Minokichi Karasuma Shijo

With more than 300 years of history behind it, the Minokichi series of restaurants is essentially synonymous with Kyoto-style cuisine. Its legacy as a traditional riverside koshikake-chaya establishment began in the year 1716, where it served sake and snacks like grilled tofu near the Sanjo Ohashi Bridge. It later became recognized as one of the eight restaurants legally allowed to serve river fish by the Kyoto governor-general later in the Edo Period. While World War II forced the restaurant to move to its current location by Nanzenji Temple, its reputation for excellence went with it, as well as to its 17 other locations currently scattered around the Kansai and Kanto regions. Kyoto is the birthplace of kaiseki cuisine, and Minokichi carries this legacy with pride. Kaiseki is characterized by a series of elaborately prepared and plated dishes, all of which make use of luxurious ingredients. Minokichi is no exception: its course menus feature some of the finest ingredients from all over Japan, with grilled Kobe beef, fatty tuna belly and freshwater eel, to even more esoteric offerings like softshell turtle hotpot, a rare delicacy offered by few modern restaurants. Minokichi’s main store by Nanzenji Temple is as much a historic landmark as the temple itself, having been a regular fixture on postcards as far back as 1889, and the renovated building receiving recognition for architectural excellence by the Kyoto prefectural government. While the Karasuma Shijo branch may not have achieved quite the same level of fame, it is no less pleasant to dine in, with its traditional Japanese decor. An abundance of private rooms, each one named after a historic Kyoto landmark, accommodate parties of all sizes. But perhaps the most impressive is probably the lounge room, where a 15-seater counter sets the stage for a veritable banquet.