17 popular okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes) restaurants in Kyoto Prefecture! Special picks mainly in Kyoto City

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Manmaru no Tsuki Nishiki Ten is a restaurant where you can enjoy okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) with delicate flavors created by a chef with experience in French cuisine. Nishiki Ten is located about a 3-minute walk from Karasuma Station, along Nishikikoji Street.

There are counter seats where you can enjoy the live feel with the Teppan-yaki right in front of you, and it also seems to have calm Japanese-style zashiki (tatami seating) seats.

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The specialty here is “Kyoto okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake).” It stands out for its batter, which is mixed with plenty of dashi (Japanese soup stock) and grated yamaimo (Japanese mountain yam).

The popular choice is the “Buta,” an okonomiyaki made with richly flavorful pork from Kyoto. Many reviews say it is fluffy and light enough to eat with ease.

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There is also a wide selection of dishes cooked on a large Teppan-yaki grill. You can enjoy Domestic beef steak, tuna steak, and a salad of grilled seasonal vegetables.

They also offer juices made with Homemade fruit syrup and alcoholic drinks, making this a great place to enjoy Teppan-yaki dishes with a drink.

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Donguri Shijo Karasuma Ten is an okonomiyaki restaurant that focuses on ingredients from Kyoto, with several restaurants across Kyoto City, and the Shijo Karasuma location is near Exit 6 of Shijo Station.

The interior is done in a kominka (traditional Japanese house)-style design. There are many seats in total, with table seating and zashiki (tatami floor seating), making it easy for groups and families to visit.

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Since opening in 1977, this restaurant has served dishes made with ingredients from Kyoto. The wheat flour that is essential for okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) and even the sauce come from manufacturers in Kyoto.

The menu is extensive, and the popular negiyaki (green onion pancake) comes loaded with Kujo-negi (Kyoto heirloom green onions), a local ingredient that has long been eaten in Kyoto.

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They also serve yakisoba (fried noodles), made with thick noodles stir-fried on a Teppan-yaki griddle. The seasoning comes in a wide variety, including sauce, soy sauce, and curry flavor.

Because the tables come with Teppan-yaki griddles, diners can enjoy it piping hot, which is another popular point. Seasonings such as sauce, mayonnaise, and aonori (green laver) are also available at the table, so you can season it however you like.

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Okonomiyaki & Teppan-yaki Nakanaka is located on the second floor of a building on the south side of Nijo Castle, near the east exit of Nijo Station, and the white noren (traditional shop curtain) hanging by the staircase facing the street is the landmark.

The main seating is zashiki seating with Sunken kotatsu seating, with tables fitted with teppan grills. There also seem to be counter seats that are easy to use even for solo diners.

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The specialty is "Nakanaka-yaki," a betayaki-style savory pancake that has long been loved in Kyoto's old downtown areas.

Its key feature is the thin batter topped with plenty of ingredients. This deluxe dish includes Omi gyu (Omi beef) offal, Domestic beef tendon, and shrimp.

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They also serve thick okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) made with a wheat flour batter mixed with cabbage and other ingredients, as well as negiyaki (green onion pancake), so you can compare them.

With a wide range of dishes centered on the Teppan-yaki menu, it also seems fun for groups to order various dishes and share them.

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Ikkakuju Karasuma Ten is a restaurant where everything, from okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) to the food menu and even the seasonings, is gluten free, and they use rice flour instead of wheat flour in the okonomiyaki as well.

The restaurant is about a 3-minute walk from Shijo Station, and the Japanese modern interior also has Private room seating for 2 or more people.

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Instead of wheat flour, they use Nikomaru komeko (rice flour) made by milling specially grown rice into powder. They add dashi and nagaimo (Japanese yam) before grilling it, so it turns out crisp on the outside and light on the inside.

While the finish and seasoning are the same as wheat flour okonomiyaki, some reviews said it feels easier on the digestive system.

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They also serve okonomiyaki made in collaboration with a yuba (tofu skin) specialty shop founded in Kyoto in 1885 that specializes in yuba made from soybeans. Yuba is known for being rich in protein and easy to digest and absorb.

There is also an unusual menu item called “Kyo-yuba (Kyoto-style yuba) okonomiyaki,” paired with a soy milk based sauce.

