Lunch near Yasaka Pagoda

菊しん Restaurant

It's a common argument we couples find ourselves in: one wants soba while the other wants sushi. Of course in Japan, you can find many restaurants which serve both! I perused google to find pictures of restaurants that had decent looking nigiri as well as some kind of soba.

菊しん is a restaurant close to the bustling area of Ninenzaka. They had dozens of positive google reviews so we gave it a try.

(Definitely locals; salaryman on the right says it all!)

We stepped into the quiet little shop and easily got a seat. The owners were welcoming. Despite being close to the touristy area, it was mainly locals inside. Of course, we did note that many of the google reviews were by tourists, but it was still nice to see more locals here.

(Just look at the subtle marbling on the tuna, and light pink color)

The sushi came first and I was thoroughly impressed. I live for stepping into random shops and being offered food way above my expectations. The sushi was very fresh and sliced perfectly.

The soba also exceeded expectations and I love having ebi along with it.

The food was a bit slow to be served (around 20 mins or more), so if you're in a rush, we'd recommend going elsewhere. But if you can spare the time, the food is worth the wait and you can enjoy a slow lunch close to Ninenzaka.

Address

Japan, 〒605-0811 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Komatsucho, １１−２７

https://maps.app.goo.gl/xDVDgP1FMLgDTdUL9