · Beef plate set · Yakiniku set · Breakfast set

Good for

Classic gyudonBudget friendly

Nakau

04

Nakau

なか卯

¥600–1,300

Oyakodon, beef bowls and udon

More like everyday home cooking than a pure beef-bowl shop, with oyakodon and light Kyoto-style udon.

What to order

Oyakodon · Gyudon · Kyoto-style udon · Karaage · Breakfast set

Good for

OyakodonLate night

03

Udon, soba & ramen

Everyday udon and Kyoto-born ramen brands.

6 brands

Marugame Seimen

01

Marugame Seimen

丸亀製麺

¥600–1,300

Sanuki udon and tempura

Choose a bowl size, then add tempura, rice balls and toppings along an easy cafeteria-style line.

What to order

Kamaage udon · Kamatama udon · Meat udon · Mentaiko udon · Tempura

Good for

Fresh noodlesCustomizable

Hanamaru Udon

02

Hanamaru Udon

はなまるうどん

¥500–1,100

Udon and tempura

A very affordable self-service udon option for a quick meal between sightseeing stops.

What to order

Ontama udon · Beef udon · Kitsune udon · Karaage · Chikuwa tempura

Good for

Very affordableQuick meal

Tenkaippin

03

Tenkaippin

天下一品

¥900–1,600

Rich chicken ramen

A Kyoto-born ramen brand famous for its intensely thick kotteri chicken broth.

What to order

Kotteri ramen · Assari ramen · Kotteri MAX · Fried rice set · Gyoza set

Good for

Kyoto bornRich broth

Kairikiya

04

Kairikiya

魁力屋

¥900–1,600

Kyoto soy-sauce ramen

Kyoto-style chicken soy broth with back fat and scallions, generally easier-going than heavier ramen.

What to order

Special soy ramen · Kujo-negi ramen · Egg ramen · Fried rice set · Karaage set

Good for

Kyoto bornEasy to enjoy

Rairaitei

05

Rairaitei

来来亭

¥900–1,600

Back-fat soy ramen

Customize noodle firmness, scallions, back fat and seasoning for a bowl that suits your taste.

What to order

Ramen · Scallion ramen · Tonkotsu ramen · Fried rice · Gyoza set

Good for

CustomizableLocal favorite

Ichiran

06

Ichiran

一蘭

¥1,200–2,500

Tonkotsu ramen

Internationally famous for private flavor-focus booths and a detailed order sheet, but expect queues in Kawaramachi.

What to order

Tonkotsu ramen · Soft-boiled egg · Extra chashu · Kaedama · Matcha dessert

Good for

Very popularSolo friendlyOften queues

04

Japanese Chinese

Affordable, shareable Japanese-style Chinese cooking.

2 brands

Gyoza no Ohsho

01

Gyoza no Ohsho

餃子の王将

¥800–2,000

Japanese-style Chinese

A Kyoto-born chain of affordable, generous Japanese Chinese dishes made for sharing.

What to order

Pan-fried gyoza · Fried rice · Tenshinhan · Sweet-and-sour pork · Mapo tofu

Good for

Kyoto bornGood valueShareable

Osaka Ohsho

02

Osaka Ohsho

大阪王将

¥800–2,000

Japanese-style Chinese and gyoza

A separate Osaka-born company from Gyoza no Ohsho, centered on gyoza, rice dishes and set meals.

What to order

Original gyoza · Fried rice · Tenshinhan · Mapo tofu · Karaage set

Good for

Osaka bornGyozaNot the same chain

05

Izakaya & yakitori

Casual evening meals with skewers, seafood and drinks.

3 brands

Torikizoku

01

Torikizoku

鳥貴族

¥2,500–4,000

Yakitori and izakaya

Large yakitori portions and uniform pricing make this a clear, approachable introduction to a casual izakaya.

What to order

Momo Kizoku-yaki · Mune Kizoku-yaki · Chicken skin · Chicken rice pot · Highball

Good for

Clear pricingGroup dinnerIzakaya

Kushikatsu Tanaka

02

Kushikatsu Tanaka

串カツ田中

¥2,500–4,000

Osaka-style fried skewers

A relaxed evening choice for fried skewers, highballs and easy sharing with friends.

