Gontaro Honten

Gontaro Honten restaurant is over 100 years old and a popular place in the lively city center of Kyoto. Tourists and locals alike go there to enjoy udon or soba noodles-based specialty dishes, that are part of the homelike and affordable food in Japan.

Read more:

Udon and Soba - Iconic Japanese Noodles

The most striking feature of the restaurant is its traditional kyotoïte decor, highlighted by its outside architecture and its sukiya-zukuri architectural style inspired by the chashitsu tea houses. People walking by the shop can’t help stopping for a moment to admire the authentic front-facade of this narrow, 5-story city house, partially hidden behind tall evergreens. Inside, the paved floor guides customers to several spaces arranged for eating on low-rise tables on tatami flooring and separated by beautiful, partially transparent wooden dividers. A more classical setting is also available with usual-height tables and chairs.

The restaurant can cater either to single travelers, or to families with kids or groups of friends. Banquets are even held for families on the occasion of the New Year. Beside the Japanese festive periods, the place provides a peaceful atmosphere and the staff is always welcoming.

Seasonal dishes and typical noodle bowls

As for their specialty dish, Gontaro is famous for the udon-suki noddle hotpot, called "Gontaro Nabe," to be enjoyed in autumn 🍁 and in winter when the weather is colder. In summer, we recommend trying a cold noodle dish: zaru soba or udon, especially in the Tenzaru Gozen (天ざる御膳) course that includes several side dishes, such as shrimps and seasonal vegetables tempura, as well as sesame tofu. Oroshi udon is another summer dish to enjoy, its cold noodles garnished with grated daikon white radish and topped with several seasonings.

Made in the Kyoto cuisine style, Gontaro’s udon are delicious, with a fresh and soft texture, and we highly recommend them. The soba buckwheat noodles are also quite delicious.

In addition to the seasonal dishes, this restaurant also serves typical noodle dishes such as:

• Keiran udon, a mix of noodles and beaten egg cooked in the broth;
• Kitsune udon served with a slice of fried tofu;
• Kamo-seiro soba includes slices of kamo duck breasts and negi Japanese chives; and,
• Herring soba.

Clients who don’t speak Japanese can easily order their noodle dish thanks to the English menu illustrated with a few pictures. Gontaro Honten restaurant is located next to the Shijo-dori avenue, that tourists particularly love for its range of local souvenir shops. Kyoto has two other Gontaro restaurants: one located between Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji temples, and another in Okazaki the cultural district.