Gombei

A stone’s throw from Kaburenjo Theatre and in the center of Gion, Gombei has shared history with Japan’s ancient capital. Housed in a classic machiya (traditional wooden townhouse),Gombei evokes the charm of old Kyoto. Guests remove their shoes before sliding into low tables, surrounded by earthen walls, wooden lattices and traditional lanterns. The scent of tatami mats and the intimate setting diners you as they wait for a cozy spread of Japanese home cooking. Hot noodles arrive in an earthenware casserole, swimming in a simmering broth with vegetables like mushrooms and bamboo shoots, complemented by proteins such as fried prawn, chicken, and a raw egg. Signature udon dishes include the “Shippoku,” featuring a thick omelet and simmered vegetables, and the “Keiran,” with egg-drop and ankake sauce, both nods to Kyoto’s culinary roots. The oyakodon, a rice dish topped with chicken and egg simmered in a sweet broth, is a warm embrace in a bowl. Other offerings, like the “Tamago-toji” (egg-drop soup stock udon) and zarusoba, embody Gombei’s simplicity and excellence. In the summer, the Gioin Festival Season draws the crowd to the neighborhood and pulls them into Gombei for a comforting lunch.