25.11.19 - Kyoto & Gion (again)

Today is our last full day in Kyoto and we're taking it easy today...or so we thought.

We start with a stroll down Pontocho Street which we were told by our host is packed with eateries. It's a skinny street jam-packed with eateries - mostly meat, yakiniku style. When were walking down here it's still early so nothing is open. But thank goodness because I can't imagine how cramped and busy this street would be when all the shops are open.

After walking to the end of Pontocho-dori, we make our way to a lunch place Mom scoped out this morning that serves noodles, tempura and tempura bowls - with a view.

At first it's a lovely walk down a path along the river, with some fall color change going on.

Then we get closer to where the restaurant is and realize we're heading into the busy section of Gion...and this time, there's crowds. It is insanity. The taking it easy part? Well, not as easy when you need to walk up a hill going against the river of people to get to your restaurant. But we make it in one piece! The restaurant is called Otowa Saryo and it's in a space behind a pottery shop - if you didn't know it's there, you wouldn't probably find it. Mom and I order the soba set which comes with cold noodles and shrimp/kabocha/sweet potato tempura, Dad orders the autumn special tempura bowl which includes concher, salmon, maitake mushroom, shrimp and sweet potato, plus miso soup.

We are glad we braved the crowds to come up here. It was worth it. The noodles and tempura were delicious and it was a quiet place tucked away from the craziness on the street.

Leaving the relative quiet of the restaurant, we put on our brave faces and take deep breaths to jump back into the crowds. Thankfully this time we're going with the river back down the street. About halfway down we stop at a donut shop we saw as we were coming up. It's called Loose Kyoto. I've no idea why a donut shop would be called this, but no matter. I get the plain donut which gets tossed in sugar (somewhere between powdered and granulated sugar) and Mom gets a maple almond donut. Mine was still warm, nice. Mom's not ready to sit down and eat her donut, so we march on back to the house carrying our donuts. Feels a little weird to be carrying a single donut while walking down the street...but no eating while walking so I just glance down longingly at it every so often. Sounds so sad when I type it.

We get back to the house, make two quick cups of coffee - because donuts - and finally eat the fried dough. Oh my, these are delicious. The flavor is very much like andagi, but so much lighter. And not greasy at all, even after being carried in my hand for 20 minutes. I would totally go back to this place for another donut, it was that good.

After a brief siesta and short wander around the neighborhood streets, we walk the five minute trip to Taco.Scratch Kyoto (yes, the period is in the name). It's a one-man show in a teeny tiny little place with three bar-top tables on the second floor of the restaurant which you access via the steepest stairs I've ever walked on. And it's...you guessed it...Mexican food! Yes yes, sounds odd to have tacos in Kyoto, but oh lordy they were good. Simple street tacos, but really clean flavors that made it simply delicious. If we were here for any more days, we probably would go back for more. The tacos we got - (ground) beef, pork, chili con carne and veggie (baby corn). The ground beef was the definite winner, we got seconds of that one. The veggie was also surprisingly good for being mainly baby corn (and I don't like baby corn), it was very refreshing...as odd as that sounds for a taco.

Time to rest up for another shinkansen trip tomorrow.

Sayonara!