Kyoto

In this hole-in-the-wall eatery with only two tables and 5 counter seats, you'll get the chance to experience the real okonomiyaki (a fried batter of eggs and cabbage stuffed with your pick favourite ingredient). The friendly chefs will cook this Japanese "pizza" fresh before your very eyes.

Sugarhill Kyoto is always a hot-spot of Kyoto's trendy restaurant scene. The small eatery, just 8 minutes from Kyoto station, boasts healthy food full of flavour. The chef recommends chicken teriyaki and tofu and Kyoto vegetable salad. Gluten-free options are also available.

The busy Shijo Street in the district of Gion is home of the modest Chihana eatery, a three-Michelin-star restaurant specialised in kaiseki (the Japanese haute cuisine). The décor and interior are simple: an unfinished wooden counter for eight guests and two private rooms. But the food served in fine bowls and plates, including real antiques, is just an explosion of flavours in your mouth. Japanese behemoths like Yukio Mishima, Yasunari Kawabata and Shusaku Endo have been faithful patrons here. Note that the shop moved to its current location following a fire in 2018.

The menu of Ramen Sen-no-Kaze Kyoto stands out for its simplicity and a clear focus on Japanese-style ramen (wheat-flour Japanese noodles in broth). Before stepping inside, you will need to get a ticket. Only after that will you be able to order your customised tonkotsu (pork-based stock) or chintan (seafood-based stock) ramen. Paired with savoury gyoza or plain rice, the eatery pulls off the winning formula. Note that the queue might seem endless, but tickets are limited. It's best to go early to not miss out.

Talented chefs prepare sushi with the freshest and finest seafood just a few metres away from guests. Those handmade drops of sushi rice will melt in your mouth. The friendly staff adds an extra pleasant note to the already relaxing atmosphere.

Set near Kyōto's Imperial Palace, Hafuu treats guests to top-notch beef in a modern atmosphere. Originally born as a butcher, the restaurant knows how to treat the succulent and tender Wagyū beef. The menu lists steaks, beef cutlet, or sandwiches, and – as with every proper Japanese meal – everything is accompanied by miso soup, salad, and steamed rice.

The French-style Brasserie offers authentic French cuisine in downtown Kyoto. They're known for their signature sausage but their offer goes much further than this: duck confit and steak frites, and a range of appetizers displayed on the counter to name but a few things that draw in flocks of people in search of a taste of the elegant French cuisine.