Hamburg steaks, udon hot pot, and a buffet for a family of 4 with two elementary school kids
When traveling with two children, picking a restaurant often takes longer than you might think. One wants meat, while the other looks for familiar dishes first. The adults also want to feel at least a little bit of the Kyoto atmosphere, but trying to fit four people’s tastes into a single menu makes it tough to decide easily.
At times like that, rather than trying to persuade everyone on a single menu, I start by deciding what we crave most that day. Days when we crave familiar hamburg steaks, days when we want warm broth and noodles, days when everyone wants to choose their own plate. The meals at these three places near Kyoto Station each left a memorable impression in their own distinct way.
Le Temps (ル・タン · Le Temps)
A hotel buffet where everyone can enjoy a meal together in front of their own chosen plates, even when their tastes differ.
Without having to fit four tastes to a single menu
What I liked was having room to choose even if our eating preferences differed. When I was drawn toward sushi, I headed there; when I wanted meat, I moved toward the roast beef. The selection of seafood dishes was broad, and there were also Japanese items like yuba and namafu, making it fun to start with familiar bites and then accompany them with little plates of different flavors.
For the children, there were dishes they reached for first, like pizza, fried foods, and soup. Perhaps because choosing their own food was fun, their interest carried right through to ice cream and desserts. I appreciated a meal where we didn’t have to give up either what the adults wanted to eat or what the kids could enjoy comfortably.
In front of the sushi, the time spent choosing was part of the meal
For the sushi, they shaped it right before your eyes when you pointed to the fish you wanted. I started by looking at familiar options like tuna and salmon, and then my eyes wandered to fish I didn’t usually eat often. The red-vinegared shari paired well with the thick cuts of fish, feeling closer to eating sushi on its own rather than just picking up a casual piece from a buffet.
As I started to feel full, their attentiveness in reducing the amount of rice was also welcome. Still, even when asking for smaller rice portions, there were times when each piece felt fairly large. Rather than piling up a lot from the start just because I like sushi, choosing desired items bit by bit suited me much better.
Tender meat, a little bit per plate
In the meat section, the roast beef carved right in front of you was memorable. The tender roast beef was good, and the beef stew was braised so thoroughly that the meat melted in your mouth. Even between similar meat dishes, the tenderness of the freshly carved meat and the texture of the slow-simmered meat left distinctly different impressions.
Rather than filling up heavily from the first plate, I preferred tasting little by little and going back for what I liked. While the fattier parts of the roast beef were enjoyable, it might come down to personal preference if someone dislikes rich, greasy meat. Choosing Japanese side accompaniments rather than eating only meat one after another felt like a comfortable flow.
Keeping the table comfortable even as plates changed
Sitting with the kids, the table service was just as much appreciated as the food. Finished plates were cleared smoothly so the table never piled up into clutter, and whenever we didn’t know what a dish was, the chef explained it with ease. The space was spacious, and amid the bustling atmosphere, these small touches of help made it easy to concentrate on our meal.
Although I wanted to take my time enjoying dessert as well, the flow wasn’t the same at every corner. There were times when the line for crepes was long or the cake I had been hoping for wasn’t replenished, which was a bit disappointing. For me, it felt more suited for days when I wanted to enjoy the whole meal through sushi and meat rather than choosing it solely for the dessert selection.
Location Directly connected to Kyoto Station · Hotel Granvia Kyoto 2F
About a 1-minute walk to the right of the JR Kyoto Station Central Gate
京都府京都市下京区烏丸通塩小路下ル, JR Kyoto Station Central Exit · Find on Map
Grill Capital Touyoutei Porta Branch (グリルキャピタル東洋亭 ポルタ店)
A meal featuring the fun of opening foil packets, tender hamburg steaks, and whole tomatoes and potatoes.
The moment you open the foil, a familiar hamburg steak becomes a bit special
On days when the children’s dinner choice was hamburg steak, a familiar menu was a welcome sight. When you open the puffed foil packet, a piping hot hamburg steak and rich sauce appear. The tender hamburg steak was easy to eat, and the kids loved watching the foil open. Even for children who aren’t particularly keen on Japanese side dishes, this single plate was a welcome choice.
For me, the rich beef stew atop the hamburg steak was also wonderful. The slow-cooked meat fell apart tenderly and the sauce had plenty of flavor, so whether eaten with rice or paired with bread, it served as a clear centerpiece of the meal. Beyond simply being a food familiar to children, I appreciated that adults could thoroughly enjoy the sauce and meat as well.
