Kyoto in one word: FOOD. There is no other city in the world that has more Michelin stars, and if you don't care about that stuff, practically every corner you turn, there is one incredible (and most likely, charmingly tiny and intimate) restaurant after another. The aim was to try a variety of places and food during our stay and here were some of the delicious results:

 
Japanese restaurants can be hard to find but not ISOYA. Look out for the vegetables!

ISOYA. The entrance is a little hidden so look out for the vegetables.

Inside the Bib Gourmand listed ISOYA, a restaurant driven by local Kyoto vegetables.

Inside the Bib Gourmand listed ISOYA, a restaurant driven by local Kyoto vegetables.

Chef's Choice starting with buttery mushrooms...

Chef's Choice starting with buttery mushrooms...

Corn fritters...

Corn fritters...

Lotus root and onion... after days of ramen, udon, seafood and meat, the veg cravings were real.

Lotus root and onion... after days of ramen, udon, seafood and meat, the veg cravings were real.

Kyoto beef and broccoli

Kyoto beef and broccoli

Gram Cafe for breakfast

Gram Cafe for breakfast

The jiggly pancakes... had to do it!

The jiggly pancakes... had to do it!

I actually almost never go to Starbucks but look how gorgeous the one in Gion is! ALSO - the yuzu cha cannot and should not be slept on.

I actually almost never go to Starbucks but look how gorgeous the one in Gion is! ALSO - the yuzu cha cannot and should not be slept on.

Burnt miso ramen at Kyoto Gogyo around the corner from Niishiki Market

Burnt miso ramen at Kyoto Gogyo around the corner from Niishiki Market

Beauty

Beauty

Gyoza Hohei ぎょうざ 歩兵 in Gion

Gyoza Hohei ぎょうざ 歩兵 in Gion

All the dumplings, cucumbers, potato salad, beer and whisky soda

All the dumplings, cucumbers, potato salad, beer and whisky soda

Nakamura Tōkichi Honten in Uji (the birthplace of matcha/green tea)

Nakamura Tōkichi Honten in Uji (the birthplace of matcha/green tea)

Matcha soba noodles from Nakamura Tōkichi Honten

Matcha soba noodles from Nakamura Tōkichi Honten

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This matcha jelly and red bean dessert was so amazing

This matcha jelly and red bean dessert was so amazing

When you walk through the quiet district of Saga-Toriimoto, you'll pass a bunch of quaint shops selling local crafts and incense as well as delicious mom and pop noodle shops like this.

When you walk through the quiet district of Saga-Toriimoto, you'll pass a bunch of quaint shops selling local crafts and incense as well as delicious mom and pop noodle shops like this.

Look at this udon lunch set! Can't remember the name of the place, but you really can't go wrong in this area.

Look at this udon lunch set! Can't remember the name of the place, but you really can't go wrong in this area.

On the walk from Arashiyama Bamboo Grove to the train station, there is a stall selling these amazing fresh mochi in roasted soybean powder (that taste like peanut butter). They look meh but they taste AHHHHHH!

On the walk from Arashiyama Bamboo Grove to the train station, there is a stall selling these amazing fresh mochi in roasted soybean powder (that taste like peanut butter). They look meh but they taste AHHHHHH!

We started with a Bib Gourmand pick and ending with a Bib Gourmand pick, Taiho, near-ish Nijo Castle.

We started with a Bib Gourmand pick and ending with a Bib Gourmand pick, Taiho, near-ish Nijo Castle.

Dan Dan Noods 

Dan Dan Noods 

Mapo Tofu!

Mapo Tofu!

More recs not pictured: Yudofu Sagano, AWOMB, Sutando, Arabica Coffee, Sentido Cafe, Gion Rohan, Shigetsu at Tenryuji, Tofu Cafe Fujino, Unagi Hirokawa, ORYOURI MENAMI

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