Yasube, Okonomiyaki, Pontocho

Yasube is a family-run restaurant in Pontocho that serves Okonomiyaki. The menu offers many variations, and you can add different ingredients to your Okonomiyaki. The prices are very reasonable, and it is one of the cheaper places to eat in Pontocho. The son speaks good English, and there are English menus available.

We had the yaki-udon with pork and kimchi (¥ 950) and pork and seafood combo with egg okonomiyaki (¥ 950). It was served on the hot plate on the table. I liked that we could put the sauce and toppings on the okonomiyaki. I have had okonomiyaki, and sometimes the sauce was too much for me. This would be the best one of the okonomiyaki I have had both in Kyoto and Osaka. I think the minced pork made a big difference. I had added pork slices instead of minced pork in the previous okonomiyaki. The minced pork made the okonomiyaki less dry and gave it a savory sweetness.

Yasube

Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday, 12:00 PM to 19:30 PM; Thursday to Saturday, 16:30 PM to 23:30 PM, Sunday, 15:00 PM to 22:30 PM

Telephone number: +81 75-221-2613

Address: 142 Umenokichō (Pontochōdōri), Nakagyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 604-8012, Japan

Sushitetsu, Pontocho

Sushitetsu is located on the first floor of the building next to the Pontocho kaburenjo theater. It was recommended by the receptionist in the hotel my brother and I was staying at. She said that both locals and foreigners dine there, and the price is reasonable. After splashing quite a bit on more expensive meals the past two days, I look forward to somewhere more low-key and inexpensive.

There is counter and horigotatsu seating. In addition, there are English menus with pictures. The menu has a variety of a la carte sushi, sushi rolls, assorted sashimi, tempura, cooked dishes, salads, and soup. The sushi chef takes your orders and makes the sushi in front of you. It is an enjoyable experience watching your food being prepared and served in front of you. The chef hands off each sushi right after it is prepared on bamboo leaves.

Each sushi dish (2 pieces) is ¥ 216, and the rolls are ¥ 540. We got the California roll, tamage (egg), ebi (shrimp), aburi nigiri (broiled salmon), uni (sea urchin), kanimi (crab meat),  shimaji-nigiri (yellow jack), Iwashi (sardine), maguro (tuna), and salmon. The sushi was delicious, and the ingredients were fresh.

When we got our first batch of sushi, we looked for the wasabi and could not find any. Then, when my brother ate his first piece of sushi, he noticed the wasabi between the topping and the rice. So all we had to do was dip the sushi in the soy sauce. Surprisingly, each sushi dish had sufficient wasabi, at least for us.

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Do take note that this restaurant allows smoking inside. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, especially if the smoke is wafting toward me. This happened as I was enjoying the sushi. A customer next to me was smoking. As much as I would like to stay longer and order more sushi, I left right after finishing the remaining food.

All in all, this is a great sushi place with excellent value for money.

 

Sushitetsu

Website: https://sushitetsu.owst.jp/

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:00PM to 11:30PM

Address: 〒604-8002 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Nakagyō-ku, Ishiyachō (Kiyamachidori), 先斗町通三条下る石屋町123