Buffet, hamburger steak, and udon hot pot: a dinner where it is okay if everyone does not like the same menu
Just because four people traveled together does not mean their dinner appetites will match. Someone who craves meat, someone looking for hot broth, and someone who wants to pick small plates multiple times sit down at the same table. In moments like that, rather than forcing everyone to adapt to one person’s preference, we start by choosing how we want to enjoy the meal together.
A buffet where each person selects their own plate, familiar Western-style dishes, and a warm hot pot offered different answers. Not just what we ate, but how we shared, waited, and dined together shaped the mood of our family dinner.
Le Tempsル・タン · Cafe Restaurant Le Temps
A hotel buffet where each plate differs, yet the joy of eating together remains.
Meat for some, pizza for others
The roast beef carved right in front of us was tender and memorable. While we had the meat dishes, the child drifted toward familiar choices like pizza, deep-fried items, and soup. The greatest comfort was not having to convince anyone to settle on a single dish.
Sushi and Japanese dishes were also available, allowing adults to satisfy the flavors they wanted as well. Even when bringing back completely different plates, returning to the same table to eat together felt natural.
The joy of choosing even the final plate yourself
For the child, picking out ice cream and desserts after the meal was another treat. Rather than eating through a fixed course until the end, taking small plates of whatever one craved at the moment suited us well.
It was also pleasant that cleared plates were whisked away smoothly, keeping the table uncluttered. Still, as it is a buffet where items shift with the seasons, rather than banking on a single memorable dish, I would choose it again for the breadth of choice and the relaxed flow of the meal.
Location 2F, Hotel Granvia Kyoto, to the right of Kyoto Station Central Gate. Inside the hotel connected directly to the station.
Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan · 2F, Hotel Granvia Kyoto, to the right of Kyoto Station Central Gate · Search on Maps
Grill Capital Touyoutei Porta Branchグリルキャピタル東洋亭 ポルタ店
For families who welcome hamburger steak and omurice more than Japanese cuisine.
An evening where familiar meat flavors are warmly welcomed
For a child who was not in the mood for Japanese side dishes, the foil-wrapped hamburger steak was a welcome choice. Opening the foil to reveal the rich sauce and savoring hot meat added an element of fun to the meal itself.
The omurice, with rice containing chicken and vegetables nestled inside the egg, offered another comforting familiarity. It was wonderful that everyone could sit in the same spot while choosing distinct options like hamburger steak or omurice.
Refreshing tomato alongside rich meat
The whole tomato salad was a great starter to enjoy while waiting for the hamburger steak. Eating the chilled tomato along with the tuna and sauce underneath helped balance the deep, savory richness of the meat.
When sharing various dishes with the family, the soup and potato sides were also enjoyable. However, during weekend dining with several people, I have experienced long waits. I would choose it on a day when everyone clearly craves this comfort food, while factoring in ample time to wait.
Location Kyoto Porta underground shopping mall in front of Kyoto Station. Marked as about a 1-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station.
Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan · Kyoto Porta underground shopping mall in front of Kyoto Station · Search on Maps
Mimiu Kyoto Isetan Branch美々卯 京都伊勢丹店
An evening to match each other’s pace around an udon hot pot simmering together.
A meal chosen and savored from the same pot
The udon-suki (udon hot pot) was more than just eating noodles. As chicken, yuba, mushrooms, and vegetables simmered, everyone reached for different ingredients from the very same pot. The gradual layering of flavors into the broth was wonderful.
Since the child had also happily eaten the broth and udon before, anchoring the meal around familiar noodles while adding other ingredients felt easy and relaxing. It was not a dish where everyone had to love every single ingredient to share the meal.
Savoring more slowly as the broth deepens
The broth became even more memorable after the varied ingredients had simmered than it was at the beginning. Even after finishing the noodles, it felt hard to set down the spoon, leading us to sip the soup little by little. It is a taste that comes to mind whenever I want to conclude an evening with a warming meal.
Conversely, if there was travel still ahead and lingering was difficult, a single bowl of yuba udon was more convenient. Between a shared hot pot and individual bowls, we could decide based on the family’s hunger and the rest of our schedule.
Location 11F Restaurant Floor, JR Kyoto Isetan, connected to Kyoto Station.
Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan · 11F Restaurant Floor, JR Kyoto Isetan, connected to Kyoto Station · Search on Maps
Le Temps fits well when everyone wants the pleasure of choosing their own plate, Touyoutei when dishes familiar to children take priority, and Mimiu when you wish to eat slowly around a warm pot. Rather than forcing four palates into one, it is a dinner focused on choosing a comfortable way to eat together.