Sokoku — Restaurant in Kyoto

TLDR One of my favorite meals in Kyoto

Overall Impressions This is a small breakfast restaurant with only 2 meal items on the menu (grilled mackerel or salmon breakfast set or sukiyaki lunch set). We arrived at 9am on a Saturday and all spaces were full, however, we were able to reserve a spot for 9:30am and the restaurant was relatively empty afterwards. If you are looking for a more personal, authentic “home-style” Japanese breakfast experience served on beautiful ceramic ware and in a lovely traditional Japanese-style space, this is it.

Dishes Ordered Grilled Salmon Breakfast Set 5/5 The set comes with perfectly grilled salmon, rice, miso soup, egg roll, and picked items and vegetables. Overall, everything was delicious, and the presentation was beautiful.

Ambiance/Vibe 5/5 The space has limited seating but feels warm and intimate. The interior has both western and zashiki seating which overlooks a Japanese-style garden. It’s clear the owners have placed a good deal of thought into crafting the space.

Service 5/5 Service and hospitality were excellent. The hostess was very kind and made the experience feel much more personal—it felt like we were being invited into someone’s home.

Bathroom N/A Not used.

Things to note One of the highlights is the teal-colored dishware and ceramics displayed and used in the restaurant (fitting since the restaurant is located in the ceramics district and near the Kawai Kanjiro house/museum). I didn’t realize it at the time, but later I did not see similar items in other ceramics shops in Kyoto, so perhaps the ceramics here are somewhat unique. They also had a shelf with some of the same ceramic items for sale at the entrance.

Cash only. Hostess speaks English.

Rating Scale 1: truly awful, 2: below average, 3: average, 4: above average, 5:...

My partner and I stumbled across this restaurant on a walk to some sight seeing. It is one of our favourite meals on our trip. The food was so incredible and the two ladies who served us were so warm and friendly. They were very patient and encouraging with my attempts at Japanese and spoke very good English. There is a beautiful garden and the food is delicious and very nourishing. When we stopped in for breakfast we were the only customers there accept for a Japanese mother and daughter enjoying a weekend breakfast out - it was very wholesome and peaceful. Highly recommend. Thank you for being such a wonderful part...

Sodoku is a quaint restaurant that exudes the comfort and warmth of home. Two gentle ladies ( sisters Hatta-san and Kanzaki-san) run the place with care and efficiency. It offers traditional Japanese breakfast (grilled fish or sukiyaki with rice, soup and sidings) served at a zataku (low table) where one enjoys the meal sitting cross legged on a tatami floor or one can opt to just sit at typical table. The glass walls allow one to have a view of a serene garden that provides calmness to the mind.

Indeed a gem in Higayashi...