What to order

Beef skewer · Lotus root · Asparagus · Red ginger · Doteyaki

Good for

Casual drinksFriends

Isomaru Suisan

03

Isomaru Suisan

磯丸水産

¥2,500–4,500

Seafood izakaya and tabletop grilling

Grill shellfish and fish at the table for a lively, hands-on seafood izakaya experience.

What to order

Crab-miso shell · Grilled scallops · Clams · Sashimi platter · Seafood bowl

Good for

SeafoodInteractiveLate dinner

06

Set meals & family dining

Balanced set meals and broad menus for mixed groups.

5 brands

Yayoiken

01

Yayoiken

やよい軒

¥800–1,500

Japanese set meals

One of the clearest ways to try an everyday Japanese meal with a main dish, rice, miso soup and sides.

What to order

Ginger pork set · Grilled mackerel set · Karaage set · Tonkatsu set · Vegetable stir-fry

Good for

Everyday JapanSolo friendly

Ootoya

02

Ootoya

大戸屋

¥1,000–1,800

Japanese home-style set meals

A calmer, health-minded take on teishoku with grilled fish, vegetables and black-vinegar dishes.

What to order

Chicken black-vinegar set · Grilled fish set · Chicken simmered set · Ginger pork

Good for

Healthy choiceHome-style

Gusto

03

Gusto

ガスト

¥700–1,800

Japanese family restaurant

A very broad menu of hamburg steak, pasta, pizza, Japanese sets, desserts and children’s meals.

What to order

Cheese hamburg · Japanese hamburg · Omurice · Pizza · Kids meal

Good for

Family friendlyLarge menuDrink bar

Saizeriya

04

Saizeriya

サイゼリヤ

¥600–1,500

Affordable Italian family dining

Exceptionally inexpensive pizza, pasta, salads and desserts with an easy illustrated menu.

What to order

Milano doria · Shrimp salad · Margherita pizza · Pasta · Tiramisu

Good for

Very affordableFamily dining

Bikkuri Donkey

05

Bikkuri Donkey

びっくりドンキー

¥1,000–2,000

Japanese hamburg steak

Hamburg steak, rice and salad arrive together on a large plate, with playful toppings and desserts.

What to order

Cheese hamburg plate · Egg hamburg plate · Pineapple hamburg · Strawberry milk · Parfait

Good for

Family friendlyComfort food

07

Yakiniku & hot pot

Solo grills, yakiniku and all-you-can-eat hot pot.

3 brands

Gyukaku

01

Gyukaku

牛角

¥3,000–5,000

Japanese yakiniku

A well-known yakiniku chain offering both à la carte dishes and several all-you-can-eat plans.

What to order

Beef belly · Beef tongue · Harami · Bibimbap · Cold noodles

Good for

YakinikuGroup dinnerAll-you-can-eat

Yakiniku Like

02

Yakiniku Like

焼肉ライク

¥1,000–2,500

Solo yakiniku

Individual grills and compact sets make Japanese barbecue easy for solo travelers and quick lunches.

What to order

Beef belly set · Beef belly and harami · Beef tongue set · Extra-meat set

Good for

Solo friendlyQuick meal

Shabu-Yo

03

Shabu-Yo

しゃぶ葉

¥2,000–4,000

All-you-can-eat shabu-shabu

Choose a meat plan, then help yourself to vegetables, noodles, curry, sauces and desserts.

What to order

Pork course · Beef course · Vegetable bar · Noodles · Dessert bar

Good for

All-you-can-eatFamily friendlyLarge appetite

08

Tonkatsu & curry

Kyoto tonkatsu and customizable Japanese curry.

2 brands

Katsukura

01

Katsukura

名代とんかつ かつくら

¥1,500–3,000

Tonkatsu

A Kyoto-born tonkatsu brand with freshly ground sesame sauce and refillable rice, cabbage and miso soup.

What to order

Tenderloin tonkatsu · Pork loin tonkatsu · Shrimp combination · Seasonal vegetables

Good for

Kyoto brandFamily friendly

CoCo Ichibanya

02

CoCo Ichibanya

CoCo壱番屋

¥900–1,800

Japanese curry

Adjust spice, rice quantity and toppings for one of Japan’s clearest customizable ordering experiences.

What to order

Tonkatsu curry · Cheese curry · Karaage curry · Vegetable curry · Hamburg curry

Good for

CustomizableSolo friendly