Ganko Sanjo Honten

In the 50-odd years since its origin as a humble 15-square-meter shop in Osaka in 1963, Ganko Food Service has since become responsible for some of the most vaunted restaurants in Japan. Particularly active in the Kansai region, its company philosophy is to introduce diners to top-quality traditional Japanese cuisine at accessible prices, from tonkatsu to sushi. Ganko’s first and main Kyoto outlet is in the Sanjo district, two minutes from Keihan Line station and a stone’s throw from the Kamo River. It’s a 400-seater restaurant, but its convenient location, foreigner-friendly staff and affordable prices keep almost every single one of its seats constantly packed during peak hours. A major draw of the Sanjo branch is also how it perhaps best exemplifies Ganko’s aesthetic sensibilities. When it was first established over 30 years ago, the owner was especially particular about creating an environment that would reflect Japan’s natural beauty and long history of aesthetic tradition—an environment that would adequately match the culinary excellence of the cuisine being served. As such, from the tsubo-niwa gardens, to the thoughtfully-placed tokonoma alcoves, Ganko Sanjo Honten’s interior is a work of art in itself—to say nothing of the excellent sukiyaki, kaiseki and other traditional Japanese fare served there.