Kyoto, Japan｜Toriume

Really great food at a really great deal. We went in a bit unexpectedly after many of the neighborhoods most popular places had lines outside. What we discover though was a treat. Great food. Great drink. Great prices. Pretty smokey inside, but the food is delicious. The Yuza gelato, in particular, for dessert was a highlight!

Pros: -Excellent food. The okra and Kyoto pepper skewers had fresh shaved bonito and the tofu skin salad was one of the tastiest I’ve had. The namafu was delicious. -had availability and sat my kid and me at 8p on a Wed night when about 5 other restaurants in Pontocho turned us away bc we didn’t have reservations or it was too late. Cons: -Kind of small portions. Each skewer had 20-50% less food on it than the place across the street. It was all delicious though, so this wouldn’t have mattered as much if the ambience hadn’t felt slightly downmarket— a bit bright and 80s-ish music playing. But since you are coming to Pontocho at night partly for the atmosphere, I thought it worth mentioning.

Very friendly staffs, open until late even on the 1st of January. Definitely delicious yakitori!