Ikkakuju Karasuma — Restaurant in Kyoto

This is a difficult review to write because while it can be really hard to find gluten free food in Japan, especially suitable for a coeliac, and while the food they served us in the restaurant appears to have been great, unfortunately it appears that the service and miscommunication turned this into an unfortunate experience, and one that resulted in a member of our party eating plastic. When I made the reservation for our group of 9 people 6 days ago, we were informed we would have to leave the table by 8pm (reservation for 5pm). No issues there, we have kids with us and an early train back to Tokyo, we wanted to eat as quick as possible. After getting to the restaurant, sitting down and ordering, we were then told we’d have to be out by 6:30pm. It was 5:45pm, we’d already given our food order, and there was only 5 other people in the restaurant when we arrived, so we had no issues with that, knowing that as long as the food arrived reasonably soon, we’d easily be done by 6:30pm. However…it got to 6:15pm, only half the dishes had come out, and then we were told we would have to take the others to go, as they could not be served in time. All were okonomiyaki (different variants), and having been to other okonomiyaki restaurants in Japan over the years, we found it weird they hadn’t been able to cook 5 in about 30-40 mins (especially given our orders had been placed before other bookings arrived). We agreed, because what choice did we have? As not all of us wanted to wait til we got back to the hotel to eat (30-45 mins depending on bus wait time), we ended up eating our dinner standing in the car park across the road from the restaurant. For the one member of our party who waited until we got back to our hotel, it was after he had finished eating the whole dish that he discovered the missing plastic from the bottom of the container, which would have been ingested at the same time as the meal. Our best guess is the heat of the meal melted the plastic and it became one with the meal, unfortunately with all the sauce it was not easy to spot and avoid. So, as said above, a difficult review to write given the lack of gluten free restaurants in Japan, but we feel a necessary review so as to hopefully help others avoid a situation...

This restaurant is a hidden gem in Kyoto! If using Google Map, you may have a difficult time locating the entrance. That is because it is an opening that leads downstairs to the restaurant, similar to a speakeasy.

All of the food served is gluten-free! Words cannot describe the relief one feels when they do not have to worry if the servers understood what gluten-free means, and if it is strictly enforced.

The okonomiyaki was indistinguishable from the “classic” wheat recipe and was intensely flavorful. The salt grilled wagyu beef was very flavorful and a crowd pleaser. However, it was topped by the small beef intestines, which were seasoned and cooked perfectly. No chewiness, toughness, nor gaminess. If no one told you it was small intestines, you wouldn’t know what you were having.

All meat dishes are paired with Kyoto’s famously flavorful green onions, which enhanced each dish’s flavor profile.

The Korean-inspired pork and kimchi was a home run! Strong kimchi flavor with tender, thinly sliced pork.

Assorted grilled vegetables had perfectly cooked eggplant, red pepper, acorn squash / pumpkin, broccoli, sugar sweet potatoes, and the tastiest lotus root I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. It was all drizzled in a balsamic vinegar with just the right amount of umami tartness, without being overpowering.

There’s an udonyaki too, which was nice and seemed like a fusion of Japanese flavor with thick Thai rice noodles.

Worth mentioning was the chicken thigh, which, along with the wagyu beef, stored to everyone Jim the group, including less adventurous diners.

The staff was friendly and attentive, the food was served fresh and quickly, and the atmosphere was perfect for an intimate dinner with friends and family.

Please note that you do not actually cook the food on your own. It comes to you prepared and the grill merely acts as a hotplate of sorts to keep everything hot and tasty.

I would come back to Kyoto just to...

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I recently had the pleasure of dining at this amazing gluten-free okonomiyaki restaurant, and it was an absolute delight! As someone with a severe wheat allergy, finding safe and delicious options can be quite challenging, but this place exceeded all my expectations.

Firstly, I was relieved to discover that they take food safety seriously. Knowing that the lunchtime crowd tends to be busier, I intentionally chose to visit mid-day to minimize any potential exposure risk. Thankfully, I was the only customer during my visit, ensuring a tranquil and worry-free dining experience.

The intimate setting with only 7 seats added to the charm and coziness of the place. I truly felt like I was being taken care of by the attentive staff. The chef himself assured me that every aspect of their okonomiyaki, including the sauce, was gluten-free. Such dedication to accommodating customers' dietary needs is truly commendable.

The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the cooking process. Sitting at the teppanyaki grill right in front of me, the chef skillfully prepared my gluten-free okonomiyaki with precision and care. It was a delight to watch the ingredients come together, and the flavors that emerged were simply mouthwatering.

The gluten-free okonomiyaki itself was a masterpiece. The texture of the pancake was just right, fluffy and light, while still maintaining a satisfying chewiness. The assortment of fresh vegetables and proteins added a delightful crunch, and the flavors were perfectly balanced. The fact that it was gluten-free made it all the more impressive, as I rarely come across such authentic and delicious...