An army of capable women slicing and dicing and cooking up aromatic dishes in the open kitchen make a meal here seem like you've been invited right into their home. The dining room is very casual, with seating at heavy wooden tables made from Japanese cypress that you'll likely share with other diners during peak times and food served on tableware from local kilns. Using organic, preservative-free ingredients, it offers only one thing for lunch: a tasty teishoku (daily fixed-price meal) that comes with genmae (brown rice), miso soup, pickles, and a choice of a main dish that's different every day and includes vegan and vegetarian options (on the day I tried it, it was curry-based tofu stew with potatoes and carrots). Dinner offers set meals and a-la-carte selections from an English-language menu that might include tea-simmered chicken with mustard and fresh greens, salmon salad, and deep-fried tofu. In short, for a vegetarian or health-food fix, this unassuming and cozy place hits the spot, but be sure to bring cash because no credit cards are accepted. It's on the 2nd floor, up a tightly wound spiral staircase.
Kyoto
Travel Guide
Kyoto› Restaurant
Bio-Tei (びお亭)
Sanjo Dori Higashinotoin, Nakagyo-ku
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Near Museum of Kyoto
Hours
Tues–Fri 11:30am–2pm, Tues–Wed and Fri–Sat 5–8:30pm (last order); closed holidays
Transportation
Subway: Karasuma-Oike (exit 5, 3 min.)
Phone
075/255-0086
Prices
Lunch teishoku ¥840, set dinner ¥1,260, dinner main courses ¥750–¥1,200
Amenities
Lunch teishoku ¥840, set dinner ¥1,260, dinner main courses ¥750–¥1,200
Cuisine Type
Vegetarian, Varied Japanese
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.