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This izakaya is located on Muromachi-dori (Muromachi Street), about a 3-minute walk from Exit 24 of Karasuma Station. Open from the evening, it is a great spot for a meal after sightseeing or as a second stop after dinner.

The space is decorated with tree stumps and has the warm feel of wood, like a log house.

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The okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake), grilled for about 15 minutes after you order, is said to be light, fluffy, and tasty.

The specialty is the "buta-tama." It is an okonomiyaki made with pork and egg. For an extra charge, you can also add toppings such as cheese, green onion, and mochi (rice cake).

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The food menu is also extensive, with yakisoba (fried noodles), meat dishes, and stir-fried vegetables cooked on a Teppan-yaki griddle. The popular "tonpei" is made by thinly cooking egg on the Teppan-yaki griddle and topping it with sauce.

The alcohol menu is also well stocked, so you can also stop by for drinks and a few Teppan-yaki dishes to snack on.

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Shogetsu Kawaramachi Ten is an okonomiyaki and Teppan-yaki restaurant with multiple locations mainly in Kyoto. It is located about a 4-minute walk from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, along Kawaramachi Street where buildings with covered arcades line the road.

Inside, several box seats are arranged around tables fitted with Teppan grills.

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A key feature is that they brush plenty of sauce onto the freshly grilled okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake), then top it with green onions and katsuobushi (bonito flakes).

On the hot Teppan-yaki griddle, the aroma of the sauce spreads nicely, and the sauce has a slightly spicy taste. They also offer a sweeter sauce, so it seems fun to compare the two.

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They also offer Teppan-yaki menu items with beef, pork, chicken, and seafood, with a wide range of flavors including miso sauce and light ponzu sauce.

The optional All you can drink plan, which you can add when each person orders at least two dishes, is also popular. It is perfect for an After-Party or for people who do not eat much but want to drink a lot.

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Zoronpa is located about a 5-minute walk from Demachiyanagi Station, along Kawaramachi-dori. The menu centers on okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancakes), with a wide range of other dishes as well.

Inside, there are table seats and zashiki (tatami seating), and the bright, homey atmosphere seems to make it a fun place for everyone from children to adults to enjoy a meal.

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They are particular about using fresh seasonal ingredients, sourcing seafood from the local Nishiki Market and vegetables from contracted farms in Kyoto.

You can enjoy okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) made with flour mixed with dashi broth taken every morning at the restaurant from katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and kombu kelp. The "Tartar Sauce Tama" is a popular menu item that has been loved for many years.

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The menu features more than 15 kinds of okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes), yamimo-yaki (yam batter grill) made without wheat flour, negiyaki (green onion pancake), yaki udon, and Teppan-yaki dishes with vegetables and meat.

They also offer a lightly sweet Pancake menu, cooked on a Teppan-yaki griddle and much like a dessert Pancake, making it perfect after the meal.

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This restaurant is located about an 11-minute walk from Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station, along Shichihonmatsu-dori. It stays open straight through from lunch to dinner, so it seems easy to stop by even while sightseeing.

In the warm space with a retro feel, tables with built-in Teppan-yaki griddles are lined up.

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The "betayaki (savory griddled batter topped with ingredients)" is made by grilling ingredients on top of a thinly cooked batter, and you can choose either chuka-men (Chinese noodles) or udon, with extra toppings available for an additional fee. Another nice feature is that you can choose from three kinds of sauce: mild, hot, or sweet and spicy.

Once you place your order, they cook it up with quick, skilled movements, and it is said to come out fragrant on the outside and soft inside.

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At lunchtime only, they also offer set meals with yakisoba (fried noodles) and pork cooked on the Teppan-yaki grill, served with rice, miso soup, and salad.

They also serve alcohol, so it seems many locals enjoy Teppan-yaki dishes with a drink from midday.

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"Teppan-yaki Okonomiyaki Jin" is located on Nijo-dori Street, about a 5-minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station toward Kyoto Gosho (Kyoto Imperial Palace). It stays open until late at night, so you can also visit late in the evening.

The compact interior has about 14 seats in total, in a traditional old-school setting with lots of menu tags posted on the walls.

