Ozuru — Local services in Kyoto

When my family was visiting the bamboo forest, we noticed it was about to rain, so we decided to find a place to go inside and eat. We looked on google for restaurants nearby, and this place popped up.

As we walked in, we weren’t really expecting anything. I did notice the welcoming atmosphere and the staff greeted us promptly. We sat down and I noticed the decor was traditional and homey. There were so many options on the menu, including hot and cold udon, and a plethora of toppings/sides. We were all quite hungry and decided to order the “Set Menu” which came with our Noodles, Rice with chicken and veggies, tofu, and pickled vegetables.

When we had finished ordering and were waiting for our food to arrive, I couldn’t help notice how orderly the staff were. I noticed all of them were paying attention, and seemed to be hard at work. From where we were sitting I could see directly into the kitchen, and all the cooks were doing their jobs and not on their phones even whilst waiting for the orders to come in. I happen to own a restaurant in Chicago and I notice these small things that make big differences. For example if your server is polite and kind the food would taste better than if the server was cold and rude.

When our food arrived after about 10 minutes, I noticed how filling the portions looked! In came a tray with large selections of the sides and tempura, as well as a large bowl of soup.

The tempura was crisp and wasn’t oily at all. The udon and soup were very well seasoned and the broth had tons of flavor. I was also happy with the rice bowl and soft tofu that came with my food. My children were also enjoying the food and were slurping the noodles up!

All in all I was surprised most by the high quality of service and food! We had come in with low expectations but left with full stomachs. I would definitely...

🍜 Arashiyama Udon Ozuru – Comfort Food by the Bamboo Grove

Located just steps from Kyoto’s famed Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama Udon Ozuru offers a cozy, satisfying break from sightseeing with its hearty bowls of udon and warm hospitality. The restaurant is tucked into a quiet corner near Tenryu-ji Temple, making it an ideal lunch stop for travelers exploring the scenic Sagano area.

Ozuru specializes in Kyoto-style udon, with standout dishes like the yuba tamago udon set—featuring silky bean curd skin and a soft-boiled onsen egg—and the beef and grated yam udon, which balances rich broth with earthy textures. Portions are generous, and the noodles are thick, chewy, and comforting. While the set menu includes sides like tofu, pickled vegetables, and chicken rice, some diners find these components less memorable than the main bowl.

The interior is simple and clean, with quick service and minimal wait times even during peak lunch hours. English menus are available, and the staff are friendly and efficient. It’s not a flashy or upscale spot, but it delivers exactly what you want after a morning of walking—warm food, fast turnaround, and a peaceful atmosphere.

If you're visiting Arashiyama and craving a no-fuss, satisfying meal, Ozuru is a reliable choice that pairs well with the natural beauty just...

I ordered uddon noodle with duck, set menu which they showed tofu, rice with chicken and vegetables and pickled vegetables. I was quite fast in serving. The problem -rice is with not only chicken but also pork included. As soon as I saw the meat in the rice bowl and I noticed that is not chicken and I thought it’s beef or pork smth and I asked to staff what is included and the staff went and check and replied that was pork and I complain to the other staff that menu show rice with chicken only but the actual one included pork and I requested to provide only rice with chicken or only plain also ok but the staff replied they can’t provide like this. I was so disappointed. Why they mention in the menu with only chicken they have to mention both pork and chicken with rice. And when customer complain and they said they can’t...