From pizza and pasta to pan-fried gyoza, three spots with different styles of sharing
While dinners where each person chooses their own bowl are wonderful, evenings spent placing dishes in the middle to share little by little tend to linger longer in the memory. You don’t have to settle on just one flavor, and it sparks little conversations about what to pick up next.
Italian cuisine overlooking Kyoto Tower, fresh pasta in the station’s underground mall, and casual shared gyoza each offer a distinct way to wrap up a date. It is nice to choose according to the desired pace of the meal and the mood of the day.
The Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo Kyotoザ キッチン サルヴァトーレ クオモ 京都
A dining table where you can share pizza and pasta while also enjoying the view toward Kyoto Tower.
Pizza that was even more enjoyable shared between two
Choosing pizza and pasta together to share made the meal richer than settling on just a single plate. The pizza, blending tomato, cheese, and basil, had clear, vivid flavors despite the simple combination.
The service, which made it easy to portion onto separate plates, was also appreciated. Being able to taste small portions of the same dishes without the clutter of juggling tableware allowed us to focus more on the meal.
Kyoto Tower catching the eye between bites
The seats where Kyoto Tower was visible outside the window were memorable. Between dishes, our eyes naturally drifted outside, and even while having the usual pizza and pasta, it felt completely different from a rushed dinner near the station.
The viewing angle shifted depending on the table location. Rather than expecting the same view from every seat, I prefer to remember it as a meal where we enjoyed the cityscape alongside our food.
Location 10th floor of JR Kyoto Isetan, connected to Kyoto Station.
Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan · 10th floor of JR Kyoto Isetan, connected to Kyoto Station · Search on map
Daniel’s Portaダニエルズ ポルタ店
Rich flavors in every pasta dish, even on a brief and casual date.
A meal sharing chewy noodles little by little
Sharing pasta accompanied by a drink was a great way to start things off casually. The tomato sauce and cheese clung thickly to the chewy amatriciana noodles, delivering distinct flavor in just a few bites.
The pronounced cheese aroma might depend on personal preference. When sharing between two, it makes you consider whether it is a flavor only one person enjoys. The fun of picking different pasta dishes also comes from that.
A meal accompanied by salad and small plates
Pairing the pasta with salad and appetizers offered a different kind of enjoyment than having just one plate. Taking a bit of noodles and turning back to small accompaniments broadened our options, even on days when we wanted to share or keep the meal light.
The space was cozy, feeling more suited to enjoying one or two quick plates rather than sitting leisurely through a long course. I would pick it on days when I want pasta and small sides without straying far from the station.
Location Basement 1st floor of Kyoto Porta, the underground shopping mall in front of Kyoto Station.
Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan · Basement 1st floor of Kyoto Porta, the underground shopping mall in front of Kyoto Station · Search on map
Gyoza-dokoro Sukemasa Kyoto Tower Sandoぎょうざ処 亮昌 京都タワーサンド店
An evening taking turns picking up crispy gyoza from a single plate placed in the center.
Scallions and vegetables lingering after the crispy first bite
The pan-fried gyoza paired the crispiness of their thin wrappers nicely with the tender filling. The aroma of ginger and scallions lingered along with the crisp texture of the vegetables, avoiding any impression of being just greasy food.
It was nice to taste them first without any sauce. Dipping them lightly after that let me adjust the level of saltiness and aroma to my liking, even within the same single plate.
An unpretentious finale shared together
Sharing gyoza over a drink was great for enjoying casually at the end of the day. As two people reach for the same plate, it leaves the feeling of having dined together even without choosing an elaborate multi-course meal.
Being in the food hall beneath Kyoto Tower, it has an atmosphere distinct from quiet, standalone restaurants. It was a place I felt more drawn to on days when I wanted to wrap things up over one delicious shared plate rather than a drawn-out conversation.
Location Basement 1st floor of the Kyoto Tower Building in front of Kyoto Station, Kyoto Tower Sando Food Hall.
Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan · Basement 1st floor of the Kyoto Tower Building in front of Kyoto Station, Kyoto Tower Sando Food Hall · Search on map
Choose Salvatore Cuomo for a long meal alongside the view, Daniel’s for a light bite of pasta and small accompaniments, or Sukemasa when you want to share a plate of gyoza. The way two people wrap up their day does not have to be just one thing.