Sawano — Restaurant in Kyoto

tldr: so cute. my personal favorite spot. go out of your way to come here for great food and even greater owner + service and the cutest fruit cutouts.

my top 3 spots in japan to visit!!! our whole visit had me happy from start to finish. sawano is a cute hole in the wall restaurant run by one person. seems like it's frequented mostly by locals and lately has been getting traction from a few social media posts!

there are handwritten japanese menus at every table. whip out the google translate camera option and translate that!! or you can ask for the photo menu, which you can just point to a picture of something you see and would like to order. the owner speaks limited but good english!

the food was delicious. my katsu sandwich was the best katsu sandwich i've ever had. the bread was perfectly toasted, with the meat perfectly fried. nothing on the menu is over 1000 yen, and they average around 700 yen per dish. i wish i'd come back again to try more!!

the service was really something else though. if i could give service more than 5 stars i would. with every meal, he gives you a random adorable fruit animal cut-out. he also sells the book on how to make them, which you can purchase and he'll enthusiastically sign for you!!

our whole visit was very wholesome. despite the language barrier, he and one of his friends it seems, tried to make conversation and ask where we were from and how we found out about this place. when i showed him how much traction one of the tiktoks got, he was so happy! i'm guessing there's been an odd influx of foreigners and he was wondering why that was, since he doesn't have a smartphone. really hoping his restaurant grows more popular!!

also, i don't think he's raised his prices at all throughout the years. you can check his menu on their website, and they seem pretty much identical to what was there as of july 2023!...

This truly was one of the most whimsical and delicious café experiences we had in Japan! It is slightly off the beaten path but so worth it! The owner was so kind and the food and drinks were delicious! He has been making fruit animals for decades and even wrote a book on it over 30 years ago! He made some for us before and after we ate!

You are also able to purchase his book he published 34 years ago on how to make the fruit animals! The diagrams are so easy to follow and very detailed! He was even kind enough to sign it for us. I am currently pregnant so he signed it to our son and I am very excited to make the fruit animals with him when he becomes a little bit older.

I am also an abulatory wheelchair user so when we went to leave the owner came out of his shop and actually helped us set my wheelchair back up. It was so kind and he really went above and beyond for us. He was very welcoming to foreigners and spoke quite a lot of English and even had an English menu available.

If you find yourself in this area in Kyoto I absolutely recommend visiting! You will...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sawas (Sawano) Coffee is A Perfect Morning Spot!

This is the perfect place to start your morning! The cozy atmosphere and warm hospitality make it a local gem, but the real highlight is the morning set. absolutely delicious and beautifully presented and extremely good quality ingredients but very budget friendly! Everything is fresh and made with so much care. The fruit creations elevated breakfast to an art form.

The owner is not only a talented chef but also a master fruit cutter, and it truly shows in the stunning way the fruit is prepared and served.

He even wrote his own book on fruit cutting, which he sells right from the shop (buy it!). We were so impressed that we bought a copy and can’t wait to try out his techniques at home for Sunday breakfasts with the kids, it’s going to make them extra special!

If you’re in the area, don’t miss this spot. Come early, order the morning set, and take a little inspiration home with you — it’s a breakfast experience that stays with you long after...