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Their okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake), made with finely chopped cabbage mixed into the batter, is served freshly cooked on the table’s Teppan-yaki griddle.

One highlight is that you can add as much of the house original sauce as you like, a blend made with sauce from Kyoto. It is said to come out nice and fluffy.

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Another key point is that the Chinese noodles paired with okonomiyaki and beta-yaki (thin savory pancake) are thin, which goes well with the batter and makes them easy to eat.

Yakisoba made by stir-frying thin Chinese noodles on the Teppan-yaki is also popular. Many people seem to enjoy alcohol while snacking on the yakisoba.

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Teppan-yaki Okonomiyaki Miki is an okonomiyaki restaurant that has been in business for more than 60 years since it first opened, and it is tucked away down a narrow alley near the Gojo Omiya intersection.

Inside, tables with built-in teppan grills are lined up, creating a casual atmosphere that makes it easy to stop by. It seems to be a place where even first-time visitors can enjoy Teppan-yaki in a fun and relaxed way.

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For okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake), there are options with shrimp, pork, beef, and squid, as well as a simple "no filling" version. The one made with Kujo negi (Kyoto green onions) is especially popular.

There is also a good value course that includes about five Teppan-yaki dishes, plus okonomiyaki and yakisoba, along with All you can drink including alcoholic beverages.

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The signature dish is "Kokekokko-yaki." This dish uses thigh meat from jidori (local chicken) from Wakayama Prefecture, seasoned with a sauce made from garlic and soy sauce, then grilled on a Teppan-yaki griddle. It is a dish you can enjoy not only for the taste, but also for the sound as it cooks and the aroma that fills the air.

The creative dishes are also said to be good, including mochi made from potatoes and tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) wrapped around natto.

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Rogu Nishiōji Gojō Ten is located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, about a 5-minute walk from the Nishiōji Gojō intersection, on the first floor of an apartment building.

The interior, designed with layered logs, has the warm feel of a log house. Sunken kotatsu seating where guests remove their shoes lines the space, making it a comfortable place to sit back and relax.

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To make okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) that is fluffy inside and crisp outside, they are particular about the cabbage. They finely chop the cabbage and let it rest overnight to adjust the moisture level.

The sauce has sweetness with a hint of spice. You can also add spicy sauce later to change up the flavor.

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Monjayaki, which uses more dashi stock than okonomiyaki and which you cook yourselves and enjoy on the Teppan-yaki griddle right in front of you, is also popular. If you are not sure how to cook it, the staff will cook it for you right in front of you.

There is also a good value course where you can enjoy several Teppan-yaki dishes with All you can drink included.

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Okonomiyaki Kyochabana Kyoto Minamishinmachi Ten is about a 5-minute walk north of Kyoto Station, near the Shichijo-Shinmachi intersection. You can enjoy unique Teppan-yaki dishes here.

The exterior is black and looks like a traditional old house that blends in with the Kyoto streetscape. It has a calm atmosphere, and there also seem to be Semi-private rooms for groups.

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You can enjoy both basic style okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) and okonomiyaki in a new style.

The signature dish is the "Tomato no Okonomiyaki." This dish is finished with a stew like sauce filled with chunky tomatoes poured over okonomiyaki made with dashi (Japanese soup stock).

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The yakisoba made by stir-frying cha-soba (green tea kneaded soba noodles) instead of Chinese noodles, then mixing it with avocado and Kyo-yasai (Kyoto vegetables), is also popular. People like it because they can eat plenty of vegetables.

They also offer a course with All you can drink and around 10 dishes, including original Teppan-yaki dishes.

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Hana Tanuki Kawaramachi Ten is located on Rokkaku-dori, about a 5-minute walk north from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station. It mainly serves beta-yaki (Kyoto-style savory pancake), a long-loved local dish in Kyoto.

The interior has the feel of a traditional old house. There are box seats with tables fitted with Teppan-yaki plates, as well as zashiki (tatami seating) for larger groups.

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Betayaki (thin savory pancake) is made by spreading the batter thin, topping it with ingredients such as cabbage and pork, and grilling it, so you can enjoy the flavors of the ingredients directly.

The specialty tanuki-yaki is made with homemade aburakasu (fried beef fat bits), which adds depth of flavor, and is topped with plenty of Kujo negi (Kyoto green onions).

