Kanoko — Restaurant in Kyoto

Located near the entrance of Fushimi Inari, Kanoko is an atmospheric restaurant with a traditional atmosphere offering a menu of udon and soba noodle dishes. First, we were started with an appetizer of three daily dishes: clams, raw salmon, and mixed persimmon and greens in a creamy dressing. The Nabeyaki set featured a clay pot of udon, shrimp tempura, egg, chicken, fish paste, shiitake mushroom, and roasted rice cake, all in a hot broth. The Sukinabe featured a pot of udon with tender, fatty slices of beef, egg, tofu, fishcake, and vegetables in a deeply savory, slightly sweet broth, served in an iron pot heated by a flame underneath. But my personal favorite item was the Tenzaru, a set which came with both buckwheat and matcha soba noodles served cold with a savory dipping sauce on the side, mixed with green onions and wasabi. The noodles had a pleasantly firm texture and went nicely with the plate of mixed tempura on the side, which included shrimp, fish, sweet potato, enoki mushrooms, shiso, and seaweed, along with grated radish and a light tempura sauce for dipping. The tempura had a nice crunchy texture without being greasy or heavy. Lastly, the set came with two pieces of Puchi-Inari, or seasoned rice wrapped with fried tofu skin (a fitting dish given the restaurant’s location). Overall, the food here was delicious and beautifully presented, and the traditional setting (which included tatami seating and an outdoor Japanese garden)...

Not only do they have splendid food here, but also the best ambience I have ever seen in a restaurant. If you are lucky, like we were, you can get a table facing the beautiful garden they have. It is separated from the tables by glass, so you can admire it without worrying about insects and staying cool woth their air conditioner.

The staff were kind and patient with our linguistical blunders and showed us to our table without delay even when we didn't have a reservation. Everything was just what we needed after exhausting ourselves climbing mount Inari.

They served us tea the moment we were sat and left us with a thermo to refill our cups. Some of the dishes come with sides that taste just as well as the main dish and the price was lower than what we expected after seeing the interior of the restaurant.

You can order from tablets that are already on the table, so language isn't an issue once you are already at your table.

Absolutely recommend it if you want to treat yourself after visiting Fushimi...

Everything and I mean literally everything was excellent. The front staff had limited English but a few gestures, signs and bows got us in the line (prepare for a wait) but you don't have to be literally there in person go walk-around and pay attention to the qr code driven website.

The elegant dining room with the low tables, the garden view and the lighting just transport you. The food choices are excellent and we had a platter and a ramen.

Both were cooked to perfection, the tempura was light and easy to eat the sauces were well balanced and the dessert was light and easy. The ramen with soba was hot, brought to the table at just the right time and was perfect to eat.

The entire experience including ordering, eating and paying was relaxed, private and satisfying.

Go there for lunch or dinner or hi estky whenever...