Menya Totaro — Restaurant in Kyoto

TLDR: delicious, affordable, comforting food, friendly atmosphere and foreigner friendly! Order any meal set with the shaved ice and you won’t regret it!

A restaurant specializing in Hokkaido style noodles and soup. Perfect when you want to avoid long lines and want healthy fresh cooked food! —————

Oh my goodness it’s been some time since we visited and we can’t stop thinking about this meal. This was the highlight of our week in Japan and was the best way to end our trip on a rainy night.

The food is delicious. We ordered the kamatama somen aka the “Hokkaido style carbonara” with the egg and the Hokkaido somen soup with mushrooms.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️the kamatama noodle dish is one where you stir the the noodle and the egg and toppings together right before eating to create a creamy sauce reminiscent of a carbonara. We ate it so quickly I almost wanted to ask for another 🙈 this dish is so unique and I wonder when I can eat this again 🥲

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️the somen soup was nothing like I had before! And a nice break from the oily foods I had been eating the whole trip. A rich vegetable broth prepared for over 20 hours topped with thin noodles and veggies. It was exactly what I was craving on a rainy evening. There’s multiple steps to eating the soup, you try the soup as is, then you add some spices, and then seaweed and try it, and then you some unassuming but spicy chili peppers that turn up the heat! That’s when the chef pulls out the green tea shaved ice (the sous speciality) with green tea syrup and special Hokkaido condensed milk 🤤the best way to end the meal.

The chef owner and sous chef were absolutely the sweetest people. The chef speaks excellent English and shared his passion for Hokkaido, cooking, Japan, and his family. He also gave great recommendations for nearby businesses And his sous was just as kind and in bright spirits.

I hope to visit Kyoto again, and if I do, this will be my first stop. Thank you for a lovely, memorable, and most importantly...

Why settle for hotel breakfast in Japan when you can enjoy real Japanese culture at this fantastic breakfast spot that opens at 7am?!

What a hidden gem in Kyoto! Menya Totoro is the perfect place to kick off your day with a true taste of Japan – warm, traditional, and made with love!

The owner is originally from Hokkaido and has lived in Kyoto for years, bringing together the best of both regions in one cozy little shop. Every bite here feels like a warm hug from Japanese culture itself – taste of Japan, taste of tradition, taste of heartfelt hospitality!

You MUST try the Soumen Noodle – the homemade soup is simmered over 10 hours with sake to create a delicate, sweet broth that brings out the full flavor of every ingredient. What’s amazing is that one bowl gives you 4 different flavor experiences – original, with chili powder, with seaweed, and finally with a sprinkle of pepper. It’s like a journey in a bowl!

And don’t miss the egg udon – so silky, comforting!

The boss is incredibly friendly and kind – he even gave us handwritten recommendations for places to visit in Kyoto and Osaka! You can really feel the care and pride in everything they do.

Important tip: They sell until stock runs out and might close early, so come early! Especially since they open at 7am – perfect for breakfast lovers!

Must come! Don’t miss this unforgettable...

This was my first time in Japan, and I was about 7 days in, having been painfully constipated the first half, and constant diarrhea and cramps for the second half. Arriving in Kyoto, I was weak, having lost so much fluid/electrolytes, and exhausted from not eating (I'd lost my appetite). I came here for breakfast, hoping to get something to replenish nutrients and electrolytes. The owner was incredibly kind, taught me some Japanese phrases, and also encouraged me to speak with people here to practice. And the food was delicious. The soup was flavorful, non-greasy, and gives good, clean energy (The owner told me the broth takes over 20 hours to make). After getting breakfast here, I was re-energized, and felt like my old self for the first time in days. I was amazed at how quickly the owner seemed to "tap in" to how I was feeling. He also recommended some Buddhist temples to meditate, and these helped me with a mental reset. My two visits to this restaurant not only provided much-needed bodily nourishment, but spiritual nourishment as well. I'm sorry that I forgot to catch your name sir, but thank you so much! I really enjoyed our conversations, and you changed my Japan trip in the best...