Hello. This is The Gate Hotel staff. This time, we would like to introduce Yasube, a famous old-fashioned okonomiyaki restaurant near The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa, which is well known among locals.
An okonomiyaki restaurant located in Ponto-cho near the hotel
Ponto-cho is one of Kyoto’s representative Hanamachi (flower streets). It is a narrow alley stretching 500 meters north to south along the Kamo River from one street south of Sanjo Dori to Shijo Dori, and is a charming area lined with geisha and maiko training halls and teahouses. The street, flanked by Kyoto-style houses, has a unique, picturesque atmosphere.
Yasube is located in beautiful Ponto-cho. While many restaurants seem to have a relatively high threshold for customers, the red lanterns and the restaurant’s appearance creates a homey atmosphere.
It is located about a 3-minute walk from The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa. It is about a 5-minute walk from Hankyu Kyoto Kawaramachi Station (Exit 1A) or from Keihan Sanjo Station (Exit 6).
Old-fashioned and relaxing atmosphere
For 40 years since it opened in 1982, the restaurant has been run by the owner, proprietress, and their family, who are always happy to welcome you.
They are easy to talk to and have warm personalities, so many people come to the restaurant just to see them. Many of the hotel staff are also fans!
The okonomiyaki is cooked at the counter with a large teppanyaki right after you enter the restaurant, and is brought fresh and hot to the teppanyaki at each table. We recommend that you start by ordering one dish that interests you, as they have a wide variety of side dishes as well as okonomiyaki.
Recommended Menu Items
Here are some of our staff’s favorite menu items.
1. Yam Cheese 780 yen
First of all, we recommend trying yam cheese before okonomiyaki. Be careful, it is very hot!
The yams are large and the slightly charred and crunchy cheese is excellent.
2. Yasubeyaki 1,250 yen (tax included)
Their signature dish, yasubeyaki is a must-try!
It is hearty with ingredients such as pork, shrimp, octopus, and squid. The hidden half-boiled egg and large amount of kujo-negi onions make this dish irresistible. The owner of the restaurant gave us a special sauce to eat it with. She told us to pour Worcestershire sauce and sweet sauce first, then put mayonnaise and a generous amount of kujo leeks on top, and pour hot sauce to our liking. It looks many times tastier than pouring it on yourself.
3. Shoyu Soba Noodle with Ooba Leaves 950 yen (tax included)
The last dish is soy sauce soba with shiso.
Although I was full, the soy sauce soba with shiso refreshed my taste buds. I finished it in no time at all.
If you are ever in Kyoto and decide to take a stroll in Ponto-cho, don’t forget to stop by Yasube.
We entered the restaurant around 6:00 p.m. and by 7:00 p.m. the restaurant was already full. The restaurant is loved by a wide range of people, from locals to international customers.
Reservations are not accepted, so if you want to grab a seat, we recommend that you get there early.
SHOP DATA
- Name: Yasube
- Address: 142 Umenoki-cho, Ponto-cho Sanjo-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 604-8012
- TEL 075-221-2613
- URL https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260201/26000218/
- Business hours Monday-Saturday 16:00-23:00
Sunday and holidays 15:00-22:30 - Closed on Tuesdays (or the following Wednesday if Tuesday is a national holiday)
*For the latest information on business hours, holidays, etc., please contact the restaurant directly.