If you're going to eat gyudon (beef Rice bowl) in Kyoto, Kyoto, start here! 5 recommended restaurants

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Nakau Kyoto Hachijoguchi Ten is a gyudon (beef bowl) chain restaurant on the 1st floor of the Daiichi Doboku Building, just after you leave Kyoto Station from the Hachijo West Exit and cross the crosswalk on Hachijo-dori.

The interior is bright and easy to enter. The food is served quickly and the hours are long, so you can use it for all kinds of occasions, from breakfast to a late night meal.

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The "Gyu-suki Rice bowl" is an original menu item from Nakau, arranged in a sukiyaki style from gyudon (beef bowl). It simmers beef, shiro-negi (Japanese long onion), shirataki (konjac noodles), tofu, and more in a sweet and savory soy sauce broth.

It has a light, mildly sweet seasoning with a good Japanese dashi flavor. Yakumi (condiments) such as sansho (Japanese pepper) and chili pepper are said to pair well with it.

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Oyako-don (chicken and egg Rice bowl) is a popular dish, with soft chicken wrapped in fluffy egg. The rich taste of the egg and its smooth texture get great reviews.

The soft-cooked egg with savory Japanese dashi broth mixes perfectly with the rice and chicken for a great bite. It seems many people also enjoy it as a set with udon or soba.

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Yoshinoya Kyoto Hachijoguchi Ten is about a 5-minute walk west from Kyoto Station’s Hachijo West Exit. This is a self-service gyudon (beef Rice bowl) restaurant where you can enjoy tasty beef Rice bowls and set meals.

The interior is bright, clean, and easy to walk into. It is easy to use whether you are alone or with a group. Besides Rice bowls, the set meal menu is also popular.

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"Gyudon (beef rice bowl)" has a light, classic taste, made by simmering beef belly and onions in a soy sauce based tare sauce. Simple as it is, people say it has a smooth texture and goes perfectly with rice.

Many people also enjoy it their own way, such as adding egg or natto (fermented soybeans), or topping it with lots of yakumi (condiments).

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The breakfast menu item Asa-tei (standard Japanese breakfast set) is a popular choice that lets you enjoy a standard Japanese breakfast. It comes with grilled fish and kobachi (small side dishes), and people like it for its well balanced ichiju-sansai (one soup, three dishes) meal.

If you choose the set that comes with a gyudon topping called gyu-kobachi (small beef side dish), you can put it over rice and enjoy a mini gyudon Rice bowl too.

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Matsuya Toji Ten is about a 3-minute walk from Kintetsu Toji Station. It is a gyudon (beef Rice bowl) restaurant on Kujo-dori in the southern part of central Kyoto.

This popular spot is known for gyudon with flavorful dashi and set meals. They also offer a kids' menu, making it easy for families to visit.

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Gyumeshi (beef rice bowl) has a rich flavor, with beef belly and onions simmered in a sweet and savory soy based sauce. It is popular for being so generously covered with meat that you can hardly see the rice.

There is a wide variety of toppings, and you can enjoy changing up the flavor with ingredients you like, such as "cheese" and "onioroshi ponzu (grated daikon with ponzu sauce)."

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Limited-time and restaurant-limited menu items are rare dishes you will definitely want to try. The lineup changes quickly, so you may not get another chance to see them next time.

There is also a wide range of flavors that are unique to these limited offerings, such as "tori no dote-ni style Hot Pot" and "shkmeruli." Collaboration menu items with characters are also said to be popular.

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Sukiya Fushimi Shinhorikawa Ten is a gyudon (beef bowl) restaurant located along Aburakoji-dori in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City. It has a large parking lot, so it is convenient to visit by car.

The bright interior has an atmosphere that is easy to use whether you are on your own or with family. In addition to gyudon, the restaurant also offers set meals and curry.

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The popular "gyudon (beef Rice bowl)" has a rich flavor, made by simmering beef belly and onions in a slightly sweet soy sauce-based tare. Many people also enjoy it as a set with miso soup and salad.

The wide variety of toppings, such as "cheese" and "Negitama," is also well received. They add a nice change in flavor and make it even more enjoyable.

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The curry has a smooth texture, with the ingredients melted into the curry sauce. Its mildly sweet flavor is also well liked.

Another nice point is that you can change it up with toppings. Combine gyudon (beef bowl) topping, cheese, or a soft cooked egg, and you can enjoy a wider range of flavors.

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Gyumeshi Gojo is reached by changing to the municipal subway from Kyoto Station, getting off at Gojo Station, and walking for about 2 minutes. The restaurant is located on the 1st floor of Hen na Hotel Premier Kyoto Gojo Karasuma.

The interior has a spacious, calm atmosphere. The lunch menu is available even if you are not staying at the hotel.

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The "Machiya Gyumeshi to Dashimaki Tamago no Oju" is a popular dish that combines beef simmered in a sweet and savory soy sauce with fluffy dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet). With its elegant presentation, it is a menu item that is also pleasing to the eye.

The beef is seasoned on the sweeter side with a light hint of ginger, and the dashimaki tamago is said to be served piping hot, fresh off the griddle.

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The popular "gyu-shigureni (beef simmered in sweet soy sauce)" at the breakfast buffet has a sweet and savory flavor. Put it on rice, and you can enjoy it as a beef Rice bowl.

The beef is said to be so tender that it falls apart in your mouth. People say it makes breakfast feel a bit luxurious from the start of the day.