Horin — Restaurant in Kyoto

This place was a great find! Super tiny hole-in-the-wall with just a few tables. One guy is running the whole place as the server and cook. He is super friendly and tolerant of tourists who can't speak Japanese. He brought out small bowls and utensils for my kids without asking and made sure we understood what we were ordering.

The food was great! Friend chicken was super flavorful and had some sort of rice wine vinager sauce on the bottom of the plate which was a nice touch. Gyoza were tasty with a good crunch on one side. Got the miso ramen and the spicy ramen. Both tasty. The spicy ramen had a lot of flavor but wasn't as spicy as I would have liked but there was chili oil on the table to help with that. The whole meal for 2 adults and 2 kids came out to the equivalent of less than $25 and we were all stuffed.

Only real downside was that they allow smoking and someone came in toward the end of our meal and since it's such a small place it fills the whole place up with the smell quickly so if that's a deal breaker for you then...

Very good restaurant- all the features of a good hole in the wall. Store is dated but clean, with a good amount of seating despite the size. The only person working was the owner, who prepared our ramen very quickly and was prompt with water refills as well. The miso ramen with pork was amazing- nothing flashy, just fast, flavorful, and a good price relative to what I'm used to. After coming down with a cold from traveling around, the slight spice and hot broth really hit the spot. The pork was also good, thinly sliced with a good amount of flavor to it, but I found the broth to be the most compelling part of the dish. English menu and menu photos are available. Might be a little challenging to foreigners who aren't used to the atmosphere, but definitely worth a try if you're...

A tiny, rough around the edges, place across of the Imperial Palace grounds in Kyoto. You might walk past it, but you'd be making a mistake. The lone gentleman running the place is so very genuine, kind and attentive. English menu and he will offer to help you figure everything out. The food is wonderful, and the mark of a good chef, he tastes every dish before serving it to you. I cannot adequately convey how special this place is. You will want to get two gyoza, because they are delicious, but reconsider...the portion sizes are...