Rutubo — Restaurant in Kyoto

Finding ourselves wandering the cool streets of Kyoto, we stumbled upon a hidden gem called RUTURBO. This charming izakaya immediately warmed our hearts with its quirky, intimate vibe. The cozy, funky decor and welcoming atmosphere made it the perfect refuge from our 30,000+ steps temple and Japanese gardens hopping day.

RUTURBO’s charm is accentuated by its unique setup. Sitting around the bar, we had the pleasure of watching the talented staff cook and serve, turning meal preparation into an engaging performance. The energy was lively yet relaxed, making us feel right at home.

We started our culinary adventure with the zucchini fritters, which were light, crispy, and bursting with flavor. Next, the stir-fried pork belly offered a rich, savory delight, perfectly cooked to a tender finish. The standout of the evening, however, were the smoked scallops and octopus. Both were divine, with a delicate smoky flavor that enhanced the natural sweetness of the seafood. But my favorite was the stir fried pork belly!

The potato salad with scallops was another unexpected delight. The combination was a revelation, blending creamy textures with the tender bite of scallops, creating a harmony of flavors. The pork cutlet was very tender and had lots of flavor!!! And let’s not forget the fried chicken—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, it was pure perfection.

RUTURBO’s signature seems to be a subtle yet sophisticated smoky flavor that permeates many of their dishes, adding depth without overpowering the palate. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, showcasing a creative twist on traditional izakaya fare.

In summary, RUTURBO is definitely worth a visit when in Kyoto. It’s a place where good food, a cozy atmosphere, and friendly service come together to create an unforgettable dining experience. BTW, the drinks were great too!!!!!! RUTURBO won’t disappoint. ❤️

📸 I post quiet corners and cultural highlights like this one on Instagram:...

I hate to do this but after having this experience here I have to warn other people coming in and spending their lunch or evening in Kyoto here instead of the million other amazing places you could go to. I went in after seeing the happy hour sign and reading good reviews - it’s 1000 yen for drink + “assorted dish” that includes cheese, grilled soybeans, egg and chicken. I ordered this one and added the wagyu roastbeef and sat on the bar. The plate I got with the beer was just awkward, tiny plate with really small pieces of everything together (is that an happy hour deal or just a scam that looks affordable when actually you get nothing?) Actually, the pieces of chicken were hard and cold, literally cold, have I missed anything? And then, watching them make my Wagyu roast beef I added 800 yen on, they actually microwaved it.. And it was very small, and not that tasty. I would just go away and not write this review unless the most annoying thing about the experience here - Any question I asked the waiter about the menu, she was extremely unkind, really inpatient and just rude. I wanted to have few meals and didn’t want to have a drink and she said I wasn’t allowed to. Is this how you serve foreign people who just want to have a nice lunch? It really got on my nerves. To conclude it all - Kyoto has such amazing places to eat with such amazing waiters and staff - This is definitely not one of them. I’m sorry to write this but I just have to be honest about...

Read the good reviews and decided to give it a shot. Lovely little shop with a great atmosphere. Menu was interesting, portions were good and everything tasted great. So far, so good…

Unfortunately the service was not up to normal Japanese standards. It was BAD. The guy serving us barely spoke a word, never smiled or anything. Seemed like he hated his job and wanted us to leave as soon as possible. But what amazed me was when he started removing the daily specials sheet from the menus on the table. He came to our table, as we were in the middle of a conversation, stood there right in front of us without saying anything, and loudly ripped the sheet out literally in front of our faces, and threw the menu back onto the table. Not an “excuse me” or “sorry,” he didn’t even acknowledge us. It was so rude it was surreal. My friend and I could only laugh. This was an hour before closing time, too, and the place was still more than half full, so it’s not like we were staying too long or something.

I expect that kind of bad service in the US, but not japan. Totally unacceptable here.

Personally, I can deal with mediocre food or a subpar atmosphere as long as the service is good. But if the service is terrible, I don’t care how good the food is, I’m not going back. So yeah - no repeats for me....