Cocina ÓRALE! — Restaurant in Kyoto

When we asked for water, we were told they have a one drink policy. I had already ordered horchata (¥800) and would thus be allowed a glass of ice-water (with free refills), but my friend just wanted water. They said she’d need to pay (too much, in my opinion) for a bottle of water, instead of receiving a free glass of water. 🙄 Seems like poor customer service, not to mention bottled water isn’t great for the planet. My friend ended up getting an ¥850 piña colada mock-tail, which she enjoyed.

When I saw tamales on their appetizer menu, I was SO happy because tamales are my favorite and I haven’t had them in far too long. I’d never seen them on the menus of any Mexican restaurants I’d been to in Japan before! However, when I saw the price—over ¥1,500 for just ONE tamale, if I remember correctly—my excitement quickly faded. I wasn’t willing to gamble that much on a single tamale since I’d never tried their food before.

My friend and I ended up ordering guacamole and chips (¥1,200) to split as an appetizer. The chips were strangely thick and hard (maybe homemade?) but the guac was delicious, if pretty small. Strangely, we received this appetizer after we got our entrees.

I got a mixed burrito (¥1,700), which was HUGE, and my friend got mixed enchiladas (¥1,950), which were also very large. I would’ve been satisfied with just half the burrito, and my friend couldn’t even finish her entree. It’s strange that the chips and guac were so small, comparatively!

My burrito was delicious, but unbelievably oily. I went through a small mountain of napkins and oshibori and then had to ask for more.

The restaurant was pretty cold. Generally I get hot really easily, but I almost wanted a jacket. (I’m sure I would’ve appreciated the AC a lot more if it’d been the middle of summer, though!)

Overall, it wasn’t a great experience. Still, it seemed like an interesting restaurant to maybe splurge on for a special occasion. The dessert nachos another group ordered also looked scrumptious. I’d like to give this place another try someday—maybe during lunch, when I assume/hope the prices are a bit...

What a wonderful find! I was feeling quite homesick visiting from Florida and I needed something to kind of help me along the way. I am Mexican so this is the food that I eat daily. I never expected to find such a wonderful place for Mexican cuisine in Japan. The owner is from Mexico herself so she really knows what she is doing. I cannot recommend this place enough. Please note that some things were just a tad spicy even for me so if you don't like spice just share that with the servers and I'm sure they'll be able to make the proper recommendations. They have a full English menu and were fantastic with communication no matter what language you speak. The vibe is great, the music is wonderful, and the food is delicious. Please give this place a try!!

I recommend the burrito (it is a little bigger so be ready to share it if you're only a little hungry), the birria tacos, and horchata.

10/10 service and food. I'll be back in March 2024 so I'll see...

This place was amazing, a 10/10!!! The food was delicious, with the wagyu tacos practically melting in my mouth. The burrito was huge, and the carnitas were cooked to perfection. The shrimp and avocado tostada was delicious, with a great spicy kick to it. I would 100% recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something different in Kyoto. It is located downtown by Nishiki market, so great location. They have corn and flour tortillas, both of which were great. This place is pretty pricey, but that is to be expected since they use imported ingredients. The limonada was good, but carbonated, not like an agua fresca. It is a small restaurant, so I wouldn't come here with a group larger than 4 people, unless you call in advance. I will definitely be back with...