enboca Kyōto — Restaurant in Kyoto

Enboca had been on my list of places to try for a while, so I was so happy to be able to get a booking on a recent trip to Kyoto. The restaurant has a warm, cozy atmosphere, and the staff are very welcoming. We got counter seats, which we really enjoyed. If you’re reading this, you probably want to hear about the pizza, but there is so much more. We went for the larger course menu and then added on a Margherita pizza. As one does… The focus of the restaurant is on creative use of local produce and it definitely did not disappoint. Everything was delicious. Don’t come for the pizza. Come for everything because it’s all good. Have a beer to start. They have a nice selection of Belgians. Then the starters will get you going with a range of hams, cheese, and veg. Then try the local grilled vegetables: simple and delicious. Then have another beer or maybe a glass of wine, followed by some fresh fish, a little meat, some soup, and a pizza or two. The style is classic Neapolitan. I’d guess it’s around 60 to 62% hydration with an overnight fermentation. They offer some creative toppings and you can go half and half. In addition to the aforementioned Margherita, we tried half mushrooms and half lotus root. Both were excellent. The medley of fresh local mushrooms and cheese on a cream base was delicious. We also really enjoyed the lotus root with grated Parmesan on a pesto base. It was creative and the combination of tastes and textures worked really well. I liked the slight crunch of the lotus root. Desserts were wonderful, and the green tea chocolate can’t be missed. It’s really good. The texture and flavor are amazing. Service is of course great. It’s worth going out of your way for...

I am a person picky with my food - no one would catch me willingly eat eggplant, carrots or lotus root. However, enboca had such magic in their culinary craft that something as simple as a slice of zucchini could taste so delicious. The atmosphere is relaxed/laid back, not too fancy; one could come for drinks and dinner with friends but the restaurant was also appropriate to have a romantic date night out with your significant other.

Assorted Vegetables prepared by roasting in their woodfired oven perfectly charred provided a smaller saucer of salt, which added a savoury touch to the natural sweetness of their harvest

Lotus root and 4cheese pizzas can be half and half (they’ll charge for HALF of each e.g. lotus root pizza 2400 yen but they will charge 1200 for half) Lotus root pizza is SO unique, with their pesto based sauce

(Couldn’t help myself so I ordered another when they asked for last orders at 9pm LOL)

Asparagus and shitaake pizza asparagus pizza rly to die for w their anchovy based sauce

Note: they are quite packed from 5-8:15PM. Come early (445pm) OR go late (815pm) to get a seat OR make a reservation.

Also, they are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Will be dreaming about these pizzas till the next time I visit Kyoto. Staff are so so so friendly and gracious and the entire experience was really such a breath of fresh air. Thank you, enboca!! Till we...

Here’s a travel hack for foodies visiting Kyoto!

After seeing Yoshihiro Imai in Netflix’s Chef’s table: Pizza, I tried valiantly to get us a table at “Monk” in Kyoto for almost 3 months without luck.

Learning that Yoshihiro’s first restaurant he worked at was Enboca, Kyoto. He then went to famed restaurant Noma and returned to Kyoto. His first mentor still owns Enboca and we had the pleasure of meeting him the night we went.

We managed to get the last table the day we called and we could not have been more impressed. We’ve had pizza all over the world and this is likely # 2 behind Naples legendary pizza joint “Da Michele”. The over roasted vegetables and fruit pizza for dessert also winners!

Great service, value, food and ambiance!

If timing your booking to the moment two months before your visit doesn’t appeal to you, I’m certain the next best thing is Enboca!

Thank you Team Enboca for a fantastic family...