Tomatoes and potatoes just as memorable as the hamburg steak
The chilled whole tomato served at the start caught the eye right away. The dressing brought out the tomato’s natural flavor, whetting the appetite in a different way from the rich sauce of the hamburg steak. The tomato was sweet and delicious, so the time spent waiting for the main dish didn’t feel wasted at all.
The large baked potato served alongside was also something you wouldn’t want to miss. Rather than flashy flavor, the rustic taste of potato and butter was delightful. The kids also loved the warm, creamy mushroom soup. Sharing the soup and fries with the family was thoroughly enjoyable, making this a place where even the sides surrounding the hamburg steak were a treat for me.
A meal you’ll want to enjoy even more on unhurried days
Eating delicious hamburg steak and getting seated right away were two entirely different things. I once spent over an hour waiting for a table that could seat several of us together for lunch on a weekend. Fortunately, it was convenient to check how many parties were ahead via the QR code on the numbered ticket, making it possible to gauge the waiting pace.
At the very end, the firm, old-fashioned pudding was lovely. Its sweet yet pleasantly bitter caramel flavor brought the meal to a crisp, satisfying close. While keeping the hamburg steak the kids love at the center, I would rather choose this place on days when there is enough time to factor in the wait and dessert, rather than days when we have to dash off immediately to the next schedule.
Location Porta Underground Shopping Mall at Kyoto Station
About a 1-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station
京都府京都市下京区, Porta Underground Shopping Mall in front of Kyoto Station · Find on Map
Mimiu Kyoto Isetan Branch (美々卯 京都伊勢丹店)
A place to enjoy a warm meal by simmering udon and various ingredients in savory broth.
Warm udon hot pot that makes you reach for the broth first
What first lingered in my mind with the udon-suki was the broth. When pouring the clear, beautifully colored dashi into the pot, its aroma drifted up, and the broth, harmonized with the flavors of shrimp and various ingredients, was something I wanted to drink down to the very last drop. The kids also enjoyed the broth of the udon-suki, making it a welcome menu item for dining together.
It was also fun picking out ingredients like yuba (tofu skin), chicken, and vegetables. After adding the ingredients and letting them simmer, a different depth was added to the broth compared to the beginning. I enjoyed the leftover broth at the end just as much as the solid ingredients; after sipping it as it was, I also enjoyed it with sansho pepper for a different flavor profile.
Udon was not an afterthought, but the centerpiece of the meal
If you came expecting to just finish off a hot pot meal with a small helping of udon at the end, your impression might be different. Because the portion of udon was generous, the noodles themselves were close to being the center of the meal, and I felt quite full after eating. For me, the softer style of udon was enjoyable, but if you expect firm noodles, preferences might differ.
With tender chicken, shellfish, shrimp, and vegetables complemented by yuba and wheat gluten fu, the toppings were diverse. Among various condiments, enjoying them paired with lemon and spicy grated daikon radish was also delicious. I loved that the meal didn’t end monotonously with just noodles and broth, but allowed you to eat while varying the ingredients and complementary flavors.
On days when you want to add crispy tempura
On days when tempura sounded more appealing, having a bowl topped with yuba and vegetable tempura paired with warm soba was also great. The freshly fried tempura was hot and crispy, and with yuba topping the soba as well, there was the joy of tasting the same ingredient prepared through different cooking methods. A set featuring hot pot at the center accompanied by sashimi and assorted tempura was also delicious.
However, it was slightly disappointing when the warm soba was served all at once with the other dishes. Wanting to eat the noodles right when they arrive while they are hot, I thought it would be even better if the dishes were served with a time interval. Rather than thinking solely of hot pot, deciding first how you wish to enjoy noodles and tempura will lead to a meal that aligns even closer with your personal tastes.
Location Directly connected to Kyoto Station · JR Kyoto Isetan 11F
京都府京都市下京区烏丸通塩小路下ル東塩小路町901 · Find on Map
On days when the kids want to eat familiar hamburg steaks, I think of Touyoutei; on days when we want warm broth and noodles at the center, I think of Mimiu. If everyone’s tastes differ and it’s hard to settle on one menu, a meal where each person chooses their own plate like Le Temps is also great. Even on the same family trip, what everyone wants to eat that day and how much time they can spare will vary, so starting with those differences makes picking a meal feel a little lighter.