The selling point of udon and soba restaurants in Kyoto, no matter where you go, is their rich, flavorful broth.
They really go out of their way to emphasize just how carefully they select their ingredients and how meticulously they extract the broth.
I wonder if people in Kyoto aren’t really that interested in the noodles themselves?
After all, there’s even a saying that “Kyoto udon is all about the broth.”
That’s why “Gontaro” is also a udon and soba restaurant that prides itself on its broth.
It’s located on Fuyacho-dori, just north of Shijo, right next to Nishiki Market.
The nearest station is “Kawaramachi Station,” and it’s conveniently located just a 3-minute walk away.
Founded in the Meiji era, it’s a long-established shop with over 100 years of history.
Come to think of it, I wonder how the popular udon shops in Kyoto rank?
With that in mind, I checked Tabelog one day, and
1st Place: Yamamoto Seimen
2nd Place: Okakita
3rd Place: Gion Tokiwa
4th Place: Niomon Une-no
5th Place: Authentic Handmade Udon: Okawa
6th Place: Okaru
7th Place: Omen Ginkakuji Main Store
8th Place: Kyoto Gontaro Main Store
9th Place: Hinode Udon
10th Place: Gion Yoro
I see—it’s a nice ranking that mixes long-established shops with the latest trends.
“Yamamoto Seimen” is the most popular spot in Kyoto—a top-tier restaurant where people reportedly wait in line for two hours.
It’s popular for its firm Sanuki udon, which is quite unlike the typical Kyoto style.
“Okakita,” ranked second, is a long-established shop that epitomizes Kyoto udon. Its most popular dish is the “Keiran Udon.”
True to Kyoto style, the noodles are soft and silky, and of course, “the broth is everything.”
“Nio-mon Une-no” might seem like a trendy, modern udon shop at first glance,
but it’s actually a branch of a wholesaler that supplies kombu and bonito to Kyoto’s traditional ryotei restaurants—a true expert in dashi.
“Hinode Udon” is also a long-established shop, but it’s famous for its “curry udon,” which always draws massive lines.
You don’t even need to give the taxi driver the address from Kyoto Station—
just say, “Take me to Hinode Udon,” and you’ll be there in no time—it’s that famous.
So, there’s a nice mix of udon shops, each with its own unique story.
And “Kyoto Gontaro Main Store” has firmly secured the 8th spot as well.
It really has that time-honored, traditional feel—the entrance is magnificent.
And actually, this isn’t a traditional townhouse at all—it’s a building. That came as a surprise.
It has five floors above ground and one below—it’s so spacious it even has an art museum and a tea room inside!
There’s a wide variety of spaces, including banquet halls, tatami rooms, private rooms, and table seating.
You could practically run a ryokan here!!
A smoking area this big!!
On the wall is a work by Kyoto artist Hideki Kimura.
Come to think of it, you can see Hideki Kimura’s works all over Kyoto.
Whether it’s in subway shopping malls or Japanese restaurants.
He’s an artist who’s beloved in Kyoto.
And what I ordered was soba! Even though I’d been checking out udon rankings and all, I ended up choosing soba.
I mean, I’m from the Kanto region, after all.
The rich, creamy broth made from chicken fat—what’s known as “chicken oil”—pairs perfectly with the crisp texture of Kujo green onions.
When you slurp up the thin soba noodles, the umami flavor of the broth naturally coats them.
True to Kyoto style, the sansho pepper really packs a punch.
The meal also comes with the famous “Soba Karintou” as a finishing touch.
I really enjoyed the flavors of this long-established restaurant.
Kyoto Gontaro Main Store
521 Masuya-cho, Shijo-agaru, Fuyacho-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
075-231-0200
Closed on Wednesdays
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