Visit date: February 23, 2026 (Mon, National Holiday)
On this day,
I walked from Kiyomizu-dera through Higashiyama,
visiting Kodai-ji and Entoku-in along the way.
After spending some quiet time,
I returned to the city.
👉 See the Kodai-ji article here
🚉Kodai-ji Temple and Entoku-in in Kyoto｜A Quiet Walk and Reflection
After having waffles,
I felt a bit refreshed.
After a light pizza and waffles,
I headed back into town,
looking for something more satisfying.
Before I knew it,
I was quite hungry.
Looking for a place
Back in Kawaramachi,
I walked around looking for dinner.
I couldn’t decide.
Nothing seemed bad,
but nothing stood out either.
Before I realized it,
I had been walking around for about an hour.
The place I found
The place I finally chose was
Sendai Gyutan Specialty Restaurant Sakanoue Shoten, Shijo Kawaramachi
Located inside a small alley,
on the second floor—
a place that feels a little hard to enter.
Still,
I thought, “This should be fine,”
and decided to go in.
What I ate
Before ordering,
I hesitated a little.
I was interested in the grilled fish set,
and tried to order it.
However,
it was only available at lunch,
and could not be ordered at dinner.
A young female staff member
explained this to me,
looking slightly apologetic.
That moment stayed with me.
After that,
I ordered a gyutan set meal.
Gyutan tasting set (2,640 yen)
First, a draft beer.
After all the walking,
that alone already felt satisfying.
The food arrived.
Gyutan.
Barley rice with grated yam.
After the first bite,
I couldn’t help but think:
Oh… this is good.
The man sitting next to me
was eating the same dish.
“So good!”
“Really good!”
He kept saying it over and over.
I couldn’t help but agree.
I had spent about an hour searching,
but I was glad I didn’t settle.
Gyutan specialty restaurant “Sakanoue Shoten” in Shijo Kawaramachi.
Gyutan tasting set with barley rice, grated yam, and soup.
About gyutan
This restaurant specializes in gyutan.
After checking the menu on Google Maps,
I found that most dishes were gyutan-based.
The sign shows a cow,
so it may look like a yakiniku restaurant,
but you do not grill it yourself.
It is a popular dish in Japan,
but it may be a bit challenging
for international visitors.
The cut itself is unique,
and both texture and appearance
can divide opinions.
Inside the restaurant,
foreign visitors were eating quietly,
while a Japanese man kept saying,
“so good” again and again.
I didn’t hear much reaction
from his companion.
Even with the same dish,
people experience it differently.
Personally,
I found it very easy to eat and enjoyable.
Rather than strongly recommending it,
it’s a dish that satisfies those who like it.
Ease of use
It is close to the station,
just a few minutes on foot.
It was not too crowded,
and I could enter without a reservation.
Orders are taken
directly by the staff.
Watching others,
including foreign visitors,
they ordered in the same way.
Even without understanding the language,
it seemed possible to order naturally
through interaction.
I also hesitated a little,
but the young staff member
helped me decide.
She was very polite,
and I felt comfortable ordering.
You remove your shoes inside,
and there is a heater at your feet.
After a long walk,
it was a welcome space.
The restroom was clean,
and well maintained.
Summary
I walked a lot that day.
After a small pizza and waffles,
I finished with a proper meal.
It was the perfect place
to close the day.
🍽 YUMEVOJA Food Radar
Gyutan tasting set (2,640 yen)
Sweetness: ☆☆☆☆☆
Saltiness: ★★★☆☆
Umami (dashi): ☆☆☆☆☆ (excluding miso soup)
Oiliness: ★★☆☆☆
Spiciness: ☆☆☆☆☆
Portion: Moderate
Ease of visiting: ★★★★☆
【YUMEVOJA Satisfaction】
★★★★☆ Satisfied
This is a personal impression including the food, atmosphere, and people.
A great place I found after searching for about an hour.
Gyutan (beef tongue) is a dish that may not suit everyone.
📍For business hours and crowd conditions,
please check the latest information on Google Maps.
Information may change.
📍Google Maps👇
Sendai Gyutan Specialty Restaurant
Sakanoue Shoten Shijo Kawaramachi
👉 see the matcha pizza moment here
👉🍵Beauty & Taste | Trying Matcha and Pickles Pizza near Kiyomizu-dera