Street Foods In Kyoto You Have To Try

Your Kyoto tour isn’t complete until you’ve tried various kinds of delicious street food. From sweet to salty, traditional to modern, the variety of street food in Kyoto is fantastic. Read our definitive guide to discover where to find the best street food in this city.

Taiyaki (鯛焼き) - Naruto Taiyaki Honpo (鳴門鯛焼本舗)

Taiyaki is a Japanese sweet food in a fish shape. Traditionally filled with red beans, it can be filled with anything from potato to chocolate to whipped cream. Naruto Taiyaki Honpo at Kyoto is famous for its unique recipe of taiyaki and overnight preparation of blending high quality wheat. Two of the most popular taiyaki are red bean taiyaki and ‘gold’ sweet potato taiyaki. They are prepared with very fine Kurosu flour. Packaged taiyaki are also available if you want to bring the sweetness home.

Yatsuhashi (八ツ橋) - Izutsu Yatsuhashi

Yatsuhashi, one of the most famous street foods unique to Kyoto, is a Japanese confectionery made of glutinous rice flour, sugar and cinnamon. Usually moulded to the shape of a rectangle or triangle, yatsuhashi has a texture similar to mochi. And the best place to go for yatsuhashi has to be Izutsu Yatsuhashi. Founded in 1805, this traditional shop offers a variety of yatsuhashi. No matter whether you want to try it on the street or pick it up as a souvenir for your friends, you can’t leave Kyoto without trying yatsuhashi!
Address: 36 Nishikyogoku Nishikoromodecho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 615-0877, Japan +81 75-531-2121 Happa Tei : takoyaki & onomiyaki l © Mathieu Lebreton/Flickr

Takoyaki (たこ焼き) - Takotora (蛸虎)

Takoyaki is a Japanese street food made from wheat flour moulded into a little ball, and usually is filled with octopus and onion and topped with takoyaki sauce, and sometimes other sauces like mustard. In Kyoto, you can find tasty takoyaki at Takotora, a stall that serves huge takoyaki. With rich ingredients and a crispy texture, and at an affordable price, Takotora is exceptionally outstanding street food.

Dashimaki tamago (卵焼き) - Mikikeiran (三木鶏卵)

Market, Japanese

Dashimaki tamago is a Japanese style of egg, made by rolling multiple layers of fried egg on a pan. Founded in 1928, Mikikeiran is located at the heart of Nishiki market in Kyoto, and has some of the best dashimaki tamago around. With a blend of three different types of egg yolk and multiple layers of egg, dashimaki tamago has a rich yet sophisticated taste. You may also check out other egg products at the store, such as egg bread and onsen eggs.
Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm

Namafu Dengaku (生麩田楽 ) - Fufusa (麸房老舗)

Namafu dengaku is a kind of dengaku (food that is grilled or roasted over a flame) that is made of solid gluten and glutinous rice flour, usually in the shape of a rectangle. Fufusa in Kyoto offers a variety of dengaku and incorporates creative ideas into the recipes. The signature item is Kyoto miso in namafu dengaku, which is a 8-hour homemade and holiday-limited item. Vacuum packs of dengaku are available at Fufusa and can be kept up to one month, so perfect for sneaking into your suitcase.
Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm 最中 | © 極地狐/Flickr

Wagashi (和菓子) - Kofukudo (幸福堂)

Wagashi is one of the most popular street foods in Japan. It is a traditional confectionery typically made from plant ingredients such as mochi, anko and fruits. In Kyoto, Kofukudo is a well-known wagashi stall that offers a variety of wagashi. Established in 1868, Kofukudo specialises in Monaka (最中), a kind of wagashi made of azuki bean jam. The signature item is called Gojo Giboshi Monaka. As well as monaka, seasonal wagashi is also recommended. With a long history, Kofukudo retains the old Japanese taste of wagashi and guarantees a unique texture and flavor.