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With okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) and monjayaki (Tokyo-style pan-fried batter), part of the fun is cooking them yourself on the Teppan-yaki grill right in front of you. If you are not confident about cooking them, the staff will cook them for you right at your table.

The moment you flip the okonomiyaki or pour the monjayaki batter onto the Teppan-yaki grill is sure to add to the excitement.

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Nishiki Warai Nishiki Honten is an okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) restaurant located near the entrance to Nishiki Market on Nishikikoji-dori, one street north of Shijo-dori. It has multiple restaurants across the Kansai region, and this is the Honten in Nishiki Market.

Many box seats are lined up, making it easy for families and groups to gather around the Teppan-yaki grill.

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The specialty here is warai-yaki (savory pancake with yakisoba and egg), which is said to have originated in Kyoto.

The thick batter is light and fluffy, with soft noodles and pork inside. You can also choose warai-yaki with cheese or garlic added.

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Kyoten-yaki, which is already seasoned so you do not need to add sauce, is a new style of okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) made with spices, and its flavor without sauce is also well liked.

The okonomiyaki and yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) can also be seasoned to your liking with the sauce and mayonnaise available at the table.

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Kyoto Mibu Sakaeya is about a 5-minute walk from Shijo-Omiya Station, located along Bukkoji-dori in a residential area, and marked by its red awning and lantern.

The restaurant has counter seats only, where you can watch the owner grill right in front of you. It seems to have a homey atmosphere that makes it easy to drop in even on your own.

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At this restaurant, you can enjoy okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) made by an owner who trained in Osaka, the home of okonomiyaki, and finishes it with dashi broth from the udon shop his mother used to run.

The cabbage is said to stay nice and crisp, and the fluffy batter is packed with all kinds of ingredients, making it very tasty.

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They also serve Hiroshima-yaki (Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki), which combines okonomiyaki with yakisoba, and negi-yaki (savory pancake with green onion), where you can enjoy the umami of dashi and the crisp texture of green onion.

The takoyaki (octopus balls), crisp on the outside and soft and creamy inside, is also popular. Some people seem to buy it to take home as a souvenir.

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Tsuruhashi Fugetsu is an okonomiyaki restaurant chain with its Honten in Osaka and restaurants in various areas. This restaurant is on the 6th floor of Kyoto Yodobashi, on the north side of Kyoto Tower.

The dining area has rows of table seats with built-in Teppan-yaki grills, and there are about 80 seats in total. It stays open straight through from lunch to dinner, so it seems easy to stop by while sightseeing or shopping.

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A standout feature here is that they use the table’s Teppan-yaki grill to cook okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) right in front of you. They mix the ingredients in a small bowl, pour them onto the Teppan-yaki grill, cook them through, and even spread on the sauce for you.

The Honten has a history of more than 70 years, and people say its carefully hand-cooked dishes still offer the same classic taste as always.

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A popular choice is the “Chi-tama-buta-tama,” made with cheese, egg, and pork. You can also make it modanyaki (okonomiyaki with Chinese noodles) by adding Chinese noodles.

Besides the sauce and mayonnaise flavor, there are also ponzu sauce and salt-seasoned menu items, so if you go with a group, it’s a good idea to compare a variety of flavors.

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Kokoyanen Uji Mimurodo Ten is an okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) restaurant in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, an area also known as a production region for matcha. It is a standalone log house-style restaurant with parking, located along Prefectural Route 7.

The warm interior has table seating and zashiki (tatami seating). It seems like a comfortable place to visit even with children.

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Founded in Kyoto, this restaurant has expanded to Osaka and other areas. It is known for features like wheat flour from Shiga Prefecture, carefully selected cabbage, and an original sauce made mainly with organic vegetables.

They offer a wide variety of okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes), and you can also add paid toppings such as cheese and kimchi.

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Made with the same ingredients as takoyaki (octopus balls), the "Fuwari-yaki" is grilled on a teppan and served to eat dipped in dashi broth. The gentle flavor of the broth spreads through your mouth, they say.

The Teppan-yaki menu is also extensive, so you can line up all kinds of dishes on the teppan at your table and enjoy a lively, fun time sharing them with everyone.