Takinoya Kyoto

One of my plans for Kyoto was to enjoy their authentic tofu course meal, but as we only had 1.5 days in Kyoto and we had a ton of things we wanted to see, I nearly had to scrap the tofu plan until I passed this shop while visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Nestled just next to Otowa Waterfall at the base of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Takinoya is a quaint restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seats. As we joined a tour for Kyoto and had to grab a fast lunch before gathering at the meeting time, we settled at the nearest spot after visiting the temple grounds

The outdoor seating is semi-open, so it was pretty chilly during Winter

We decided to go for the indoor area, which has a plastic curtain to block out the cold air. There were also heaters in the tent area, so it was much warmer than outside. There were only traditional wooden seats where you take off your shoes and sit cross-legged for the meal. As I had difficulty sitting cross-legged, I managed to get a chair and sat at the edge of the table. For others who cannot sit eating cross-legged, you can ask for the internal tables, which have proper tables and chairs, which would be a longer wait

The menu is simple with only a few choices; the boiled tofu, soba in soup or udon in soup with either a beancurd skin topping or without. The price is not exactly the most affordable given the simplicity of the meal, but as a restaurant in this prized location, it is quite acceptable

The first menu that came was a simple udon soup topped with a raw egg, green spring onions and a piece of beancurd. The broth was a clear and simple dashi with light flavours of anchovy. The beancurd has a clean and sweet flavour from the soy beans, and the udon was soft and chewy. The entire bowl of noodles was very comforting as it was light on the stomach but fulfilling on a cold day

This next item was the main reason why I decided to settle for lunch at this quaint restaurant. Another customer was having this dish when we walked past, and it reminded me that I wanted to get my nephew to try the famous Kyoto tofu. Cooked in the simplest method by boiling the tofu in water, the tofu is served in this cute bucket, which is kept hot in the water. You can eat the tofu on its own or with the soy sauce provided. The flavour of the natural sweetness of the soy is very smooth and strong, and when paired with the soy sauce, there is a nutty yet savoury flavour. I loved that the tofu was hot and creamy, soft and savoury when paired with the sauce and a perfect snack for the afternoon

Overall, I would have sat here and slowly enjoyed my meal and a cup of tea while taking in the beauty of the environment. The meal was simple yet satisfying, and was not too harmful to the pocket as well

Address: Japan, 〒605-0862 Kyoto, Higashiyama Ward, Kiyomizu, 1 Chome−302 横 清水寺境内 音羽の滝

Opening hours: 10 am to 4 pm ( Thurs – Closed)