Hanamakiya — Restaurant in Kyoto

I highly recommend this place for lunch for anyone who comes to visit Kinkakuji. The soba here is quite unique with dried saba. The flavor is deep and enriching. The tendon is made to perfection, crispy by frying, and crispy by freshness of vegetables along with shrimp. The combo filled me completely yet even the last few bites are still impactful. This is another level from chain restaurants. Well, the food from chain restaurants in Japan is already decent, but this one you can taste the originality. Oh and please add a scoop of buckwheat ice cream (same grains for making soba) to your meal. The ice cream texture does not have to be smooth in order to be delicious and this shop puts it. There is some crunchy element from small specks of ice and toasted barley. Well this shop is popular and the price is moderate so be patient to get...

Walked in pretty much at exactly 11 30am when they first opened, already there was a table there. Ordered the signature Hanamaki soba and it was astonishing. Soba noodle was very chewy, and the flavour from the shoryu was just right. There were many toppings that included a prawn tempura, fried soft shell crab, a pickled plum, and others that until now I still don't know what they were. The toppings can get soggy from dipping in the shoryu for too long so eat it fast! A side note, I didn't order the eel but apparently eel is also their speciality.

The atmosphere was great, staff were super nice and the table setting was well organised. The restaurant also includes a table section and a tatami section for the customers to choose from.

I would consider it the best dinning option for lunch/dinner near the kinkaku...

I wish I could give more stars. We happened to arrive just before the restaurant filled up quickly. They bring out a small, free snack if you order a beer! I ordered the sansai-soba and my husband ordered the unagi-don set. I fell in love with the first spoonful of broth. Hands down the best soba I've had so far in my time in Japan. I'm only sad that I live so far away so it will be hard to come back. The staff is also very kind and attentive (refilling the soba tea before having to request it). The restaurant itself is very clean and tidy, with various seating options (western style and tatami style). Conveniently located near a...