Nakau Shijō Mibu Shop — Restaurant in Kyoto

Very good value for money. Use the order machine, pay with cash or IC card, collect your tickets and hand them to the staff. Note that there are language options on the machine. Dine in & take out orders are placed separately. Be warned the cook can be a little heavy handed with the salt and don't expect a meal that will titillate your taste buds. This sort of place used to be snubbed by women especially as places where "salary men" dine - meaning the crowd can be unsophisticated and maybe even rough around the edges but the idea is to stop for a quick, hot meal that will fill your belly & get you back to work. It's one of the better such outlets & it beats the nearby Matsuya hands down. The trout roe rice bowl is a delicious treat if you're looking for a quick, no fuss meal. Add a beer or sake & I'm pretty sure you'll be a happy camper. Not sure how long the dish will last on the menu as I suspect it's seasonal.

The karaage looks very pale & "dead" but it tastes much better than it looks - IF you like garlic like me. The meat is juicy & tender & the garlic flavour just bursts in your mouth.

Frankly, it deserves a 3.5 or 3.75 for the food & service &...

There’s something to be said for a place that doesn’t pretend to be what it’s not. Nakau is that place. Walk in, get greeted by a touchscreen ordering machine with English options – no awkward finger-pointing, no cryptic anime kanji deciphering, just capitalism streamlined to its efficient, rice bowl essence.

We came here twice, which says everything. The chicken and egg dishes (oyakodon) were absolute standouts – comforting, silky, home-style goodness that made me consider writing my will to include a clause about dying mid-bite here. Their beef bowls are legit too, savoury and sweet with onions stewed down to their purest life-affirming purpose.

Interior? Basic chain restaurant vibe, fluorescent lights humming like a mid-career accountant. But who cares? You’re here for fuel, not for zen aesthetics or a €16 pour-over. The price-to-deliciousness ratio is off the charts. You leave full, happy, and still able to afford your next Kyoto temple entry fee.

Nakau is a no-BS bowl of happiness. Order at the machine, sit down, and wait to be reminded that simple food done well is what life’s about. Five stars for value, taste, and...

At first glance, the food might look a bit plain — but trust me, it’s absolutely delicious! I had the udon, which was flavorful and satisfying, and the karage bowl was just as tasty.

You place your order through a self-service machine, then hand your tickets to the staff after finding a seat. The food came out within five minutes, which was super convenient.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a quick, filling, and...