Tokyo and Kyoto restaurans
 

Anyone have any suggestions for good restaurants or other eating places for breakfast lunch and dinner in the above cities? I am mainly looking for budget and mid range places as we are staying a couple of nights in a nice Ryokan with included Kaiseki-ryori meals. Markets, pubs, chains, small local places - a suggestions will be very welcome.

I liked a casual okonomiyaki place just outside the west entrance to Nishiki market. I think it was Nishiki Warai.

If you are going to Nara I enjoyed a great sake tasting while I was there.

Thanks thursdaysd. We are staying close to Nishiki market and I love Okonomyaki!

Our hotel recommended some really good places in Kyoto. The ones we ate at that we recall as being mid-range are below along with the comments from the hotel. (Check the menus for prices as my memory on this is fading:) )
1 - Teppan Tavern Tenamonya: http://nana-7-nana.wixsite.com/giontenamonya/

This is a very casual and lively teppanyaki restaurant near Yasaka Shrine in our Gion neighbourhood, run by a lovely and friendly couple.

Although teppanyaki can be quite a pricy meal in Japan, in this small, intimate and vibrant restaurant, they offer very reasonably-priced A5 Wagyu Beef steak as well as all the different types of teppanyaki menu.

All the guests who have dined there say the service is fantastic and the value is great, and sometimes go back there during their sta

[Restaurant Information]
Opening Hours: 16:00 – 23:00
Closed: Thursday
Price Range: \
Menu: A La Carte
English Menu: Available
Payment: Cash Only

2 - Gion Kappa:

http://www.willflyforfood.net/2014/0...n-kyoto-japan/
This is one of our guests’ favourite places when they feel like going to a very local and casual place, where they can enjoy small Japanese tapas menu, beer and sake, having a nice chat with the local people.

Each dish from their usual menu (available in English) costs only 390 yen, and you can try almost every kind of Japanese food such as sashimi, tempura, grilled fish/chicken/meat, oden and even sushi.

They also offer today’s special / seasonal menu which is more expensive than the usual menu, but it is written in Japanese only, and you will have to keep an eye on what other Japanese guests are eating and point that you would like the same!

The staff may seem to be rough when they are extremely busy, but they are still very friendly and welcoming even though they do not speak English.

Please kindly keep in mind that they allow smoking inside the restaurant.

They would not accept bookings in advance, depending on your requested time and season, and we must simply call them and check if they have available seats just before you go out.

[Restaurant Information]

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 18:00 - 3:00 (2:30 L.O.) / Sunday and Holiday 17:00 - 0:30 (0:00 L.O.)
Closed: Monday
Price Range: \
Menu: A La Carte
English Menu: Available for the Usual Menu
Payment: Credit Cards Accepted

3- Gion Manzara: https://gurunavi.com/en/k121700/rst/

This is a lovely Japanese restaurant or modern izakaya, renovated from an old town house called “machiya” which is typical in Kyoto, and located in the atmospheric Gion South District.
The menu has a good variety, also with a wide range of Kyoto-style home cooking called “Obanzai.”
The staff are friendly, and the atmosphere is very nice, and we often recommend our guests to try this restaurant when they’d like somewhere quite casual but cosy and lovely, and completely non-smoking.

[Restaurant Information]
Opening Hours: 17:00 – 24:00 (23:00 L.O.)
Closed: Open Every Day
Price Range: \
Menu: A La Carte
English Menu: Available
Payment: Credit Cards Accepted
Smoking: Non-Smoking

I don't have specific names for you, but I second the nomination for okonomiyaki pancakes in Kyoto. We went to a little place across the street from the Sheraton. It was one of those places where you get to cook your own pancakes at the table. Try the mochi topping.

On my last trip, I bought sushi at grocery stores for many of my meals. They typically have a chef right there, and they make a variety of trays for just few dollars. You can also get some salads in little plastic containers, such as those with thinly sliced cucumbers. These trays are also good to take on the train. While you are at the grocery store, browse around for gifts to take home. In Matsue, I bought some nuts that were really good, although I don't know what they're called. One of the employees helped me pick out the tastiest goodies.

Many thanks for the excellent info and links yestravel. Exactly the sort of places we love.

CL, thanks, imagine many of our breakfasts will involve sushi from grocery stores. I have forgotten how good the food in those places can be. our plan is to fill a spare small case with goodies to bring back.

Even though the places I listed are casual, we had reservations. As I'm sure you know, places are very small, so limited seating. Our hotel made reservations I think the same day as we went. All the places were packed and we saw people being turned away.

Thanks for the warning yestravel. I do recall getting turned away from a yakitori place several times on our last visit. Was never sure whether it was because they were full or because we were foreigners!